Kazuki Suzuki

Kazuki Suzuki

"The Assassin"

Hall Of Fame

From: Japan

Debut: UW1 (1960)

Last Appearance: UW15 (1974)

Appearances: 15

Stage 2 Attempts: 9

Stage 3 Attempts: 4

Stage 4 Attempts: 1

Suzuki was a late entry into the very first Ultimate Warrior tournament. The only Japanese competitor, he was placed at position 9, and was one of only 11 competitors to clear the first stage, but slipped up on the tightrope on stage 2.

He was granted a much better position in UW2 at position 16, but this time, he could not join the other 10 competitors on stage 2, timing out inches from the buzzer at the end of stage 1.

He bounced back in UW3, clearing the first stage once again, but on stage 2, he attempted an early dismount on the spider walk and fell to the water.

Coming into UW4, Suzuki was more prepared than ever, and it paid off as he cleared the first stage for the third time, and the second stage for his very first time. This was quite clearly a breakout tournament for Suzuki, though he went out very early on the third stage, slipping from the Monkey Bars and tumbling into the water.

In UW5, Suzuki was rewarded with his highest position so far, at position 20, and the expectations were high for the breakout competitor. He trained relentlessly leading up to the tournament, and he returned to stage 3, gaining revenge on the monkey bars and the third stage as a whole, becoming the first competitor to ever defeat the stage, and by extension, the first to attempt the final stage. Suzuki, alongside Mike Redmond , did not know what to expect from the previously unseen stage, but Suzuki gave it a good attempt, only finishing shorter than Redmond by a few feet, both failing to climb the tower.

UW6 laid heavy expectations upon Suzuki, but despite the most training he had ever dedicated to the competition, he timed out on Stage 2's Wall Lift as he hoisted the final wall.

Suzuki redoubled his efforts in UW7, but Stage 2's Spider Walk did him in once again.

UW8 proved to be Suzuki's least successful effort yet, as he had barely gotten started on Stage 1 before shockingly slipping from the second obstacle, The Rolling Log.

Suzuki would clear Stage 1 in UW9, but still would not return to Stage 3, bringing his drought to 4 years without a Stage 3 berth.

This drought would continue, stretching to 6 years without a Stage 3 berth, and two consecutive Stage 1 fails, until he finally broke through and returned to Stage 3 in UW12, failing at the halfway point, The Globe Grasp.

Suzuki would fail Stage 1 again in UW13, but returned to Stage 3 for his final time in UW14, going out early on the Propeller Bars.

Suzuki would fail Stage 1 yet again in UW15, and chose to quietly retire after the tournament.

Suzuki's results may not particularly stand out on paper, but his successes in the early days paved the way for the stars that came after him. Ryuji Shota listed Suzuki as a particular influence for him, and the ensuing "Japan Wave" that would take hold in the 70's. It may be easy to point out Suzuki's Stage 1 fails and claim he doesn't deserve a Hall Of Fame position, but he was a front runner and a fan favorite in the days where Stage 3s and Stage 4s were a bit more rare.