I get Fumi Saito’s thoughts on Kazuchika Okada leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and he offered his insight on the dynamics and relationships behind the scenes in the company and speculates on the future of “The Rainmaker.”
Also, who can step up and fill the void left by his absence?
We then remember Fumi’s friend Killer Khan. We go from Khan’s start in sumo, how he got his name, breaking Andre The Giant’s leg, his relationships with Hulk Hogan and Riki Choshu, and much more.
Former NJPW and WWF wrestler Killer Khan (Masashi Ozawa) has passed away at 76 years old.
Khan’s death was announced by NJPW on Saturday. Tokyo Sports reports that the cause of death was a ruptured artery. Khan collapsed at his bar in Tokyo on Friday, with Tokyo Sports writing that his condition suddenly deteriorated while serving customers. He was rushed to the hospital but did not regain consciousness.
During his wrestling career, Khan was a famous opponent of Andre the Giant and was a WWF title challenger for Hulk Hogan. He wrestled from 1971 until retiring in 1987.
Khan operated bars and restaurants in Japan after his in-ring career and was known for having a good singing voice.
Tokyo Sports writes that Khan struggled financially after his previous restaurant/bar closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. His new bar opened in March of this year.
NJPW sent its deepest sympathies to Khan’s family, friends, and fans:
Former wrestler Masashi Ozawa, better known to wrestling fans as Killer Khan passed away on December 29 after collapsing in his bar in Tokyo. He was 76.
After training in sumo in the famed Kasukano stable, Ozawa joined the JWA in January 1971. Standing at an imposing 195 cm (6’6”), hopes were high for him as a prospect when he joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1973. In 1978 on excursion to Mexico he transformed himself into a Mongolian inspired persona that sparked a hugely successful campaign in America in 1979 as Killer Khan.
Khan transitioned into the WWF in 1980, and after a famous knee drop that put Andre the Giant on the injured list with an injured right leg, instantly found himself the top heel in the organization, with big matches against Hulk Hogan ensuing.
On his return to NJPW he was in the top flight as he had been overseas, with an influence felt today- particularly in the Mongolian Chops used in the years to come by Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Great-O-Khan and others.
In April 1982, the fifth MSG Series saw Antonio Inoki forced to withdraw with a right knee injury. Inoki nominated Khan to take his place in the final with Andre, and the result was a thrilling match that saw Khan advanced in status even in defeat.
In 1983, Khan joined Riki Choshu in Choshu’s influential Ishingun faction. From there, he would follow Choshu to Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1985, wrestling in the All Japan ring as a result as well as back in the WWF. Khan retired from pro-wrestling in November 1987 in New Jersey before running numerous bars and restaurants in Tokyo.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling sends its deepest sympathies to Killer Khan’s family, friends and fans.
The most detailed look at the life and career of Pat Patterson, from his childhood in Montreal, through his being Vince McMahon’s assistant, and everything in between, is the lead story in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
This will likely go down as one of the best issues in history, with the stories on Patterson and Bobby Lee, the guy you never heard of who set box office records in the summer of 1978.
We look at Patterson’s career highlights, comments from some of the biggest names in the history of the business, where he got the name from, finding out he wa gay, his start in Boston, how Mad Dog Vachon made his career, the days in San Francisco, the greatest tag team of the era, being in the middle of the Cow Palace vs. HIC feud, his first encounter with Mae Young, Pretty Boy Patrick Patterson, the different stages that led to the Texas Battle Royal, the Cow Palace Battle Royal and the Royal Rumble.
We look at the character of Roy Shire, matches with the likes of Ray Stevens, Bob Backund and Sgt.Slaughter, the birth of the Intercontinental title, tours of Japan, the Quebec Dream, and WWE honoring him in Montreal.
Also in this issue:
Kenny Omega winning the AEW title, Sting coming, Don Callis and Impact Wrestling, and full coverage of AEW’s Winter is Coming.
The life and career of Bobby Lee, who made himself a legend in two months, and then how it all ended.
Agovernmental rule now protecting talent from having to adhere to the rules the rest of us go by, notes on Tribute to the Troops, notes on new WWE signings including one of the highest level athletes they’ve ever signed, update on a lawsuit against the company and how they are trying to get out of it, Talking mack, Slammy Awards, foreign ratings, how WWE & AEW are doing in the sports ratings, Broken Skull Sessions, Undertaker talks about ling to Shawn Michaels, top Exec makes more than $1 million in stock sale, and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
A feature on Jimmy Rave as his career comes to an end.
This year’s TripleMania show as well as a look back at the main events of every show to date.
Saturday’s UFC show with match-by-match coverage, business notes and ramifications of the key matches.
Television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Drew McIntyre, Goldberg, Johnny Gargano, Mojo Rawley, and actor Joe Manganiello were on The Bump this week. Kevin Owens and Ric Flair will be on next week’s show.
Reigns responded on Twitter after Goldberg called him out on The Bump: “I never wait in line. I am the attraction and I choose who’s next. And that’s Kevin Owens.“
A NXT TakeOver dark match, pitting Legado del Fantasma vs. Curt Stallion, Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis, and August Grey has been uploaded to NXT’s Facebook account.
PWInsider reported that a “all hands on deck” meeting was held this past Tuesday. The meeting was mostly to introduce new President and Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan. Employees were also told that the new WWE HQ was moving along slowly, but surely.
Renee Paquette on The Bella Twins’ podcast talked about her leaving WWE (h/t WrestlingNews.Co): “It’s good now. I think as soon as I came to terms, I realized it is time to go. I’ve done everything that I could possibly do here. I had a great run. It was awesome. But for the other things I wanted to do in my career, I didn’t really see it happening there. Just with everything the way it lined up with the Covid stuff happening, me getting sick, not that had to do anything with my decision, but it was just like everything was weird for a while.”
Thecubsfan has translated a Mas Lucha interview with Dorian Roldan where he talked about leaving Twitch. He said that their deal with Twitch ended at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and feels they will reach more people with YouTube. He also said he expected to talk to the heads of AEW soon, and when asked about the AEW/Impact deal, he said to ask him again in a month.
Killer Khan has been accused of a hit and run on a bicycle. Khan has been accused of striking a woman in her twenties on his bike and fleeing the scene. The woman suffered a broken tooth among other injuries.
PWInsider is reporting that Joseph R. Meehan’s (Joey Ryan) attorneys have been given until December 29 to file pleadings to convince the court as to why the lawsuits, which have had little movement since being filed, should continue.
