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March 6, 1947 – December 29, 2023 was a Japanese professional wrestler. Popularly known as Killer Khan, he was billed from Mongolia and had numerous high-profile matches with André the Giant in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s, including a high profile "Mongolian stretcher match". Khan used Asian mist against opponents.
Khan was then placed in feud with André the Giant. During one match in May 1981, a kayfabe Khan kneedrop off the top turnbuckle resulted in André the Giant breaking his ankle, as Khan accidentally landed on it. The truth was that Andre actually broke his ankle getting out of bed. The incident had been reported as real and as a storyline to help put Khan over. When Andre returned from his injury, he and Khan feuded into the next year.Krugman, Michael. André the Giant: A Legendary Life, p.56–57. In November 1981 in Philadelphia, Andre defeated Khan in a "Mongolian Stretcher match." The feud was named Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Feud of the Year.
In 1984 in Canada's Stampede Wrestling, he had a series of matches with Archie "The Stomper" Gouldie. On January 20, 1984, he won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship from Gouldie in a street fight. In March, he lost the title to Dynamite Kid. He also had successful runs as a monster heel in Mid-South Wrestling and NWA World Class Championship Wrestling. Usually managed by Skandor Akbar, the WCCW run saw him team with the Freebirds (teaching Terry Gordy the Oriental Spike), then turning on him, paid by Akbar.
Khan made a brief return to the WWF in 1987, managed by Harry Fujiwara, where he feuded with Peter Stilsbury and had a brief house show run challenging WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. He retired from wrestling later that year. Bruce Prichard explained on his podcast "Something to wrestle" that Khan was home sick and missed his family. He did not like the road schedule of the WWF.
Khan had a role as a bodyguard in the movie 3 Ninjas Kick Back, and a cameo in 2006 Japanese special effects action series Lion-Maru G. Khan owned a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, before his death. He was married to Cindy Ozawa of Lutz, Florida, though the two lived on separate continents. He had three children: Yukie, Yoshiko, and David Masato. All of them reside in the United States.
On December 9, 2020, around 5:00 PM, Khan was involved in a hit and run in his hometown of Tokyo, Japan. According to authorities in the Shinjuku Ward, he allegedly struck a woman who was riding a bike in the Hyakunincho area, then fled the scene. The woman suffered a broken tooth in the accident and sustained other injuries that took about a month to heal. Khan later apologized for the incident and stated that he was in a hurry to get to his restaurant. He was not charged nor prosecuted.
Personal life
After retiring from wrestling, Khan ran numerous restaurants and bars in Tokyo.
Death
Khan died from an aortic dissection on December 29, 2023, at the age of 76. 元悪役レスラー「キラー・カーン」小沢正志さん急死、76歳 29日に経営する居酒屋で接客中に倒れ… According to a statement released by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Khan died after collapsing at one of his bars in Tokyo.
Championships and accomplishments
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Categories: 1947 Births, 2023 Deaths, 20th-century Male Professional Wrestlers, 20th-century Japanese Professional Wrestlers, 20th-century Japanese Sportsmen, Deaths From Aortic Dissection, Faux Mongolian Professional Wrestlers, Japanese Male Professional Wrestlers, Japanese Sumo Wrestlers, Nwa United States Tag Team Champions, People From Tsubame, Niigata, Professional Wrestlers From Niigata Prefecture, Stampede Wrestling Alumni, Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Champions, Wcwa Television Champions
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