Wrestling legend Killer Khan – who battled some of the most respected WWE greats – died suddenly. Killer Khan – whose real name was Masashi Ozawa – died on Saturday in Japan. The wrestling star was 76 years old at the time of his sudden death.
According to a report, Killer Khan collapsed around 10 p.m. on Saturday at his Tokyo-based restaurant – Jinjo Sakaba. Ozawa died suddenly from a ruptured artery, according to reports from Japan.
Ozawa started his prolific wrestling career in 1971 in Japan. He adopted a Mongolian character for his wrestling persona.
Ozawa began wrestling in the United States in 1979.
Killer Khan skyrocketed in popularity by wrestling against Andre the Giant in 1980 in a tag team match for Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Later the same year, the World Wrestling Federation hired Ozawa.
During his wrestling career, Killer Khan took on some of the biggest stars of the WWF.
Killer Khan is probably best known for being credited with “breaking the ankle” of 7-foot-4-inch Andre the Giant during a WWF match in 1981. However, Andre the Giant actually broke his own ankle earlier when getting out of bed. The storyline of crediting Killer Khan with the devastating injury to the wrestling giant launched the notoriety of the Japanese wrestler.
Andre the Giant would defeat Killer Khan in the rematch held in November 1981.
Killer Khan also had a much-ballyhooed feud with WWF champion Hulk Hogan.
Killer Khan was managed by “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Mr. Fugi.
Killer Khan retired from wrestling in 1987.
Ozawa also had a brief music career starting in 2005, according to Ringside News.
Ozawa also was a restaurant entrepreneur later in his life.
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