According to reports, former WWE pro wrestler Masashi Ozawa, known to many as Killer Khan, died in Japan on Saturday.
Ozawa is said to have died at 76 after suffering a ruptured artery, FOX 8 reports.
According to The Daily Mail, Ozawa collapsed while dining at one of his favorite restaurants in Tokyo, Jinjo Sakaba. He was rushed to the hospital but died around 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 30.
Ozawa got into wrestling after doing sumo training and joined vNew Japan Pro Wrestling in 1978, Cageside Seats reports. While a part of the WWE, he had notable rivalries with Andre The Giant and WWE champion Hulk Hogan. He retired from wrestling in 1987.
The WWE issued a statement on Facebook, offering their condolences.
“WWE is saddened to learn that Masashi Ozawa, known to sports-entertainment fans as Killer Khan, passed away at age 76. WWE extends its condolences to Ozawa’s family, friends and fans,” the statement read.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We’re now on BlueSky. You can now keep up with the latest AAPI news there and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.
We are supported by generous donations from our readers and by such charitable foundations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
You can make your tax-deductible donations here via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo. Stock donations and donations via DAFs are also welcomed.
