Killer Khan was a former sumo wrestler from the Kasugano stable and a professional wrestler. He was born in Yoshida, Nishikanbara, Niigata, Japan. His real name was Ozawa Masashi (小澤正志).

In sumo, he achieved the highest rank of Makushita 40. After transitioning to professional wrestling, he gained fame as a large heel character with a Mongolian gimmick, both in Japan and internationally. During his peak in the late 1970s and 1980s, he found success in major territories in the United States and Canada, including WWF. He was one of the few Japanese wrestlers to achieve international success during that era.

After graduating from Yoshida Junior High School, he enrolled in the physical education program at Niigata City Hakusan High School with the aim of excelling in basketball. However, he faced setbacks and gave up on basketball during his first year, leading him to drop out of high school.

To make the most of his large physique, he joined the Kasugano stable. He was introduced to the stable because a friend of his was acquainted with Kasugano-oyakata. Since he didn't particularly like studying and had inherited a large body from his parents, he decided to give it a try and joined the stable.

In the March 1963 tournament, he made his debut under the name Ozawa Masashi (小沢将志).

From the July 1967 tournament, his progress stalled, and he moved between the upper ranks of the Sandanme division and the lower ranks of the Makushita division. He retired after the May 1970 tournament. During his sumo career, he also served as an attendant to the former Sekiwake Tochiazuma.

After retiring from sumo, he joined Japan Pro Wrestling in January 1971. The opportunity to enter professional wrestling came when he was visiting an orthopedic clinic for an injury he sustained towards the end of his sumo career. When he asked his stablemaster to let him quit sumo, his request was denied, so he decided to leave secretly at night. After recovering from his back injury, he was allowed to join Japan Pro Wrestling as a trainee.

After joining, he served as an attendant to Yoshimura Michiaki. On June 26, 1971, he made his debut under the ring name Ozawa Masashi, at an event in front of Ofuna Station in Kamakura.

In April 1973, he transferred to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

In August 1976, he embarked on an expedition to Germany. In December, he accompanied Inoki Antonio on his expedition to Pakistan. Subsequently, in 1978, he began a full-fledged overseas training mission by participating in Mexico's UWA.

Starting in March 1979, he expanded to the United States and joined the Florida territory of the NWA, Championship Wrestling from Florida.

From late 1980, he began competing in the WWF.

In March 1981, he returned to Japan to participate in the opening of the WWF Big Fight Series.

Starting in 1983, he co-formed the precursor to the Ishin Gundan faction, known as the Kakumeigun, aligning himself against the establishment of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. During this time, he continued his active participation in international tours. In the latter half of 1983, he joined the Ishin Gundan faction, engaging in factional warfare against the regular New Japan Pro-Wrestling roster.

In 1985, he joined Japan Pro Wrestling and made appearances in All Japan Pro Wrestling's ring. However, in May 1986, he defected from Japan Pro Wrestling, and in November of the same year, he participated in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League.

In April 1987, he left All Japan Pro Wrestling and re-signed with the WWF. At the end of November of the same year, he retired from professional wrestling. He cited disillusionment with the relationships within the wrestling industry, particularly due to the turmoil surrounding the split in Japan Pro Wrestling, as his reason for retirement. Consequently, he never made a comeback to the wrestling ring following his retirement.

In 2005, he made his debut as a singer with the song "Furusato Makkakka". Alongside managing his izakaya business, he ventured into various media appearances, including variety shows.

In 2014, he slipped on snow and fell, causing damage to his cervical vertebrae. The injury was severe enough that a doctor accompanying him to the hospital informed him that even with surgery, there was a 99% chance he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Paralyzed to the extent that he couldn't open or break a window to attempt suicide, he reached a point where he asked his attending physician if he could be euthanized with morphine. However, the doctor convinced him to consider surgery before making such a decision, reassuring him of the possibilities it could offer. His diligent rehabilitation enabled him to recover to the point where he could resume his daily activities and manage his restaurant without significant hindrance.

On August 27, 2016, he closed his establishment in Kabukicho. However, on September 14 of the same year, he opened a new restaurant called "Izakaya Kan-chan" in Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Japan. He often shared anecdotes and memories from his days as an active professional wrestler with his customers. These stories, along with his recollections of fellow wrestlers, were compiled and published as his autobiography titled "'Mongolian Monster' Killer Khan: My Story," which was released in April 2017.

On March 19, 2022, he announced during a live stream on his YouTube channel that he was battling sigmoid colon cancer.

On March 6, 2023, despite his health challenges, he opened a new establishment named "Kan-chan's Ningen Sakeba" in Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. This new venture marked his tenth restaurant overall, including the initial one.

On December 29, 2023, he lost consciousness while attending to customers at the counter seats. Despite receiving resuscitation measures and being swiftly transported to the hospital, he never regained consciousness. He passed away on the same day due to an arterial rupture. He was 76 years old at the time of his death.

(Source: Japanese = Wikipedia || Translation = kisskh) Edit Biography