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{{Short description|Zainichi Korean wrestler (1929–2006)}}
{{Infobox Wrestler
{{about|the South Korean professional wrestler|the North Korean amateur wrestler|Kim Il (wrestler)}}
| name = Kintaro Ohki
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
| names = Kim Il<br/>KIM Il<br/>Kintaro Ohki
{{Infobox professional wrestler
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: | image = KintaroOhki.jpg -->
| name = Kintarō Ōki
| real_height =
| names = Kim Il<br />Kintarō Kongo<br />Kintarō Ōki<br />Tetsurō Sato
| real_weight =
| birth_name = Kim Tae-sik<ref name="gs56">{{cite book|script-title=ja:Gスピリッツ Vol.56|year=2020|pages=17–18|publisher={{ill|Tatsumi Publishing|ja|辰巳出版}}|isbn=4777826074}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|2|24|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|2|24|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Jeollanam-do]], [[Korea]]
| birth_place = [[Goheung]], [[Zenranan-dō]] ([[South Jeolla Province]]), [[Korea under Japanese rule|Korea, Empire of Japan]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|10|26|1929|2|24|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|10|26|1929|2|24|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]
| death_place = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| trainer = [[Rikidozan]]<br/>Mr. Moto<br/>Yoshinosato
| trainer = [[Rikidōzan]]<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br />Mr. Moto<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br />Yoshino Sato<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| debut = November [[1959]]
| debut = November 1959<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| retired = Early [[1980s]]<br/>[[April 2]] [[1996]] ceremony
| image = Kintaro Ohki 1962 Scan10015 161022 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kintarō Ōki in 1962
| retired = 1982<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| height = 185 cm<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| weight = 120 kg<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
}}
}}
{{family name hatnote|Kim||lang=Korean}}


'''Kim Tae-sik''' (February 24, 1929 – October 26, 2006) was a South Korean [[professional wrestler]] and ''[[ssireum]]'' player, better known by the [[ring name]]s '''Kintarō Ōki''' ({{langx|ja|大木金太郎}}) and '''Kim Il''' ({{Korean|hangul=김일|hanja=金一}}). His professional wrestling career spanned from the late-1950s to the early-1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/22263833 |script-title=ko:박치기왕 임종 이틀 전…“내 머릿속 큰 돌멩이 좀 빼줘” |language=ko |date=2018-01-07 |access-date=2021-01-28}}</ref>
'''Kintarō Ōki''' ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 大木金太郎, [[Korean language|Korean]]: 김일, [[Hanja]]: 金一, born [[February 24]], [[1929]] [[Jeollanam-do]], [[South Korea]] (then just [[Korea]]), died [[October 26]], [[2006]] [[Seoul]], South Korea) was arguably the greatest South Korean [[professional wrestler]] of all time{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, also known professionally as '''Kim Il''' or '''KIM Il''' during his career in the [[Japan Wrestling Association]], [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] and [[International Pro Wrestling]] from the 1950s to the 1980s.


== Professional wrestling career ==
Ohki had hopes of becoming a student of Japanese wrestling legend [[Rikidozan]], another Korean, and entered Japan illegally in 1958 to do so, but was arrested in 1959. After being released he was able to train with Rikidozan and joined the Japan Wrestling Association, debuting in November 1959 under his real name, losing to fellow rookie [[Antonio Inoki|Kanji Inoki]], later Antonio Inoki. They were part of a rookie trio along with [[Shohei Baba]], later Giant Baba. Ohki was also trained by [[Mr. Moto]] and [[Yoshinosato]][http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/].
Kim was originally a [[Ssireum]] player, but he had hopes of becoming a student of fellow Korean wrestler [[Rikidōzan]], who had emigrated to Japan in 1940. He entered Japan illegally in 1958 to do so, but was arrested in 1959. After being released he was able to train with Rikidōzan and joined the [[Japan Wrestling Association]] (JWA).


Kim debuted in November 1959 under the [[ring name]] "Kintarō Ōki". On September 30, 1960, Ōki defeated fellow rookie [[Kanji Inoki]] (later Antonio Inoki), who was making his debut along with Shohei Baba (later [[Giant Baba]]). Ōki, Baba and Inoki were a rookie trio groomed to become the eventual successors to Rikidōzan himself. Ohki was also trained by Mr. Moto and Yoshino Sato.<ref name="puro_puro">{{Cite web |title=Kintaro Ohki |author= |work=Puroresu Dojo |date= |access-date= |url= https://www.puroresu.com/personalities/kim_il/ }}</ref>
With Rikidozan's murder in 1963 Ohki returned to his homeland to raise the profile of professional wrestling there, but returned to the JWA when [[Toyonobori]] and Inoki left the promotion, though he returned the next year. Also in 1967 Ohki became the top star in Korea with his defeat of [[Mark Lewin]] to win the [[World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)|World Wrestling Association]] World Heavyweight Championship. With this the JWA wanted to rename him to '''Rikidozan''' but the plan never went through.[http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/]


Upon Rikidōzan's murder in 1963, Ōki returned to his homeland to raise the profile of professional wrestling there. In 1964 and 1965 he went to Texas, where he competed for [[World Class Championship Wrestling|Big Time Wrestling]] in [[Dallas]] as "Kintarō Ōki" and for [[Dory Funk]]'s [[Western States Sports]] promotion in [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]] as "Tetsurō Sato". He'd return to Amarillo in 1970 under the ring name "Kim Il", along with another Dallas tour.
Inoki and Baba famously left the JWA in 1972 to found the All Japan and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|New Japan]] promotions in 1972, letting Ohki become the JWA's top star, winning the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] International Heavyweight Championship.


In 1964, Ōki faced [[NWA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Lou Thesz]] in what turned into a legitimate [[shoot (professional wrestling)|shoot]] contest. Originally scheduled for three falls, Ōki shot on Thesz in the first round. Ōki's move to shoot on Thesz ended things fast, as Thesz wounded him to the point that Ōki was stretchered off.<ref name="Lutzke "/>
In April 1973 the JWA closed and was absorbed into All Japan, and though he competed for the new organization for a time he wrestled mostly as a freelancer in Japan and a main event star in South Korea, famously wrestling against his former fellow rookies Inoki and Baba in 1974 and 1975. He defended the NWA International title in IPW and South Korea until ordered by the NWA to vacate it in 1981.[http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/]


After a brief JWA return in 1964 as "Kintarō Kongo", Ōki returned to the JWA when [[Toyonobori]] and Inoki left the promotion, though he returned the next year. In 1967, Ōki became the top star in Korea with his defeat of [[Mark Lewin]] to win the [[Worldwide Wrestling Associates World Heavyweight Championship]]. With this, the JWA wanted to rename him to "Rikidōzan", but the plan never went through.<ref name="puro_puro"/>
Since then Ohki did not compete much, with his official retirement card on April 2, 1996 held at a [[Weekly Puroresu]] magazine sponsored show at the [[Tokyo Dome]]. Wrestling legend [[Lou Thesz]] assisted the [[wheelchair]]-bound Ohki at this, his last public appearance in Japan.


Ōki trained [[Kim Duk]], who debuted in 1968.<ref name="Saalbach"/> The duo went on to team together, winning the [[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] twice and several awards.
During his career Ohki also held the Far East Heavyweight title, All Asia Heavyweight and Tag Team title four times each, NWA Texas Tag Team title and NWA International Tag Team title, also four times.[http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/]


Inoki and Baba left the JWA in 1972 to found the [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] promotions respectively in 1972, letting Ōki become the JWA's top star, winning the [[NWA International Heavyweight Championship]].
Ohki died in the [[Eulji General Hospital]] in Seoul on October 26, 2006 of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] brought on by [[renal insufficiency]] and [[kidney failure]].


In April 1973, the JWA closed and was absorbed into All Japan Pro Wrestling, and though Ōki competed for the new organization for a time he wrestled mostly as a freelancer in Japan and a main event star in South Korea, famously wrestling against his former fellow rookies Inoki and Baba in 1974 and 1975. He defended the NWA International Heavyweight Championship in [[International Wrestling Enterprise]] and South Korea until ordered by the NWA to vacate it in 1981.<ref name="puro_puro"/>
==Championships and accomplishments==

Following then Ōki did not compete much, with his official retirement card on April 2, 1995, held at a ''Weekly Pro-Wrestling'' magazine sponsored show at the [[Tokyo Dome]] in Japan. Wrestling legend [[Lou Thesz]] assisted Ōki at this, his last public appearance in Japan; Ōki was in a wheelchair at this time.

During his career Ōki also held the Far East Heavyweight Championship, [[All Asia Heavyweight Championship]], and [[All Asia Tag Team Championship]] four times each, the [[NWA Texas Tag Team Championship]] four times, and the [[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] four times.<ref name="puro_puro"/>

== Death ==
Ōki died in the Eulji General Hospital in [[Seoul]] on October 26, 2006, of a [[heart attack]] brought on by [[chronic kidney disease]] and [[kidney failure]].<ref name="Kang"/> In 2020, he was reburied in the [[Daejeon National Cemetery]] with the approval of the [[Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs]].<ref name="Boram"/>

== Professional wrestling style and persona ==
Ōki's finishing moves were a [[headbutt]] and a [[figure-four leglock]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><ref name="Saalbach"/><ref name="Boram"/>

== Championships and accomplishments ==
*'''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
:*[[AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship#Title History|2 times]])
**[[All Asia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[All Asia Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])
:*[[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA International Tag Team Championship#Title History|3 times]]) - with Kim Duk (2) and [[Umanosuke Ueda]] (1)
**[[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA International Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) - with [[Kim Duk]]
**Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1976)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/carnival76.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925014809/http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/carnival76.php |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |title=Champion Carnival 1976 |work=PUROLOVE.com |language=de |access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination Fair Play Award (1977) &ndash; with Kim Duk<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1538| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200809021243/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1538| archive-date = 2020-08-09| title = Open Tag League 1977 « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination Effort Award (1978) &ndash; with Kim Duk<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl78.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407012752/http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl78.php |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |title=Real World Tag League 1978 |work=PUROLOVE.com |language=de |date=December 1978 |access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination Team Play Award (1979) &ndash; with Kim Duk<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl79.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230303200438/http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/rwtl79.php |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |title=Real World Tag League 1979 |work=PUROLOVE.com |language=de |access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref>
*'''[[Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance|Japan Wrestling Association]]'''
*'''[[Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance|Japan Wrestling Association]]'''
:*[[AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship|JWA All Asia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship#Title History|2 times]])
**[[All Asia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[All Asia Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])
:*[[AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship|JWA All Asia Tag Team Championship]] ([[AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship#Title History|4 times]]) &ndash; with Michiaki Yoshimura (3) and [[Antonio Inoki]] (1)
**[[All Asia Tag Team Championship]] ([[All Asia Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 times]]) &ndash; with Michiaki Yoshimura (3 times) and [[Antonio Inoki]] (1 time)
:*[[NWA International Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA International Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])
**[[NWA International Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA International Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
:*[[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA International Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) &ndash; [[Seiji Sakaguchi]]
**[[NWA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA International Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) &ndash; [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] (1 time) and [[Umanosuke Ueda]] (1 time)

*'''Korean Wrestling Association'''
*'''Korean Wrestling Association'''
**Far East Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="j-fe-h">{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/korea/fe-h.html|title=Far East Heavyweight Title|accessdate=2024-01-16|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
:*Far East Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*'''[[World Class Championship Wrestling|NWA Big Time Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[World Class Championship Wrestling|NWA Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship|NWA Texas Tag Team Championship]] ([[WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Pak Song]]<ref name=ETexTagTitleBook>{{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=275–276}}</ref><ref name=ETexTagTitle>{{cite web| url = http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-t.html | title = NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]| access-date = December 27, 2019 | work= wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
:*[[WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship|NWA Texas Tag Team Championship]] ([[WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) &ndash; with Pak Song
*'''''[[Tokyo Sports]]'''''
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Fighting Spirit Award|Fighting Spirit Award]] (1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past1/|title=東京スポーツ プロレス大賞：選考経過（1974～1979）|access-date=14 December 2017|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Service Award|Service Award]] (2006)
*'''[[Western States Sports]]'''
**[[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with Pak Song
*'''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]'''
**[[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)|WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)#Title history|1 time]])
**[[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship|WWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Tor Kamata|Mr. Moto]]
**[[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship#title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with Mr. Moto
*'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1996]])
*'''[[Korean Sport & Olympic Committee]]'''
**[[Korean Sport & Olympic Committee#Korean Sports Hall of Fame|Korean Sports Hall of Fame]] (2018)<ref name="Boram"/>


==References==
*'''World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)'''
{{Reflist|refs=
:*[[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version)|WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version)#Title History|1 time]])
:*WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) &ndash; with Mr. Moto


<ref name="Boram">{{cite web|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200521004900315|title=Late S. Korean pro wrestler Kim Il to be buried in nat'l cemetery|access-date=August 24, 2023|website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|first=Kim|last=Boram}}</ref>
==External links==
* [http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/ Puroresu.com biography]
* [http://www.puroresu.com/forum/showthread.php?p=39261#post39261 Puroresu.com forum posting of Korean Times obituary]


<ref name="Kang">{{cite web|last1=Kang |first1=Seung-woo |title=Obituary |url=http://www.koreatimes.kr/www/news/nation/2014/06/121_803.html |work=[[The Korea Times]] |date=26 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035636/http://www.koreatimes.kr/www/news/nation/2014/06/121_803.html |archive-date= 4 March 2016 }}</ref>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohki, Kintaro}}

<ref name="Kreikenbohm">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4199|title=Kintaro Oki|access-date=August 11, 2023|website=Cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>

<ref name="Lutzke ">{{cite web |last1=Lutzke |first1=Andrew |title=When S*it got Real: Incidents of Pro Wrestling becoming a "Shoot" Vol. 4 |url=http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/when-sit-got-real-incidents-of-pro-wrestling-becoming-a-shoot-vol-4/ |website=Culture Crossfire |date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Saalbach">{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2176|title=Kintaro Oki|access-date=August 24, 2023|website=WrestlingData.com|first=Axel|last=Saalbach}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* [http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/kim_il/ Kim Il at Puroresu.com]
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=4199|wrestlingdata=2176|iwd=kintaro-oki-1021}}

{{All Asia Tag Team Championship}}
{{Korean Sports Hall of Fame}}
{{WWA World Heavyweight Championship}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ōki, Kintarō}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Deaths by myocardial infarction]]
[[Category:All Asia Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Japanese professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:All Asia Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:Gimhae Kim clan]]

[[Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers]]
[[ko:김일 (프로레슬링 선수)]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling executives]]
[[ja:大木金太郎]]
[[Category:South Korean Buddhists]]
[[Category:South Korean emigrants to Japan]]
[[Category:South Korean male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA Americas Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:NWA International Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA International Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:People from Goheung County]]
[[Category:Zainichi Korean professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Burials at Daejeon National Cemetery]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 10:00, 28 November 2024

This article is about the South Korean professional wrestler. For the North Korean amateur wrestler, see Kim Il (wrestler).

Kintarō Ōki
Kintarō Ōki in 1962
Birth nameKim Tae-sik[1]
Born(1929-02-24)February 24, 1929
Goheung, Zenranan-dō (South Jeolla Province), Korea, Empire of Japan
DiedOctober 26, 2006(2006-10-26) (aged 77)
Seoul, South Korea
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kim Il
Kintarō Kongo
Kintarō Ōki
Tetsurō Sato
Billed height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Billed weight120 kg (265 lb)[2]
Trained byRikidōzan[2]
Mr. Moto[2]
Yoshino Sato[2]
DebutNovember 1959[2]
Retired1982[2]
In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Tae-sik (February 24, 1929 – October 26, 2006) was a South Korean professional wrestler and ssireum player, better known by the ring names Kintarō Ōki (Japanese: 大木金太郎) and Kim Il (Korean: 김일; Hanja: 金一). His professional wrestling career spanned from the late-1950s to the early-1980s.[3]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Kim was originally a Ssireum player, but he had hopes of becoming a student of fellow Korean wrestler Rikidōzan, who had emigrated to Japan in 1940. He entered Japan illegally in 1958 to do so, but was arrested in 1959. After being released he was able to train with Rikidōzan and joined the Japan Wrestling Association (JWA).

Kim debuted in November 1959 under the ring name "Kintarō Ōki". On September 30, 1960, Ōki defeated fellow rookie Kanji Inoki (later Antonio Inoki), who was making his debut along with Shohei Baba (later Giant Baba). Ōki, Baba and Inoki were a rookie trio groomed to become the eventual successors to Rikidōzan himself. Ohki was also trained by Mr. Moto and Yoshino Sato.[4]

Upon Rikidōzan's murder in 1963, Ōki returned to his homeland to raise the profile of professional wrestling there. In 1964 and 1965 he went to Texas, where he competed for Big Time Wrestling in Dallas as "Kintarō Ōki" and for Dory Funk's Western States Sports promotion in Amarillo as "Tetsurō Sato". He'd return to Amarillo in 1970 under the ring name "Kim Il", along with another Dallas tour.

In 1964, Ōki faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz in what turned into a legitimate shoot contest. Originally scheduled for three falls, Ōki shot on Thesz in the first round. Ōki's move to shoot on Thesz ended things fast, as Thesz wounded him to the point that Ōki was stretchered off.[5]

After a brief JWA return in 1964 as "Kintarō Kongo", Ōki returned to the JWA when Toyonobori and Inoki left the promotion, though he returned the next year. In 1967, Ōki became the top star in Korea with his defeat of Mark Lewin to win the Worldwide Wrestling Associates World Heavyweight Championship. With this, the JWA wanted to rename him to "Rikidōzan", but the plan never went through.[4]

Ōki trained Kim Duk, who debuted in 1968.[6] The duo went on to team together, winning the NWA International Tag Team Championship twice and several awards.

Inoki and Baba left the JWA in 1972 to found the All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotions respectively in 1972, letting Ōki become the JWA's top star, winning the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.

In April 1973, the JWA closed and was absorbed into All Japan Pro Wrestling, and though Ōki competed for the new organization for a time he wrestled mostly as a freelancer in Japan and a main event star in South Korea, famously wrestling against his former fellow rookies Inoki and Baba in 1974 and 1975. He defended the NWA International Heavyweight Championship in International Wrestling Enterprise and South Korea until ordered by the NWA to vacate it in 1981.[4]

Following then Ōki did not compete much, with his official retirement card on April 2, 1995, held at a Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine sponsored show at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Wrestling legend Lou Thesz assisted Ōki at this, his last public appearance in Japan; Ōki was in a wheelchair at this time.

During his career Ōki also held the Far East Heavyweight Championship, All Asia Heavyweight Championship, and All Asia Tag Team Championship four times each, the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship four times, and the NWA International Tag Team Championship four times.[4]

Death

[edit]

Ōki died in the Eulji General Hospital in Seoul on October 26, 2006, of a heart attack brought on by chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.[7] In 2020, he was reburied in the Daejeon National Cemetery with the approval of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.[8]

Professional wrestling style and persona

[edit]

Ōki's finishing moves were a headbutt and a figure-four leglock.[2][6][8]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gスピリッツ Vol.56. Tatsumi Publishing [ja]. 2020. pp. 17–18. ISBN 4777826074.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Kintaro Oki". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  3. ^ 박치기왕 임종 이틀 전…“내 머릿속 큰 돌멩이 좀 빼줘” (in Korean). 7 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kintaro Ohki". Puroresu Dojo.
  5. ^ Lutzke, Andrew (30 December 2014). "When S*it got Real: Incidents of Pro Wrestling becoming a "Shoot" Vol. 4". Culture Crossfire. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b Saalbach, Axel. "Kintaro Oki". WrestlingData.com. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. ^ Kang, Seung-woo (26 October 2006). "Obituary". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Boram, Kim. "Late S. Korean pro wrestler Kim Il to be buried in nat'l cemetery". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Champion Carnival 1976". PUROLOVE.com (in German). Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Open Tag League 1977 « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Real World Tag League 1978". PUROLOVE.com (in German). December 1978. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Real World Tag League 1979". PUROLOVE.com (in German). Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Far East Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  14. ^ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  15. ^ "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  16. ^ "東京スポーツ プロレス大賞：選考経過（1974～1979）". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
[edit]
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