Kintaro Ohki

Professional wrestling career 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". His name was not meant come off as relative to head referee Shikina Ōki; however, the name itself was chosen by Rikidōzan. 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.

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, 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. World's Strongest Tag Determination Fair Play Award (1977) – with Kim Duk World's Strongest Tag Determination Effort Award (1978) – with Kim Duk World's Strongest Tag Determination Team Play Award (1979) – with Kim Duk Japan Wrestling Association All Asia Heavyweight Championship (2 times) All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Michiaki Yoshimura (3 times) and Antonio Inoki (1 time) NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – Seiji Sakaguchi (1 time) and Umanosuke Ueda (1 time) Korean Wrestling Association Far East Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA Big Time Wrestling NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pak Song Tokyo Sports Fighting Spirit Award (1975) Service Award (2006) Western States Sports NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Pak Song Worldwide Wrestling Associates WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Moto WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Moto Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996) Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Korean Sports Hall of Fame (2018)