Birth name Tom Cassett Debut 1986 Retired 1994 Billed weight 265 lb (120 kg) Trained by Eddie Sharkey | Billed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Name Teijo Khan | |
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Movies and TV shows Body Slam, AWA All-Star Wrestling | ||
Ring name(s) Teijo KhanTeijho Khan Died April 10, 2020 (aged 64) Spring Valley, Nevada Born March 24, 1956 (age 64), St. Paul, Minnesota Similar Tully Blanchard, Ric Flair, Nikita Koloff | ||
Tom Cassett was a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Teijo Khan/Teijho Khan. As Kahn Cassett portrayed an Asian savage despite being Caucasian. He worked as part of Paul Jones' Army in Jim Crockett Promotions and also worked for the American Wrestling Association (AWA).
Contents
- Professional wrestling career
- Film appearances
- In wrestling
- Championships and accomplishments
- Death
- References
Professional wrestling career
Cassett made his professional wrestling debut in 1986 portraying the Asian savage ring character Teijo Kahn (also spelled Teijho Kahn) despite being Caucasian. Cassett shaved his head bald and grew a thick Fu Manchu beard to try to look more Asian. Having Caucasians portray Asian characters were not unheard of in professional wrestling, examples such as Canadian Newton Tattrie working as Geeto Mongol or Florida native Chris Champion portraying Yoshi Kwan. As Teijo Kahn he worked as a heel, wrestling term for those that portray the bad guys, as part of manager Paul Jones's Paul Jones' Army. As part of the army he teamed up with The Barbarian, The Warlord, Abdullah the Butcher, Superstar Billy Graham, Shaska Whatley, Baron von Raschke, Manny Fernandez, Rick Rude, Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Petrov as part of their storyline feud with "The Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant, Wahoo McDaniel and Hector Guerrero. Kahn and Whatley teamed up for the 1987 Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup tag team Tournament. They defeated Jimmy Valiant and Lazer Tron in the first round, but lost to eventual tournament winners The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) in the next round.) Once the Army was dissolved Cassett resurfaced in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1988, still working as Teijo Kahn. In the AWA he worked as the tag team partner of Soldat Ustinov, assisting Ustinov in a storyline feud against former Army partner Baron von Raschke and later on Sgt. Slaughter as well. In 1991 Kahn won Pro Wrestling America's PWA Heavyweight Championship, defeating Charlie Norris to win the title, holding it for 69 days before losing it back to Norris.
Film appearances
In 1986, Cassett had a part in the movie Body Slam, where he portrayed a tag team, teaming with Sione Vailahi, also known as the Barbarian,managed by Captain Lou Albano. In 1992, he had a brief part in a movie called Equinox, where he played "I.M. Stong" and was telling people how to use a clothesline.
In wrestling
Championships and accomplishments
Death
Kasat passed away at his home in Spring Valley, NV, at the age of 64.