Wrestler Lee Wang-pyo leaves ring for good

Lee Wang-pyo kisses his World Wrestling Association (WWA) heavyweight champion belt before returning it during his retirement ceremony held at Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

A wrestling championship organized by the World Wrestling Association (WWA) was held to mark the retirement of professional wrestler Lee Wang-pyo at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, Monday.

Although the wrestler didn’t have a match, the 61-year-old returned his WWA heavyweight champion belt during the event, receiving fervent cheers from the 2,000 spectators in attendance.

In a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday, Lee said he will put his utmost efforts into fostering the sport.

Kim Il, left, a legendary professional wrestler poses with Lee Wang-pyo during his retirement ceremony in Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, March 25, 2000. Lee, who was known as the successor to Kim, also retired from his 40-year-long wrestling career, Monday, at the same place where Kim held a ceremony. / Korea Times file

“It has been 40 years since I began my career as a professional wrestler. I would like to express my gratitude to all wrestling fans. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them,” Lee said.

“But I also regret that I didn’t do much to expand the presence of the sport here. Though I announced my retirement yesterday, I will do my best to recover the falling popularity of pro-wrestling in Korea,” Lee said.

Lee made his debut in 1975 as a pupil of the late Korean wrestling legend Kim Il (1929-2006), who went by the Japanese name Kintaro Ohki while performing in Japan.

Lee Wang-pyo, right, in this October, 26, 2009 file photo, lays a drop kick on American wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Bob Sapp in a match at the Olympic Park Gymnasium, southern Seoul. / Korea Times file

Best known for his trademark move called the “dragon kick,” Lee competed in more than 1,600 matches during his career, claiming seven champion titles, including the WWA world heavyweight champion title.

Lee added that he plans to launch a new organization that can run both pro-wrestling and the mixed martial arts (MMA) events.

“Pro-wrestling witnessed its heyday in the 1960s and ‘70s here, but has since lost ground to other sports. To recover its popularity, I am planning to launch an organization that can both hold MMA and professional wresting events together,” Lee said.

He said his fiercest opponent was the biliary tract cancer he contracted two years ago.

“During my entire career, I was a champion seven times. But in 2013 I met my greatest opponent, which was cancer,” he said during his retirement ceremony, Monday.

“However, I overcame this difficult time thanks to the continued support from my fans. I think I have received more than I earned. I will never forget it.”

Lee will attend another WWA championship match in his home town of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, today.

The following is an excerpt of The Korea Times’ interview with Lee.

Q: You shed tears when announcing your retirement on Monday. How do you feel about ending your four-decade long career?

A:

Though I spent my youth wrestling, I thought I wouldn’t cry because I already had a hard time recovering from cancer.

But as soon as I stood up in the ring, every fan at the stadium chanted my name. I just became overwhelmed.

Q: After announcing your retirement, you were appointed as the World Wrestling Association’s chief in the Asian region. Tell us what you will do to expand the presence of professional wrestling in Asia.

As many people know, the popularity of professional wrestling in Asian countries including Korea is not as the same as it used to be.

The market size of Korea is small. So we need a new wave to bring back past glories, I will put my utmost efforts into cultivating China and the South East Asian countries, such as Philippines and Indonesia.

Though those countries are not familiar with professional wrestling yet, I think they are open for us.

Q: On Monday’s event, two young Korean wrestlers ― Jo Kyung-ho and Kim Min-ho ― said they are the last Korean wrestlers who are in their 20s. Do you have any plan to cultivate young pro wrestlers?

I admit that the circumstances around professional wrestling here are not favorable. But you should also know there are still many young talented wrestlers. But they are quitting this sport because they cannot earn enough money to manage life as a wrestler.

I think the most urgent task given to me is to establish a firm and fair system so that up-and-coming wrestlers can develop their dream. To do that, we need a good sponsor, good performers and a good governing body. Once those three work well, professional wrestling will be on the right track.

I will also reopen my gym, where I used to teach taekwondo and wrestling, in the near future. I stopped operating it after I contracted cancer.

Combining MMA and pro-wrestling

Q: You have expressed your plan to establish a new organization that combines MMA and professional wrestling. Tell us more about the plan.

I can guarantee biggest overseas mixed martial arts organizations such as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Pride FC couldn’t raise their status without help from professional wrestlers.

Many wrestlers participated from the beginning of those organizations and they paved the way for their success. Adopting these previous cases, I am going to launch a new organization that will hold MMA and professional wresting events in Korea.

Q: Tell us who can be your successor.

I think my successor should be a wrestler who can earn love from a large number of the audience.

When I was appointed as a successor to Kim Il, I already had credentials as a wrestler from my other performers and fans. I think this is not the time to name my successor. Once I set up a system in which wrestlers can compete with reasonable compensation, the most beloved player will eventually become my successor.