{{short description|South Korean professional wrestler (1943-1982)}} {{family name hatnote|Pak||lang=Korean}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Pak Song |image = Pak Song.jpeg |caption = |alt = |birth_name = Pak Song Nam |names = '''Pak Song'''<br/>Pak Song Nam<br/>Mr. Korea |height = {{height|ft=6|in=6}} |weight = {{convert|268|lb|kg|abbr=on}} |birth_date = {{birth date|1943|4|11|mf=y}} |birth_place = Jinju, Keishōnan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan<ref name="The_Chosun_Ilbo">{{Cite news|location=Seoul|language=ko|title=現役(현역)프로레슬러 朴松男歌謠界(박송남가요계)에|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1967021600239105005&editNo=1&printCount=1&publishDate=1967-02-16&officeId=00023&pageNo=5&printNo=14098&publishType=00010|newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|date=1967-02-16|accessdate=2023-06-08}}</ref> |death_date = {{death date and age|1982|10|24|1943|4|11|mf=y}}<ref name="The Dong-a Ilbo">{{Cite news|location=Seoul|language=ko|title=<巨人(거인)프로레슬러> 朴松男(박송남)씨 사망|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1982102600209208017&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1982-10-26&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=18788&publishType=00020|newspaper=The Dong-a Ilbo|date=1982-10-26|accessdate=2023-06-08}}</ref> |death_place = Seoul, South Korea |resides = |billed = |trainer = Kintarō Ōki |debut = 1966 |retired = c. 1980 }} '''Pak Song Nam''' (April 11, 1943 – October 24, 1982<ref name="The Dong-a Ilbo"/>) was a Korean professional wrestler who appeared primarily under the name '''Pak Song'''. He is notable for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) during the 1970s. His feud with Dusty Rhodes in 1974 is credited for making Rhodes one of the most popular "fan favorites" in the NWA's Florida territory.<ref name=Pope>{{cite book |last=Pope |first=Kristian |date=2005 |title=Tuff Stuff Professional Wrestling Field Guide: Legend and Lore |location= |publisher=Krause Publications |page=417 |isbn=0896892670 |access-date= }}</ref>
== Career == Song began wrestling in 1966 in Japan after being trained by Kintarō Ōki, known as Kim Il, who later became tag team partners for Japan Wrestling Association. He made his debut to North America in 1970 where he worked in Texas. That same year, Song defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship and teamed with Oki to capture the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship from Gorgeous George, Jr. and Rufus R. Jones. Song also fought in St. Louis. On September 16, 1972, Song lost to Harley Race in a tournament final for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/mo/mo-h.html |title=Missouri Heavyweight Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref>
In 1972, Song would make his debut for Championship Wrestling from Florida. He was portrayed as a martial artist, dubbed "The Korean Assassin", and broke wood and cement with his bare hands on television.<ref name=Pope/> Managed by Gary Hart, Song feuded with Dusty Rhodes, Hiro Matsuda, Jack Brisco and Terry Funk. Song's feud with Dusty Rhodes also worked in Georgia. Song would stay in Florida until 1979. He even was their heavyweight champion.<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/pak-song/|title=Pak Song Profile|accessdate=2020-06-09|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
During his time in Florida, Song worked in various territories in the States and a return to Japan in 1975 for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
On October 10, 1976, Song fought NWF World Heavyweight Champion Antonio Inoki in Seoul, South Korea where Song lost by count out in 18 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.puroresu.com/personalities/inoki/results/inoki_results1976.html |title=Antonio Inoki - Match Results: 1976 |work=Puroresu Dojo |access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>
After his time in Florida, Song returned Texas and St. Louis. In 1980, Song made his debut for Central States Wrestling where he teamed with Great Kabuki to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship defeating Bob Brown and Dick Murdoch. They dropped the titles to Bob Brown and Pat O'Connor.<ref name="CSW-TT"/> He would finish his career in the Texas-based Big Time Wrestling promotion. His last documented match was an eight-man elimination match with Stan Stasiak, Gino Hernandez and Gary Young against Bruiser Brody and The Von Erich Family (Fritz, Kevin and David Von Erich) at the Dallas Sportatorium on October 26, 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldclasswrestling.info/results/1980res.htm |title=RESULTS: 1980 |last=Dananay |first=John |work=WorldClassWrestling.info |publisher=World Class Memories |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120020830fw_/http://www.worldclasswrestling.info/results/1980res.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Pak Song died on the afternoon of October 24th, 1982, at Dangbu Hospital from complications of diabetes at the age of 39. Although some have speculated that Marfan syndrome contributed to his death,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pak Song Profile |url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/pak-song/ |website=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=8 June 2023 }}</ref> his obituary reported complications from diabetes as the cause.<ref>{{cite news |title=<巨人(거인)프로레슬러> 朴松男(박송남)씨 사망 |newspaper=The Dong-a Ilbo |language=ko |location=Seoul |date=26 October 1982 |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1982102600209208017&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1982-10-26&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=18788&publishType=00020 |access-date=8 June 2023 }}</ref>
Song was survived by his wife, Lee Hye-ran, a son, and a daughter.
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Big Time Wrestling''' **NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kim Il and Gino Hernandez<ref name="WCCW-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/nwa/nwa-tx-t.html |title=NWA Texas Tag Team Title (E. Texas) |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> *'''Central States Wrestling''' **NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takachiho<ref name="CSW-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-t.html |title=NWA Central States Tag Team Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> *'''Championship Wrestling from Florida''' **NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref name="CWF-FHW">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-h.html |title=Florida Heavyweight Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (2 times)<ref name="CWF-SHW">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-h.html |title=NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida) |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (3 time) – with Eric the Red, Mr. Uganda and Bugsy McGraw<ref name="CWF-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-t.html |title=Florida Tag Team Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (2 times) – with Jos LeDuc and Killer Khan<ref name="CWF-USTT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-us-t.html |title=NWA United States Tag Team Title (Florida) |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA United States Tag Team Championship Tournament (1979) – with Killer Khan<ref>[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=6180&page=16 Pak Song] Cagematch.net retrieved March 15, 2019</ref> *'''Georgia Championship Wrestling''' **NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Executioner<ref name="GCW-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html |title=NWA Georgia Tag Team Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> *'''Korean Wrestling Association''' **Far East Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chon Kyu-tok<ref name="fe-t">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=440139|title=KPWA Far East Heavyweight Tag Team Championship - Tag 1 |accessdate=2025-11-25|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref> **Korea Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Park Sung-mo<ref name="kr-t">{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/korea/kr-t.html|title=Korean Tag Team Title |accessdate=2024-12-22|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref> *'''NWA Hollywood Wrestling''' **NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="HW-H">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-h.html |title=NWA Americas Heavyweight Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Wrestling<ref name="HW-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-t.html |title=NWA Americas Tag Team Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> *'''NWA New Mexico''' **NWA Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="NM-RM">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/nm/rm-h.html |title=Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> *'''NWA Western States Sports''' **NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref name="WSS-H">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/w/nwa/ws-h.html |title=NWA Western States Heavyweight Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time)<ref name="WSS-BK">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/w/nwa/sw-bk.html |title=Texas Brass Knuckles Title (W. Texas) |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref> **NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kim Il<ref name="WSS-TT">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/w/nwa/ws-t.html |title=NWA Western States Tag Team Title |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=}}</ref>
==See also== * List of premature professional wrestling deaths
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=6180|title=Pak Song « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=Cagematch.net|accessdate=2017-08-03}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/pak-song-3730.html|title=Pak Song: Profile & Match Listing|website=Profightdb.com|accessdate=2017-08-03}} *{{cite web|url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=7232|title=Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database|website=Wrestlingdata.com|accessdate=2017-08-03}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pak Song}} Category:1940s births Category:1982 deaths Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:NWA Florida Heavyweight Champions Category:NWA Southern Heavyweight Champions (Florida version) Category:NWA Americas Heavyweight Champions Category:NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions Category:People with Marfan syndrome Category:South Korean male professional wrestlers Category:Sport wrestlers from Seoul