Career
He participated in the foundation of New Japan of 1972 and the foundation of UWF in 1984. In 2005, after four years in retirement, Kido returned to the ring. Osamu Kido made his debut for Japanese Wrestling Association on February 21, 1969, against Motoyuki Kitazawa.
When Antonio Inoki was expelled from JWA in 1971, Kido followed suit and helped Inoki form a new promotion called New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972.
In 1975, Kido and Tatsumi Fujinami were sent abroad to Europe, to participate in an international tournament in Germany. Kido returned to NJPW in February 1976.
However, due to his simplistic wrestling style and lack of expression, he was relegated to opening and mid-card matches. After eight years, Kido left NJPW to join UWF by Karl Gotch"s recommendation.
In the UWF, Kido gained popularity with his mat skills.
After the UWF promotion fell apart, Kido and most of the UWF roster returned to NJPW in December 1985, setting the stage for the original NJPW versus UWF feud. The feud showcased Kido higher up on the matches. They would hold on to the titles for over a month, before losing the titles back to Fujinami and Kimura on September 23, 1986.
As Maeda and most of the UWF stars decided to restart the UWF as Newborn UWF in 1988, Kido decided to stay in NJPW, because "his father (Karl Gotch) wasn"t there."
In 1992, New Japan entered another interpromotional feud with WAR, and Kido proved to NJPW"s ace in the hole, as WAR lacked submission-based wrestlers.
Later that year, he teamed with Fujinami for the Super Grade Tag League. They tied for second place with thirteen points with the team of Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto.
In 1994, he took part in the G1 Climax. He placed dead last in Block A with two points.
Later that year, he teamed with Scott Norton to take part in the Super Grade Tag League.
They tied for second place with ten points with the team of Tatsumi Fujinami and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. In 1995, Kido teamed with Kazuo Yamazaki for the Super Grade Tag League. They lost to Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the finals.
Five years later, he took part in his last tournament in NJPW, the G1 Climax.
He placed dead last on Block B with no points, tying with Hiro Saito. On November 2, 2001, Kido wrestled his retirement match, teaming with Riki Choshu, wrestling Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura to a time-limit draw.
Aside from a battle royal in May 2003, Kido would focus on training rookies at the NJPW Dojo, including Shinsuke Nakamura. In 2005, Kido came out of retirement to wrestle for Big Mouth Loud.
After BML dissolved in 2010, Kido became a freelancer, wrestling select shows for various promotions.
Finishing moves
Fujiwara armbar
Kido Clutch (Reverse side roll cradle)
Signature moves
Diving knee drop
Dropkick
Swinging neckbreaker
Toe kick
Entrance themes
"Black Impulse" by Tight Rope (1972–1985)
"Black Rider" by Shunichi Tokura (1986–present)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Akira Maeda
Universal Wrestling Federation
Three Tour Tournament (1985).