Shohei Baba

Sh?hei Baba (1938–1999) was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba.

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Before entering professional wrestling he had been a baseball pitcher. This, combined with his large size (above average for a Japanese), made him an instant star in his teacher Rikidozan's promotion, the Japanese Wrestling Association. With his dojo classmate and later promotional rival, Antonio Inoki, they formed a tag team that won the NWA International Tag Team Title a record four times, a record that Baba would break later with another partner, Jumbo Tsuruta.

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In 1972, with JWA on the decline, Baba formed his own promotion, All Japan Pro Wrestling, with the backing of Nippon TV. All Japan eventually took over the JWA's spot in the National Wrestling Alliance after its collapse, and under Baba's strong business acumen, the rest of the NWA's talent, from the World champion on down, enjoyed an amazing run in Japan. Baba himself was able to win the belt three times, although his reigns were short and limited to Japanese territory.

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By 1984 Baba was a shell of his former self and began phasing himself out to give rise to the next generation of wrestlers, led by Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu. He became, by his own choice, a curtain-jerker - slow-moving, and only winning against mid-card talent.

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He had his last match in 1998, prior to being confined to a hospital bed, in which he eventually died of cancer.

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1938: 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar)....

1999: :For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album)...

Professional wrestler: REDIRECT Professional wrestling...

Shohei Baba related Images and Photos (experimental)

Baba Yaga	Ali Baba	Ali Baba Goes to Town Eddie Cantor (Center) 1937	Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
MMA Fighters - Baba	Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves DVD (Full Frame)	Ali Baba Goes to Town Eddie Cantor 1937	Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Maria Montez 1944
Star Wars Walrus Man Ponda Baba Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figure	Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looey Salt and Pepper Shakers	Baba Yaga the Witch There She was Beating with the Pestle and Sweeping with the Besom	Mount Olympus as Seen Between Larissa and Baba Plate 22 from Part 4 of "Views in Greece"