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

~ Table of Content ~

Introduction
Profile
Championships and accomplishments
 


 

~ Related Subjects ~

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2) - Nippon TV (1) - Jumbo Tsuruta (1) - Antonio Inoki (1) - National Wrestling Alliance (1) - Prince (1) - World champion (1) - 1999 (album) (1) - Professional wrestler (1) - 1999 (1) - 1938 (1) - Baseball (1) - Japanese Wrestling Association (1) - Rikidozan (1) - Pitcher (1) -
 

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