Giant Baba was a Japanese national hero who redefined professional wrestling through honest business.
In short: Shohei Baba, known as Giant Baba, transitioned from a promising baseball career to become a legendary wrestler and promoter. As the co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling, he built a promotion defined by integrity and talent, earning him a reputation as the most honest promoter in the wrestling business.
Born in 1938, Shohei Baba suffered from gigantism, which ended his early baseball career but propelled him into professional wrestling. After training in the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance alongside Antonio Inoki, Baba became a major star in both Japan and the United States. In 1972, he founded All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he served as president, booker, and top star until his death in 1999. His influence was immense; he was ranked the 93rd greatest person in Japanese history in a 2006 survey.
Baba was renowned for his business ethics, famously preferring handshake agreements over formal contracts. He maintained a reputation for keeping his word regarding match finishes and payroll, which earned him deep respect among his peers. Under his leadership, All Japan Pro Wrestling reached unprecedented heights in the 1990s, selling out over 250 consecutive shows in Tokyo. His commitment to the sport was absolute; between 1960 and 1984, he wrestled 3,000 consecutive matches without missing a single booking.
Despite his public success, Baba was a private man who avoided the typical lifestyle of a wrestler. He kept his final battle with colon cancer a secret from even his closest employees to avoid causing them worry. He passed away on January 31, 1999, at age 61. His legacy persists through the wrestlers he trained and the promotion he built, which remains a cornerstone of Japanese sports entertainment history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Giant Baba
- Also: Art Institute of Chicago — Giant · CC0 (data); description CC BY 4.0
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