On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Giant Baba, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Shohei Baba (馬場 正平) was born in Sanjo, Niigata, Japan on January 23, 1938.
He died on January 31, 1999 at the age of 61.
He was the founder of AJPW.
Giant Baba was inducted in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2014 and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2008 as part of the International wing.
Giant Baba Profile Index
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Shohei Baba (馬場 正平)
- Ring Names
- Giant Baba ( October 6, 1961 - January 31, 1999)
- Shohei Baba ( September 30, 1960 - December 1, 1964)
- Born January 23, 1938
- Died January 31, 1999 (aged 61)
- Nationality
Japan - Birth Place Sanjo, Niigata, Japan
- Billed From
- Japan ( September 30, 1960 - January 31, 1999)
- Height 6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
- Weight
- 310 lbs (141 kg) ( September 30, 1960 - January 31, 1999)
- Nicknames Touyou no Kyojin
- Notes He was the founder of AJPW.
Career History
-
Roles
- Promoter, Producer, Coach ( October 21, 1972 - January 31, 1999)
- President ( April 1, 1989 - January 31, 1999)
- Wrestler ( September 30, 1960 - December 5, 1998)
- President ( October 21, 1972 - December 31, 1981)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
AJPWDecember 6, 1998 January 31, 1999 Promotion AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
October 21, 1972 December 5, 1998 Promotion 
NWAFebruary 3, 1973 December 31, 1986 Promotion 
JCPNovember 8, 1986 December 19, 1986 Promotion 
WCCWJune 15, 1983 June 17, 1983 Promotion 
CSW, 
SLWCFebruary 11, 1983 February 11, 1983 Promotion 
GCWFebruary 20, 1982 February 21, 1982 Promotion 
BTW DETROITJune 28, 1980 October 12, 1980 Promotion 
WCW AUSTRALIAApril 1, 1977 April 2, 1977 Promotion NWA, 
WSSFebruary 14, 1972 September 23, 1972 Promotion 
JWAApril 3, 1964 June 10, 1972 Promotion NWA, 
BTW HAWAIINovember 13, 1968 March 25, 1970 Promotion NWASeptember 7, 1961 March 19, 1965 Promotion BTW HAWAIIOctober 9, 1963 March 19, 1965 Promotion 
WWA HOLLYWOODDecember 4, 1964 March 10, 1965 Promotion WWA HOLLYWOODJanuary 15, 1964 March 27, 1964 Promotion NWA DETROITNovember 30, 1963 February 8, 1964 Promotion JWAMay 6, 1963 May 24, 1963 Promotion WWA HOLLYWOODDecember 29, 1962 March 15, 1963 Promotion 
FKEOctober 20, 1961 December 28, 1962 Promotion 
CWCSeptember 7, 1961 December 11, 1962 Promotion WWA HOLLYWOODJuly 19, 1961 October 7, 1961 Promotion JWASeptember 30, 1960 June 30, 1961 -
Images History
Jan 1985
Oct 1972
Mar 1967
Jan 1963
Sep 1960 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details from to Face November 24, 1965 January 31, 1999 Tweener September 30, 1960 November 23, 1965
-
Finishers
- Coconut Crush - Side Headlock Facebreaker Knee Smash ( September 30, 1960 - January 31, 1999)
- Running Neckbreaker ( September 30, 1960 - January 31, 1999)
-
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Soul of a Champion" by Shun Jitsukawa - Single - Single ( January 1, 1984 - January 31, 1999)
- Theme Song "NTV Sports March" by Yasuhiko Shiozawa - Single - Single ( January 1, 1975 - December 31, 1983)
Titles & Accomplishments
-
Halls of Fame
- NWA Hall of Fame - Year 2014, Individual
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2008, International
-
National Wrestling Alliance
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 All Asia Heavyweight Championship
- 6 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- 3 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 4 PWF World Heavyweight Championship
Japan Wrestling Association
- 3 All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 with Toyonobori, 1 with Michiaki Yoshimura)
- 3 NWA International Heavyweight Championship
- 6 NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 with Michiaki Yoshimura, 4 with Antonio Inoki, 1 with Seiji Sakaguchi)
NWA Detroit
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship - Detroit version (with Jumbo Tsuruta)
-
Other Accomplishments
- International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2021)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Winner (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Winner (1978, 1980 - with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Distinguished Award (1977 - with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Skill Award (1985 - with Dory Funk Jr.)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Special Award (1988 - with Rusher Kimura)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League East Sports Special Award (1991 - with André the Giant)
- JWA World Big League Winner (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972)
- Nippon Professional Baseball Best Pitcher Award (1956, 1957, 1959)
- Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Award (1978, 1980, 1982 - with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- Tokyo Sports Outstanding Performance Award (1974, 1980)
- Tokyo Sports Popularity Award (1976, 1988)
- Tokyo Sports 30th Anniversary Special Achievement Award (1990)
- Tokyo Sports Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1979 - with Antonio Inoki vs. Abdullah The Butcher & Tiger Jeet Singh on 08/26; 1980 - with Jumbo Tsuruta vs. The Funks on 12/11; 1981 - vs. Verne Gagne on 01/18; 1982 - vs. Stan Hansen on 02/04)
- Tokyo Sports Special Award for breaking 5000 matches (1993)
- Tokyo Sports Special Grand Prize (1983)
- Tokyo Sports Wrestler of the Year (1975, 1979)
- 10° in PWI Years Tag Teams (2003) with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- 26° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- WON Most Underrated Wrestler (1989-1991)
- WON Promoter of the Year (1990-1994)
- WON Worst Tag Team (1990, 1991 with Andre the Giant)
- 92° in the Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan (2006)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- André the Giant & Giant Baba - André the Giant ( April 13, 1990 - December 4, 1992)
- Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta - Jumbo Tsuruta ( November 27, 1973 - March 28, 1988)
- Tokyo Towers - Seiji Sakaguchi ( May 11, 1969 - September 7, 1972)
- B-I Cannon - Antonio Inoki ( September 22, 1967 - December 7, 1971)
