Giant Baba

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.

Giant Baba is a 3-time World Champion.

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.

He was the founder of AJPW.

Profile Info

• GenderMale
• Real NameShohei 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)
• NationalityJapan
• Birth PlaceSanjo, 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)
• NicknamesTouyou no Kyojin
• NotesHe 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
  PromotionAJPW	December 6, 1998	January 31, 1999
  PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	October 21, 1972	December 5, 1998
  PromotionNWA	February 3, 1973	December 31, 1986
  PromotionJCP	November 8, 1986	December 19, 1986
  PromotionWCCW	June 15, 1983	June 17, 1983
  PromotionCSW, SLWC	February 11, 1983	February 11, 1983
  PromotionGCW	February 20, 1982	February 21, 1982
  PromotionBTW DETROIT	June 28, 1980	October 12, 1980
  PromotionWCW AUSTRALIA	April 1, 1977	April 2, 1977
  PromotionNWA, WSS	February 14, 1972	September 23, 1972
  PromotionJWA	April 3, 1964	June 10, 1972
  PromotionNWA, BTW HAWAII	November 13, 1968	March 25, 1970
  PromotionNWA	September 7, 1961	March 19, 1965
  PromotionBTW HAWAII	October 9, 1963	March 19, 1965
  PromotionWWA HOLLYWOOD	December 4, 1964	March 10, 1965
  PromotionWWA HOLLYWOOD	January 15, 1964	March 27, 1964
  PromotionNWA DETROIT	November 30, 1963	February 8, 1964
  PromotionJWA	May 6, 1963	May 24, 1963
  PromotionWWA HOLLYWOOD	December 29, 1962	March 15, 1963
  PromotionFKE	October 20, 1961	December 28, 1962
  PromotionCWC	September 7, 1961	December 11, 1962
  PromotionWWA HOLLYWOOD	July 19, 1961	October 7, 1961
  PromotionJWA	September 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

• Career Awards

• • NWA Hall of Fame - Individual (Year2014)
  • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - International (Year2008)

• National Wrestling Alliance

  • x3 NWA World Heavyweight Championship

• 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)

Games Appearances (3)

Virtual Pro Wrestling 2

Wcw Vs The World

SuperStar Pro Wrestling