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Shohei Baba began his athletic career in Baseball, joining the Yomiuri
Giants baseball team as a pitcher right out of high school. Baba wasn't
very successful, but his giant body made him a hit in the wrestling business.
He formed a very successful tag team with the legendary Antonio Inoki to
compete in the JWA in the late 1950s before moving to the United States
in 1961 where he wrestled matches in the NWA.
 
Baba returned to Japan to form All Japan Pro Wrestling in July of 1961
and the company rivaled Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro wrestling. All Japan
had a very strong relationship with the NWA and had talent exchanges with
the Texas wing, including Dory Funk Sr. and Fritz Von Erich and Jim Crocket
Jr in Mid Atlantic. Giant Baba became the first Japanese wrestler to wear
the NWA World Heavyweight Title by defeating Jack Brisco in 1974. Baba
returned to the United States to team with Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro
Tenyru to defeat Harley Race and the Irwins at AWA SuperClash.
The Giant Baba also enjoyed a good relationship with the World Wrestling
Federation and promoted a joint card on April 13, 1990 at the Tokyo Dome
in Japan. There, Giant Baba teamed with a waning Andre the Giant to defeat
Ax and Smash of Demolition, who had recently won the World Tag Team Titles,
in a non-title match. In February of 1999, the Giant Baba passed away as
a result of cancer. Baba's legacy as a former NWA World Champion and as
the founder of one of Japan's great wrestling organizations is more than
enough to warrant his place here in the UWOW Hall of Fame.
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Shohei Baba began his athletic career in Baseball, joining the Yomiuri
Giants baseball team as a pitcher right out of high school. Baba wasn't
very successful, but his giant body made him a hit in the wrestling business.
He formed a very successful tag team with the legendary Antonio Inoki to
compete in the JWA in the late 1950s before moving to the United States
in 1961 where he wrestled matches in the NWA.
Baba returned to Japan to form All Japan Pro Wrestling in July of 1961
and the company rivaled Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro wrestling. All Japan
had a very strong relationship with the NWA and had talent exchanges with
the Texas wing, including Dory Funk Sr. and Fritz Von Erich and Jim Crocket
Jr in Mid Atlantic. Giant Baba became the first Japanese wrestler to wear
the NWA World Heavyweight Title by defeating Jack Brisco in 1974. Baba
returned to the United States to team with Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro
Tenyru to defeat Harley Race and the Irwins at AWA SuperClash.
The Giant Baba also enjoyed a good relationship with the World Wrestling
Federation and promoted a joint card on April 13, 1990 at the Tokyo Dome
in Japan. There, Giant Baba teamed with a waning Andre the Giant to defeat
Ax and Smash of Demolition, who had recently won the World Tag Team Titles,
in a non-title match. In February of 1999, the Giant Baba passed away as
a result of cancer. Baba's legacy as a former NWA World Champion and as
the founder of one of Japan's great wrestling organizations is more than
enough to warrant his place here in the UWOW Hall of Fame.