Real Name - Shohei Baba
Lifespan - 1/23/38 - 1/31/99
6'10" 330 lbs. - Sanjyo, Japan

Aliases - none

Athletic background - Baseball

Teachers - (Rikidozan's Dojo)

Professional background - JWA(`60-`71), US(`61-), All Japan(`71-`99)

Groups - none

Peak Years - `63-`74

Career Highlights -
- Makes his glorious return to Japan and goes forty-five minutes with Killer Kowalski
- Returns to JWA again and takes over Rikidozen's ace position
- Wrestles Gene Kiniski in an NWA International vs. World title match that goes to a 65-minute draw
- Starts All Japan Pro-Wrestling (and the "King's Road") after JWA begins to die
- Creates a traditional, more physical style of wrestling in the 90s

Finisher(s) -
- Falling Neckbreaker

Favorites -
- Northern Chop (Overhead Chop)
- Side Russian Leg Sweep
- Falling Armbar
- Swinging Neckbreaker
- Big Boot

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 5
science - 4
aerial - 2
power - 5
strikes - 3

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 5
selling - 6
bumping - 6
carrying - 4
heat - 10
legacy - 10

Serious Injuries - Arm?

Place in History - At first look one might poke fun at the barrel chest, skinny limbs and abnormal hieght, but Shohei Baba did far more for wrestling that juvenile comments only display ignorance. Rikidozan, Japan's greatest wrestling hero, would pass his ace position onto only two men: Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. Baba first became a huge success in the US, where he did unprecidented feats before returning to Japan and becoming a megastar. After the JWA was dying he began All Japan Pro-Wrestling and the King's Road began. A true visionary, Baba reformed the company in 1990 and promoted a style that defined great wrestling of this generation. A true legend and perhaps after Rikidozan he is puroresu's greatest hero.