Shohei Baba
Acting
Biography
Shohei Baba (馬場 正平, Baba Shōhei), best known by his ring name Giant Baba (ジャイアント馬場, Jaianto Baba), was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter. Baba is best known as a co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), a promotion he founded in 1972 along with Mitsuo Momota and Yoshihiro Momota, the sons of Rikidōzan. Along with being the top star of All Japan its first ten years of existence, Baba served as the booker, promoter, head trainer and president of the promotion from its inception in 1972 to his death in 1999. Baba was also responsible for recruiting much of the talent for All Japan, and was the public face of the promotion for much of his lifetime. Considered one of the most beloved Japanese wrestlers ever, Baba was a national hero with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan in the United States. The 2006 Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan survey ranked Baba the 92nd greatest person in the history of Japan, as voted for by the general public. Among his many accomplishments, Baba was a record seven-time winner of the Champion Carnival, a four-time PWF World Heavyweight Champion, three time NWA International Heavyweight Champion and a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. He is overall a three-time world champion by winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on three occasions which is considered a legitimate world champion as counterpart to the WWE Championship.
Known For
Finding truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality in the veiled world of professional wrestling.
Dark Side of the Ring
An undercover cop insinuates himself into a yakuza family. Managing to avert an assassination attack on the boss he is assigned to kill a rival boss.
Kamikaze Cop, Marihuana Syndicate
A hard-working section chief, fast approaching retirement and beset by stress from all directions, joins a jazz band and reignites his youthful passion for the music, giving him a chance to set things right in his life.
Kaisha monogatari: Memories of You
A combined WWF, AJPW and NJPW supershow: April 13th, 1990 from the Tokyo Dome.
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
The second Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held over two nights, April 10 and 11, 1987. The tournament included 24 tag teams.
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Nick Bockwinkel challenges Stan Hansen for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
AWA WrestleRock 1986
AWA Super Clash '85 – The Night of Champions was the first Super Clash professional wrestling supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). It was billed as AWA's flagship supercard, their biggest event of the year. The event was held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1985, only a few months after WrestleMania, which was promoted by rival WWE promotion. The show drew a paid attendance of 20,347, although it was announced as 25,000. Super Clash – Night of Champions was one of the co-promotional efforts by the AWA, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) to compete with WWE's increasing national presence and popularity. The jointly promoted venture was known as Pro Wrestling USA.
AWA Super Clash
The first Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held on April 19, 1986. The tournament featured 24 tag teams.
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
AJPW's Giant Series comes to a conclusion as Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi face off in a classic encounter.
AJPW October Giant Series 1998 - Day 18
Kevin Von Erich tangles with NWA World's Heavyweight Champion Harley Race with the 'Ten Pounds of Gold' up for grabs!
WCCW Star Wars (June 1983)
All Japan Pro Wrestling's October Giant Series rolls on with an epic clash between Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi.
AJPW October Giant Series 1997 - Day 18
AJPW's annual October Giant Series comes to a close. Mitsuharu Misawa makes his first title defense against his tag team partner Toshiaki Kawada.
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
All Japan Pro Wrestling's Summer Action Series rolls on, featuring two instant classic matches in a double main event.