Giant Baba

Giant Baba was the ring name of Shohei Baba (1938–1999), a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who co-founded All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972.

Antonio Inoki: Antonio Inoki was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His rival promotion and contrasting wrestling style made him Baba’s central counterpart in Japanese wrestling.
All Japan Pro Wrestling: All Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1972. Baba co-founded and led the promotion, building its roster and defining its identity.
Professional wrestling: Professional wrestling is a staged athletic performance combining simulated combat, storytelling, and live entertainment. Baba’s ring career and promotional work operated within this performance form.
Shohei Baba: Shohei Baba was the birth name of Japanese professional wrestler and promoter Giant Baba. The ring name Giant Baba became the public identity of Shohei Baba.
Rikidōzan: Rikidōzan was a Korean-born Japanese wrestler who became a major postwar sports and media figure. Baba trained under Rikidōzan and emerged as one of his leading protégés.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: New Japan Pro-Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. Its competition with Baba’s All Japan defined the split between Japan’s two leading promotions.
Professional wrestling match: A professional wrestling match is a planned contest presented as a live athletic competition. Baba’s imposing presence and deliberate pacing shaped how his matches were presented.
Yomiuri Giants: The Yomiuri Giants are a professional baseball team based in Tokyo and a major force in Japanese baseball. Baba began his professional sports career as a pitcher in the Giants organization.
Jumbo Tsuruta: Jumbo Tsuruta was a Japanese professional wrestler and a major star of All Japan Pro Wrestling. Baba developed Tsuruta into the promotion’s leading native wrestler after his own in-ring career waned.
King's Road: King’s Road is a Japanese wrestling style associated with escalating, long-form matches and dramatic heavyweight rivalries. All Japan’s booking under Baba fostered the style later identified with the promotion.

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