Shohei Baba

Shohei Baba
Born	(1938-01-23)January 23, 1938 Sanjo, Niigata, Japan
Died	January 31, 1999(1999-01-31) (aged 61) Tokyo, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Giant Baba Shohei Baba Big Baba Baba The Giant Great Baba Ishope Baba Babyface Baba Giant Zebra
Billed height	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Billed weight	128 kg (282 lb)
Trained by	Rikidōzan Great Togo Fred Atkins
Debut	September 30, 1960
Retired	December 5, 1998

Shohei Baba (Baba Shōhei, January 23, 1938 – January 31, 1999) was a Japanese professional wrestler. He was co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his time, with a popularity in Japan that was like Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America. He was also a 3 time NWA Champion.

Baba died on January 31, 1999 from cancer.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Coconut Crush (Side headlock facebreaker knee smash)
  • Running neckbreaker

• Signature moves
  • Big boot
  • DDT
  • Dropkick
  • Overhead chop
  • Russian legsweep

• Nicknames
  • "The Giant of the East"

Championships and accomplishments

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Jumbo Tsuruta
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • PWF World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
  • Champion's Carnival (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)
  • World's Strongest Tag Team League (1978, 1980) – with Jumbo Tsuruta

• Japan Wrestling Association
  • NWA International Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Michiaki Yoshimura (1), Antonio Inoki (4), and Seiji Sakaguchi (1)
  • World Big League (6 times)

• NWA Detroit
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with Jumbo Tsuruta

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #10 of the 100 best tag teams during the PWI Years - with Jumbo Tsuruta in 2003.

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Class of 2008

• Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
  • Wrestler of the Year (1975, 1979)
  • Outstanding Performance Award (1974, 1980)
  • Special Popularity Award (1976)
  • Popularity Award (1988)
  • Special Grand Award (1977, 1980)
  • 30th Anniversary Special Achievement Award (1990)
  • Special Award for breaking 5000 Matches (1993)
  • Special Achievement Award (1999)
  • Tag Team of the Year (1978, 1980, 1982)- with Jumbo Tsuruta
  • Match of the Year (1979)- with Antonio Inoki vs. Abdullah The Butcher and Tiger Jeet Singh on August 26, 1979
  • Match of the Year (1980)- with Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. on December 11, 1980
  • Match of the Year (1981)- vs. Verne Gagne on January 18, 1981
  • Match of the Year (1982)- vs. Stan Hansen on February 4, 1982

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • 5 Star Match (1994) with Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi vs. Masanobu Fuchi, Akira Taue, and Toshiaki Kawada on February 13
  • Best Booker (1989-1991)
  • Promoter of the Year (1990-1994)
  • Worst Tag Team (1990, 1991) with André the Giant
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)