Shohei Baba

**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)- <small>with Jumbo Tsuruta</small>
    - Match of the Year (1979)- <small>with Antonio Inoki vs. Abdullah The Butcher and Tiger Jeet Singh on August 26, 1979</small>
    - Match of the Year (1980)- <small>with Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. on December 11, 1980</small>
    - Match of the Year (1981)- <small>vs. Verne Gagne on January 18, 1981</small>
    - Match of the Year (1982)- <small>vs. Stan Hansen on February 4, 1982</small>

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

## Infobox (wrestler)

- **name**: Shohei Baba
- **image**: Giant Baba 1962 Scan10011 161022b.jpg
- **names**: **Giant Baba**
Shohei Baba
Big Baba
Baba Andre the Giant, The Giant
Great Baba
Ishope Baba
Babyface Baba
Giant Zebra
- **birth place**: Sanjo, Niigata, Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, Niigata, Japan
- **death place**: Tokyo, Japan
- **debut**: September 30, 1960
- **retired**: December 5, 1998
- **trainer**: Rikidōzan
Great Togo
Fred Atkins


## Infobox (chinese)

- **kanji**: 馬場 正平
- **romaji**: Baba Shōhei
- **hiragana**: ばば しょうへい
- **katakana**: ババ ショウヘイ