(ALL JAPAN) Baba's enthusiasm as a self-proclaimed manager

Weekly Pro

21st August 1984 (Issue No.55)

"I'll make Tiger Mask just as good as Tiger Sayama"

"Tiger Mask will definitely surpass the original," says Baba confidently.

Giant Baba, the man behind the second Tiger Mask's debut match at the Denen Coliseum on August 26th, appeared at TV Tokyo in Minato Ward, Tokyo on August 4th to appear on TV Tokyo's popular talk show "Lovely You." Giant Baba, noticing our reporter waiting for him, started the conversation by saying, "You're very enthusiastic despite it being so hot. I'm sure what you all want to hear about is Tiger Mask, right?" He looked full of confidence at the huge response to the new Tiger.

Q: Since the new Tiger Mask was born right after the original Tiger returned to the UWF ring, I expect there will be a lot of comparisons made between the two. 

BABA: Naturally, I was prepared for such a reaction. Since I created the second generation, it would be pointless if he didn't surpass the first, and of course I intend to make him surpass it.

Q: There are two weeks left until the controversial August 26th event. What is Tiger Mask's schedule during that time?

BABA: I'm going to the US on August 8th to attend the NWA General Meeting, and Tiger will be accompanying me, and I'll be providing special coaching in Hawaii on the way.

Q: Are there any matches scheduled for Tiger overseas in the meantime? 

BABA: After Hawaii, we plan to have him have one match in the US, and then have him go to Mexico. He will be training hard in Mexico until August 26th.

Q: Is this to develop a new technique suitable for the second generation's debut match? 

BABA: He is already training on his new special move. I am sure that Tiger's dexterity and good motor skills will live up to my expectations. Someone asked me if I wanted him to wear the exact same costume as the original Tiger, but this is the request of Tiger's creator, Mr. Kajiwara, so I intend to keep it the same as the original.

Q: What do you think about The Tiger, who is said to be joining UWF now?

BABA: This is seen as a problem of two Tigers existing at the same time, that is, a problem of name copyright.

 As long as The Tiger is in the UWF ring, there is no problem, but if he ever enters the New Japan ring, or if UWF gets on TV in the future, The Tiger will be a similar product that infringes on the name patent, and problems will arise.

Q: Even as we talk, your enthusiasm for New Tiger is amazing.

BABA: After all, I'm his manager (laughs). The other day, I received a request for an interview from a certain person at Shogakukan*, and after considering the content of the interview, I agreed. The photographer was also someone I specified, so I intend to answer his questions (laughs). Also, there's something I'd like to say on this occasion. I don't think that professional wrestling magazines would do this, but there's a risk that the general media will get carried away with the wrestling fever and focus all their interest on the revelation of Tiger's true identity. I would like to decline any interviews from such media in the future.

 

Notes

Shogakukan: A Japanese publisher of comics, magazines, light novels, dictionaries, literature, non-fiction, home media, and other media in Japan.