The hopes and fears of Baba's independence for the development of Japanese professional wrestling, which is just a month away
Weekly Pro
(Issue 10, 1972)
1. His ideal style of pro wrestling
2. What steps will he take to recruit foreign wrestlers?
3. What will the lineup of the new promotion be?
4. Solving the mystery of his week in the US
5. The reaction of the home crowd to Baba's independence
It has been over a month since Giant Baba declared his independence. In the meantime, no concrete steps have been taken towards achieving this, and it seemed as if this sudden statement would end up being nothing more than firing a blank. However, in silence, Baba has been steadily moving towards his goal of "ideal pro wrestling". The implementation of the plan has been set for one month, and the details of the plan are being prepared for the announcement. So, as a sign of support for Baba, let's take a look at some of our hopes and fears regarding his independence.
(The photo shows Giant Baba relinquishing the Inter Championship three-way belt at the Japan Pro Wrestling office in Daikanyama*, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo on September 2nd)
A show that will delight the discerning eyes of fans who are committed to the rigors of professionalism
1. His ideal style of pro wrestling
Q: I understand that Baba-san's true motivation for going independent was to pursue his ideal style of wrestling? What does that mean specifically?
BABA: Well, there are many things to consider when you suddenly say that. The most fundamental thing is to do wrestling that will please today's wrestling fans. Of course, that doesn't mean that what we've done up until now is no good. But it's been twenty years since wrestling really took root in Japan, and the way wrestling fans view it has changed a lot, so we who do wrestling have to grow as well.
Q: So how will you change it?
BABA: There are alot of fine issues. First of all, it is important to invite better foreign wrestlers, and there is also the issue of matchmaking. That said, matches are not planned, so there is no telling how they will play out. But at least an expert should be able to tell what combinations are completely uninteresting. That is also where the difficulty of matchmaking lies, and with the right combinations, it should be possible to put on matches that will please the fans even more. At the same time, it is also important to research fresh techniques and use them as much as possible.
Q: That means each and every wrestler has to be more committed to being a professional.
BABA: Of course, when you earn your money from wrestling, that is something you have to be aware of. For example, in my case, I've always tried to do my best with a sense of responsibility as a champion, but there are many points that contradict this. It may sound strange to say this, but if I did this in the American wrestling world, I would drop out immediately. As a pro, you have to be more strict and responsible for what you do. Wrestlers who don't put on good matches won't get booked, and their pay will drop...if there is such a strict system, then the wrestlers will work hard with a "what the hell" attitude. In return, if they put on good matches, they will be rewarded as professionals.
Q: If we go by that line of thinking, wouldn't it be better for wrestlers to be freelancers or have a manager system like in the US, rather than being trained in a gym system?
BABA: That's certainly true. In Japan, all professional sports are gym based...and sumo wrestling has stables, which of course translates into money, but it can also be about honor (like titles). Also, professional boxing is run by gyms, while professional wrestling is run by agencies and associations, so it seems like the wrestlers are allowed to grow too easily under one big roof. This is very dangerous, so something needs to be done. To achieve this, the most ideal situation would be freelance wrestlers, but it may be difficult to make this a reality right now. So, even if it's just a gym system, it would be best for the promoters to sign clear "contracts" with them, that way they can bind the wrestlers to them, and the wrestlers in return can make their own claims.
Q: People say that Japanese wrestling is currently in a rut...
BABA: I suppose you could look at it that way. Frankly speaking, not much has changed since it started... the wrestlers, the match format, the titles, the wrestlers' abilities... Looking at it this way, we have to reflect on it again.
Q: Do you have any specific plans to change that?
BABA: I think it would be good to have a full scale Asian tournament around this time, but after all, Japanese wrestling can't be all about America. It is necessary to establish a pro wrestling style in Asia or the Pacific coast, while keeping close to the real America. If we were to gather wrestlers from Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, etc., and add Japanese wrestlers to the tournament, I think fans would be interested in it again. Of course, if we do it, it won't be something casual, it will be something serious.
Q: How about a cage death match*, or some other type of match format?
BABA: It's something that has to be considered on a case-by-case basis, but it's probably not something that can be done right now. Generally, a death match is something that is only used when there is no conclusion no matter what other means, so it's probably not something to be done right now.
Q: Do you have any ideas for wrestling on TV?
BABA: This is the most important thing. Television, for example, has the greatest power to help fans understand professional wrestling the quickest way. The way it is broadcast can completely change how people perceive it. We leave the most detailed techniques up to the TV stations, and just do our best. However, I think it would be a good idea to let people know about our training and matches abroad through TV.
2. What steps will he take to recruit foreign wrestlers?
The biggest issue for Baba as he pursues his new style of pro wrestling going forward will be the issue of inviting foreign wrestlers. An insider said, "Don't worry, Baba's "face" is popular all over the world in the wrestling world, so there's nothing to worry about. All it takes is a little word from him and big names will come one after another."
But it won't be that easy.
It is true that Baba is one of Japan's leading professional wrestlers, and he has a long career in America.
BABA: I guess that is something we'll have to do eventually. But at this time, it's weird for Japanese guys to say things like, "Hey, I'm the stronger one," or "No, I'm stronger than you." Of course, if the fans really want them to do it, they should do it, but they need to become a real "professional".
In fact, he has achieved the unbelievable feat of challenging for three world titles in a row in the US. He challenged three men: the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz, WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino, and the WWA World Heavyweight Champion The Destroyer. Unfortunately, he was unable to win the title. However, the name "Baba The Giant" resounded throughout the world of wrestling, which is an unprecedented achievement in its history. As for the specific issue, I think it would be a good idea to wait until he gets a foreign commission before doing it.
Q: Any final words?
BABA: Even when I say ideal pro wrestling, frankly speaking, I'm still feeling my way around it... I'm just going to keep trying my best, and at any rate, pro wrestling that the fans will be happy with.
For now, that's his only goal. When it comes to inviting wrestlers, he needs to set a high bar. For example, Japanese professional wrestling has mostly been on the NWA route up until now. It used to be on the Great Togo line, but when the WWA was founded in Los Angeles, it was replaced by a line featuring Mike LaBelle, Jules Strongbow and and Mr. Moto at the Olympic Auditorium, and now that they've been absorbed into either the WWA or the NWA, they're basically called the NWA line. In response to this, International Pro Wrestling first tried to connect with European wrestling, this was partly because the influence of Japanese wrestling in America was too strong, but it also seems that they were trying to create a unique flavor to rival Japan Pro. After that, International gradually expanded into American wrestling and joined forces with the AWA, a rival force to the NWA. It is said that four wrestlers are currently being sent to the series by Verne Gagne of AWA.
Between these two major forces, Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro-Wrestling is struggling to attract wrestlers. Karl Gotch has made a desperate effort to gather enough wrestlers, but they can't be called top wrestlers, even as a compliment, because they don't have connections with the NWA or AWA. Inoki said, "Don't worry. I'm going to have more and more good wrestlers..." but this is clearly sour grapes, and the reality is very harsh. It cannot be said that there are no worries about Baba's actions, just as there were about Inoki. Fortunately, the NWA does not seem to harbor any ill feelings toward him for his actions this time, but I don't think things will be that simple. Those who are unfamiliar with the American wrestling may say, "Well, if you just pay the money, you should be able to bring in any number of good wrestlers..." but that's not the case. Of course, if you offer a dizzying amount of money, it's possible, but Baba himself is well aware of the difficulties mentioned above. "I will work on it carefully and without forcing myself. Fortunately, my friends are helping me out, so I think I can make it work," he said, in a cautious manner that is so characteristic of him.
On this thread, we can name names like Gene Kiniski, Bruno Sammartino, Fritz Von Erich, Pedro Morales, The Destroyer, Fred Blassie, Abdullah The Butcher, Dory Funk Jr. and Bobo Brazil. All of these guys are superstars who reign supreme in the world of wrestling. Of course, if all these guys were to come, it would be a big deal, but you know, it would probably be impossible considering the state of American wrestling.
But, how do you raise the funds to host these big names? From first rate to third rate, and how do you recoup that investment? There's no way it will add up. That's the difficult part about inviting wrestlers. If he can make a deal with them, he will be able to put together a very unique lineup. Baba will probably invite two or three big names to his first match after the inauguration. "If I'm going to do it, I want to do it properly. I want to choose an opponent who has as much connection to Japanese wrestling as possible, and who has a history with me," says Baba.
It seems The Destroyer is the top choice...
Baba and Destroyer are in a relationship where they are fighting life-or-death matches, but that is only in the ring. Destroyer even said, "Baba is a great wrestler. In the ring I'm his rival, but in private I respect him and would do anything for him." If I heard that Baba was taking up a new style of wrestling and was starting a new promotion, he would rush there first. I'm sure guys like Sammartino, Morales and Butcher feel the same way. In the ring they're big rivals who bleed with each other, but out of the ring they're best friends! This is how true wrestlers interact.
Some have speculated that the fact that Baba returned his two major international titles, the singles and tag titles, to the commission and is now without a title, may have an impact. Of course, it's better to have a title, but that shouldn't be a problem.
By the way, if Butcher comes to Japan, it would be interesting to see Baba challenge him for the NWF World Heavyweight Title.
Either way, Baba's gathering of wrestlers seems like it will be quite bold.
3. What will the lineup of the new promotion be?
Inviting foreign wrestlers is important, but the most important thing is the strength of the hosting team - that is, the Japanese team centered around Baba, and so in this respect, Ace Baba's presence is truly significant. No matter what anyone says, there is no doubt that Baba is number one in the Japanese wrestling in terms of both popularity and ability. One piece of data that can be considered to be a proof of this is the comeback that took place on Nippon Television. "I want to start a new promotion and try my ideal wrestling style. I was wondering if you could help me with that", just by asking them that, they were completely persuaded. Regarding this, New Japan Pro-Wrestling Managing Director Hiroshi Iwata said, "We were made to face the cruelty of TV stations, but we don't want to be in a business where we are manipulated by TV stations. It would be a different story if we had a half-and-half discussion." But it is undeniable that it was a major miscalculation. Inoki also maintained his strong stance, saying, "I have never negotiated with Nippon TV. I don't need TV. If there is no TV, the audience will come to watch live matches." However, according to a source, Inoki himself went around to greet people, asking for their support after finally being selected by Nippon Television.
In any case, it goes without saying how cold the TV stations are.
So, why did they choose Baba over Inoki? This is due to Mitsuo Momota, the second son of the late Rikidozan, who is currently working in Japan Pro Wrestling due to certain circumstances as a result of Nippon Television weighing Baba and Inoki. In giving Inoki, who already has a proven track record and could be brought to the TV screen any minute now, the cold shoulder, Nippon Television is betting on Baba, who is just starting out, but is still a mystery - this is not just a matter of obligation or human feelings. The answer is clear. But that being said, depth can't be achieved with just an ace alone. Undercard and mid card wrestlers are also needed, and a referee and ring announcer are also necessary. Do they have a clear picture? This is a tough situation for Baba, who said he "won't poach wrestlers from Japan Pro," but young wrestlers have already left to join him, and Koma and Okuma, who are currently wreaking havoc in Texas, are likely to follow the same course. This wasn't an invitation, and it's in line with Baba's policy of "don't turn away anyone who comes."
The man also said that he "wanted to test himself once more under Baba-san's tutelage,"
so it's highly likely that he will join. As for the referee, Joe Higuchi, who is currently affiliated with Japan Pro Wrestling, he has already submitted his resignation and is heading to America, so there is a good chance he will also participate*.
4. Solving the mystery of Baba's week in the US
First, on July 29th, he held a press conference at the Yasumisaka Prince Hotel where he clearly expressed his intention to become independent, and suddenly became the "man of the moment." After that, Japan Pro Wrestling chased him, saying "We want him to come back somehow," and it is true that there were several talks held, but according to Baba, "there was absolutely no point in talking about it because there was no support whatsoever," and the talks always ended in failure. The final statement was made by Giichi Hirai*, president of the Japan Pro Wrestling Association, said "Speaking of wrestlers, I think we need one or two more veterans. In that regard, the names of American wrestlers such as Hiro Matsuda*, Mr Saito*, Pak Song* and Mattie Suzuki* have been mentioned, and it will depend on Baba's negotiations, in addition there is a proposal for a an athlete who is not an established professional wrestler". This was the meeting of the 24th August, which also ended without Baba's approval. However, there are times when those in the martial arts, who are considered to be professional wrestlers express their intention to participate. Either way, there is no need to broaden the scope so quickly at the start, so it seems they are planning to settle in and get down to business.
The next day, Japan Pro Wrestling kicked off the second Summer Big Series at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Fans were anxious until the very end as to whether Baba would take part, but in the end it ended without him. Of course, Baba disappeared from NET TV, so this can be seen as a de facto statement of intent from Baba. Around that time, on the night of the 25th, Baba flew from Haneda International Airport to Los Angeles.
This was a "secret action" known only to his closest associates. After accepting Hirai's proposal and withdrawing from the Korakuen Hall show, Baba said, "Now everything is clear. From tomorrow I'll start working hard to create my own wrestling style", and the first step was going to Los Angeles. However, at this point, a company had not yet been registered and did not even have an office, so it was practically a blank slate. Of course, Baba himself probably had various plans up his sleeve, but in any case he flew to Los Angeles to explain to a certain person what had happened. That person was Mr Moto*, who was there. Mr Moto is like the Los Angeles ambassador for Japanese Pro, and for the past seven years, they have been inviting foreign wrestlers that have been booked by Moto. Moto's skills as a booker within the NWA's sphere of influence are considerable, and Japan Pro has been successful in "importing" some pretty big-name wrestlers so far.
And that's not all. When Japanese wrestlers tour America, Los Angeles is the first place they can get their foothold, and Moto is the one they can rely on. What Baba needs in order to pursue his own wrestling style in the future is the aforementioned route to invite foreign wrestlers. Whether Baba had any calculations like "In order to do that, I first need to get a grip on Los Angeles!" is unknown. Rather than that, I think Baba wanted to explain to Moto why he suddenly took such an independent action.
When Baba trained in America, Great Togo was the first person to take care of him, and since then they have had a relationship that is almost like that of a father and son, so perhaps Baba wanted Moto to understand his true motives. Television's wrestling director, accompanied Baba on this "secret mission," it is possible that he acted in a somewhat trusting manner.
Baba had this to say about that, "I hardly moved from my hotel in Los Angeles. There was too much noise around me in Japan, so my goal was to go to America and slowly think about my future. Did I meet Mr. Moto? Of course I did. I get along really well with Mr. Moto, and he's a big leader in this field, so I had to decipher a lot of things with him. But I didn't see any wrestling matches, and I didn't meet anyone other than Moto-san. After that, I went to Hawaii to relax for a bit, and came back with a clear decision. Well, it's like a kind of preliminary action, but everything is yet to come. I'll be doing the full-scale preparations throughout September, and then I'll start in October."
It's true, had he stayed in Japan, he would be drowning in the noise. The biggest part of that "noise" was when, despite Baba having said that he would "not step on the Japan Pro Wrestling mat," Japan Pro Wrestling suddenly chose Kintaro Ohki* as the challenger and announced that he would challenge Baba for the InterWrestling Championship. It all started when Baba declared his independence, saying something along the lines of "The International Championship is my personal title*, so it's not strange for me to hold it."
Baba has always been a gentleman on the subject of his independence, and he managed to avoid making trouble right until the very end.
On the surface, his week in America may have yielded no results, but for Baba, it may bring him a once-in-a-lifetime gift in the future.
5. The reaction of the home crowd to Baba's independence
The independence of Giant Baba, one of Japan's most famous wrestling stars, was quite a shocking piece of news for the American wrestling world as well. After all, Japan Pro cannot just sit back and let their ace, who is their biggest strength, go independent. When Antonio Inoki rebelled at the end of last year*, to be honest, the reaction from the American wrestling world was lukewarm. In other words, to put it bluntly, he was not much of an issue.
However, when it comes to Baba, the situation is a little different.
Mr. Moto, who arrived in Japan on the 31st, explains the recent situation as follows, "In Inoki's case, the issue was easy because he clearly stood up to the company, and at this year's NWA Convention (held at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada for three days on August 5th, 6th, and 7th), this was clearly explained by Japan Pro. As a result, the NWA clearly considers Inoki's New Japan Pro Wrestling to be an opposition. In that respect, Baba's actions this time are a little different. He didn't fight with the company, and he properly relinquished the title. That's why the NWA has no reason to have any ill will towards Baba. Of course, since he's leaving Japan Pro, we may not directly co-operate, but at the very least he isn't thought of as an opponent." Due to his position, Moto is not very forthright about it, but it seems that Baba's actions at this time were well received by the NWA leadership. The reasoning is as follows. For the NWA, it is important to secure the big market of Japan. For the NWA, it is not desirable for Inoki's New Japan Pro-Wrestling, which is the opposition, to suddenly rise to prominence on Channel 4 (Nippon TV). But that's not all. Inoki is calling wrestlers without going through the NWA or AWA pipeline, so I wonder if he's being rude. At that moment, Baba said, "I have a lot of good friends. Fritz (Eric Iron Claw), Sammartino, Morales, Destroyer and others from Texas called me about this. They were very worried and said they would do whatever they could." If Mr. Moto's words are true, then Baba's wide network of contacts is also a factor here. He declared his independence and stopped Inoki from appearing on Channel 4.
"Baba is a real man, he knows a lot... Putting a stop to Inoki's appearance on Channel 4 was a very sensible move," said one NWA executive. In other words, it was a move that was beneficial to the NWA. That said, NWA's big boss, Chairman Sam Masonic, has not made an official comment, and we don't know what Mike LaBelle in Los Angeles, the gateway to Japan, is thinking.
But it is clear that the mood toward Baba is generally good.
One insider warns, "It's not a good idea to rely too much on the NWA. Their business practices will soon take over the Japanese wrestling," but at least at this point in time, wrestling events cannot be held without their cooperation. If that is the case, then it can be said that for Baba, being held in authority is a bright spot in his future.
Notes
Daikanyama: These days Daikanyamacho is a stylish, Brooklyn-like quarter of brewpubs, coffee roasters, and gourmet delis. The shopping scene trends toward designer fashion and luxury accessories, with bookstores that double as galleries and cocktail bars
Baba in a death match: In later years, Atsushi Onita would ask Baba to appear in FMW in an exploding cage. Baba initially agreed but then apologetically told Onita he would have to withdraw as both Jumbo Tsuruta and Mitsuharu Misawa were against it.
Joe Higuchi: Like Baba, Higuchi would also found a lineage of referees, most notably in Noah.
Giichi Hirai: 1913 - 2007 (he outlived Baba), who had a varied career of a lawyer, accountant, singer, policitian, a Yokozuna Deliberation Committee member and president of Japan Pro
Hiro Matsuda: 1937-1999. He spent most of his early career in Mexico, Peru and America, because of his protest against Rikidozan's sumo stricture that he bought to wrestling (and Baba would adopt to a certain extent) that wrestlers should not take time off, as injuries can be cured with willpower. However, he did return to Japan Pro (after Rikidozan's death), and worked for both All Japan and New Japan. He died in 1999 in Tampa, Florida.
Mr Saito: Masa Saito
Pak Song: 1943-1982. South Korean wrestler who was born in the days of the Japanese empire in the pacific, he worked for All Japan in the mid 1970s, and retired in the early 1980s. He died at the young age of 39 due to Marfan Syndrome.
Matty Suzuki: Born in 1938 (Japan Pro said he was born in 1939) in Kanagawa, he debuted in Japan Pro and also worked for International Pro, and later All Japan. His wikipedia article says that he lives in Portland Oregon and works as a trader and business man.
Mr Moto: Masaru "Charlie" Iwamoto. Japanese Hawaiian, he competed in sumo, ironically under the name of "Shiranu", which became the name of Naomichi Marufuji's special finisher, who was Baba's last student. He had wrestled for Japan Pro during the mid 1960s, and also became a booker, especially for the foreign wrestlers. After his retirement he returned to America and remained the booker for American promotions, WWA and it's sucessor NWA. He died of valvular heart disease in 1996 in Los Angeles at the age of seventy-five.
Kintaro Ohki: Kim Tae-sik (February 24, 1929 – October 26, 2006), South Korean pro wrestler.
"Personal title": This was not merely Baba being posessive. The title had originally been Rikidozan's, and had been retired on his death, it was resurrected for Baba to become the ace of the promotion with, so it's not surprising that he saw it as his own (i.e. it's not a story of a wrestler absconding with a belt and refusing to return it)
Inoki's rebellion: He tried to stage a coup, but was ousted.
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