Baba undergoes intense training

Weekly Pro 

(Issue 11, 1972)

Just before the trip to Hawaii, The Sheik was slaughtered and support poured in...

Ahead of the big match on October 21st, Giant Baba flew to America and was busy training and expanding his setup. 

In Hawaii, he defeated the Arabian Monster, The Sheik. He also received encouragement from top-class fighters such as Pedro Morales and Wahoo McDaniel, and in Texas he joined up with Koma, Okuma, Joe Higuchi, and others. After that, he flew to New York...

A surprising number of visitors arrive (in the HIC waiting room)

The Indian hero Wahoo McDaniel also greets Baba with a "nice to meet you." Just as you'd expect from Giant Baba, he has the presence of a top-class athlete.

The New York champion Pedro Morales suddenly appears, saying, "I know you're going to do it, I'll be cheering for you."

The greeting between the best friends is short, but their hearts connect in an instant...

Giant Baba vs The Shiek (HIC)

Baba vs The Shiek, a rivalry match. Baba attacks overwhelmingly, blocking Shiek's weapon attacks. The Shiek escapes to the waiting room midway through the match, and Baba follows...

Giant Baba in Amarillo, Texas

(Although the article doesn't mention it, Amarillo in 1972 was when Baba first met Dory Funk Jnr, which would have a major impact on All Japan).

Joe Higuchi, who is currently training to be a referee in Texas, was also there. Joe's cowboy style is unusual...

Atsushi Koma and Motoshi Ōkuma support Baba. They are both reliable members of the "Baba family."

Notes

Atsushi Koma: He left Japan Pro with Baba, and helped launch All Japan, and afterwards assisted Joe Higuchi to bring over foreign wrestlers, and train the younger ones. He also went with Jumbo Tsuruta to Amarillo in 1973. He retired in January 1976 and died two months later on March 10th due to renal failure caused by uremia. He was very young at only 35. All Japan had a ten bell salute, Baba was so shocked by his sudden death, he could only say "Why?". As a person, he was very strict, and once struck Haru Sonoda for turning up and being dressed inappropriately. Close to Baba, he was the only one (according to Great Kojika) who could "address his opinions head on".  

Motoshi Ōkuma: Former sumo wrestler. He joined Japan Pro, became Baba's attendant, and debuted after one month. He left Japan Pro with Baba and joined All Japan, where he remained until his death from acute renal failure in December 1992. He never retired due to ill health, as Stan Hansen said, "He was an old school, old school wrestler just like me", who never complained or grumbled about anything. Ironically, his Okuma's last match in December 1992, was also Andre the Giants final match, as Andre died a month later.