(ALL JAPAN) Pro Wrestling Time Capsule: Could Baba, the man who spearheaded the revival of pro wrestling's popularity, become the true successor to Rikidozan, the founder of Japan Pro?
With the birth of All Japan Pro Wrestling, presided over by Giant Baba, the world of Japanese professional wrestling was completely divided into four factions, and a cold war was seemingly breaking out as the New Year began.
It feels like things are falling into place.
Each pro wrestler's scheduled dates coincided with All Japan Pro Wrestling's traveling* Giant Series event on October 21st. "It's only natural, it just happened the way it did..." said international pro Isao Yoshihara with a bitter laugh. "I'm sure it'll be sorted out by next summer, but I'm sorry to leave it like this." Toyonobori of New Japan said with a complex expression, ""All of Riki's students are like that, but I think Inoki and Baba were the ones he really trained. I think they're both cute*." Of Yoshihara's interpersonal communication, Baba said, "I think Yoshihara is a really nice person, and I don't want to have a falling out, but if things continue like this, everyone will be ruined," as if to say that the reason for Yoshihara's departure and independence was because he was too kind-hearted.
We also spoke to Baba, a star wrestler who has been called the mainstream of Japanese professional wrestling by himself and others, and who has proudly called himself Rikidozan's direct line.
"I have been a professional wrestler for thirteen years now. Even after my teacher (Rikidozan) passed away, for the next nine years things were just as they were when he was alive. Pro wrestling never went into decline as rumored, and it was still being shown on television. It may have been declining to an unnoticeable degree, but I didn't really feel it until Inoki came along, but around February of this year, I started to notice a sudden drop in customers. Before I knew it, the company had become so small that the banks wouldn't even give us 30 million yen. As a member of the board, I feel responsible for how a company that once generated 890 million yen in annual revenue could end up like this, but for years, not a single opinion has been taken into consideration, and if things continued like this, we would all be ruined, so I decided that starting over from scratch would be the best way to protect the founder's path. I received full support from my regular colleagues at Nippon Television, and I left Japan Pro Wrestling and made seven trips back and forth to the US, where they were encouraged to lend me a hand to get started. Pro wrestling exists because of the wrestlers, so in order for them to continue to perform to their full potential, I believe it's important to provide a solid guarantee for when they can no longer continue as a wrestler. To solidify this, I'm planning to put in 100,000 yen per match. After five years, the money will exceed its value. So far, no wrestler has retired due to limitations on their rest, but referee Oki-san is already over 70 years old. He wouldn't be able to quit without receiving a pension after he retires. I think it's a waste of time. This situation can't continue forever. Something will happen in the world of professional wrestling next year. If it doesn't, things will become increasingly difficult. The only people who are happy with this situation are foreign wrestlers, because they can get a good salary...There's nothing more foolish than this! I'll never forget the struggles I had when I first went to the United States and was left to my own devices by my teacher, and how kind he was to me when we first met for a drink alone at his home after returning to Japan. He often scolded me in public, but I think that was his true self. Anyone who feels the same way about him as I do must not destroy the path he paved at the risk of his life. I've been sending out messages to people but the training is so tough that they're running away and getting weak. It's not even half as hard as it was when I was doing it, but some people are so excited just by watching me practice."
Knee-bending exercises 3,000 times in a row?... Rikidozan focused on Baba's leg and waist training.
It seems like it's been 13 years already since I wrote about Shohei Baba, (then 22 years old), a pitcher for the Giants, turning to professional wrestling. The announcement of his entry into the world of professional wrestling was made on March 11th, 1960, at the Naniwa-cho Wrestling Center.
After graduating from Sanjo Commercial High School in Niigata Prefecture in 1956, Baba joined the Yomiuri Giants due to his height of 2 meters 3 centimeters, but was cut from the team in November 1959. He then tried out for the Taiyo Giants, but weakened his left arm during training camp and was not selected.
As Baba straddled the top rope of the ring and slid in and out, Rikidozan looked up with his usual mischievous gaze and said, "With Baba's physique, he'll make a name for himself just by stepping into the ring. He has a promising future. I really like him." It seems like just the other day that he said, "I'll come up with a training method that suits Baba, develop him into a fine professional wrestler, train him thoroughly, and then send him to the United States to train."
Baba said, "When I left the Giants, there was still talk of me joining Taiyo, so I thought I could continue playing baseball. But when Taiyo went under, I felt like I was the only one abandoned by the team. But if baseball didn't work out, I wanted to somehow make a comeback in another field, so I chose professional wrestling. I'm not sure if I can become a professional wrestler, but my motivation is unmatched."
Baba apparently made up his mind after visiting the center several times while Rikidozan was in the US to negotiate for the second World Championships. Rikidozan returned on the 10th, the day before this announcement, so it seems he liked Baba at first sight and called him to arrange a meeting. When he returned to Japan, he brought along young Kanji Inoki (his junior Antonio Inoki), so the new trainee presentation took place over two consecutive days.
The training method best suited to Baba is, first and foremost, working his legs and hips. He places his hands on his hips, stands motionless, spreads his knees to the sides, drops his head, and then returns to his original position (a knee-bending exercise called the Hindu squat). It's a simple exercise, but it's a nightmare if you're forced to do it. He was always told that if he could do it a thousand times, "you will be given a Cadillac", but he knew he probably couldn't do it a hundred times, so he never tried. But apparently he was made to do it a whopping 3,000 times.
He was locked in a room of about three tatami mats and not let out until he could do it, a spartan treatment that completely ignored human rights. According to Baba, there were about five other people with him, and in the end, their feet were soaked with everyones sweat. Baba reminisces about how he felt he couldn't endure the course and thought about quitting many times. "When I was fired from the Giants, my monthly salary was 45,000 yen, so if I had found a place that would at least offer me 30,000 yen, I probably would have left. But my teacher was good at understanding people's feelings, so whenever I felt like leaving, he would always change the pace and say, "Practice is cancelled today, let's all play baseball together," denying me the opportunity. However, if he had taught me more scientific training than just my legs and hips, I think I would have developed a strong, powerful upper body and a physique that rivaled his. I regret that I missed out." Even Baba, now a top-class wrestler, seemed to let his guard down when it came to Rikidozan, and the conversation was lively and enjoyable.
Robust growth through authentic training
500 matches during a one-year and eight-month US tour
After passing the Rikidozan-style hard training, Baba went on his first tour of the United States in 1961 with Yoshinosato and Mammoth Suzuki. The three of them went their separate ways, and Baba's planned six-month stay ended up being extended to one year and eight months, with a record of over 500 matches. He fought in various battles mainly in Chicago, New York, Montreal, and Los Angeles, the main road walked by top wrestlers, the elite course, and around this time it was already being said of Baba that "Riki has found a worthy successor."
I also remember fondly the press conference that Baba held at Haneda Airport upon his return to Japan. He had traveled through Southeast Asia and Europe to train for the 5th World Championships, and had returned with Rikidozan, who had been in the US to train.
At 7:05 PM on March 17, 1963, at Haneda Airport, where Rikidozan had always been the only attraction, with other wrestlers hiding in his shadow, more than half of the fans' attention was focused on Baba.
As Rikidozan quickly disappeared with his fiancée, Atsuko Tanaka, the engagement to whom he had announced on New Year's Day. Everyone gathered around Baba, and filed into the airport lobby. At 2 meters 9 centimeters taller than when he first became a wrestler, Baba seemed to have grown even taller, and he completely stood out from the crowd by a mile. His melting smile and shaved face were brimming with confidence, completely free of the gloomy nervousness he had shown when he left for the US. Even at the press conference, which was moved to the Tokyu Hotel in Ginza, he stood solemnly beside poster boy Rikidozan, but as soon as he was asked a question he broke into a grin and lost his composure. This is a surprising change from Baba, who was unable to look Rikidozan in the face before he left for America. Perhaps it was his confidence that made him this way.
Rikidozan looked confident with Baba weighing in at 150kg and laughed, saying, "On the plane, people were asking me if this guy was really real".
"I've had a total of 502 matches and have hardly lost any tag matches. I've only had seven singles matches, so I never thought I'd be welcomed so well. I'm glad I became a professional wrestler," said Baba, to which Rikidozan urged him, "Your mother and sister are here. Go and meet them quickly," and Baba jumped up.
"Practice starts tomorrow. Oki and Inoki are getting stronger," Rikidozan called out from behind, to which Baba replied "Yes," and stood motionless for a moment.
Nine years later, when I met Baba up close, he had become a man who was thinking about the future of Japanese professional wrestling, putting his own concerns aside. Rikidozan's choice of him as one of his successors was not mistaken.
I'm sure Baba will demonstrate this with his skills.
A Look at Rikidozan's Succession
...All Japan Pro Wrestling's Grand Launch
Rikidozan's widow, Keiko, was the first to arrive at the entrance to the venue. Among the Baba family members waiting in line to welcome her were Yoshiharu and Mitsumichi. Coming in at the back was Baba, who was understandably nervous but never forgot to smile.
Stepping inside, there was the familiar full-body portrait of Rikidozan, bordered with yellow chrysanthemums. Brassie, Sammartino, and others were gathered in front of it. Standing next to him was Hara-kun from the NTV sports team, who had been running around in perfect harmony with Baba, with a look of relief and exhaustion on his face. He was my junior and I once helped him find a wife, but she dumped him*. But this time he was going to give it his all, as Hara-kun informed us as Rikidozan's World Heavyweight was placed before us.
Some old faces gathered, and Baba stood up in greeting. Perhaps due to the sunlight, he looked pale and on the verge of tears. His speech was short and rambling, but his sincere and heartfelt greeting touched my heart. Next, Kobayashi, the representative of the sponsor, NTV, said, "We will support Baba-kun to the best of our ability. "
Similarly, Hochi Shimbun President Okamoto gave a speech of encouragement, saying, "We will support you without reservation, regardless of right or wrong," and a toast was led by former prince Kayo. It was then anounced that Rikidozan's widow, Keiko, would serve as an official with All Japan. His eldest son Yoshihiro would serve as a ring announcer, and Mitsuo would participate as one of the affiliated wrestlers*.
Combined with the announcement a few days earlier that he was cutting ties with Japan Pro, when Rikidozan's championship was presented as a gift to celebrate Baba's departure, it felt like an announcement of Rikidozan's succession.
Both the pre-festival at Machida City Gymnasium on the 21st and the first final at Nihon University Auditorium on the 22nd kicked off with a festive atmosphere for the first time in a long time, and even included the added bonus of a wild, off-the-rails battle on TV, making for a great start. It's also typical of Baba to see the belt given to him by Rikidozan's widow as his first goal, saying, "I'll put it on once I've defeated five of the world's best wrestlers, just like my teacher did."
It should also be noted that on the 22nd, in the waiting room of Nihon University's auditorium, there was a beaming smile on the face of Mitsubishi Electric's Yoshihiko Okubo, who has an inseparable connection with professional wrestling.
Notes
Travelling event: Edo era term, which denotes something akin to a carnival.
Cute: Not as in cherubic cute, this means that you esteem someone, and when it comes to two people it is hard to say which one is better.
Yoshinosato: Junzo Yoshinosato
Dumped: Rare personal life insight from journalists.
Mitsuo & Yoshihiro: Rikidozan's sons by a Geisha called Aya. Keiko was their stepmother.
~ It is interesting to note how both Baba era All Japan started and ended with the words, "The widow".
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