GIANT BABA vs. HORST HOFFMAN

Giant Baba vs. Horst Hoffman
ALL JAPAN, The World Open League
Dec 18 1975 Kawasaki-Shi Taiikukan (Kawasaki)

Because Dory Funk Jr. drew with Jumbo Tsuruta at the semi-final match, the situation was favorable to Giant Baba. If Baba defeated Hoffman at the main event, he would win the championship of this league. Of course, Baba was the superstar and the big boss of ALL JAPAN. Everyone knew that Baba would be the winner. It may have been unfortunate for Hoffman that he was nominated to the last opponent of Baba. Even now I think he was a good technician, but his atmosphere was very quiet, and he didn't fit ALL JAPAN's style. Surprisingly, Hoffman lost to a young rookie Jumbo Tsuruta in this league.

Once I traced Hoffman's career, but I couldn't get information about him after he retired from pro-wrestling. I remember that he formed a tag team with Bill Robinson in The World Tag League 1977, and I thought it was the good team of technicians of former Europe champions. But as a matter of fact, they say they were at odds with each other. And in that league I saw Hoffman for the last time. If Hoffman had belonged to NEW JAPAN, he would have showed good fights with Antonio Inoki.

To tell the truth, I remember little things about this match. Today I watched this fight after a long time (It was 37 years ago !!). Hoffman could not attack effectively very tall Baba, but he showed good Side Suplex. It was his only highlight scene. Baba calmly used Kawazu Otoshi (Russian Leg Sweep) and Neck Breaker Drop. The referee Joe Higuchi beat the ring three times, and Baba won the championship of this league series.

At that time, Baba was joining hands with NWA and AWA, and he took a pride in this luxurious league that many famous wrestlers gathered on the ring of ALL JAPAN. It seemed that Baba was in the lead perfectly. But a big match of NEW JAPAN also came true. Inoki fought against Bill Robinson in December 11, 1975. NEW JAPAN invited a superstar wrestler for the first time except for special guests, Thesz and Gotch. And then, the business war between Baba and Inoki gradually grew severe.