True, but combine that with his less than stellar consistency in TNA and he doesn't have near the longevity that Baba had as a top star.
At the moment, New Japan is considered the greatest (in terms of quality) company in the wrestling world. It has achieved critical acclaim the world over. In less than a year AJ Styles, at the age of 37, has won their top title twice in the midst of their hottest period
ever.
Giant Baba was wrestling in his late 50s and not even competing in his own companys most competitive period.
Not really. It's the same argument that Misawa and Santo face every year. Just because they didn't venture outside their countries doesn't mean they would just auto lose to someone who wasn't an undisputed top name in America. Styles wasn't. He was a moderate to big fish in a small promotion. [yes TNA is still small compared to WWE/NJPW/CMLL.]
But the point is Baba
did venture outside the country and he lost. He was only world champion on
his own watch. We aren't on Baba's watch, he won't be perceived as a mega star as he were in Japan. He'll be seen as some big Japanese fella squaring off with this fairly well-known and very talented American.
NJPW also didn't have the working relationship with the NWA that Baba and AJPW did. Most foreign wrestlers who became big in Japan during the 70's did so because they went through Baba. He was even vice president of the NWA at one point. And that was still the top promotion in the world then. Even more so than the WWE.
Baba went to foreign markets and got beat including for the NWA. You think the territories were talking about the great Giant Baba competing in Japan as if he were a top star equal to say a Harley Race in the early 80s? Unlikely.
Inoki came to North America and was praised as an international sensation, marketed as a top star and recognised because of his mainstream attention courtesy of his (admittedly pathetic) fight with Muhammad Ali.
People stop in the streets and bow to Inoki as if he were God himself. It's considered an honour to be slapped by him and rite of passage.
I've never heard such stories about Baba. In fact type Giant Baba and popularity into Google and the only posts are quoting an unsourced Wikipedia article which claims Baba's popularity was equal to Hogan this very thread where you are quoted.
Now you're the one underestimating Baba my friend. I'm sure the smarks that frequent the TNA shows would know who he is. Especially if they revere AJ enough to follow his career in Japan.
The people who would attend a show in North Dakota are hardly going to all be smarks are they? So who do the casual fans cheer for? The American who does the flips and the technical jazz or the big lumbering Japanese bloke?
And besides the smarks would still cheer for AJ because he does the flippies and shiz.
Of course. But both of those men were on a entirely different level than AJ Styles or the TNA belt ever have been. I could understand your argument better if Styles were say, Steve Austin, but he's not.
Were they? Buddy Rogers is remembered as the first WWWF Champion and as the first Nature Boy...that's it for the most part. The history books are favourable to him because Vince McMahon remembers him fondly. He was never regarded in that upper echelon (forgive the pun) that someone like Bruno is.
On the subject of Bruno, take him to North Dakota and he would receive a similar treatment to Baba I'd wager; respectful reception because he's a known name. He was a regional mega star but if he'd wrestled in California or Texas or the Carolinas he would never have been as popular. Baba falls into a similar category. Would he have been as popular in the States had he wrestled there full time. Probably not.
You don't have to be Steve Austin. AJ Styles would be more known in North Dakota than Giant Baba, regardless of the smark crowd.
And he held those key positions due to his consistency and popularity in the first place.
This seems like a chicken or the egg question: was Baba popular because he booked himself into such a position or was he in such a position because he was popular. Given that he was the founder, owner and booker of All Japan, it looks like the former.
Shouldn't it though? Isn't that half the reason why modern stars like HHH and Austin go as far as they always do?
We no: HHH is a notorious under-achiever in this tournament and Austin has only won two previously in spite of being considered one of the two greatest legends in western wrestling, ever.
I don't understand the "he founded the promotion and made himself champion so that's a detriment" argument. AJPW took off in the first place because Baba was that popular with the fans. He made it work for 30 years because he was that popular with the fans. At his peak he could draw 50,000+ and a million dollar gate at the Tokyo Dome twice a year. TNA's biggest gate was Lockdown 2013 I believe, when AJ wasn't even on the card.
It's the same as the Verne Gagne thing: Verne was AWA Champion ten times. He would have always been a major star regardless, but the fact he was booking himself to hold the belt more times and longer than anyone else always raises a red flag. The same with Triple H being married to Steph.
Baba being in control and giving himself the belt looks like politicking rather than credentials. You factor in the fact that AJPW's zenith wasn't until Baba had largely retired. It was only when he stepped aside and Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi were the main guys that it reached its peak thus his reigns don't exactly look like they were best for business.
Baba also had some weird phobia about the Tokyo Dome. He only took AJPW there (crossover shows not withstanding) in the late 90s where they drew a 50,000+ crowd. It could be construed by some that Baba somewhat held AJPW back by not going to that well like New Japan did and still do.
It's really not. And you should vote Baba. It's the right thing to do.
We'll see...
