Takumi Baba (馬場拓海, Baba Takumi) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a World Junior and International Junior Heavyweight Champion. He is also known for his work in Wrestle-1 and in the Japanese independent scene.[3]
| Takumi Baba | |
|---|---|
 Baba in May 2023 | |
| Born | March 11, 1999[1] Niigata, Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Takumi Baba |
| Billed height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2] |
| Billed weight | 80 kg (176 lb) |
| Debut | 2017 |
Professional wrestling career
editWrestle-1 (2017–2020)
editBaba made his professional wrestling debut in Wrestle-1 on the second night of the W-1 WRESTLE-1 Autumn Bout 2017 from November 12, where he teamed up with Koji Doi in a losing effort against Masayuki Kono and Shuji Kondo.[4] He continued working regularly for the company and even taking part in matches disputed for various accomplishments. At W-1 WRESTLE WARS on March 21, 2019, he competed in a rumble match for the Wrestle-1 Result Championship won by the retaining Kuma Arashi and also involving Sushi, Tsugutaka Sato, Ganseki Tanaka, Masayuki Mitomi and others.[5] He wrestled his final match for the company on January 25, 2020, at W-1 WRESTLE-1 Wrestle Soul Vol. 3 where he teamed up with Ganseki Tanaka in a losing effort against Shoki Kitamura and Takafumi Ito.[6]
Pro Wrestling Zero1 (2020–present)
editBaba made his debut in Pro Wrestling Zero1 at ZERO1 Winter Niigata Convention ~ Dream Series Winter on February 2, 2020, where he teamed up with Ikuto Hidaka to defeat Chris Vice and Yoshikazu Yokoyama.[7] Baba won both of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and International Junior Heavyweight Championship at Zero1 23rd Midsummer Festival on July 15, 2023, by defeating Leo Isaka.[8] At ZERO1 2nd Kameido Tenjin Shrine Pro Wrestling, Baba competed in a battle royal won by Ryo Hoshino and also involving notable opponents, both male and female such as Aja Kong, Masato Tanaka, Takuya Sugawara, and others.[9]
He is known for competing in one of the promotion's signature events, the Tenkaichi Junior tournament in which he made his debut at the 2021 edition, where he fell short to Junta Miyawaki in the first rounds. At the 2022 edition, Baba placed himself in the Block A of the competition where he scored a total of ten points after going against Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Takuro Niki, Andy Wu and Yasu Kubota, failing to qualify to the finals.[10] At the 2023 edition, he fell short to Astro Black in the first rounds.[11] Another signature tournament he has competed in is the Furinkazan, where he made his first appearance at the 2023 edition by teaming up with Takumi Saito, falling short to Rikiya Fudo and Tsugutaka Sato in the first rounds.[12]
Big Japan Pro Wrestling (2020–present)
editBaba often competed in cross-over events promoted by Zero1 and Big Japan Pro Wrestling. The first event of this kind in which he competed was BJW/ZERO1 Clash on December 4, 2020, where he teamed up with Shoki Kitamura in a losing effort against El Lindaman and Kota Sekifuda.[13] At BJW/ZERO1/2AW Great Clash, a cross-over eventr also promoted alongside 2AW on December 24, 2021, Bab teamed up with Shoki Kitamura and Takuya Sugawara in a losing effort against Chicharito Shoki, Tomato Kaji and Shu Asakawa.[14]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Pro Wrestling Zero1
- NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[15]
- Junior Tag Tournament (2024)– With Takuya Sugawara
- International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[16]
References
edit- ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Takumi Baba • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Takumi Baba/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Takumi Baba Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Wrestle-1 (November 12, 2017). 「WRESTLE-1 TOUR 2017 AUTUMN BOUT」11.12埼玉・えすぽわーる伊佐沼大会当日券＆サイン会情報. w-1.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved January 18, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Dark Angelita (March 27, 2019). "W-1: "Wrestle Wars" Todos los titulos en disputa". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "WRESTLE-1 Wrestle Soul Vol.3". w-1.co.jp. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Purolove (February 2, 2020). "ZERO1 "WINTER NIIGATA SHOW ~ DREAM SERIES WINTER CAMP", 02.02.2020". purolove.com. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (July 16, 2023). "ZERO1 Results: MidSummer Fire Festival 2023 Day 5 – Niigata, Japan (7/15)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Black, Ethan (August 26, 2023). "Zero1 Second Kameido Tenjin Shrine Pro Wrestling Results – August 26, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Dark Angelita (October 28, 2022). "Zero1: "Tenka Ichi Jr. Tournament" Final, Shoki Kitamura es el ganador". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ Dark Angelita (September 13, 2023). "Nueva empresa de Kaiju luchadores, se anuncia el torneo Tenkaichi y más". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Black, Ethan (November 23, 2023). "Zero1 Furinkazan Tag Team Tournament Results – November 23, 2023". pwmania.com.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (December 4, 2020). "BJW/ZERO1 Results: Clash – Tokyo, Japan (12/4)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (December 24, 2021). "BJW/2AW/ZERO1 Results: Great Clash – Tokyo, Japan (12/24)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Wrestling Titles. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 World Junior Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Wrestling Titles. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 International Junior Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.