Bob backlund

[Guest tank_abbott]

. Backlund held the WWF title for a record FIVE years, and drew thousands with his "All American Boy" gimmick. Then, in 1983 Vince McMahon decided it was time for a change and asked Backlund to dye his hair pink and become a punk-rocking heel. Backlund balked, the title was switched to the Iron Sheik, Backlund walked out of the WWF, and Hulkamania was born.

 

Any truth to this?

[Guest Frankie Williams]

I think he wanted Backlung to dye his hair black. I never heard anything about the punk rocker gimmick, but I know McMahon wanted Backlund to go heel. By the way, Backlunds 5 year reign wasnt the record for the WWF title. Brunos first reign lasted over 7 years.

[Guest mastermind]

Backlund as a punk rocker? *LOL* First time hearing that part of the story. Actually at another old school forum where fans go way back. I mean people who saw Bruno live in action state that Backlund really didn't know he would job to Shiek like that. Others say he did, but get this joke though. One poster who claims he is close to Backlund *He showed proof through home pictures and whatnot* stated that his wife didn't believe Backlund when he said wrestling was a work. So to lose the title Backlund stated he wouldn't lose to anyone without wrestling skills. Sheik got the nod or something because of the olympics. He jobbed to Sheik because of his wife not believing the business was a work. Okay, this was pointless, but it must be true because who in the hell in their right mind would think up something so outrageous *lol*.

[Guest muzanisa]

That would be cruel. Imagine the poor Woman thinking that he really was being targeted by the Grand Wizard and that Kamala was going to attack him with a spear.

[Guest dreamer420]

Backlund was great because he looked like a normal hick from anywhere in the US.  His red hair, pale white skin, and boring ring gear were his trademark so changing his look was a horrible idea.

[Guest swan]

He didn't walk out of the WWF after the switch and in fact headlined the garden several more times after the title match because the WWF was running A and B shows at the time.

[Guest dreamer420]

Why did he leave and then return like 9 years later?

[Guest swan]

Why did he leave and then return like 9 years later?

He left because his gimmick had no place in the new WWF.Or should I say lack of. Why did he return? Same reason just about everyother wrestler does, for a payday.

[Guest dreamer420]

At least he got a pretty good push once he was back.

[Guest Drury37]

I met Bob Backlund like 2 and a half years ago at a WWF house show at the New Haven Colliseum in New Haven, Connecticut and he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

Thanks.

[Guest dreamer420]

Was he in his crazy character or did you get to talk to the real guy?

[Guest Drury37]

I got to talk to the real guy,he shook my hand and told me to keep the smile up it looks great!!!

Thanks.

[Guest nWoScorpion]

Samamrtino holds the record, and after Backlund was screwed ove rwith the damn towel incident (which wasnt booked) he left about 2 months after.

[Guest Drury37]

The towel thing wasn't booked?!?!That's crazy,I always thought that was supposed to happen and he just used it in his gimmick when he came back that he was angry about that, he really was robbed out of the title.The two wrestlers I met in my whole life have been Bret Hart and Bob Backlund, HAHA!!!

Thank.

[Guest swan]

The towel thing wasn't booked?!?!That's crazy,I always thought that was supposed to happen and he just used it in his gimmick when he came back that he was angry about that, he really was robbed out of the title.The two wrestlers I met in my whole life have been Bret Hart and Bob Backlund, HAHA!!!

Thank.

Bob was always booked to lose the match. After the WWF signed Hogan away from the AWA they knew they had to get the title on him fast (If you have ever seen the screw ball finish @ Wrestlerock when the crowd nearly rioted legit when they thought Hogan won the belt but the decision was reversed and the belt given back to Nick Bockwinkel, you’d know why, just super over). Anyways a babyface vs. babyface match for a major title just didn’t happen in those days so the Iron Sheik was chosen as the transition champion for Hogan.

[Guest Drury37]

Oh ok so it was set that he was going to lose with the throwing in the towel thing.That's what I always thought.

Thanks.

[Guest swan]

Oh ok so it was set that he was going to lose with the throwing in the towel thing.That's what I always thought.

Thanks.

Let me clear this up. I don't think the towel part was booked in the match. Backland was in the camel clutch, the towel came in and the ref called for the bell since he took the towel as a sign the match needed to stop then. I believe Bob's manager through it in cause he feared of a legit injury.

[Guest swan]

The following is from ask 1wrestling.com. Jan 2002 page 6:

 

"Did Bob Backlund know Arnold Skaaland was throwing in the towel the night he lost to The Iron Sheik? I was at the Garden that night and you could hear a pin drop when the decision was announced.

 

Yes. There have been stories about Skaaland “double crossing” Backlund on the finish of this match, but Backlund was well aware that he was dropping the title. He not only did an angle shortly thereafter to reintroduce his title successor Hulk Hogan into the promotion, he also stayed in the WWF and worked house shows for another six months or so, including headlining Madison Square Garden vs. Greg Valentine in April 1984"

[Guest dreamer420]

I don't think Backlund would have stuck around the WWF after they screwed him to take the title away.

[Guest Drury37]

Oh ok,that's what I thought,I just got very confused there for a while.Thanks for clearing that all up for me.

Thanks.

[Guest nWoScorpion]

Let me find MY site. Backlund said he would drop it, but wasnt aware it was going to be like how it ended. Picture Wendi Richter/Faboulous Moolah except guys and you get the picture.

[Guest nWoScorpion]

Also if he wasnt screwed, why did he leave wrestling for 10 years?

[Guest Jericholic82]

actually backlund didnt leave wrestling for 10 years, he was in a couple of indys and Mick Foley himself said in his book that he met backlund at a indy show at his high school (micks dad introduced him to the promoter and when he saw the dude love video he thought he found a star so he sent mick to denucci and the rest is history) and backlund also was on a uwf ppv i belive i read it in the pwi almanac.  

 

 

and backlund wasn't champ for 5 years, backlund lost the title in 82 i think to Antonio Inoki in Japan but later regained it, the wwf didnt acknowledge that till years later, but they mention it on their title history website so its official, so backlund is actually a 3 time wwf champion.

[Guest swan]

Let me find MY site. Backlund said he would drop it, but wasnt aware it was going to be like how it ended. Picture Wendi Richter/Faboulous Moolah except guys and you get the picture.

Not quite the same. Wendi was unaware she was going to lose to the masked Moolah that night.

[Guest dreamer420]

Sounds more like Survivor Series 1998 to me.

[Guest Drury37]

Sounds more like Survivor Series 1998 to me.

Wait,do you mean 1997?

Thanks.

[Guest]

(1) Bob Backlund 78/02/20 New York, NY defeats Graham

 

-Antonio Inoki 79/11/30 Tokushima, JAPAN defeats Backlund

Backlund pins Inoki in a rematch in Tokyo, JAPAN on 1979/12/06, but WWF president Hisashi Shinma declares the match to be no-contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh; Shinma gives the belt back to Inoki, but he does not accept it.  

 

(2)Bob Backlund 79/12/12 New York, NY defeats Bobby Duncum for the vacant title.

-title held up on 1981/10/19 when Greg Valentine is mistakenly given the belt by a dazed referee after being pinned by Backlund.  

 

(3) Bob Backlund 81/11/23 New York, NY

Defeats Greg Valentine in rematch.

 

-Iron Sheik 83/12/26 New York, NY

Wins title when manager Arnold Skoaland throws in the towel while Backland is in the camel clutch.  

 

And then #4 was against Bret.  

 

Also, Bob didn't headline many MSG cards after the loss to the sheik.  He headlined 2 against Valentine, and then left.

[Guest dreamer420]

Nope, i meant 98.  Screwjob finish, without a real screwjob.