STW - Bob Backlund [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Bob Backlund

Robert Louis Backlund was born on August 14, 1949 in Princeton, Minnesota. The infamous story of Backlund not being able to read or write until junior college is true. Backlund wrestled for North Dakota State University in the late 60s into the early 70s and won the Division II NCAA Championship at 190 pounds in 1971. Backlund was trained for his career by the infamous Eddie Sharkey.

What is your first memory of Bob Backlund?

Backlund debuts in the AWA in 1973 as a clean cut babyface in what was always a bland territory.

Wrestling Observer 4/22/13

In 1976, when Bruno Sammartino told Vincent James McMahon that he was giving up the WWWF championship, McMahon said he wanted to have an All-American wrestler, like a Jack Brisco or Verne Gagne type, as his champion. He contacted both Eddie Graham and Sam Muchnick, who both recommended Backlund. Realizing it would take time to get Backlund over to his audience, McMahon put together a long-term plan where Superstar Billy Graham would win the title in April 1977, away from New York because he didn’t want Sammartino losing in Madison Square Garden due to concern of how fans would react, and Backlund would beat Graham on February 20, 1978, in Madison Square Garden. McMahon had that all lined up in 1976. Backlund was brought in with a huge push on television, never losing. He had been working in the Florida territory, and on leaving, lost a television match to Bob Orton Jr. Florida TV aired in New York at the time, and McMahon was furious at Eddie Graham for putting that match on television.

Have you ever talked to Vince about his father’s decision and if he had any regrets making the move at the time from Graham to Backlund?

Backlund headlined more than 40 Madison Square Garden sellouts, selling out 67% of his MSG defenses as champion, one of the best percentages in history, and second most sellouts behind only Sammartino.

Do you think this gets lost in the narrative that Backlund was a “failure” as WWF champion because he was always booked to be the guy with Sammartino at MSG being the headliner?

When Vincent Kennedy McMahon took over for his father, he replaced Backlund as champion with Hulk Hogan, and started using him less and less. He asked Backlund to bleach his hair blonde and turn heel. When Backlund refused, McMahon fired him in the summer of 1984.

Obviously hindsight we know this was the correct move. Did you ever talk to Vince about this and do you think he knew when making this request that it would result in Backlund refusing so he could fire him?

A number of promoters used Backlund in the Northeast, but even with the long title run that was successful, Backlund was completely unique for that era. He headlined for years, had a six-year run as world champion. With that, almost anyone would be a legend for life. Backlund’s post-title loss popularity everywhere he had headlined was almost nil, not able to hold a candle to that of Pedro Morales, let alone Sammartino. He largely faded out of the business with the exception of some dates with the UWF and later UWFI in Japan, and occasional indie shows.

Has anyone ever really fallen off the face of the Earth like Backlund did after his losing of the WWF Title? Was it ever brought up before 1992 about bringing in Bob? Did he reach out to the company on occasion or vice versa or was the heat too rich at the time until 1992?

Wrestling Observer 6/15/92

Negotiations were supposed to take place over this past weekend, no word on how they want, involving Bob Backlund, believe it or not.

You're not with the company at this time but you had to have had a conversation with many people regarding who thought it was a good idea to bring Bob back and how the heat was all squashed as during his time away from the company he was very anti-steroid and anti-WWF in interviews. 

Wrestling Observer 6/29/92

Bob Backlund reportedly turned down the WWF's offer.

Obviously this can be just Meltzer being told he turned it down but did you hear anything about the negotiations being a back and forth thing?

Wrestling Observer 7/13/92

Bob Backlund debuted 7/1 for the WWF at a show in White Plains, NY beating Skinner, and repeated the same match the following night in Poughkeepsie … Backlund's return has brought up a lot of speculation. Is it simply Backlund realizing, because of his age, that this is his last chance to make a decent money run before he's done and he'll be satisfied with being just a run-of-the-mill wrestler? Did Backlund want to stay with a steady pro wrestling job and with the apparent lack of interest in UWFI in using him any longer, feel this was his only chance? Or was it McMahon who made the initial pitch, feeling he wanted someone with Backlund's squeaky-clean image, the same image that got him booed loudly in most Northeastern arenas toward the end of his WWF run as the Hogan era began, as being someone he needs to push in the wake of all the bad publicity?

Was this why he was brought back...to bring legitimacy and a cleaner image for the WWF who at the time we struggling with a ton of bad publicity?

Backlund is 42 when he returns to TV...same age as Jeff Hardy is right now. 1 year younger than Brock Lesnar. 2 years older than Randy Orton. But they sure as shit don’t look in the same age bracket. Is it just the portrayal of these guys that makes them seem younger than Backlund was at the time?

Wrestling Observer 9/21/92

Bruce Prichard was re-hired by Titan to work as J.J. Dillon's office assistant. He won't do any work on the television side, where there was enormous heat on him which resulted in his being fired last year.

Bob Backlund will be getting a push since they were shooting videos with him on 9/14. At one point Backlund and Titan's deal had fallen apart and he was talking with indie promoters, but then he stopped calling and the deal apparently was solid.

So this being in the Observer back to back together is pretty rich. You’re brought back to work as JJ’s assistant as Dillon is finalizing the Backlund deal. What do you remember about this? Was this the first time you met Backlund when you returned?

Videos of Backlund start airing showing some of his matches against Billy Graham. Was the prep for Backlund to be pushed heavy in the beginning?

Backlund is scheduled to return to MSG against Rick Martel Was there an idea to get Bob some wins over good wrestlers to get him back into the game? Was there any fear of ring rust because Bob hadn’t been as active as many others after leaving?

Wrestling Observer 11/9/92

Backlund wasn't getting over at all at the tapings.

Was there an initial shock to Backlund not getting a reaction considering he hadn’t been on TV in 8 years and him not being presented as a gimmick as a lot of what the TV was at that time or was it known it was going to take some time?

Wrestling Observer 2/1/93

Royal Rumble 1993 is Bob Backlund’s Pay-Per-View as crazy as that sounds. Backlund is 2nd to enter and he stays in the match for OVER AN HOUR and is part of the final 3 with Yokozuna & Randy Savage. Why Backlund in for over an hour and why have him be part of the final 3?

Wrestling Observer 2/15/93

Bob Backlund beat Shawn Michaels via COR in every city this past week. Backlund got no reaction coming to the ring in most cities but eventually got over as they went 17+. That wasn't the case in Philadelphia where Backlund (who got a big babyface ovation in his Philly return) was booed out of the building and Michaels received 90 percent cheers.

Did Michaels complain about working with Backlund? Shawn wasn’t known for the best temperament and it feels like Michaels wouldn’t be thrilled to be working with Bob.

It’s announced that Razor Ramon will face Bob Backlund in Backlund’s WrestleMania debut. Who was the spotlight supposed to be on for this match?

Wrestling Observer 4/12/93

4. Razor Ramon pinned Bob Backlund in 3:45 with an inside cradle. Fans cheered Ramon. This was probably the first pinfall loss Backlund has ever done in the WWF and that must date back to around 1977. Terrible. -*

This is voted the worst match on the WrestleMania 9 card by the Wrestling Observer readers and this is a card that also has Undertaker vs. Giant Gonzalez. Why didn’t this work? Any objection by Backlund to losing here?

At this point you’re a little less than a year in to Backlund being back. Is this determined to be a failure at this point? Is Bob happy? Is Bob making what he was expecting to be making pay wise?

It’s announced that Backlund will be returning to the headline spot at MSG in a match against Bret Hart on June 12th 1993. Was this thought to be a draw as Backlund is only really getting a reaction from Northeast crowds?

Wrestling Observer 6/21/93

Hart pinned Backlund clean in a long match described to me as being really bad. It was Backlund's first pinfall loss ever at the arena he headlined monthly for six years. It drew 9,000.

Was this a disappointment to the office? What was Bret’s feedback on Bob?

Wrestling Observer 8/9/93

Major roster cuts will be made over the next few weeks. WWF will be cutting back to one house show per night with the final night of double shots being 8/15. Among the names who will be either cut, leaving, or receiving few dates and staying under contract but working mainly indies, are Bob Backlund (among others).

Why the thought on cutting Backlund here or is Meltzer incorrect? Backlund stays on but was he on the chopping block at this point?

Fast forward to Royal Rumble 1994 and Backlund makes a 30 second appearance to be thrown out by Diesel. Why is Backlund still here? Is the thought on pushing Backlund even coming up at this point?

Backlund is left off WrestleMania X in MSG. What was Bob’s attitude at this point? Any issues?

Wrestling Observer 7/11/94

The Raw taping on 7/1 in Bushkill, PA opened with a Bob Backlund squash win where Backlund used the chicken wing and wouldn't let the hold go for a long time after the match and they rang the bell four or five times before he broke it, and he then ignored fans after the match. I'm told this wasn't taped, but was strictly a try-out, but after ten years, they finally got Backlund to do what they wanted him to do.

Is this Bob coming around to the idea of being a heel? Who sells him on the idea?

At the Superstars taping on 7/3 in Ocean City, MD, They also did a Bob Backlund turn, although again we're told this may not air. Backlund got a small package but Hart kicked out, but Backlund thought he'd won. Hart then got a small package for the pin. After the match when they went to shake hands, Backlund slapped Hart and put him in the chicken wing and wouldn't break the hold.

This is really well done. Who’s idea was the angle to turn Backlund here? Pat? Was it hard to get Bret to go along with it? Why the push right here? This is right around the steroid trial so pushing Backlund here is kind of a “Look at us pushing an All-American older wrestler who is obviously clean” or you thought you had the right program and talent for it?

Wrestling Observer 8/8/94

Backlund worked as a heel and went berserk, looking at his hands after the match like he's possessed. Lots of rumors that Papa Shango is returning in the fall and will fit into this angle as casting a spell on Backlund.

How close to truth is the Papa Shango rumor?

Bob ends up back in Japan working for WAR. How does this come to be? Was it in his contract or was this a WWF - WAR deal?

When is it determined that Backlund is going to beat Hart at Survivor Series?

Wrestling Observer 10/10/94

Notes from the television tapings. 9/27 in Poughkeepsie was the Superstars taping and largely the Bob Backlund show. Backlund made fun of Shawn Michaels saying he was against the new generation. Later he did a chicken wing demonstration with Arnold Skaaland and wouldn't break the hold because he was mad at Skaaland for throwing in the towel in 1983, until Bob Holly made the save. Backlund later used the hold to beat Holly in a 3:00 squash grudge match.

Arnold Skaaland making his WWF TV return. How did you get him to stop playing cards?

Wrestling Observer 10/24/94

Bob Backlund is getting the mega, mega, megapush on all the TV building up to the PPV, which is how it has to be to sell the show. I don't know that Backlund is going to win the title (backstage rumors among WCWers who don't know anymore than anyone else really either is that Luger is winding up with the title) but it appears they are going to take it from Bret Hart within the next few months. I don't know if it'll sell PPV buys or not, but I'm thoroughly entertained by Backlund's insane straight-arrow postman gone berserk gimmick by societal pressures even if half the time he uses the big words they actually don't make sense. The segment on the Shawn Michaels thing where Michaels told Backlund he was nuts and that's just his kind of guy and he and Diesel want to party with him and Backlund told Michaels he wouldn't associate with people like that was hilarious.

Did Backlund take the heel gimmick too seriously? Was he always in character at this point?

He puts Luger & Savage in the Chicken Wing in the run up against Bret. Any objections from anyone?

Wrestling Observer 10/31/94

The Bret Hart vs. Bob Backlund title match on top will be a match in which Hart can only win with the sharpshooter and Backlund can only win with the chicken wing, but that the only way the match can end is by throwing in the towel. Owen Hart will be in Backlund's corner with the towel and Davey Boy Smith in Bret's corner.

Who figured it out that it was better for Hart to not be pinned by Backlund have it be a submission match where the other person didn’t have to submit?

Wrestling Observer 12/5/94

Survivor Series 1994

3. Bob Backlund won the WWF title from Bret Hart in 35:11 of a match that could only end when a second threw in the towel. Little happened for the first 14:00 because with no holds over, and nobody really selling holds, and announcer Gorilla Monsoon even killing holds ("I've never seen anyone submit to an armbar") for the fans at home, and no pinfall combinations were being done, nothing happened. Finally Hart got a figure four in 14:20 but Owen refused to throw in the towel. Backlund reversed the hold, but Hart reversed it back, in a sequence lasting 3:00 before Backlund made the ropes. When he got up, Backlund only limped one step and then didn't sell the 3:00 figure four at all the rest of the match. Backlund's ring work in this match was awful. Finally Hart did a piledriver, bulldog, leg sweep, backbreaker, forearm drop off the ropes and hit the sharpshooter in the middle. Owen ran in behind the refs back and clotheslined Bret from behind, breaking the hold. Davey Boy Smith then went after Hart, who ducked, and crashed his head on the ring steps and was knocked out, I guess, until Friday night in Pittsburgh. Backlund got Bret in the chicken wing and held it for more than 9:00 with a split screen camera showing Owen fake turning babyface having sympathy for Bret. Hart kept begging his parents to do something, even crying, overacting really badly in contrast with the parents who didn't seem all that concerned. At one point Helen Hart was about to throw the towel in but Stu snatched it from him. Finally Helen did throw the towel in, and Bret was helped out of the ring. Owen, who had faked turning face, then celebrated and tried to do a Ric Flair interview after the match. The best part of the entire segment was Vince McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon's indignation at what Owen did. That was awesome. **

Sorry but this match sucked. It was super boring and then was negated just a few days later.

We already covered the Diesel win over Backlund in the recent Diesel episode (check the Archives). Did Backlund have an issue with the 3 day title reign? You brought up how he wouldn’t take a Power Bomb again after the title change. Anything else he objected to around this point?

Wrestling Observer 12/26/94

Another surprise was the report that the WWF Survivor Series did between a 1.2 and 1.4 buy rate (other sources have pegged it at 0.8 to 1.0 although WWF is claiming a much higher figure than 1.4), which would be a huge increase from the previous year and would have to be attributed to that, at least for one night, Bob Backlund was marketable since he was the main pushed item leading to the show. 

Was there any type of regret that the push to Backlund happens...a couple weeks later there’s a good buy rate that comes in and Backlund - Hart was the most pushed thing...and then the title change to Diesel? Was saying Diesel was the leader of the New Generation right after beating Backlund a rib on Backlund?

There’s a story out there that the Kliq hated working Backlund so much that they got Vince McMahon to hire Dick Murdoch as Backlund’s manager so the Kliq members who had to work Backlund could do comedy spots with Murdoch to avoid touching Backlund as much as possible. Fact or fiction?

Bob Backlund is voted the best heel in the WWF for 1994 (5th overall) but 2nd worst in interviews for the WWF (behind Mr. Fuji). Do you think Backlund was the best heel the company had in 1994 and his mic work better than being 2nd worse in the company?

Backlund is phased down pretty quickly by the company but it’s obvious Bret needs to get his win back. Why at Mania and not at the Rumble?

Royal Rumble 1995 sees Bob interfere in the Diesel - Bret Hart WWF Title match (Backlund never does get a return match on TV against Diesel) and then has Hart attack him in the aisle for his entrance into the Rumble. Backlund gets in and immediately is eliminated by Lex Luger.

Wrestling Observer 1/30/95

A King's Court aired with Bob Backlund. Backlund said he'd only release the chicken wing if his opponent said, "I Quit, Mr. Backlund." He then turned on Lawler and put the hold on and Lawler said "I Quit, Mr. Backlund" and Backlund broke it. As Backlund left, Lawler made a remark about Backlund, who ran back in the ring and put the hold on Lawler again and this time Lawler screamed, "Look, Bret Hart's over there" and Backlund released the hold to chase a non-existent Bret Hart.

This promo is really fun but does it do anything at this point for Backlund and Hart? Did Hart have an objection to working with Backlund knowing it was going to be his Mania program or did he just want his win back?

Wrestling Observer 4/10/95

WrestleMania XI - Backlund vs. Hart was voted the 5th best match by Wrestling Observer readers and also the second worst match. Before the match Backlund does a backstage vignette with John Turturo and Johnathan Taylor Thomas where Backlund loses to Thomas in chess and does a tirade about how kids these days know everything. How were they to work with Bob and did they give you any issues of dealing with him?

5. Bret Hart beat Bob Backlund in the I Quit match in 9:34. Special ref Roddy Piper got a huge pop, the largest on the card but a slight margin over Hart. Backlund got the chicken wing on but Hart reversed it for a big pop. Piper kept asking Backlund if he wanted to quit. At 9:34, Backlund grunted but Piper ruled it was a submission. After the match Backlund looked crazed and kept telling Jim Ross that he had seen the light. *1/4

Why Roddy here? Just a special WrestleMania unannounced moment? Did Bret voice his frustration over working with Backlund in such a spotlight? How do you think the finish of this went because it seemed all goofy. This is Backlund’s last WrestleMania match of his career and the last singles match he had on PPV for the WWF.

Wrestling Observer 5/8/95

Bret Hart in his Calgary Sun column had this to say about Joe Montana’s NFL retirement: “At the same time, I was happy to see Montana go out on his terms--at the top of his game, not crippled or dismembered, with class and no regrets. I hope I'm able to go out the same way and not outstay my welcome like Bob Backlund, Ric Flair and others who, sadly, have besmirched their once-shining reputations, by hanging around long after they should have."

Was this something that gets on the WWF’s radar or Backlund’s and was it a work by Bret or a shoot?

Backlund transitions into the Backlund for President gimmick. Who came up with it and how do you think it was presented?

Wrestling Observer 6/19/95

They started an angle at all the TV's regarding Man Mountain Rock vs. Bob Backlund as Backlund broke Rock's guitar. It was really bad with Rock crying about his broken guitar. Their first match was 6/10 at MSG and was described as one of the worst matches in the history of Western Civilization as they went 10:00 without even locking up. After Rock won, Backlund put the chicken wing on him after the bout.

Who booked this shit?

Backlund introduces Dean Douglas at the 3rd In Your House PPV to debut and defeat Razor Ramon. Backlund stays in Douglas’ corner and helps him defeat Razor. Was this always the plan to debut Douglas and why didn’t Backlund continue in Douglas’ corner?

Bill Watts comes and go at this time in a position of “power” in the WWF. What were his thoughts on Backlund and did he see any value in him?

Wrestling Observer 12/11/95

The angle where Jim Ross got put in the chicken wing aired on Superstars over the weekend, and he was wearing a sling on Action Zone the next day. Bob Backlund also put a sound man in the chicken wing on Raw. The re-push for Backlund was one of Pat Patterson's last ideas. Patterson has officially retired and cleaned out his desk on 12/1 and is scheduled to move to Florida full-time.

Why was Pat a proponent of Backlund so much?

Backlund is part of the Royal Rumble again in 1996 and was eliminated by Yokozuna. The Backlund for President gimmick goes unnoticed for a while. Why is that?

Savio Vega defeats Bob Backlund in his last singles match at MSG on May 19, 1996. It’s also Backlund’s last match for the WWF for this run.

Backlund returns on TV on Monday Night Raw on August 12th where he does guest commentary during a Godwinns vs. TL Hopper & Who match (that’s a whole episode all onto itself I feel like) where he promises to bring someone into the WWF to be WWF champion and act as a better role model than Shawn Michaels. Was Fatu being repackaged as Sultan always the plan as obviously he would never be programmed with Shawn Michaels for a Title program?

Raw Championship Friday on September 6th happens and Backlund introduces The Iron Sheik who would be his new protege’s trainer. Sheik then says Backlund is a former 6-time WWWF Champion (yes he said that) and that Sheik was lucky to have beaten Backlund for the title. Who the fuck thought this was a good idea and how high were you when this was put together?

Why bring the Iron Sheik back? How was this put together and did you realize quickly putting live mics for both of them probably wasn’t a good idea?

Was Sultan doomed to fail at this point?

Shotgun Saturday Night debuts with one of the most iconic Backlund moments. Goldust defeats The Sultan when Marlena jumps on the apron and pulls down the top of her dress to distract the “celibate” Sultan and gets him to release the Camel Clutch and Goldust wins by countout. Backlund takes his jacket and throws it over Sultan’s head to protect him. Did Backlund have any objections to this?

Sultan and Rocky Maivia get programmed together to lead to a WrestleMania match between the two for the IC Title. When did the Rocky Johnson appearance get put together and was it awkward considering the relationship between both Rockys at the time?

There’s talk of pairing Backlund with Furnas & LaFon for their debut. How close was that to happening?

Backlund’s last WrestleMania appearance is at WrestleMania XIII where Rocky Maivia pins the Sultan and afterwards Backlund, Sheik & Sultan attack Maivia and Rocky Johnson makes the save. How was Rocky Johnson for this and was there any drama?

Backlund’s last WWF appearance would be on the Free for All for In Your House Revenge of the Taker where he would manage Sultan to a win over Flash Funk. Afterwards it is just the Iron Sheik managing Sultan. Where did Bob go and why was the decision made to have Sheik managing Sultan only at this point?

Bob Backlund returns to the WWF in 2000 for an appearance at MSG for the Royal Rumble. He helps eliminate Rikishi before he’s eliminated by Chris Jericho. How did this come together?

Backlund stays on WWF TV for a small amount of time helping Kurt Angle in March attack Jericho during a match. Why the pairing of Angle & Backlund here?

Jericho & Tazz defeat Angle & Backlund via DQ on an episode of Smackdown. What did you think of Angle and Backlund being put together and did it hurt Angle?

Backlund is written off TV on the Sunday Night Heat before WrestleMania 2000 where Kurt Angle finds out it was Backlund’s idea to defend both his IC & European title at the pay-per-view and locks him in the Crossface Chicken Wing. How...exactly was this to benefit Angle or was it just some work for Backlund’s benefit?

Backlund ran for the House of Representatives in 2000 as a republican but lost to the incumbent in the state of Connecticut. Did WWF help and why did you vote for him?

Backlund wasn't seen on a national scale again until 2007 with TNA where he did some stuff with Kevin Nash and Alex Shelley and Paparazzi Productions. Did you see any of it and if so what were your thoughts on it?

Backlund returns on the Raw 15th Anniversary in December of 07 to be part of a battle royal which is won by IRS...well kind of when DiBiase comes out to pay off IRS to win it. How was Bob to deal with for this type of appearance?

You’re gone from the company when Backlund does one spot appearances including an induction to the WWE Hall of Fame on April 3rd 2013 by Maria Menounos at MSG. Did you see it and how did you feel knowing Backlund finally was inducted?

He wasn’t seen again until coming back full time to manage Darren Young to “Make Darren Young Great Again” before that gimmick comes to an end when Young is released. Did you see the gimmick and what did you think of it?

All this being wrapped up what did you think of the career of Backlund and how is he going to be best remembered in your mind?