You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but Bob Backlund is an absolute legend in the annals of professional wrestling. He wasn’t the biggest or the most intimidating guy, but he was one of the top stars in Vince McMahon Sr.’s World Wide Wrestling Federation, and during the early days of Vince Jr. WWE. Many fans remember Backlund for winning the WWE Championship from Bret Hart at Survivor Series 1995 after Owen Hart forced his mother Helen to throw in the towel, or his time spent “Making Darren Young Great Again” as Young’s manager in 2016. However, Backlund is actually one of the most decorated WWE champions in history that no one is talking about. While Bruno Sammartino had the longest WWE Championship reign at 2,803 days, Backlund has the second longest reign in WWE Championship history at 2,135 days, almost six years.
Bob Backlund defeated superstar Billy Graham in 1978 to win the WWE Championship.
Backlund had a background in amateur wrestling, attending North Dakota State University and winning the NCAA Division II Championship at 190 pounds in 1971. He debuted in 1973 for the AWA, before competing for several AWA territories. NWA and winning multiple singles and tag team championships. . He joined Vince McMahon Sr.’s WWWF in 1976, and with his clean looks and technical ability, Backlund was pushed as one of the company’s best babyfaces.
Just a few months into his time with the WWWF, Backlund would challenge for superstar Billy Graham’s WWWF Championship, but lose via countout. He would challenge Graham several times throughout 1977, and although he failed to capture the championship, the two fought to a double countout once, with Backlund even earning his own countout victory, although the title did not change hands. . Backlund finally defeated Graham for the title on February 20, 1978 at Madison Square Garden to begin his legendary reign.
Bob Backlund successfully defended the title 876 times
Three days after winning the championship, Backlund had a major title match with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race in a best two out of three falls match at Championship Wrestling in Florida. The two wrestled to a time limit, as was often the case when champions from different promotions wrestled. He also had matches against other world champions from different promotions, including Nick Bockwinkel (AWA), Ric Flair (NWA), and Billy Robinson (international). Additionally, he would defend the title multiple times in Japan, including against legend Antonio Inoki. According to cagematch.net, Backlund had a total of 876 successful title defenses throughout his nearly six-year reign.
While world champion, Backlund also had a successful tag-team run with Peter Maivia (The Rock’s grandfather), before Maivia turned on him in late 1978, allowing Backlund to show a more manic and angry side of himself. your character. Backlund would go on to win a series of matches between the two, highlighted by a steel cage match in early 1979 at MSG. He won his only WWE Tag Team Championship with Pedro Morales in 1980, though they vacated the title the next day due to a silly WWE rule at the time that no one could hold two championships simultaneously. Backlund also had several title defenses in 1980 over a young Hulk Hogan, though he never scored a decisive win over Hogan. It would be Hogan’s meteoric rise that would ultimately be the catalyst for ending Backlund’s championship reign.
Bob Backlund dropped the title of The Iron Sheik on December 26, 1983
Backlund also had major title matches and feuds with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Don Muraco, Sgt. Slaughter, and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka during the latter part of his reign. After Vince McMahon Jr. took control of WWE from his father, he wanted to give the title to the younger, older and more charismatic Hogan. Vince wanted Backlund to turn around and leave the title to Hogan, but he refused and a transition champion was needed.
The Iron Sheik would attack Backlund with his Persian club, and Backlund would sustain an arm injury. Iron Sheik challenged a weakened Backlund on December 26, 1983 for the WWE Championship and defeated him after Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was locked on Sheik’s camel. Iron Sheik held the title for just 28 days before handing it over to Hogan, who would hold it for 1,474 days. While Backlund did get a few non-televised rematches against Iron Sheik, he never challenged Hogan for the WWE Championship before leaving the company in late 1984.
Backlund would get one more moment of WWE Championship glory over a decade later at Survivor Series 1994, defeating Bret Hart for the WWE Championship in controversial fashion, after Owen Hart essentially forced his mother Helen to throw it out. the towel on Bret’s behalf, much like Backlund’s manager Skaaland did for him in 1983. Backlund’s second reign would only last three days, as he relinquished the title to Diesel three days later at a house show. of MSG.