Bob Backlund

photo credit: WWE

Real name: Robert Lee Backlund
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 241 lbs.
Date of birth: August 14, 1949
Hometown: Princeton, Minnesota
Pro debut: 1973
Trained by: Eddie Sharkey
Finishing move: Crossface Chickenwing

Biography

– On February 20, 1978, Backlund defeated “Superstar” Billy Graham to win the WWWF World Heavyweight title.
– In the early 70’s, Backlund was a regular competitor at NCAA events, winning the Divison II Championship for his weight class in 1971
– In March 1974, Backlund defeated Terry Funk to win the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title
– In May 1974, Backlund defeated Dick Murdoch to win his second NWA Western States Heavyweight Title
– On September 4, 1974, Backlund defeated Siegfried Stanke to win the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title
– In October 1975, Backlund & Jerry Brisco defeated Mr Fuji & Toru Tanaka to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Titles
– On April 23, 1976, Backlund defeated Harley Race to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On July 6, 1976, Backlund & Steve Keirn defeated Bob Orton Sr & Bob Roop to retain the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles
– In February 1977, Backlund joined the WWWF
– On December 6, 1977, Backlund fought WWWF Champion Billy Graham to a double-countout
– On February 20, 1978, Backlund defeated Billy Graham to win the WWWF Title
– On February 23, 1978, Backlund fought NWA World Champion Harley Race to a time-limit draw in a Title Unification Match
– On March 25, 1978, Backlund fought Spiros Arion to a double-DQ to retain the WWWF Title
– On April 14, 1978, Backlund defeated Ken Patera to retain the WWWF Title
– On April 29, 1978, Backlund defeated Ivan Koloff to retain the WWWF Title
– On May 3, 1978, Backlund defeated Luke Graham to retain the WWWF Title
– On May 20, 1978, Backlund defeated George Steele to retain the WWWF Title
– On June 1, 1978, Backlund fought NWF Champion Antonio Inoki to a time-limit draw in a Title vs Title Match
– On June 14, 1978, Backlund defeated Billy Graham to retain the WWWF Title
– On July 12, 1978, Backlund & Tony Garea defeated The Yukon Lumberjacks (Eric & Pierre). Amazingly, this was Backlund’s first WWWF match since winning the championship in which he was not defending it
– On July 27, 1978, Backlund defeated Roddy Piper to retain the WWWF Title
– On August 18, 1978, Backlund defeated Johnny Valiant to retain the WWWF Title
– On September 10, 1978, Backlund defeated Gorilla Monsoon to retain the WWWF Title
– On September 16, 1978, Backlund defeated Billy Graham in a Sicilian Stretcher Match to retain the WWWF Title
– On September 30, 1978, Backlund defeated Stan Hansen by DQ to retain the WWWF Title
– On October 14, 1978, Backlund defeated Victor Rivera to retain the WWWF Title
– On October 23, 1978, Backlund defeated Ernie Ladd to retain the WWWF Title
– On November 18, 1978, Backlund defeated Crusher Blackwell to retain the WWWF Title
– The next day, Backlund & Dino Bravo defeated AWA Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens by DQ
– On December 18, 1978, Backlund defeated Peter Maivia to retain the WWWF Title
– On March 3, 1979, Backlund defeated Stan Stasiak to retain the WWWF TItle
– On March 26, 1979, Backlund defeated Greg Valentine to retain the WWWF Title
– On April 30, 1979, Backlund defeated Bulldog Brower to retain the WWWF Title
– On May 13, 1979, Backlund defeated Moose Morowski to retain the WWWF Title
– On May 23, 1979, Backlund defeated Hussein Arab to retain the WWWF Title
– On July 15, 1979, Backlund defeated NWA United States Champion Ric Flair by countout in a Title vs Title Match
– On September 24, 1979, Backlund defeated Pat Patterson in a Cage Match to retain the WWF Title
– On October 22, 1979, Backlund defeated Swede Hanson to retain the WWWF Title
– On November 4, 1979, Backlund defeated Baron Von Raschke in a No-DQ Match to retain the WWWF Title
– On December 17, 1979, Backlund defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death Match to regain the WWF Title. Current WWE title histories do not recognise Backlund losing the title to Antonio Inoki a month prior, so this win is considered a successful title defence rather than a new reign
– On Christmas Day 1979, Backlund defeated Kevin Sullivan to retain the WWF Title
– On January 5, 1980, Backlund defeated Tom Andrews to retain the WWF Title
– On January 27, 1980, Backlund defeated Toru Tanaka to retain the WWF Title
– On February 29, 1980, Backlund defeated Afa to retain the WWF Title
– On March 20, 1980, Backlund defeated Johnny Rodz to retain the WWF Title
– On May 10, 1980, Backlund defeated Hulk Hogan to retain the WWF Title. Over the next week, he would retain against Jose Estrada, Larry Zbyszko & Roger Kirby
– On May 27, 1980, Backlund defeated Dusty Rhodes by DQ to retain the WWF Title
– On June 6, 1980, Backlund defeated Ron Starr to retain the WWF Title. Over the next week, he would retain against Ken Patera & Alfred Hayes
– On June 23, 1980, Backlund defeated Tor Kamata to retain the WWF Title
– On July 23, 1980, Backlund defeated Don Muraco to retain the WWF Title
– On August 8, 1980, Backlund defeated Buzz Tyler to retain the WWF Title
– On August 9, 1980, Backlund & Pedro Morales defeated The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match to win the WWF Tag Team Titles. At the time, WWF rules prevented a wrestler from holding two titles, so they were vacated the following night
– On August 29, 1980, Backlund defeated Butcher Brannigan to retain the WWF Title
– On September 20, 1980, Backlund defeated The Hangman to retain the WWF Title
– On October 25, 1980, Backlund defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Patera by countout in a Title vs Title Match
– On November 14, 1980, Backlund defeated Sgt Slaughter to retain the WWF Title
– On November 21, 1980, Backlund defeated Bob Sweetan to retain the WWF Title
– On December 10, 1980, Backlund & Antonio Inoki defeated Hulk Hogan & Stan Hansen to win the NJPW MSG Tag League
– On December 29, 1980, Backlund defeated Killer Khan to retain the WWF Title
– On March 2, 1981, Backlund defeated Greg Valentine to retain the WWF Title
– On March 22, 1981, Backlund defeated Bobby Duncum to retain the WWF Title
– On April 5, 1981, Backlund defeated Hiro Matsuda to retain the WWF Title
– On May 10, 1981, Backlund defeated George Steele to retain the WWF Title
– On May 23, 1981, Backlund defeated Killer Khan in a No Holds Barred Match with Gorilla Monsoon as special guest referee to retain the WWF Title
– On June 3, 1981, Backlund defeated Hulk Hogan to retain the WWF Title. Over the next week, he would retain against Angelo Mosca (twice), George Steele & Killer Khan
– On August 24, 1981, Backlund fought WWF Intercontinental Champion The Magnificent Muraco to a time-limit draw in a Title vs Title Match
– On September 1, 1981, Backlund defeated Moondog Rex to retain the WWF Title
– On September 20, 1981, Backlund defeated Sgt Slaughter to retain the WWF Title
– On New Year’s Day 1982, Backlund defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to retain the WWF Title
– On January 6, 1982, Backlund defeated Hans Schroeder to retain the WWF Title
– On January 11, 1982, Backlund defeated The Executioner to retain the WWF Title
– On February 15, 1982, Backlund defeated Adrian Adonis in a Texas Death Match with Ivan Putski as special guest referee to retain the WWF Title
– On March 14, 1982, Backlund defeated Jesse Ventura to retain the WWF Title
– On April 7, 1982, Backlund defeated Mr Saito to retain the WWF Title
– On May 2, 1982, Backlund defeated Blackjack Mulligan to retain the WWF Title
– On June 15, 1982, Backlund defeated Jimmy Snuka to retain the WWF Title
– On June 26, 1982, Backlund defeated Bob Orton Jr to retain the WWF Title
– On July 4, 1982, Backlund fought NWA World Champion Ric Flair to a double countout in a Title Unification Match. This match was almost 3 years to the day since the pair had first competed against one another. On that day, Backlund had just begun his WWF Title regin, whereas Flair was the NWA United States Champion
– On August 30, 1982, Backlund defeated Buddy Rose to retain the WWF Title
– On November 6, 1982, Backlund defeated Billy Graham in a Cage Match to retain the WWF Title
– On December 4, 1982, Backlund defeated Ray Stevens to retain the WWF Title
– On January 23, 1983, Backlund defeated John Studd to retain the WWF Title
– On February 13, 1983, Backlund defeated Mr Fuji to retain the WWF Title
– On April 25, 1983, Backlund defeated Ivan Koloff to retain the WWF Title. Over the next week, he would retain against Mike Sharpe and John Studd
– On May 18, 1983, Backlund defeated Sgt Slaughter to retain the WWF Title
– On November 21, 1983, Backlund defeated The Masked Superstar to retain the WWF Title. 3 days later, he retained against The Iron Sheik
– On December 26, 1983, Backlund’s mammoth title reign came to a controversial end. Whilst in The Iron Sheik’s Camel Clutch hold, Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel before Backlund submitted. Sheik was declared the new champion
– On January 9, 1984, Backlund fought WWF Intercontinental Champion The Magnificent Muraco to a double-countout
– On January 14, 1984, Backlund defeated WWF Champion The Iron Sheik by DQ
– On June 21, 1984, Backlund & B Brian Blair defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch by DQ
– On June 27, 1984, Backlund defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana by countout
– In August 1984, Backlund left the WWF. He would compete in various promotions over the next few years before hanging up his boots
– In June 1991, Backlund made a shock return to wrestling, defeating Ivan Koloff at UWF’s Beach Brawl (incidentally, this was also Backlund’s PPV debut)
– In June 1992, Backlund re-signed with the WWF
– On July 1, 1992, Backlund defeated Skinner in his WWF return match
– On November 20, 1992, Backlund defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels by countout
– Backlund made his WWF PPV debut at Royal Rumble 1993, competing in the Rumble Match. He entered at number two and lasted a then-record 61 minutes before being eliminated by Yokozuna
– On June 3, 1993, Backlund & Rick Steiner defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & Irwin R Schyster) by countout
– Backlund entered the 1994 Royal Rumble but fared nowhere near as well as the previous year, being eliminated by Diesel after just 41 seconds
– On January 29, 1994, Backlund & Rick Steiner defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Quebecers (Jacques & Pierre) by DQ
– On August 26, 1994, Backlund, The Warlord & Scott Putski defeated Hiromichi Fuyuki, Gedo & Jado to win the WAR Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– At Survivor Series 1994, Backlund defeated Bret Hart in a Submission Match to win the WWF Title for a second time, nearly 17 years after winning his first
– On November 25, 1994, Backlund made his only WWF Title defence, losing to The British Bulldog by countout. He would lose the title to Diesel in a very short match the next day
– Backlund entered the 1995 Royal Rumble Match but was eliminated by Lex Luger after just 16 seconds
– On March 13, 1995, Backlund defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett by DQ
– Backlund entered the 1996 Royal Rumble Match, lasting a respectable 12 minutes before being eliminated by Yokozuna
– Following the Rumble Match, Backlund was used more as a manager than as a competitor. His primary client was The Sultan
– In April 1997, Backlund quit the WWF and moved into semi-retirement
– In November 1998, Backlund entered the BattlARTS B Cup, reaching the final before losing to Yuki Ishikawa
– In 2000, Backlund made a brief WWF return. After competing in the Royal Rumble, he paired up with Kurt Angle, but the on-screen relationship had soured by WrestleMania and Backlund was out of the promotion again
– In January 2007, Backlund made a surprise appearance for TNA, judging the Paparazzi Championship Series final between Alex Shelley and Austin Starr. Following the match, Starr attacked Backlund, who retaliated with the Crossface Chickenwing
– Even more surprisingly, Backlund was retained by TNA and began making regular ringside appearances on Impact
– At Slammiversary 2007, Backlund made his TNA in-ring debut, defeating Alex Shelley
– At Victory Road 2007, Backlund teamed with Jerry Lynn in a loss to the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin). This would prove to be Backlund’s final TNA appearance
– On December 10, 2007, Backlund returned to RAW for it’s 15th Anniversary Special. He competed in a ‘Legends Battle Royal’ but was eliminated by Skinner
– In 2008, Backlund was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
– On July 9, 2012, Backlund made a one-off appearance on RAW, attacking Heath Slater. He later repriced this role on the 1000th episode of RAW, helping the other legends chase Slater back to the ring
– On April 6, 2013, Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
– Backlund entered the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame on May 30, 2024