Bob Backlund

Bob Backlund
Backlund in April 2014
Birth name Robert Louis Backlund
Born (1949-08-14) August 14, 1949
Princeton, Minnesota, United States
Residence Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States
Spouse(s)
Corki Backlund (m. 1967)
Children 1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Bob Backlund
Mr. Backlund
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1][2]
Billed weight 234 lb (106 kg)[1][2]
Billed from Princeton, Minnesota[1][2]
Trained by Eddie Sharkey
Debut 1973
Retired 2011

Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949)[3][4] is an American retired professional wrestler with an in-ring career spanning over 30 years, best known for his tenures in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (WWWF/WWF, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment and currently simply known as WWE), where he is a two-time WWWF/WWF Heavyweight Champion/WWF World Heavyweight Champion (Backlund's first reign is the second-longest reign in the title history, behind Bruno Sammartino's first), as well as being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.[5]

Backlund was an accomplished amateur wrestler for the North Dakota State University Bison from the late 1960s to early 1970s. In 2000, he unsuccessfully ran for a Connecticut seat in Congress on a Republican ticket.[6]

Early life

Backlund was born in Princeton, Minnesota, in 1949. During his freshman year, Backlund was an All-American in both football and wrestling (191 lb [87 kg], finishing third) while at Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, Iowa. During his sophomore campaign, Backlund focused on wrestling and once again earned All American Honors (190 lb [86 kg] and national runner-up). Backlund was an amateur wrestler at North Dakota State University, winning the Division II NCAA Championship at 190 pounds in 1971. In 1972 Backlund moved up to the heavyweight class and finished fifth at the NCAA DII Nationals.[1] He is a graduate of Princeton High School, where he was a state finalist in wrestling. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in physical education.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1973−1977)

Backlund was trained for professional wrestling by renowned trainer Eddie Sharkey and made his debut for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1973. Backlund's clean cut look and technical approach made him a natural face, and he quickly got over with the fans.[1] After leaving the AWA, Backlund traveled the United States, working for the National Wrestling Alliance in its various territories. In 1974, Backlund wrestled in Texas, for Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk's Amarillo, Texas-based Western States Sports promotion. In March, he defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (the promotion's top title). Backlund held it for two months, before losing it to Karl Von Steiger in May.[7]

In mid-1975, Backlund started working for Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). He teamed with Jerry Brisco to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship from Toru Tanaka and Mr. Fuji in October 1975. They held the championship belts for two months before losing to Les Thornton and Tony Charles. In 1976, Backlund left Georgia for Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF, NWA Florida). Here he teamed with Steve Keirn to defeat Bob Orton, Jr. and Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. Backlund and Keirn lost the title to The Hollywood Blonds (Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown) in October 1976.[7] While working for NWA Florida, Backlund also wrestled in St. Louis, Missouri, for Sam Muchnick's St. Louis Wrestling Club. He defeated Harley Race to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship on April 23, 1976, and he lost the title to Jack Brisco on November 26.[7]

World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation

Road to the title and early successes (1977−1978)

In early 1977, Backlund joined Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation.[8] He was managed by "The Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland. Less than four months into his WWWF run, Backlund received his first shot at the WWWF Heavyweight Championship against Superstar Billy Graham, but he lost by countout. Through 1977, Backlund received additional title shots at the champion, and his fortunes started to change; the two went to a double countout in one match,[9] then Backlund defeated Graham, but by countout (the title can only change hands via pinfall or submission).[10] On February 20, 1978, at Madison Square Garden, Backlund finally scored a pinfall victory over Graham and won the title,[7] despite Graham's leg being on the rope during the pinfall.[11]

Backlund's early challengers for the title included Spiros Arion, Mr. Fuji, Ivan Koloff, George "the Animal" Steele, and Ken Patera, and had his first high-profile title match in Japan, defending against Antonio Inoki. He also won a series of rematches against Graham, including an April 1978 steel cage match at Madison Square Garden.

Three days after winning the WWWF Heavyweight Championship, Backlund clashed with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race in a rare "WWWF vs. NWA" title match. Both titles were on the line, but neither changed hands as the two fought to a 60-minute time limit draw.[12] Defending against other champions became a recurring theme in Backlund's run with the title. He faced the AWA World Heavyweight Champion (Nick Bockwinkel)[13] and two NWA World Heavyweight Champions (Harley Race four times and Ric Flair once)[14]He defeated the NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Don Muraco.[15] In 1982, he battled "International Champion" Billy Robinson to a 63-minute curfew draw in Montreal.[16]

Early in his run, Backlund and Peter Maivia formed a successful tag team and challenged for the WWWF World Tag Team Championship, then held by The Yukon Lumberjacks. During a television taping in October 1978, Maivia turned on and attacked him and Skaaland. In the immediate aftermath, fans for the first time got to see another side of Backlund's personality: that of a raving, ranting maniac when angered or pushed hard enough; in the post-match interview, Backlund screamed to interviewer Vince McMahon that he was going to "kill that son of a bitch!" Backlund eventually won a series of matches against Maivia, including a steel cage match in January 1979 at Madison Square Garden.

In 1979, the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) became the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). On November 30, 1979, NWF Heavyweight Champion Antonio Inoki defeated Backlund in Tokushima, Japan to win the WWF title. Backlund then won a rematch on December 6. However, WWF president Hisashi Shinma declared the re-match a no contest due to interference from Tiger Jeet Singh, and Inoki remained Champion. Inoki refused the title on the same day, and it was declared vacant. Backlund later defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match to regain the title on December 17. As Inoki refused the title, his reign is not included nor is it recognized by WWE in its official history.

On August 9, 1980, Backlund teamed with Pedro Morales to capture the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Wild Samoans at Showdown at Shea. Backlund and Morales were forced to vacate the title due to a then-extant WWF rule stating that no one can hold two championships at the same time.[17] Backlund had more tag team success when he (along with Antonio Inoki) won the "1980 MSG Tag Team League Tournament", last defeating Hulk Hogan and Stan Hansen on December 10 in Osaka, Japan. Backlund and Inoki finished the tournament with seven wins and two double-countout decisions.

Also during 1980, Backlund and Hogan met in a series of highly publicized matches; although he scored several countout victories over Hogan, Backlund never was able to score a decisive victory over his charismatic young challenger, and Hogan – showing flashes of his future superstardom – proved to be one of Backlund's toughest opponents. Backlund was also able to overcome a challenge from Ken Patera, with whom he feuded on-and-off from 1978 until early 1981, including during Patera's reign as WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion.

Early 1980s: continued success

Backlund's WWF Heavyweight Championship was held up after a match in New York City against Greg "The Hammer" Valentine on October 19, 1981, after a dazed referee "accidentally" gave the championship belt to Valentine as part of the storyline,[18] it constituted an interruption of Backlund's title reign. However, Backlund was billed as the WWF Heavyweight Champion in other cities in the days following the controversy.[19] In the early part of the 1980s, when no promotion held nationally televised events, it was not uncommon practice to "hold up" the title in one area (to build interest in a rematch the "former" champion would win) while ignoring the situation in other parts of the territory. On November 23, Backlund pinned Valentine for the "Vacant in New York Only" WWF Heavyweight Championship.[20] A rematch for the title, held inside a steel cage at the Philadelphia Spectrum in January 1982, also saw Backlund emerge the winner, securing the victory when he hit a piledriver on Valentine into the mat. Even with the title being held up against Antonio Inoki and Greg Valentine, Bob Backlund is recognized by WWE as having one continuous title reign from 1978 to 1983 as WWE Champion.

Backlund continued to be successful into 1982 and 1983, successfully defending against a variety of contenders, ranging from Adrian Adonis, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Big John Studd, Ivan Koloff, Magnificent Muraco and Sgt. Slaughter. One of his most memorable encounters came in mid-1982, when he won a steel cage match against "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka; in that match, at Madison Square Garden, Snuka scaled the top of the cage, intending to perform his "Superfly" splash onto a prone Backlund to incapacitate him, but Backlund moved after Snuka began to fly through the air and went on to escape the cage. He also turned back a challenge from Superstar Billy Graham, who returned to the WWF in late 1982 wanting to reclaim the championship.

End of an era

After having been popular with the fans from early on, in the final months of his title reign, Backlund changed his image, cutting his moppish hair into a crewcut, wearing amateur wrestling singlets and losing muscle mass and definition. Fans seemingly grew weary of this "Howdy Doody" character (as The Grand Wizard had dubbed him). In 1983, he was voted the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Most Overrated Wrestler. Vince McMahon, who had bought the WWF from his father, wanted to put the title on the more charismatic and muscular Hulk Hogan. McMahon initially suggested Backlund to turn heel and lose to Hogan, but when Backlund refused, a transitional champion became necessary between Backlund and Hogan. Backlund sustained a (kayfabe) injury when The Iron Sheik assaulted him with his Persian clubs and on December 26, 1983, Backlund lost the title to Sheik when Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, threw in the towel while Backlund was locked in the camel clutch.[7]

Due to Backlund's (kayfabe) injury, Hogan took over Backlund's rematch and became the new WWF World Heavyweight Champion.[21] However, this was a television storyline only; Backlund wrestled The Iron Sheik at least three times for the title, all at non-televised house shows (including once at the Boston Garden, winning by disqualification), and also wrestled The Magnificent Muraco for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, also at a non-televised house show.[22]

Backlund continued to work for the WWF for a while after the title change, but did not receive another title shot for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship after Hogan's victory. On August 4, 1984, Backlund defeated Salvatore Bellomo in his last WWF match for eight years.[23]

After the WWF and semi-retirement (1984–1992)

After leaving the WWF, Backlund had a run in the short-lived Pro Wrestling USA, a joint promotion of the NWA and the AWA, meant to combat the national expansion of the WWF. In Pro Wrestling USA, Backlund unsuccessfully challenged AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel. He soon dropped out of the pro wrestling scene, but he made a surprise return in 1991 for Herb Abrams' short-lived Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF). At "Beach Brawl" (the UWF's only pay-per-view event), he defeated Ivan Koloff.[24] Backlund also wrestled for Newborn UWF and UWF International in Japan, in a series of matches with Nobuhiko Takada. During his time away from the ring, he coached amateur wrestling at Bacon Academy and Rocky Hill High School in Connecticut.[25]

Return to WWF (1992–2000)

In 1992, Backlund returned to the WWF.[26] During his absence, the WWF had expanded into an international wrestling promotion, due in part to the colorful characters of the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection Era", which Hulk Hogan helped to kickstart eight years prior. Backlund, whose persona remained the same as it was in his heyday, seemed to be out of step with the evolution of the WWF. Many fans did not remember him, as he had left just prior to Vince McMahon's national expansion. His initial return to the WWF was largely uneventful and he mainly wrestled mid-card matches. However, at the 1993 Royal Rumble, he lasted sixty-one minutes and ten seconds,[27] a duration record that stood until 2004, when Chris Benoit broke it. Backlund's first appearance at WrestleMania was the IX edition, where he was quickly pinned by Razor Ramon.[28] Backlund also received several shots at the Intercontinental Championship, then held by Shawn Michaels.

On the July 30, 1994 episode of Superstars, Backlund wrestled what was billed as an "Old Generation vs. New Generation" match with Bret Hart, with Hart's WWF World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Over the preceding weeks, the WWF aired vignettes of Backlund training for this match. Hart won the match, capitalizing after Backlund mistakenly believed he had won and helped Hart to his feet. Backlund "snapped" after Hart repeatedly tried to offer a sportsmanlike handshake following the match. He slapped Hart in the face and locked him in the crossface chickenwing submission hold, while screaming hysterically. After finally releasing the hold, Backlund stared at his hands in apparent shock. Backlund then started to regularly "snap" in similar fashion during his matches, viciously attacking his opponent with the crossface chickenwing and refusing to release it after the opponent submitted. He would then seemingly snap back to normal and appear horrified by what he had done.[1]

On an episode of Monday Night Raw, shortly after his match with Hart, Backlund claimed that he should still be considered the legitimate WWF World Heavyweight Champion, as he had not been pinned by The Iron Sheik, nor submitted to the camel clutch. Backlund continued wrestling under the new gimmick of an out of touch and highly volatile eccentric, out to teach "The New Generation" a lesson.[1] He dressed in business suits (complete with a bow tie), had a hyperactive personality and used (and often misused, for comic effect) large words during his interviews. He demanded that he be addressed as Mr. Backlund, and he would only sign autographs for wrestling fans if they could recite the names of all of the United States Presidents in chronological order. On several instances, he assaulted wrestlers and other WWF employees and placed them in the crossface chickenwing. These victims include Jim Ross, Duke "The Dumpster" Droese, WWF Magazine writer Lou Gianfriddo, and his former manager Arnold Skaaland, who he blamed for costing him the WWF Heavyweight Championship in 1983.

On November 23, 1994, at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in San Antonio, Texas, Backlund faced Bret Hart in a special submission match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship where the only way for a wrestler to win was to have the opponent's valet, like Arnold Skaaland did for Backlund over a decade earlier, stop the match by throwing a towel into the ring. Backlund began displaying a white towel that he claimed was the same one that was thrown into the ring the night he lost to The Iron Sheik. To serve as his second for the match, Backlund paired up with Owen Hart, the brother and chief rival of the reigning champion who had tried and failed multiple times that year to wrest the belt from Bret.

Late in the match, as Backlund was locked in Hart's trademark Sharpshooter submission, Owen entered the ring and attacked Bret from behind to cause him to break the hold. Bret's cornerman for the match, Davey Boy Smith, chased Owen around the ring only to collide head first with the ring stairs. When Bret turned around to argue with his brother, Backlund took advantage and locked the crossface chickenwing on the champion. Hart fought the hold for an unprecedented eight-and-a-half minutes, but refused to give up.

Since Smith was unconscious on the floor, he was unable to save Hart. Owen took advantage by picking up the pink and black towel Smith carried and, feigning concern for the well being of his brother, approached his father Stu and his mother Helen who were seated at ringside. As Backlund continued to cinch in the crossface chickenwing in the ring, Owen pleaded for his parents to stop the match. Stu refused, not trusting Owen's motives. Helen, however, did not want to see Bret risk further injury and she grabbed the towel and threw it into the ring. Backlund was awarded the championship and celebrated in the ring while Owen rejoiced in finally having cost his brother the championship. After the match, Backlund conducted a brief interview which he concluded by screaming how he felt "like God".[1][7]

Backlund's second reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion was brief, as he lost the title three days later to Diesel at a non-televised show in Madison Square Garden,[7] the site of many of Backlund's victories in the 1970s and 1980s. Diesel kicked Backlund in the stomach, hit him with a Jackknife Powerbomb and pinned him in eight seconds.[1] For weeks afterwards, fans jeered Backlund with chants of "Eight seconds! Eight seconds!". In a 2005 interview for the Pro Wrestling Torch, Kevin Nash (a.k.a. Diesel) recalled how Backlund sold his Jackknife Powerbomb by crawling up the aisleway, back to the dressing room area of the Garden. Nash said, "He couldn't have put me over any stronger". This match was the last time the WWF World Heavyweight Championship changed hands at a non-televised event, and aside from Money in the Bank cash-ins, this match remains the shortest WWF title match ever; in fact, it would be tied by Randy Orton cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on Daniel Bryan at the 2013 SummerSlam.

After the title loss, Backlund wrestled progressively less often, never again reaching main event status. One of his final WWF matches was an "I Quit" match against Bret Hart at WrestleMania XI on April 2, 1995 which Backlund lost, even though he never actually said "I quit", instead screaming unintelligibly into the microphone, which special guest referee Roddy Piper seemed to interpret as "I quit".[29]

Following WrestleMania, the WWF ran an angle in which Backlund declared his candidacy for President of the United States. Several vignettes aired, featuring Backlund preaching socially conservative values, and one showed him campaigning at a beach. Backlund also confronted a Bill Clinton impersonator who was seated at ringside at the 1995 Survivor Series. This angle was quietly dropped before it reached a conclusion.

From late 1996 to early 1997, Backlund joined forces with his old nemesis, The Iron Sheik, to manage The Sultan in the WWF.[1] He left the WWF shortly after In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker on April 20, where he managed The Sultan in his win over Flash Funk.

Backlund in September 1998

In 1999, Backlund appeared on an episode of Sunday Night Heat in a skit in which himself, The Iron Sheik, and Dominic Denucci gave comedic advice to Mankind before his WWF Championship match with The Rock.

Backlund returned to the WWF in the 2000 Royal Rumble. After that, he briefly managed Intercontinental and European Champion Kurt Angle, and he taught his crossface chickenwing submission hold to Angle. Later on, Angle fired Backlund and locked him in that move, after discovering Backlund had booked him in a two-fall triple threat match against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho (with both of his titles on the line) at WrestleMania 2000, where he ultimately lost both titles.[1]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007)

After many references to Bob Backlund were made by Kevin Nash, he officially debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in January 2007, at the Final Resolution pay-per-view, judging the finals of the Paparazzi Championship Series (PCS) between Alex Shelley and Austin Starr. Given the tie breaking vote, Backlund launched a long explanation before declaring his decision a draw, and the match was restarted by PCS director Kevin Nash. After Shelley won the match, Starr pie-faced Backlund because he believed Backlund had cost him the match, at which Backlund responded by putting Starr in the crossface chickenwing.[30]

Backlund then began to make regular appearances on Impact!. During this time, he was described as crazy and weird by commentators Don West and Mike Tenay, somewhat similar to the "Mr. Backlund" gimmick of his second WWF tenure.

Backlund made his in-ring return at Slammiversary, where he defeated Alex Shelley. He then teamed with Jerry Lynn to lose to Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin (managed by Kevin Nash) at Victory Road. When TNA redesigned their website, Backlund's profile was removed, signaling the end of his run with the company.

Second return to WWE (2007–2017)

On the 15th Anniversary episode of Raw on December 10, 2007, Backlund participated in the 15th Anniversary battle royal, along with 14 other wrestlers from Raw's 15-year history. Backlund was eliminated from the match by Skinner.[31]

On the July 9, 2012 episode of Raw, after Heath Slater's match with Sin Cara, Slater issued a challenge to any "past champion" as part of a weekly series of Legend appearances. Backlund emerged from backstage to answer this challenge and, as Backlund entertained the crowd, Slater kicked him in the stomach and mocked him; Backlund responded by putting Slater in the crossface chickenwing, which he refused to break for 20 seconds after Slater had tapped out. He later appeared on Raw 1000 with all of the other Legends who had faced Slater over prior weeks, helping Lita chase Slater back into the ring when he tried to run away from Lita and the APA.

Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 6, 2013 by his friend Maria Menounos, and was acknowledged onstage with the year's other inductees at WrestleMania 29.[32]

Backlund made an appearance on the October 7, 2013 episode of Raw, unsuccessfully attempting to canvass votes in order to become the special guest referee for the WWE Championship match at Hell in a Cell; Shawn Michaels later won a public vote and was named as the special guest referee. However, Backlund did appear in a segment at Hell in a Cell together with The Prime Time Players, where they played WWE 2K14. Since April 2014, he has served as an ambassador for WWE.[33]

On the May 5, 2016 episode of SmackDown, Backlund would be approached by Darren Young, who asked Backlund to be his life coach, at which Backlund agreed, vowing to "Make Darren Young Great Again".[34] Over the next several months, various vignettes featuring Young and Backlund aired, with Backlund assuming the role of Young's life coach. In a "life lesson" segment on the July 4 episode of Raw, Backlund approved of Young adopting his famous Crossface chickenwing. On the July 11 episode of Raw, Young would win a battle royal to become the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship. At Battleground, Young faced The Miz in a match that resulted in a double-countout after he applied the Crossface Chickenwing to Miz outside the ring to protect Backlund from Miz and Maryse.[35] On July 19 at the 2016 WWE draft, Backlund and Young were drafted to Raw. In early 2017, after Young got injured, Backlund ceased appearing on TV. On October 29, 2017, Young was released from WWE, ending the storyline. Backlund's profile on WWE.com was then moved to the Hall of Fame page shortly afterwards.[36]

Books

Backlund's autobiography, The All-American Boy: Lessons and Stories on Life from Wrestling Legend Bob Backlund, was released on September 18, 2015. The 352-page book, contributed to by Robert H. Miller, includes interviews with Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, The Iron Sheik and Vince McMahon.[37]

Acting career

Backlund was a guest on MTV's Singled Out, where he acted in sketches with hosts Jenny McCarthy and Chris Hardwick. He played the role of Friar Chuck, alongside Maria Menounos and John Waters, in the feature film comedy In the Land of Merry Misfits. The film played at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, where Backlund appeared and signed autographs.

Personal life

Backlund and his wife, high school physical education teacher Corki, have a daughter named Carrie. They live in Glastonbury, Connecticut.[38]

In 2000, Backlund unsuccessfully ran for a Congress seat from Connecticut.[6]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. pp. 106–108. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bob Backlund Stats". Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Born in 1949 per Intelius check of "Robert L. Backlund" giving age of 60 as of September 23, 2009
  4. ↑ Wwf Characters – Hall Of Champions
  5. ↑ "Bob Backlund announced as WWE Hall of Fame 2013 inductee".
  6. 1 2 Gubala, Jeff (August 4, 2000). "Bob Backlund announces run for Congress". New Britain Herald. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ↑ "WWWF Show Results 1977". February 8, 1977. Bob Backlund & Tony Garea defeated Jose Estrada & Pete Doherty (first result listed for Backlund in the WWWF)
  9. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1977". WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham fought Bob Backlund to a double count-out
  10. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1977". Bob Backlund defeated WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham via count-out
  11. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1978". Bob Backlund pinned WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham to win the title at 15:51 with the atomic drop, even though the champion's foot was on the bottom rope during the pinfall.
  12. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1978". February 23, 1978. WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund fought NWA World Champion Harley Race to a draw
  13. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1979". WWW World Champion Bob Backlund fought AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel to a double count-out at 39:10 when both men began brawling on the floor
  14. ↑ Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  15. ↑ Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  16. ↑ Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  17. ↑ Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  18. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1981". October 19, 1981. WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned Greg Valentine at 19:32; the title was held up after the battle when the dazed referee accidentally gave the title to Valentine; the title controversy was only a factor in NYC as Backlund continued to defend the title until the following month's rematch
  19. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1981". October 20, 1981. WWF World Champion Bob Backlund fought WWF IC Champion Don Muraco to a draw
  20. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1981". Bob Backlund (w/ Arnold Skaaland) pinned Greg Valentine to win the vacant WWF World Heavyweight title at 15:36 with a German suplex into a bridge after avoiding a punch; in a move that was only recognized in the NYC area, the championship was vacated the previous month when the referee accidentally handed Valentine the title following his loss to Backlund
  21. ↑ Shaun Assael and Mike Mooneyham (2004). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment (Reprint ed.). Three Rivers Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-1-4000-5143-4.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ Brian Shields (2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s (4th ed.). Pocket Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
  24. ↑ "UWF Beach Brawl Results".
  25. ↑ "Forget Venture: Connecticut Pro Wrestler Hopes To Take Down Congressman Larson", by David Daley, Hartford Courant.
  26. ↑ "WWF Show Results 1992". Bob Backlund pinned Skinner (Backlund's return after 8 years)
  27. ↑ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Royal Rumble Statistics".
  28. ↑ "WWF WrestleMania Results (IX)".
  29. ↑ "WWF WrestleMania Results (XI)".
  30. ↑ "TNA Final Resolution 2007 Results". January 15, 2001. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. After the long list, Backlund had decided that the contest would be ruled as a draw.
  31. ↑ "WWE RAW RESULTS". OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. 2007.
  32. ↑ CALDWELL'S WWE WRESTLEMANIA 29 PPV RESULTS, from PWTorch.com
  33. ↑ Cadwell, James (October 20, 2014). "WWE NEWS: Raw script leak - several roster updates, including injuries, time off, heel or face?, Zayn call-up?, more". PWTorch. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  34. ↑ Wood, Donald (May 11, 2016). "Bob Backlund possible coach of Darren Young". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  35. ↑ "7/24 WWE Battleground Results – Caldwell's Complete Report". PWTorch.com. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  36. ↑ "The Official Destination for WWE Superstars - WWE". WWE.com. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  37. ↑ "The All-American Boy: Lessons and Stories on Life from Wrestling Legend Bob Backlund", at Amazon.com
  38. ↑ Men Who Put Foes in Headlocks Now Try to Get a Grip on Politics
  39. ↑ Florida Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  40. ↑ "Bob Backlund announced for 2016 Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  41. ↑ NWA Georgia Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  42. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1979). "PWI 1978 Match of the Year Award". PWI 1978 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  43. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1983). "PWI 1982 Match of the Year Award". PWI 1982 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  44. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1995). "PWI 1994 Most hated Wrestler of the Year Award". PWI 1994 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  45. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1978). "PWI 1977 Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award". PWI 1977 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  46. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1982). "PWI 1981 Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award". PWI 1981 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  47. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1977). "PWI 1976 Rookie of the Year Award". PWI 1976 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  48. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1981). "PWI 1980 Wrestler of the Year Award". PWI 1980 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  49. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (March 1983). "PWI 1982 Wrestler of the Year Award". PWI 1982 Reader Awards. London Publishing Co.
  50. ↑ Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Inductees At wrestling-titles.com
  51. ↑ NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  52. ↑ NWA Western States Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  53. ↑ WWWF/WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  54. ↑ WWWF/WWF/WWE World Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  55. ↑ WAR World 6-Man Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com
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