History Wrestling / BobBacklund

Since then, Backlund has made sporadic appearances on WWE programming and pay-per-view events (most notably as a JokeCharacter entry in the 2000 RoyalRumble), and made a brief run in TNA during 2007.

** In Backlund's biography, he and Steele both recalled their series of matches, remarking how they wanted to put on a morality-play-of-sorts and have the fan empathize with the good guy (Backlund) who got the raw end of the deal by a referee making a bad call. In the matches they planned, Steele would jab Backlund with the blade several times in the neck, all without trying to actually wrestle, before the referee too his bump, Backlund landed a blow to cause Steele to drop the object, Backlund hitting Steele several times with the object before the referee comes to and, seeing Backlund use the blade and disqualifies him.

* ItMakesSenseInContext: In his autobiography, Backlund said that his "Mr. Backlund" character made more sense in 1994 than 1984. Apparently, Vince [=McMahon=] wanted him to play a similar character -- an embitter heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after Hogan came back, and that was to be the catalyst for Hogan winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. (Of course, Backlund refused, but did agree to lose to TheIronSheik.) The 1994 heel turn, then, allowed the WWF to refine the character they had in mind -- 10 years had passed since the Hogan era began (and Hogan had been gone from the WWF a year), whereas in 1984 the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection was just starting to pick up steam -- and allowed Backlund, who knew well how to draw negative heat, to play the character to perfection. His matches with BretHart also gave the WWF some of its best mid-1990s matches, and given that the crossface chickenwing (Backlund's submission hold) worked better on smaller wrestlers (like Hart and ShawnMichaels) than large, steroid-sized monsters that were common during the era, and this allowed him to use the move to greater effect.
** Then again, Backlund's agreeing to be booked as the loser of his match to the Iron Sheik made the title transition make sense. After all, who wanted an all-American boy, the standard-bearer for nearly six years and one of the most popular babyfaces of the era, to face the new American champion? Fans ''wanted'' America vs. one of its most hated enemies ... and the 22,000-plus fans that saw Hogan crush the Iron Sheik (and in effect, America getting a decisive win over Iran) that night was exactly what they got.

* {{Determinator}}: His sixty-one minute performance at ''Wrestling/RoyalRumble 1993.'' It was a record that stood for eleven years and was then passed by both Chris Benoita (61 minutes, 30 seconds in 2004) and Rey Mysterio (62 minutes, 12 seconds in 2006).

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} then-WWWF]] in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut {{Face}} with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from [[Wrestling/SuperstarBillyGraham "Superstar" Billy Graham]] in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Wrestling/GregValentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic Wrestling/HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

* EtTuBrute: In his heel turn in 1994, Backlund took this stance toward his former manager, Arnold Skaaland, who threw in the towel and caused Backlund to lose the title to Wrestling/TheIronSheik. Backlund would get his revenge on an early episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=RAW=]'' with…..

* EtTuBrute: In his heel turn in 1994, Backlund took this stance toward his former manager, Arnold Skaaland, who threw in the towel and caused Backlund to lose the title to Wrestling/TheIronSheik. Backlund would get his revenge on an early episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=RAW=]'' with.....

Backlund returned to the WWF in 1992, and would portray a gimmick that crossed his BadassGrandpa credentials with a Crazy Old Man tendency to "snap" without provocation. Feuding with WWF BretHart in 1994, Backlund would defeat him in a Throw In The Towel match at that year's Survivor Series, thus beginning a second official reign of championship. Three days later, [[{{Wrestling/KevinNash}} Diesel]] would win the title from him in a SquashMatch in an oddly non-televised show.

* FinishingMove: The crossface chicken wing, which, at the time of his 1994 heel run, was put over as one of the most dangerous holds in wrestling.

* {{Determinator}}: His sixty-one minute performance at ''Wrestling/RoyalRumble 1993.'' It was a record that stood for eleven years.

* AGodAmI: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFP3ZuAkNj8 "BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!"]]

A [[RingOldies Ring Oldie]] who has been wrestling since 1973, Bob Backlund is, officially, a two time WWE Champion, and holds the record for second longest possession of the title.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut {{Face}} with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from [[Wrestling/SuperstarBillyGraham "Superstar" Billy Graham]] in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Wrestling/GregValentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

* BadassGrandpa: Just ask Wrestling/HeathSlater. Or the fans who chanted "He's still got it!" during a July 2012 episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=RAW=]''.

* DarkerAndEdgier: [[AvertedTrope Averted.]] Backlund was given the opportunity to have a FaceHeelTurn in TheEighties, but he refused, and left the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]] once HulkHogan was champion. When he finally did turn during his second run in 1994, it was instead a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] of his AllAmericanFace status.
* DemotedToExtra: After Wrestling/HulkHogan made his presence felt in the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]], it was downhill for Backlund, who'd had his day, and just couldn't compete with a charismatic, larger than life character like Hogan.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut {{Face}} with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Wrestling/GregValentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut {{Face}} with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Greg Valentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

!!Tropes Associated With Bob Backlund:

* BadassGrandpa: Just ask Heath Slater. Or the fans who chanted "He's still got it!" during a July 2012 episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=RAW=]''.

* AllAmericanBoy: Well, duh. It was only his RedBaron as a {{Face}}.

* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: His mid-'90s HeelTurn was characterized by his speaking with words from the unabridged dictionary; notably, calling the fans "plebians".

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut BabyFace with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Greg Valentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

* CanonDiscontinuity: According to the "official" WWE title history, BobBacklund defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham for the World Wide Wrestling Federation Championship in February of 1978, and lost it to Wrestling/TheIronSheik in December of 1983. However, in November of 1979, at a cross-promotional show in Japan, Antonio Inoki defeated Backlund cleanly for the title, and was announced and promoted at NWF (National Wrestling Federation, a subsidiary of the NWA) shows as being the WWF Champion. He lost it back to Backlund a week later in December. Since the WWF never authorized this title change, they never acknowledged Inoki as being their first (and, discounting the Pacific-Island-Billed-As-Japanese Yokozuna, only) Asian world champion.

* AGodAmI: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFP3ZuAkNj8 "BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!"]]

* IsThisWhatAngerFeelsLike: During his 1990s run, Backlund went from a nice guy/mentor to the up-and-coming stars to heel-gone-mad over what he perceived as unjustly losing the WWF Championship in 1983 to Wrestling/TheIronSheik, attacking friends old (Arnold Skaaland) and new (Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/Davey Boy Smith).

The natural angle at this point would be for Backlund to make a FaceHeelTurn leading up to a confrontation with Hogan. However, Backlund refused to change his character and so would end up losing the belt to a transitional champion ForeignWrestlingHeel [[{{Wrestling/TheIronSheik}} The Iron Sheik]] in 1983. (Sheik would drop the belt to Hogan one month later.) Backlund would bounce around the mid-card before entering a semi-retirement in 1984.

* CanonDiscontinuity: According to the "official" WWE title history, BobBacklund defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham for the World Wide Wrestling Federation Championship in February of 1978, and lost it to TheIronSheik in December of 1983. However, in November of 1979, at a cross-promotional show in Japan, Antonio Inoki defeated Backlund cleanly for the title, and was announced and promoted at NWF (National Wrestling Federation, a subsidiary of the NWA) shows as being the WWF Champion. He lost it back to Backlund a week later in December. Since the WWF never authorized this title change, they never acknowledged Inoki as being their first (and, discounting the Pacific-Island-Billed-As-Japanese Yokozuna, only) Asian world champion.

* DemotedToExtra: After [[{{Wrestling/HulkHogan}} Hulk Hogan]] made his presence felt in the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]], it was downhill for Backlund, who'd had his day, and just couldn't compete with a charismatic, larger than life character like Hogan.
* {{Determinator}}: His sixty-one minute performance at ''RoyalRumble 1993.'' It was a record that stood for eleven years.
* EtTuBrute: In his heel turn in 1994, Backlund took this stance toward his former manager, Arnold Skaaland, who threw in the towel and caused Backlund to lose the title to [[{{Wrestling/TheIronSheik}} The Iron Sheik]]. Backlund would get his revenge on an early episode of ''Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=RAW=]'' with.....

* IsThisWhatAngerFeelsLike: During his 1990s run, Backlund went from a nice guy/mentor to the up-and-coming stars to heel-gone-mad over what he perceived as unjustly losing the WWF Championship in 1983 to [[{{Wrestling/TheIronSheik}} The Iron Sheik]], attacking friends old (Arnold Skaaland) and new ([[{{Wrestling/BretHart}} Bret Hart]] and [[{{Wrestling/Davey Boy Smith}} Davey Boy Smith]]).

Backlund is also known for a failed attempt in 2000 to run for a Connecticut representative seat in Congress, and for guest-starring in a MemeticMutation worthy episode of ''SingledOut''

A [[RingOldies Ring Oldie]] who has been wrestling since 1973, Bob Backlund is, officially, a two time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and holds the record for second longest possession of the title.

* DemotedToExtra: After [[{{Wrestling/HulkHogan}} Hulk Hogan]] made his presence felt in the [[{{WWE}} WWF]], it was downhill for Backlund, who'd had his day, and just couldn't compete with a charismatic, larger than life character like Hogan.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the [[{Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation}} AWA]] and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut BabyFace with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Greg Valentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the AWA and NWA, Backlund joined the then-WWWF in 1977. Playing the part of a clean-cut BabyFace with impressive technical ability, Backlund quickly got over with wrestling fans, and would win the WWF Championship from Superstar Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt during a Japanese tour, and, in 1981, an angle was played where Greg Valentine, after losing by pinfall, would be "accidentally" given the belt by a {{kayfabe}} "dazed" referee. The title was supposedly "held-up" until the next month when easily Backlund won the rematch). While Backlund would defend his championship against a veritable who's who of the early 1980s wrestling scene, eventually fans grew tired of the squeaky-clean Backlund's domination, especially with the more muscular and charismatic HulkHogan waiting in the wings.