History Wrestling / BobBacklund

* ConsistentClothingStyle: His attire reflected his RingOldies status, [[FashionDissonance being as basic as]] ankle-long boots, kneepads, trunks, a short bathrobe, his towel and nothing more. Incidentally, he wore this same set in many colors, favoring the blue and the red ones but extending to olive green, light purple, pink, brown and even black.

* RedBaron: "TheAllAmericanBoy" as WWWF Champ. "New York no Teioh" ("Emperor of New York") during his brief stint in Japan.

!! "These tropes are associated with MR. Backlund, you plebeians! And I want you to make MR. Backlund great again!":

** 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 took 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.
* TheAce[=/=]TheGrappler: Arguably the best example of this on an american promotion outside the AWA, 10 years prior to the arrival of the likes of The Hitman and [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]]. Being this the only trait he carried on with once he turned heel.
** Also closer to be an all-arounder much more than the promotion's big names back in the day as Wrestling/BrunoSammartino and Wrestling/PedroMorales. As a matter of fact, he was a sort of a CompositeCharacter of them both: He could play the brawler, the powerhouse and at times a flyier.
* TheAllAmericanBoy: Well, duh. It was only his RedBaron as a {{Face}}.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: While this applies to his 1994 FaceHeelTurn, it also was evident during Backlund's original run as World Wrestling Federation champion when a heel wrestler got him angry enough. "Superstar" Billy Graham found this out firsthand during their feud in late 1982-early 1983, when Graham – during a feud that played up Graham's pent-up rage from his title loss nearly five years earlier – destroyed Backlund's title belt. Backlund picked up the pieces of the belt, looked at it and began screaming like a lunatic, "WHY?!" Backlund, who usually used mat and scientific wrestling in his matches, also proved he was an excellent brawler when pushed by his heel opponents.
** But actually, the psychopathic side of Backlund's personality – one who becomes irrational and unpredictable when really angered – was first seen in the fall of 1978, when his close friend, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, attacked Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, during a tag-team match; Maivia then turned his attention onto Backlund. After Maivia was separated from Backlund and hustled back to the locker room, Backlund screamed out, "'''I'll KILL that SON-OF-A-BITCH!!!!'''" (Maivia, meanwhile, [[FaceHeelTurn later interview claimed he was sick and tired of Backlund supposedly ducking him and not offering him a title shot]]. Needless to say, Maivia was not successful in his quest to win the title.)
* CallBack: A very lengthy one for Pro Wrestling. He attacked Arnold Skaaland for throwing in the towel during Backlund's WWF Championship loss to the Iron Sheik, which happened over ten years earlier.

* CloudCuckooLander: Good lord, yes....
* ConsistentClothingStyle: His attire reflected his RingOldies status, [[FashionDissonance being as basic as]] ankle-long boots, kneepads, trunks, his bathrobe and nothing more. Incidentally, he wore this same set in many colors, favoring the blue and the red ones but extending to green, light purple, pink and even brown.

* FieryRedhead: Quite a dynamic, merry lad as a face and a ''completely insane'' middle-aged man as a heel.
* FinishingMove: The ''Crossface Chickenwing'', which, at the time of his 1994 heel run, was put over as one of the most dangerous holds in wrestling. Heck, it was dangerous when he used it (as a face) in the 1980s.

* 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 embittered/jealous heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after Wrestling/HulkHogan was hired back to become its new star, 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 Wrestling/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 Wrestling/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 Wrestling/ShawnMichaels) than large, steroid-sized monsters that were common during the era, 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 to Hogan 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 January 1984 night was exactly what they got.

* NeverLearnedToRead: Until he was 42.

* RedBaron: "The All-American Boy" as WWWF Champ. "New York no Teioh" ("Emperor of New York") during his brief stint in Japan.

** Backlund's other favorite finishing move was "The Bridge" (where, by the leverage of his arched back, he could pin his opponent's shoulders to the mat).

* 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. Heck, it was dangerous when he used it (as a face) in the 1980s.
** Backlund's other favorite finishing moves included the "bridge" (where, by the leverage of his arched back, he could pin his opponent's shoulders to the mat) and the atomic drop.

* FieryRedhead: Quite a dynamic, merry chap as a face and a ''completely insane'' middle-aged man as a heel.

* WrestlingPsychology: Having to face one of the greatest names in the business, a former world heavyweight champion for almost ''six years'' who not only was his own generation's best technician, but also sturdy enough to face the likes of Hogan and Wrestling/SgtSlaughter on their own terms can be demoralising.

A [[RingOldies Ring Oldie]] who has been wrestling since 1973, Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is, officially, a two time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Champion]], and holds the record for second longest possession of the title.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the {{Wrestling/A|mericanWrestlingAssociation}}WA and Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA, 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 in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt to Wrestling/AntonioInoki 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 Backlund easily 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.

Since then, Backlund has made sporadic appearances on WWE programming and pay-per-view events (most notably as a JokeCharacter entry in the 2000 Wrestling/RoyalRumble), and made a brief run in TNA during 2007. He also showed up on WWE again in 2012 in the lead-up to the 1000th episode of RAW when a furious and humiliated Wrestling/HeathSlater, fresh off a loss to Wrestling/SinCara, challenged any former champion in the back to throw down with him and Backland answered the call, submitting Slater with his crossface chicken wing.

* TheAce: Arguably the best example of this on an american promotion outside the AWA, 10 years pryor the arrival of the likes of The Hitman and [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]]. Being this the only trait he carried on with once he turned heel.
** Also closer to be an all-arounder far beyond the promotion big names as Wrestling/BrunoSammartino and Wrestling/PedroMorales. As a matter of fact, he was a sort of a CompositeCharacter of them both.

* RedBaron: "New York no Teioh" ("Emperor of New York").

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Managed to invoke this in Wrestling/JerryThe KingLawler, who was fresh off his feud with Wrestling/BretHart. Even "The King" thought Backlund was nuts when he started putting randomly putting people in chickenwing crossface's.

* WhenEldersAttack: Backlund's often played the role of a dangerous, mean old guy who hates whippersnappers and goes after them. Instead of a cane, though, his "weapon" of choice is his Crossface Chickenwing.

%%* AllAmericanFace

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

%%* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs

* DemotedToExtra: After Hulk Hogan made his presence felt in the 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/A|mericanWrestlingAssociation}}WA and Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA, 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 in 1978. Backlund would remain champion for the next five years (though would semi-officially lose and quickly regain the belt to Wrestling/AntonioInoki 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.

After bouncing around various leagues, including the {{Wrestling/A|mericanWrestlingAssociation}}WA and Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA, 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.

Backlund returned to the WWF in 1992, and although at first he was the same face character as before (but now trying to mentor younger stars), he would eventually portray a gimmick that crossed his BadassGrandpa credentials with a Crazy Old Man tendency to "snap" without provocation. Feuding with WWF Wrestling/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.

* AllAmericanFace
* BadassGrandpa: Just ask Wrestling/HeathSlater. Or the fans who chanted "He's still got it!" during a July 2012 episode of ''Raw''.

* StillGotIt: And [[BewareTheNiceOnes don't make him]] [[BadassGrandpa prove it]].
* [[TheyCallMeMisterTibbs They Call Me MISTER Bob Backlund]]

* AcceptableProfessionalTargets:[[invoked]] Normally during his original WWF run, Backlund greatly respected the officials and never touched them. But during one match at New York City's Madison Square Garden in 1983, after he got disqualified in a match against GeorgeSteele (he had gotten Steele's foreign object, a dull blade of some sort, away from him and began hitting him with it repeatedly), he went crazy, shoving down the referee.

A [[RingOldies Ring Oldie]] who has been wrestling since 1973, Bob Backlund is, officially, a two time [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Champion]], and holds the record for second longest possession of the title.

!!! "These tropes are associated with MR. Backlund, you plebeians! And I want you to make MR. Backlund great again!":

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. He also showed up on WWE again in 2012 in the lead-up to the 1000th episode of RAW when a furious and humiliated Wrestling/HeathSlater, fresh off a loss to Wrestling/SinCara, challenged any former champion in the back to throw down with him and Backland answered the call, submitting Slater with his crossface chicken wing.

* 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 embittered/jealous heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after HulkHogan was hired back to become its new star, 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 Wrestling/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 Wrestling/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 Wrestling/ShawnMichaels) than large, steroid-sized monsters that were common during the era, this allowed him to use the move to greater effect.

Backlund returned to the WWF in 1992, and although at first he was the same face character as before (but now trying to mentor younger stars), he would eventually 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.

* 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 embittered/jealous heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after HulkHogan was hired back to become its new star, 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 Wrestling/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 Wrestling/ShawnMichaels) than large, steroid-sized monsters that were common during the era, this allowed him to use the move to greater effect.

* 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 embittered/jealous heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after HulkHogan was hired back to become its new star, 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 Wrestling/ShawnMichaels) than large, steroid-sized monsters that were common during the era, this allowed him to use the move to greater effect.

!!! "These tropes are associated with MR. Backlund, you plebeians!":

* 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 embittered/jealous heel upset that someone better, flashier, etc., was now getting the cheers he once did -- shortly after HulkHogan was hired back to become its new star, 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, this allowed him to use the move to greater effect.

* AcceptableProfessionalTargets: Normally during his original WWF run, Backlund greatly respected the officials and never touched them. But during one match at New York City's Madison Square Garden in 1983, after he got disqualified in a match against GeorgeSteele (he had gotten Steele's foreign object, a dull blade of some sort, away from him and began hitting him with it repeatedly), he went crazy, shoving down the referee.