It would have been a great angle to see Backlund turn heel on Hogan . Like Backlund heel turn against Bret Hart in the '90's . With the crazy Mr. Backlund gimmick .
Backlund passing the torch to Hogan . When they mentioned the upcoming MSG show on 1/23/84 . Howard Finkel said the main event was Backlund vs The Iron Sheik in a return match , but that never happened . Maybe after the pop Hogan got from the crowd that day . Vince changed the main event to Hogan vs Sheik .
A matchup between Dolph Ziggler vs Bob Backlund would be a classic. Backlund held the WWWF/WWF Championship for 6 years long during the 1970s. Ziggler the other hand is a former World Heavyweight Champion would be a technical wrestling and some submission matches. Ziggler has the sleephold and Bob uses the Crossface Chicken Wing.
Listen to the pop Hogan got. That was due to the fact that Hulkamania was already established by Hogan himself in the AWA. McMahon had nothing to do with creating Hulkamania. It was well established in the AWA and Hogan was so over crowds would riot when he'd get screwed. Hulkamania was Hogan's creation.
Bob Backlund was boring as hell and awkward!!! Only reason he became champ was McMahon Sr. didn't know what to with "tweener" Superstar Billy Graham. His doubt meant that we had to suffer with one dimesional Backland.
@ZenPimps At least he could wrestle, unlike most wrestlers in the WWF. Muraco DID give Backlund fits though. Backlund can even give Flair a run for the his money.
@wlf12341 yeah...in 1982 he met Flair at the old Omni in Atlanta. That was probably Backlund's toughest year...Snuka, Masked Superstar, the return of Superstar Graham. He could wrestle...but that doesn't mean he was great. He was too bland when you compare him w/ other then champs Flair and Bockwinkel.
@ZenPimps Yeah Snuka was getting cheered over Backlund, even Graham was getting cheered and it was clear that Backlund was reaching the end of his run. You're right it was more than an injury. The same thing would happen to Hogan. Such a long run has the backlash of making the crowd tire of them and eventually they will turn. As such McMahon wanted Backlund to turn heel and drop it to hogan. Backlund refused. So they had Backlund drop it to Sheik and the rest is history.
@wlf12341 The only areas where most people knock Backlund was that he wasn't very colorful, and he couldn't cut a promo to save his life. He could do absolutely anything between the ropes, but on the mic he was lost. Hogan was charismatic but pretty weak in the ring, and always had the same match: get pounded on for a while, then "Hulk Up" and start kicking and punching his opponent, then the whip into the ropes with a boot in the face on the rebound, then the big legdrop and the pin.
Has anyone noticed that when Howard Finkle promotes the January 23rd Wrestling Spectacular at Madison Sqaure Garden, the main event is mentioned as Bob Backlund vs. The Iron Sheik? We all know that The Hulkster is the one who stepped into the ring that night and the rest is history!
I used to go the MSG every month and I had always wished that Backlund would lose to any heel he faced, King Kong Mosca, Don Muraco, Adrian Adonis, but the Iron Sheik was one I did not want to defeat him... But the plans were already laid out by Vince.
I liked to see which heel Backlund would face next, and we also would go to MSG quite often, but my feeling was just the opposite, I always wanted him to WIN, as I was a big fan of his.
VERY STRANGE: Bob Backlund was unable to face the Iron Sheik (for a rematch) on Jan 23, 1984 because of a neck injury that he suffered from the same man on Dec 26, 1983 (when he lost the title) - however, here he is wrestling Samu on Jan 3, 1984. He must have temporarily recovered just enough to be able to wrestle Samu (Samoan #3) that night.
I remember this so vividly. This was Hogans first appearance for his return. On this very same show both Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff made their debut as well. They interviewed Piper earlier and he made a comment about "Hulk Hogan in the back bleaching his hair" and I was puzzled cause as far as I knew Hogan was still in the AWA. Sure enough he came out later on with Backlund and I knew then and there who was gonna get the title from the iron Sheik. Poor bob.
no one knows crap around here. the REAL reason backlund lost to the sheik was because they wanted him to turn bad and attack hogan doing the crazy backlund routine. backlund refused and said it would hurt the fans who loved him and wouldnt do it. thats why when he came back he was crazy backlund.
You're right. They actually referenced that in the famous Sports Illustrated wrestling article in the mid 80's. Vince wanted Backlund to die his hair black and go heel. Bob hated the idea, so we had Sheik as the transition champ.
LOL...whatever dude. Crazy Backlund didn't come out for over a year...McMahon made him a heel because JUST like in 1983...in 1993, no one cared about a duller than paint drying technical wrestler in the WWF.
Backlund was quite over with the fans prior to 1983 probably because he was such a contrast to Sammartino and Graham that the fans saw him as a breath of fresh air.
At the time, It took me a minute to figure out who was that blond that accompanied Backlund (remember I watched All-Star Wrestling after the Hulkster was let go by Vince Sr.) my first thought was what was Thunderlips doing here. Too bad they left this off the Hulk Hogan DVD.
man,i remember this day. i was geeked when hogan came out there. hogan was my man back then and it was totally unexpected. his eye of the tiger entrance is still the best in the biz. till the rock came along. but this is classic. historic. 5 star post.
This was the offical passing of the torch that changed the Wrestling forever. Hogan entered the fold; Vince took the WWF national (and international)....the rest is history.
i remeber when this first aired ,i am a big fan of backlund face or heel myself , from what i understand it wasnt so much turning heel that bothered backlund he was a borderline heel in his fued with superstar graham ,it was more with the gimmick, vince wanted him to do a boy george kind of a gimmick ,that was more the problem
I wonder what things would have been like if Backlund had agreed with Vince to turn bad and lose to Hogan. I loved it when Backlund turned bad in 1994 and became a maniac. I was a fan of his as a child when he was a goody goody but an even bigger fan when he turned into a lunatic. I wonder if Backlund regrets not turning bad in 1984. After all, he basically disappeared from the spotlight for 10 years.
I think Heel Backlund is 10x more entertaining than Hogan ever was!
Note in the voice-over for the 1/23/84 MSG card, Howard Finkel notes "Bob Backlund-Iron Sheik, the return title matchup." Backlund could not make the match due to his nagging neck injury...we all know what happened from there, BROTHER. ;-)
It would have been a great angle to see Backlund turn heel on Hogan . Like Backlund heel turn against Bret Hart in the '90's . With the crazy Mr. Backlund gimmick .
viciousbill 7 months ago
Backlund passing the torch to Hogan . When they mentioned the upcoming MSG show on 1/23/84 . Howard Finkel said the main event was Backlund vs The Iron Sheik in a return match , but that never happened . Maybe after the pop Hogan got from the crowd that day . Vince changed the main event to Hogan vs Sheik .
viciousbill 7 months ago
A matchup between Dolph Ziggler vs Bob Backlund would be a classic. Backlund held the WWWF/WWF Championship for 6 years long during the 1970s. Ziggler the other hand is a former World Heavyweight Champion would be a technical wrestling and some submission matches. Ziggler has the sleephold and Bob uses the Crossface Chicken Wing.
21richkid 7 months ago
Listen to the pop Hogan got. That was due to the fact that Hulkamania was already established by Hogan himself in the AWA. McMahon had nothing to do with creating Hulkamania. It was well established in the AWA and Hogan was so over crowds would riot when he'd get screwed. Hulkamania was Hogan's creation.
mongoose704 1 year ago
Bob Backlund was boring as hell and awkward!!! Only reason he became champ was McMahon Sr. didn't know what to with "tweener" Superstar Billy Graham. His doubt meant that we had to suffer with one dimesional Backland.
ZenPimps 1 year ago
@ZenPimps At least he could wrestle, unlike most wrestlers in the WWF. Muraco DID give Backlund fits though. Backlund can even give Flair a run for the his money.
wlf12341 1 year ago
@wlf12341 yeah...in 1982 he met Flair at the old Omni in Atlanta. That was probably Backlund's toughest year...Snuka, Masked Superstar, the return of Superstar Graham. He could wrestle...but that doesn't mean he was great. He was too bland when you compare him w/ other then champs Flair and Bockwinkel.
ZenPimps 1 year ago
@ZenPimps Yeah Snuka was getting cheered over Backlund, even Graham was getting cheered and it was clear that Backlund was reaching the end of his run. You're right it was more than an injury. The same thing would happen to Hogan. Such a long run has the backlash of making the crowd tire of them and eventually they will turn. As such McMahon wanted Backlund to turn heel and drop it to hogan. Backlund refused. So they had Backlund drop it to Sheik and the rest is history.
mongoose704 1 year ago
@wlf12341 The only areas where most people knock Backlund was that he wasn't very colorful, and he couldn't cut a promo to save his life. He could do absolutely anything between the ropes, but on the mic he was lost. Hogan was charismatic but pretty weak in the ring, and always had the same match: get pounded on for a while, then "Hulk Up" and start kicking and punching his opponent, then the whip into the ropes with a boot in the face on the rebound, then the big legdrop and the pin.
elc1960 9 months ago
I wonder if these two happened to have a rematch ten years later when Bob Backlund was on the comeback trail.
wrestlingchallenge 1 year ago
What a pop for Hogan!
carter2 1 year ago
@carter2
He had charisma. It can't be taught. You have it or you don't.
Hulk
Had
It
mongoose704 1 year ago
a major turning point in wrestling history
brucedavis76 2 years ago
Has anyone noticed that when Howard Finkle promotes the January 23rd Wrestling Spectacular at Madison Sqaure Garden, the main event is mentioned as Bob Backlund vs. The Iron Sheik? We all know that The Hulkster is the one who stepped into the ring that night and the rest is history!
jolare 2 years ago 2
@jolare Backlund was injured, and McMahon wanted Hogan as champion.
wlf12341 1 year ago
Joe Mc Hugh was awesome
JTZissman 2 years ago
When I see Bob Backlund, my penis gets hard. Is that weird?
Gregamania69 2 years ago
someone gave you a thumbs down, lol
vhsrestoredotcom 2 years ago
@Gregamania69 yes...that means you're a fucking faggot...you fucking faggot.
BiscuitsMcGillicuddy 1 year ago
probably the most pivitol moment in pro wrestling.
blaknyte08 2 years ago 2
WOW, I just stumbled upon this video, I WAS THERE, I grew up in allentown, brings back memories,
flbiro1967 3 years ago
Any of you guys know if Agricultural Hall is still up, or torn down?
Freebleeper 3 years ago
I tore your mother down last night. Woo hoo hoo. Later.
45init 3 years ago
Great! a man with alot of class, what the world really needs.
Freebleeper 3 years ago
Thanks man.
45init 3 years ago
your welcome, I guess! sarcasm meets sarcams, what a mix!
Freebleeper 3 years ago
What's with the attitude. I just said thank you.
45init 3 years ago
no attitude? since you JUST insulted my mother, I don't need an attitude with you.
Freebleeper 3 years ago
Only you could make sense of that.
45init 3 years ago
what?
Freebleeper 3 years ago
The building still stands to this day.
klct2006 3 years ago
Thank you, finally somebody answer my question, instead of having a long useless debate like the other guy.
Freebleeper 3 years ago
I used to go the MSG every month and I had always wished that Backlund would lose to any heel he faced, King Kong Mosca, Don Muraco, Adrian Adonis, but the Iron Sheik was one I did not want to defeat him... But the plans were already laid out by Vince.
rko815 3 years ago
I liked to see which heel Backlund would face next, and we also would go to MSG quite often, but my feeling was just the opposite, I always wanted him to WIN, as I was a big fan of his.
MeAndMyRC 3 years ago
Bob was a great wrstler but he never had the correct attitude to be at home in NYC.
okrabay 3 years ago
turns me on, sounds weird
Falkowski82 3 years ago
So this started it all, huh?
Will87 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
turned me on weird
Falkowski82 3 years ago
VERY STRANGE: Bob Backlund was unable to face the Iron Sheik (for a rematch) on Jan 23, 1984 because of a neck injury that he suffered from the same man on Dec 26, 1983 (when he lost the title) - however, here he is wrestling Samu on Jan 3, 1984. He must have temporarily recovered just enough to be able to wrestle Samu (Samoan #3) that night.
F1478963 3 years ago
I remember this so vividly. This was Hogans first appearance for his return. On this very same show both Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff made their debut as well. They interviewed Piper earlier and he made a comment about "Hulk Hogan in the back bleaching his hair" and I was puzzled cause as far as I knew Hogan was still in the AWA. Sure enough he came out later on with Backlund and I knew then and there who was gonna get the title from the iron Sheik. Poor bob.
Chrisdrumz 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this!
ccie12933 3 years ago
what ever happen to the ring announcer i remember him from when i was a kid and ofcourse the ref dirty dick worley.
jaymes7872 3 years ago
hey jaymes- the ring announcer from AG hall used to be Joe McHugh. He always came off as a real hayseed. LOL
bc575757 3 years ago
McHugh was awesome!
Will87 3 years ago
I'd much rather see Lilian Garcia then McHugh..
bc575757 3 years ago
I love when Mean Gene says "Listen to the chanting of this crowd" at the second the crowd turns silent
BobbyDes 4 years ago
no one knows crap around here. the REAL reason backlund lost to the sheik was because they wanted him to turn bad and attack hogan doing the crazy backlund routine. backlund refused and said it would hurt the fans who loved him and wouldnt do it. thats why when he came back he was crazy backlund.
plansheiky 4 years ago
You're right. They actually referenced that in the famous Sports Illustrated wrestling article in the mid 80's. Vince wanted Backlund to die his hair black and go heel. Bob hated the idea, so we had Sheik as the transition champ.
Reg197844 3 years ago
LOL...whatever dude. Crazy Backlund didn't come out for over a year...McMahon made him a heel because JUST like in 1983...in 1993, no one cared about a duller than paint drying technical wrestler in the WWF.
cbaldwinjr 2 years ago
@cbaldwinjr So true.
Backlund was quite over with the fans prior to 1983 probably because he was such a contrast to Sammartino and Graham that the fans saw him as a breath of fresh air.
Crazy Backlund was a hoot though!
mongoose704 1 year ago
wouldnt it have been great if hogan clothslined backlund, dropped the leg and said your next meatball!
plansheiky 4 years ago
At the time, It took me a minute to figure out who was that blond that accompanied Backlund (remember I watched All-Star Wrestling after the Hulkster was let go by Vince Sr.) my first thought was what was Thunderlips doing here. Too bad they left this off the Hulk Hogan DVD.
mlabot 4 years ago
You can find this on 2002's Hulk Still Rules DVD.
SK3Online 3 years ago
man,i remember this day. i was geeked when hogan came out there. hogan was my man back then and it was totally unexpected. his eye of the tiger entrance is still the best in the biz. till the rock came along. but this is classic. historic. 5 star post.
blaknyte08 4 years ago
Note that Arnold Skaaland is no where to be found.
tom667 4 years ago
This was the offical passing of the torch that changed the Wrestling forever. Hogan entered the fold; Vince took the WWF national (and international)....the rest is history.
Reg197844 4 years ago
Hogan and Backlund and of course Bruno Sammartino at the top of the list are the greatest of all time in my opinion!
gvader 4 years ago
i remeber when this first aired ,i am a big fan of backlund face or heel myself , from what i understand it wasnt so much turning heel that bothered backlund he was a borderline heel in his fued with superstar graham ,it was more with the gimmick, vince wanted him to do a boy george kind of a gimmick ,that was more the problem
wwe123 4 years ago
I wonder what things would have been like if Backlund had agreed with Vince to turn bad and lose to Hogan. I loved it when Backlund turned bad in 1994 and became a maniac. I was a fan of his as a child when he was a goody goody but an even bigger fan when he turned into a lunatic. I wonder if Backlund regrets not turning bad in 1984. After all, he basically disappeared from the spotlight for 10 years.
I think Heel Backlund is 10x more entertaining than Hogan ever was!
donnydj76 4 years ago
The torch was unofficially passed at 7:42 to 7:59 when Bob Backlund said Hulk Hogan has changed his ways and seemed to left the interview.
tom667 4 years ago
Note in the voice-over for the 1/23/84 MSG card, Howard Finkel notes "Bob Backlund-Iron Sheik, the return title matchup." Backlund could not make the match due to his nagging neck injury...we all know what happened from there, BROTHER. ;-)
iamsk3 4 years ago