Loved Superstar Billy Graham. Hated when he lost and Backlund's near 6 year run was not deserving...and at times pretty painful to watch. But trust me - Bob Backlund was a seriously strong SOB with a great amateur background. He would have tapped out Graham in a shoot within 2 minutes if this was for real. But of course....this is a promo-look biz.
What the hell...it has the WWE logo on it but the commentary team is Craig Degeorge, Johnny V, and Bobby Heenan. Really odd they didn't do new commentary or just use the original audio...if the original had commentary, anyway
DiBiase was originally supposed to win the WM IV tourney. But HTM refused to drop the IC belt to Savage, and Savage was going to legit beat his ass, so Vince promised Savage the World title instead.
Graham and Sammartino were an inch away of double-crossing Vince Sr... a few nights before this, they nearly agreed to let Sammartino win the title back.
I remember watching this live and now i'm looking at it and am thinking it was a very weak ending to Superstar's reign. It could have been a little more dramatic i think.
@gvader In Superstar's book he mentioned how much he begged Vince McMahon Sr. to turn babyface and hold on to the belt longer. He didn't think Backlund had the charisma to be champ and carry the organization.
McMahon was set on Backlund however. Superstar wore plain white tights here (instead of his trademark tie-dyed) as a form of protest.
I heard something like that and that he rather have lost it back to Bruno instead and i also wonder if the foot on the rope was another "protest" too.
@gvader Graham said the "foot on the rope" was to save some face. He didn't want the Superstar character to lose credibility int he WWWF. In fact, he wrestled Bruno in a cage match a few nights prior and Bruno suggested that they work an angle where he would injure Graham's leg. Thereby using it as "a reason" why he would lose to Backlund.
i watched this match over like 26 times n every single time i grow more n more hatred for bob backlund just 4 the simple fact of him beating superstar it could have been n e 1 n i mean n e 1 if u look at some of the taps n listen 2 the fans the fans were turning him baby face without the help of vince but if u look back at it super star took his ball and went home and when he came back he was all drug filled with anger and changed his look and thats what took him out od the world title picture
To everyone criticizing Backlund I say this...You must not have watched many of his matches. He was an excellent in ring performer. One of the best. He was over huge with the crowds in the biggest wrestling market in the world. His straight man gimmick on the mic worked perfectly in a promotion filled with madmen and giants. And the hardest thing to do in wrestling is to play the straight face for any length of time. He did it for 6 years. He sold tickets, that's why Sr kept him on top so long.
When I first got into wrestling, backlund was champion. Looking back now, I fins it impossible to believe that he was champion as long as he was. he was actually quite funny when he came back in the '90's as a heel. But his promos back then were so bad andmonotonous. Vince Sr. must have loved him becasue he didn't take falls very well and again his mic skills were poor at best. That being said, he should be in the WWE hall of fame.
Super Graham's foot was on the rope. It was obvious that the higher powers had this rigged for the baby face to win. I don't know what's worst baseball players on roids or blind refs.
I wish Superstar Billy Graham would have had a longer run at least until 1980 then dropped the belt to Bob Backlund! Superstar would have made a great babyface he could have had a run with Stan Hansen or Don Muraco or Jimmy Snuka! Those would have been some great feuds!
@OtorresFitness It happens Hulkamania ran wild during the 1980's by the 90's, WWF fans were sick of seeing Hogan. The now called "WWE Universe" are sick of Cena.
@Paul8820 All I know if anyone deserves to be the "franchise" player of the WWE right now, I could say either Randy Orton or John Morrison. Cena is already played out & true wrestling purists are sick & tired of him. However, his best bout was against Kurt Angle in 2005 & 2006. After that, there is nothing that Cena does now that will get him noticed. I just hope his feud w/the Rock can light a fire underneath him.
Bruno,Vince Jr....No one could quite get why Vince Sr. was so adamant about Backlund being champ. Perhaps he saw Backlund as somehow "cleansing" the biz(and perhaps even the N.Y.C.) of the late 70's.
@Towncrier123 Dory Funk Jr. beat Gene Kiniski with a spinning toe hold for the NWA world title. Mick Foley even made fun of that finish in his first book.
What's with the sad ass after the fact commenteary? Dude I appreciate you posting the vid, but the fake broadcasting ruins the it. And lastly for the guy trying to describe the move prior to the pin; It's called "The atomic-spincrusher" one of Backlund's pet moves.
It doesn't matter how good a wrestler Backlund was because it's all pre determined anyway. Pro wrestling is about larger than life characters who are meant to entertain. It is NOT a sport. Graham was the epitome of what pro wrestling REALLY was,Backlund was the "everyman",Vince Sr.'s attempt to give it some kind of credibility. It's a soap opera performed night after night by these tremendous athletes. It's been that way for DECADES.
We know its predetermined, but I do always say that Bob Backlund was a true wrestler in that he used wrestling techniques not as many gymnastics and brawl tactics. That's not as thrilling but his gimmick was rather bland but what he would do in matches is sometimes he barely was in control for any of the match and he could suddenly turn the tables and pin the opposing wrestler. Predetermined, yes but the display still has to be played by the performers.
Who knows what would have been had they let Graham hang on to the title. Vince Sr. Had a better product than they have now by miles. Backlund was a great champ that could draw the crowds. Yes he was the all american boy, but his gig was no gig.
yes. backlund had a role. You need contrast in wrestling. Freakish monsters balanced out by freakishly good athletes and leapers, balanced out by freakishly good mat wrestlers...
then play rock paper scissors, wash rinse and repeat. Good guys, tweeners, bad guys.
Backlund had a role in wrestling and he WAS a freak in his own way.
You have to remember Bob backlund was an outstanding amatuer athelete..he was an outstanding technical wrestler..this was before the days of flash and clown gimmics in the ring..backlund had real skills..unlike many that came later..
It depends on what you like. If you like an over-the-top personality with great mike skills & a cartoonish steroid body, then Graham was your type of champion. If you wanted a great in-ring performer and pure technical wrestler, Backlund was it.
This was the biggest blunder in WWE history. Putting the belt on Bland Bobby Backlund over Superstar was the worst possible choice. The only adjective that describes Backlund's personality was BORING. Even when he turned heel, he was BORING. Superstar had very limited wrestling abilty but he ALWAYS put his opponent over and got the crowd into the match. Backlund used to wrestle like he believed he was really beating his opponent. He sucked.
Bob was one of the best. More talent than many of these clowns today including you. These idiots today do not know wristlock from wristwatch. They are all show & no go. There is a reason they gave the title to Bob. He was a big draw and they neede to set up the national expansion. Maybe they could have done it with SSBG, but who knows.
@Stugazza Backlund didn't draw until he became champ. There is no reason to think that Graham would've continued to draw ESPECIALLY if he became a face(and not changed his character)
@Stugazza he presented Vince Sr. with the angle of him remaining champ and then being attacked by Ivan Koloff thus making him a "legitimate" face. Would've been interesting. Of course Vince Sr. had decided he wanted Backlund with the title and no one was gonna change his mind. In my previous post I meant to say there was NO reason to believe Graham wouldn't continue to draw.
That is correct. Vince Sr. had already promised Backlund & stuck with it. Backlund was great, but did not put over talent like SSBG. In a previous post, I meant to say Backlund had more talent than 95% of they guys out there today. But then again, Backlunds gig was no gig and he drew.
@BostonBeggar Actually it was a smart move. You don't want to put in a Superstar clone and often the best thing to do is put the belt on someone who was the exact opposite of the previous champion. Just like Superstar was the opposite of Bruno (BTW Bruno was an even bigger draw.)
@mongoose704I likely wouldn't have given Backlund 6 years so I think you do have a point. At the time Backlund's character was a breath of fresh air and fans really got into him but he wore stale on them. Near the end of his reign houses were going down and he was getting the nickname of Howdy Doody.
But Hogan would have never gotten over like he did if Superstar was replaced with a clone. There would have been a backlash against the clone AND Hogan.
@BostonBeggar I agree that Backlund as a face in the 70s had probably the most boring personality in wrestling history. I couldn't disagree more, though, with you calling Backlund a boring heel. When he "snapped" and feuded with Bret Hart, and demanded that people call him "Mr. Backlund," he was gold.
Bob Backlund was always an all around great wrestler and a great World champion... far better then that overated Bruno Samartino. It's just a shame that they didn't have Bob Backlund win the belt by more of a cleaner finish then that.
@Stugazza True. Disgraceful how they didn't even show Bruno a few weeks back on RAW during the tribute to MSG segment. They showed one second of Graham,1 second of Backlund and NO Bruno!
I'm sure Bruno was very popular so was Hulk Hogan and he also sucked in the ring...I've watched many Bruno matches and noting to right home about....Three Overated WWE Champions of all Time during that era were Bruno Samartino,Billy Gram,and Hulk Hogan.....Bob Backlund has more talent in the tip of his finger than all those guys put together...
You do not know that Bruno was training at Pitt in the 1950's with legendary coach Rex Perry & pro training under the guidance of Arnold Skaalund. Superstar had his initial training with Stu Hart in his dungeon & later with Ray Stevens & Pat Patterson. Hogan was trained by Hiro Matsuda & the Briscoes. In Japan, we saw a different Hogan that had plenty of skill. Backlund was a great champ. Bruno, Superstar & Backlund had a wide variety of challengers & could change their styles to the opponent.
I actually do have about "most" of the match except for each wrestler's entrance.Vince is doing the commentary & having been watching & going to the old Boston Garden since 1981 to see the matches,I can honestly tell you that Vince is pretty much announcing during the course of the match,that Bob will be the new champion...
No, Graham knew he was losing the title to Backlund; Graham wore white on purpose and pretended he had a knee injury. He used the ropes to win the title and lose the title. His book gives more details.
Loved Superstar Billy Graham. Hated when he lost and Backlund's near 6 year run was not deserving...and at times pretty painful to watch. But trust me - Bob Backlund was a seriously strong SOB with a great amateur background. He would have tapped out Graham in a shoot within 2 minutes if this was for real. But of course....this is a promo-look biz.
aitraining 4 months ago
I guess that the whole match is lost forever.Like many,i'd like to see more than the highlights.
TheAlain005 6 months ago in playlist Bob Backlund
What the hell...it has the WWE logo on it but the commentary team is Craig Degeorge, Johnny V, and Bobby Heenan. Really odd they didn't do new commentary or just use the original audio...if the original had commentary, anyway
KaneRobot 6 months ago
@KaneRobot The old commentary is part of the essence of these old times matches ;)
TheGCoast 3 months ago
"Another amaetuar move that will get you nothing." love Bobby.
Freebleeper 8 months ago
DiBiase was originally supposed to win the WM IV tourney. But HTM refused to drop the IC belt to Savage, and Savage was going to legit beat his ass, so Vince promised Savage the World title instead.
y2flu 1 year ago
I remember they had considered Backlund to lose the title to Zbyszko, Valentine, even David Sammartino.
y2flu 1 year ago
I met Backlund twice... once back around 82 and again at WrestleMania in Houston... very nice guy and was really gracious for my support.
y2flu 1 year ago
Graham and Sammartino were an inch away of double-crossing Vince Sr... a few nights before this, they nearly agreed to let Sammartino win the title back.
y2flu 1 year ago
TODAY IS THE 33rd ANNIVERSARY OF THIS MATCH. 2-20-11
blimpthepimp 1 year ago
Will someone please post this whole match from beginning to end?
SuperFlanders123 1 year ago
Wow, he ended Superstar's reign with... an atomic drop! wtf?
TVeye77 1 year ago
@TVeye77 I know. That was his finisher. I've always hated that move.
stupidiculous 2 months ago
Backlund should have been a champ. The Intercontinental champ, not heavyweight.
InsaneTransAm 1 year ago
i thought bob was great.met him once as a kid.he was huge.i think billy should have been champ longer.no body could rile people up like grahm
diagreen 1 year ago
I remember watching this live and now i'm looking at it and am thinking it was a very weak ending to Superstar's reign. It could have been a little more dramatic i think.
gvader 1 year ago
@gvader In Superstar's book he mentioned how much he begged Vince McMahon Sr. to turn babyface and hold on to the belt longer. He didn't think Backlund had the charisma to be champ and carry the organization.
McMahon was set on Backlund however. Superstar wore plain white tights here (instead of his trademark tie-dyed) as a form of protest.
LT9856 1 year ago
I heard something like that and that he rather have lost it back to Bruno instead and i also wonder if the foot on the rope was another "protest" too.
gvader 1 year ago
@gvader Graham said the "foot on the rope" was to save some face. He didn't want the Superstar character to lose credibility int he WWWF. In fact, he wrestled Bruno in a cage match a few nights prior and Bruno suggested that they work an angle where he would injure Graham's leg. Thereby using it as "a reason" why he would lose to Backlund.
LT9856 1 year ago
i watched this match over like 26 times n every single time i grow more n more hatred for bob backlund just 4 the simple fact of him beating superstar it could have been n e 1 n i mean n e 1 if u look at some of the taps n listen 2 the fans the fans were turning him baby face without the help of vince but if u look back at it super star took his ball and went home and when he came back he was all drug filled with anger and changed his look and thats what took him out od the world title picture
MrOldschool416 11 months ago
people forget how popular Backlund was. The fans turned on him, but he could really wrestle.
1962chas 1 year ago
Alot of people called Bob Backlund Howdy Dowdy! And Craig Degoerge was a F***** pussy! A ass kisser
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
i think daniel brian finds bob backlund as a hero
yoyo2121d25 1 year ago
@yoyo2121d25 Except Danielson is 1000 times better in the ring than Backlund.
altohart 1 year ago
Craig Degeorge i think he kissed McMahons fanny! What a idiot
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
In This Corner Howdy Doody!
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
To everyone criticizing Backlund I say this...You must not have watched many of his matches. He was an excellent in ring performer. One of the best. He was over huge with the crowds in the biggest wrestling market in the world. His straight man gimmick on the mic worked perfectly in a promotion filled with madmen and giants. And the hardest thing to do in wrestling is to play the straight face for any length of time. He did it for 6 years. He sold tickets, that's why Sr kept him on top so long.
UglyMannheim 1 year ago 7
Hot abstretch 0:35
bhug3996 1 year ago
When I first got into wrestling, backlund was champion. Looking back now, I fins it impossible to believe that he was champion as long as he was. he was actually quite funny when he came back in the '90's as a heel. But his promos back then were so bad andmonotonous. Vince Sr. must have loved him becasue he didn't take falls very well and again his mic skills were poor at best. That being said, he should be in the WWE hall of fame.
stevedrums 1 year ago
Why did they put the belt on this Howdy Dowdy Lug Nut
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
what the difference between hogan and this orgional fag superstar..
hogan was a total theif right?
KillinDaWelfareMCs 1 year ago
Craig Degeorge was a god damn idoit!
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
@styx4ever1963 his foot was on the rope.
KillinDaWelfareMCs 1 year ago
The beginning of the reign of the 2nd worse WWF champ ever. First place going to John Cena of course.
hawkeystud 1 year ago
Super Graham's foot was on the rope. It was obvious that the higher powers had this rigged for the baby face to win. I don't know what's worst baseball players on roids or blind refs.
rickman125 1 year ago
I wish Superstar Billy Graham would have had a longer run at least until 1980 then dropped the belt to Bob Backlund! Superstar would have made a great babyface he could have had a run with Stan Hansen or Don Muraco or Jimmy Snuka! Those would have been some great feuds!
styx4ever1963 1 year ago 2
Bob Backlund was the first babyface the fans end up hating. He was the original "John Cena".
OtorresFitness 1 year ago 12
@OtorresFitness - Zbyszco says that Backlund got the strap because he folowed orders and didn't make waves.
WJJ1968 1 year ago
@WJJ1968 So he was the first John Cena. I rest my case
OtorresFitness 1 year ago
@OtorresFitness It happens Hulkamania ran wild during the 1980's by the 90's, WWF fans were sick of seeing Hogan. The now called "WWE Universe" are sick of Cena.
Paul8820 1 year ago
@Paul8820 All I know if anyone deserves to be the "franchise" player of the WWE right now, I could say either Randy Orton or John Morrison. Cena is already played out & true wrestling purists are sick & tired of him. However, his best bout was against Kurt Angle in 2005 & 2006. After that, there is nothing that Cena does now that will get him noticed. I just hope his feud w/the Rock can light a fire underneath him.
OtorresFitness 1 year ago
Bruno,Vince Jr....No one could quite get why Vince Sr. was so adamant about Backlund being champ. Perhaps he saw Backlund as somehow "cleansing" the biz(and perhaps even the N.Y.C.) of the late 70's.
Chrisdrumz 1 year ago 2
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styx4ever1963 1 year ago
Comment removed
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
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styx4ever1963 1 year ago
How long was the entire match
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
@styx4ever1963 about 15:00, according to a site i saw
blozier2006 1 year ago
@blozier2006 Thanks very much
styx4ever1963 1 year ago
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styx4ever1963 1 year ago
Irony. Superstar won the title with his foot on the rope, and he loses the title with his foot on the rope.
(I wonder if he planned that.)
Tubewings 1 year ago
Atomic drop was Backlund's finishing move back then.
zoltanstar 1 year ago
foot on the rope.... who couldnt see that?
steve0040 1 year ago
A fucking ATOMIC DROP!!???
barclaybass 1 year ago
Hard to believe a world title could change with an atomic knee drop.
Towncrier123 1 year ago
@Towncrier123 Dory Funk Jr. beat Gene Kiniski with a spinning toe hold for the NWA world title. Mick Foley even made fun of that finish in his first book.
JasonBassn 1 year ago
@JasonBassn And Harley Race won the NWA Title from Dory Funk with a basic suplex in '73.
Reg197844 1 year ago 2
"where's Aunt Bee? Where's Aunt Bee??"
Hilarious! Bobby was (is) simply the best!!
buddmann 1 year ago
I've heard that Ted DiBiase was in the running for this title run--he would've been a great choice
Mp25DIII 2 years ago
My Dad took me to this match on my 9th Birthday... I also saw Backlund lose to the Iron Sheik at MSG too...
kevralph 2 years ago
Does the real commentary even exist anymore? I saw this match on tv live as a kid
gvader 2 years ago
What's with the sad ass after the fact commenteary? Dude I appreciate you posting the vid, but the fake broadcasting ruins the it. And lastly for the guy trying to describe the move prior to the pin; It's called "The atomic-spincrusher" one of Backlund's pet moves.
Jeffman930 2 years ago
it was a retrospective
eslubin 2 years ago
i love Bobby the Brain's commentary.Alaways puts a smile on my face
CHRISMED2 2 years ago
This was probably the last and only time an Atomic Drop would be used to win a World Title.
tomwalker389 2 years ago 3
It doesn't matter how good a wrestler Backlund was because it's all pre determined anyway. Pro wrestling is about larger than life characters who are meant to entertain. It is NOT a sport. Graham was the epitome of what pro wrestling REALLY was,Backlund was the "everyman",Vince Sr.'s attempt to give it some kind of credibility. It's a soap opera performed night after night by these tremendous athletes. It's been that way for DECADES.
Chrisdrumz 2 years ago 2
We know its predetermined, but I do always say that Bob Backlund was a true wrestler in that he used wrestling techniques not as many gymnastics and brawl tactics. That's not as thrilling but his gimmick was rather bland but what he would do in matches is sometimes he barely was in control for any of the match and he could suddenly turn the tables and pin the opposing wrestler. Predetermined, yes but the display still has to be played by the performers.
philldholes 2 years ago
Who knows what would have been had they let Graham hang on to the title. Vince Sr. Had a better product than they have now by miles. Backlund was a great champ that could draw the crowds. Yes he was the all american boy, but his gig was no gig.
Stugazza 2 years ago
@Chrisdrumz
yes. backlund had a role. You need contrast in wrestling. Freakish monsters balanced out by freakishly good athletes and leapers, balanced out by freakishly good mat wrestlers...
then play rock paper scissors, wash rinse and repeat. Good guys, tweeners, bad guys.
Backlund had a role in wrestling and he WAS a freak in his own way.
mongoose704 1 year ago 2
Does the actual commentary exist?
gvader 2 years ago
You have to remember Bob backlund was an outstanding amatuer athelete..he was an outstanding technical wrestler..this was before the days of flash and clown gimmics in the ring..backlund had real skills..unlike many that came later..
scotters201 2 years ago
Kevin Sullivan had a good quote comparing Backlund and Graham: "It was like cookies and milk versus Jack Daniels and weed."
ZootInNH 2 years ago 2
It depends on what you like. If you like an over-the-top personality with great mike skills & a cartoonish steroid body, then Graham was your type of champion. If you wanted a great in-ring performer and pure technical wrestler, Backlund was it.
ruzious 2 years ago 2
This was the biggest blunder in WWE history. Putting the belt on Bland Bobby Backlund over Superstar was the worst possible choice. The only adjective that describes Backlund's personality was BORING. Even when he turned heel, he was BORING. Superstar had very limited wrestling abilty but he ALWAYS put his opponent over and got the crowd into the match. Backlund used to wrestle like he believed he was really beating his opponent. He sucked.
BostonBeggar 2 years ago 2
i agree! i always thought Backlund had only marginal talent anyway.
MrManfly 2 years ago 2
Bob was one of the best. More talent than many of these clowns today including you. These idiots today do not know wristlock from wristwatch. They are all show & no go. There is a reason they gave the title to Bob. He was a big draw and they neede to set up the national expansion. Maybe they could have done it with SSBG, but who knows.
Stugazza 2 years ago
@Stugazza Backlund didn't draw until he became champ. There is no reason to think that Graham would've continued to draw ESPECIALLY if he became a face(and not changed his character)
Chrisdrumz 2 years ago
SSBG was becoming face on his own, but like I said, who knows what would have happened.
Stugazza 2 years ago
@Stugazza he presented Vince Sr. with the angle of him remaining champ and then being attacked by Ivan Koloff thus making him a "legitimate" face. Would've been interesting. Of course Vince Sr. had decided he wanted Backlund with the title and no one was gonna change his mind. In my previous post I meant to say there was NO reason to believe Graham wouldn't continue to draw.
Chrisdrumz 2 years ago
That is correct. Vince Sr. had already promised Backlund & stuck with it. Backlund was great, but did not put over talent like SSBG. In a previous post, I meant to say Backlund had more talent than 95% of they guys out there today. But then again, Backlunds gig was no gig and he drew.
Stugazza 2 years ago
Comment removed
mongoose704 1 year ago
@BostonBeggar Actually it was a smart move. You don't want to put in a Superstar clone and often the best thing to do is put the belt on someone who was the exact opposite of the previous champion. Just like Superstar was the opposite of Bruno (BTW Bruno was an even bigger draw.)
mongoose704 1 year ago
@mongoose704I likely wouldn't have given Backlund 6 years so I think you do have a point. At the time Backlund's character was a breath of fresh air and fans really got into him but he wore stale on them. Near the end of his reign houses were going down and he was getting the nickname of Howdy Doody.
But Hogan would have never gotten over like he did if Superstar was replaced with a clone. There would have been a backlash against the clone AND Hogan.
mongoose704 1 year ago
@BostonBeggar I agree that Backlund as a face in the 70s had probably the most boring personality in wrestling history. I couldn't disagree more, though, with you calling Backlund a boring heel. When he "snapped" and feuded with Bret Hart, and demanded that people call him "Mr. Backlund," he was gold.
tidq 1 year ago 2
It always used to crack me up when Vince would have his 80s announcers call these 70s matches like they didn't know what the ending would be.
ccie12933 2 years ago
That was a pretty good bearhug on the bearhug master!
grappleguy77 2 years ago
Bob Backlund was always an all around great wrestler and a great World champion... far better then that overated Bruno Samartino. It's just a shame that they didn't have Bob Backlund win the belt by more of a cleaner finish then that.
gtz1975 2 years ago
WWE didn't reach mainstream status until the 1980s.
PopCulture20 2 years ago
Bruno sold out more arenas than anyone. He was one of the greatest EVER. You are to young to have watched Bruno in his prime
Stugazza 2 years ago
@Stugazza True. Disgraceful how they didn't even show Bruno a few weeks back on RAW during the tribute to MSG segment. They showed one second of Graham,1 second of Backlund and NO Bruno!
Chrisdrumz 2 years ago
I'm sure Bruno was very popular so was Hulk Hogan and he also sucked in the ring...I've watched many Bruno matches and noting to right home about....Three Overated WWE Champions of all Time during that era were Bruno Samartino,Billy Gram,and Hulk Hogan.....Bob Backlund has more talent in the tip of his finger than all those guys put together...
gtz1975 2 years ago
You do not know that Bruno was training at Pitt in the 1950's with legendary coach Rex Perry & pro training under the guidance of Arnold Skaalund. Superstar had his initial training with Stu Hart in his dungeon & later with Ray Stevens & Pat Patterson. Hogan was trained by Hiro Matsuda & the Briscoes. In Japan, we saw a different Hogan that had plenty of skill. Backlund was a great champ. Bruno, Superstar & Backlund had a wide variety of challengers & could change their styles to the opponent.
Stugazza 2 years ago
This really isn't a Dusty Finish, though, as it actually stood. :)
ccie12933 2 years ago
I've been hoping someone would upload the whole match for a long time. I'd like to see it with the original commentary.
Bobby Heenan is definitely doing commentary here. Are the other two people Johnny V and Craig DeGeorge?
DynastyPoker 2 years ago 8
Yes, I believe it's Jonny Valiant and Craig DeGeorge on commentary along with Bobby Heenan.
NoirFan01 2 years ago
I actually do have about "most" of the match except for each wrestler's entrance.Vince is doing the commentary & having been watching & going to the old Boston Garden since 1981 to see the matches,I can honestly tell you that Vince is pretty much announcing during the course of the match,that Bob will be the new champion...
shrill99 2 years ago
@DynastyPoker yes, that is Johnny V and DeGeorge. this footage came from WWE's "History of the WWE Championship" DVD. I know this since I own the set
blozier2006 1 year ago
So the WWF has had many "Dusty Finishes", foul finishes, etc. Not just the AWA and NWA.
dburse66 2 years ago
He won with an atomic drop? Times sure have changed!
FAITHandLOGIC 2 years ago
That was Bob's finisher.
86lenny 2 years ago
No, Graham knew he was losing the title to Backlund; Graham wore white on purpose and pretended he had a knee injury. He used the ropes to win the title and lose the title. His book gives more details.
tom667 2 years ago
looks like a screwjob
steburton 2 years ago