Bob Backlund vs. Samu

Bob Backlund vs. Samu (Samoan #3) taped January 3rd, 1984 at the Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA and aired on Championship Wrestling on January 7th. Hulk Hogan comes to ringside for Backlund. Hogan had previously returned to the WWF on December 27th, 1983, but this was his first TV appearance on Championship Wrestling after the return.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Hulk
• Hogan
• WWF
• WWE
• Bob
• Backlund
• Samu
• Samoan
• #3
• Championship
• Wrestling

[viciousbill]

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]

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 .

[21richkid]

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.

[elc1960]

@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.

[mongoose704]

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]

@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.

[ZenPimps]

@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.

[wlf12341]

@jolare Backlund was injured, and McMahon wanted Hogan as champion.

[wlf12341]

@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.

[ZenPimps]

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.