Iron sheik the crowd gives backlund a big ovation as they chant usa. Bob backlund vs the iron sheikwwf title video dailymotion. Backlund holds the record for the secondlongest wwe championship reign, ahead of hulk hogans first reign and behind bruno sammartinos first. Bob backlundiron sheik full wade keller podcast episode. Diesel winning in the garden was a decisive babyface victory over a transitional champion at the companys home turf. Bob backlund left the world wrestling federation shortly after and disappeared from the spotlight. Wwf world champion bob backlund defeated the sheik via countout. This longtime wwwf champion has a fantastic new book out which you can pick up at. Bob backlund remains true to his allamerican roots fox. The iron sheik defeated bob backlund for the wwf title when arnold scaaland manager threw in the towel. Bob now assumed the role of transition champion himself. He was a belowaverage student with a lackluster work ethic and a bad attitude, who hung with the wrong crowd and made a lot of bad choices.
The former threetime world champion began a fulltime schedule. Iron sheik one of backlunds last title defenses before dropping the wwf title to the sheik the following month at madison square garden. Backlund ended up dropping the title to the iron sheik and then the sheik quickly gave the title off to hogan. Jul 06, 2016 bob backlund is a twotime wwe world heavyweight champion. Iron sheik vs bob backlund 112483 philadelphia spectrum. From very humble beginnings, to turbulent teenage years, to finding a passion that spurred years of hard work, to eventual unprecedented success, the book truly encapsulates how. That meant that a transitional champion was needed due to this being before a face v face championship match was the norm so that the title could pass to a heel wrestler before hogan would win the title. Miller, includes interviews with roddy piper, ric flair, the iron sheik and vince mcmahon. During the match, the sheik applied his finisher, the camel clutch, to backlund in the middle of the ring. Dec 25, 20 30 years ago this week, the iron sheik beat bob backlund i cant believe its been three decades since a moment that until many years later was probably the single most shocking thing i had experienced as a young pro wrestling fan. Backlunds clean cut look and technical approach made him a naturalface, and he quicklygot over with the fans. Sheik continued to wrestle on house shows in february and march, beating lanny poffo and ken.
Join facebook to connect with bob backlund and others you may know. On may 11, 1994, he beat rick martel by pinfall in hokkaido, japan. Bob backlund wrestling history legacy of wrestling. If you replace backlund with bret hart, the iron sheik with 1994 backlund, and hogan with diesel you pretty much see vince trying to replicate the rise of hogan as the face of the company. Backlund comeback, so i didnt really have much to look into my childhood hero. That said, the event did contain a historic moment with wwf champion bob backlund, with his manager arnold skaaland, defending against the. Bob backlund told me the most step ups he ever did at one time was 8 hours with 30 minutes off, that is a long time to do step ups. Bob backlund and former wwe champion and wwe hall of famer the iron sheik discuss. Iron sheik wins the title and beats bob backlund culture crossfire. The idea was that this would help launch diesel as the next major face of the company just like hogans victory over the iron sheik launched hulkamania.
December 25, 20 30 years ago this week, the iron sheik beat bob backlund i cant believe its been three decades since a moment that until many years later was probably the single most shocking thing i had experienced as a young pro wrestling fan. However, just as the iron sheik had been the interim champion that bridged backlunds 1 st reign with hogans, mr. The commentators make a big deal out of sheik attacking backlund s neck with his persian clubs, recently. However, it wasnt solely reserved for opponents as bob backlund, a man that was. Sep 15, 2015 bob backlund began life as a poor farm boy in the little village of princeton, minnesota, with a population of just over 2,000 people. I would love to hear more about bob backlund the man vs bob backlund the wrestler. After ending an 8month wwf championship run by hart his 2 nd backlund himself would usher in a new major wwf champion in the form of the 7foot steamroller known as. Whatever your specialtygrip, olympic lifting, strongman, highland gamesand whether you are world class or mortal, if you like strength, the ironmind forum is for you.
Bob backlundiron sheik full discussion interview youtube. He suggested to backlund that he turn heel but the champion refused. Weeks later, sheik would lose the title to hulk hogan, ushering in a new era in world wrestling entertainment. The iron sheik challenges bob backlund for the wwe championship at madison square garden on the day after christmas of 1983 in a bout. Iron sheik attacks bob backlund while backlund attempts the sheiks persian club challenge. Robert lee backlund princeton minnesota, 14 augustus 1949, beter bekend onder zijn worstelnaam bob backlund, is een amerikaans professioneel worstelaar en acteur. The iron sheik winning the wwf heavyweight title from bob backlund. Robert louis backlund born august 14, 1949 is an american retired professional wrestler with an inring career spanning over 30 years, best known for his tenures in the world wide wrestling federationworld wrestling federation wwwfwwf, later known as world wrestling entertainment and currently simply known as wwe, where he is a twotime. According to ign, hogan is the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. Backlund made his wwf return on july 1, 1992 in white plains, new york and defeated skinner by pinfall.
Usa tony atlas, the iron sheik, and many others, this book tells the incredible story of the life and nearly fortyyear career of one of the most famous men to ever grace the squared circle. Backlund by bob backlund overdrive rakuten overdrive. The night the iron sheik beat bob backlund msg 12261983. The iron sheik wayatollah blassie to defend his countrys honor, backlund has his stars n stripes jacket on. Robert louis backlund born august 14, 1949 is an american retired professional wrestler with an inring career spanning over 30 years, best known for his tenures in the world wide wrestling federationworld wrestling federation wwwfwwf, later known as world wrestling entertainment and currently simply known as wwe, where he is a twotime wwwfwwf heavyweight championwwf.
The wild samoans afa, sika and samula defeated special delivery jones and wwf tag team champions tony atlas and rocky johnson in a twooutofthreefalls match. Bob backlund and former wwe champion and wwe hall of famer the iron sheik. Backlund went on to join the wwwf in 1977 and on february 20th 1978 he captured the wwwf championship and went on to hold the title for six years. Introduction below you can see all known star ratings for wrestling matches featuring in dave meltzers wrestling observer newsletter. But still to this day, he does 30 minutes of step ups everyday on a 15. Backlund accepted, and on the december 24 episode of all american wrestling, also accepted sheik s weekly persian club challenge. Why did bob backlund lose the wwf championship to diesel. Beginners guide to new japan pro wrestling book or cook. Problem is diesel is a talented guy but fans still supported bret hart and diesel does not have the charisma hogan did. Backlund went on to join the wwwf in 1977 and on february 20th 1978 he captured the wwwf championship and went on to hold. Dec 14, 2017 backlund blamed skaaland for throwing in the towel in his match against the iron sheik back in 1983 and costing him his wwf title.
Backlund bob backlund hardcover from allamerican boy to professional wrestlings world champion. Backlund is, far and away, one of the best wrestling books yet. Sheik works over backlunds upper back and neck area before locking on a arm bar. However, it soon becomes apparent that backlund s left arm is injured. Bob backlund in the wwf after he lost the belt the. Robert lee bob backlund is an american professional wrestler with an inring career spanning over 30 years. Dec 26, 20 he suggested to backlund that he turn heel but the champion refused. Bob backlund is a twotime wwe world heavyweight champion. Sheik works over backlunds upper back and neck area before locking on. Bob backlund was easily becoming the hottest heel in the wwf at the ripe old age of 45. Tito works a side headlock for an eternity until he breaks the hold to land a kneedrop, which gets two.
Bob backlund remains true to his allamerican roots fox sports. Bob backlund disappeared from wrestling for the most part, and that was a shame because he. Bob backlund debut for theamerican wrestling associationawa in 1973. Backlund blamed skaaland for throwing in the towel in his match against the iron sheik back in 1983 and costing him his wwf title. The iron sheik challenges bob backlund for the wwe championship at madison square garden on the day after christmas of 1983 in a bout that would change the course of wwe history.
Gorilla mentions how hulk hogan is subbing for bob backlund against the iron sheik as doctors are prohibiting backlund from wrestling. However, just as the iron sheik had been the interim champion that bridged backlund s 1 st reign with hogans, mr. Don muraco on the iron sheik defeating bob backlund for the wwf title. The iron sheik defeated bob backlund to win the wwf world title, when backlunds manager, arnold skaaland, threw in the towel as backlund was trapped in the camel clutch. The 63yearold from princeton, minnesota was an allamerican in both football and wrestling but it was the latter that he pursued a career in. Sep 18, 2016 bob backlund iron sheik full wade keller podcast episode. In january of 1984, hulk hogan defeated the iron sheik to become the new. As backlund struggled, his manager, arnold skaaland, threw in the towel, signaling a forfeit by backlund, which surprised the crowd. Sheik jumps backlund to start and he uses his robe cord to choke him, then the robe itself. His inring abilities, especially when he was in japan doing shootstyle strong style for uwf, are incredibly underrated by many fans who havent seen his japanese work. A near sixyear title reign for backlund other than a quickie title change back and forth in japan with antonio inoki in 1979 had. However, it soon becomes apparent that backlunds left arm is injured. Bob backlund was one of the most technically gifted wrestlers to ever step foot inside the squared circle. Bob backlund record book comments the clawmasters archives.
Watch brock lesnar beat the hell out of roman reigns with a steel chair video the big dog was handcuffed and arrested on monday and that was just the start of his bad night. Lessons and stories on life from wrestling legend bob backlund, was released on september 18, 2015. In the weeks and months that followed, bob backlund began to unfold before the publics eye. Scotts blog of doom, a blog about wwe wrestling and comic books. The commentators make a big deal out of sheik attacking backlunds neck with his persian clubs, recently. There is no reason that anyone who is 66 years old and spent. The infamous match from 1983 the iron sheik challenges backlund for a title match. Miller, includes interviews with roddy piper, ric flair, the iron sheik and vince. Bob backlund has run the gambit in pro wrestling from being the ultimate all american boy to being amongst the most hated bad guys for a time. Why did bob backlund lose the wwf championship to diesel at a. He was a belowaverage student with a lackluster work ethic and a bad attitude, who hung with. Even if the books release was pushed back a few times and.
The iron sheik returned to the wwf in 1983 and challenged bob backlund for wwf world. Bob backlund began life as a poor farm boy in the little village of princeton, minnesota, with a population of just over 2,000 people. Please note that ratings are given to the overall match. Weve recently done a major upgrade, so pardon our dust as we get everything in place. He was successful in his third attempt to swing the clubs, and the sheik immediately attacked him from behind, injuring his neck. Marvel at 66yearold bob backlunds latest feat of strength. I hate when that happens even once in a book and this one just beat all records on the matter. I loved bob backlund as a child, and was always disappointed on his obscurity since losing his title to the iron sheik. Watch brock lesnar beat the hell out of roman reigns with a chair. Watch brock lesnar beat the hell out of roman reigns with. The iron sheik returned to the wwf in 1983 and challenged bob backlund for wwf world heavyweight championship again. Bob backlund was born on august 14, 1950 in princeton, minnesota, usa as robert lee backlund. From allamerican boy to professional wrestlings world champion is a fascinating and inspiring journey into the life of pro wrestling legend, bob backlund.