Greg Valentine & Don Muraco on Bob Backlund Being Underappreciated
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Greg Valentine & Don Muraco on Bob Backlund Being Underappreciated
Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
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I loved Backlund. He was an ideal champion His wrestling was off the charts. Muraco and Backlund matches were gold.
I agree ,I only did not like the last year 82-83.When he shaved his head and wore the singlet that was terrible.Also crying when Graham ripped up the belt and started crying that was terrible.Overall though he was great
The shaved head and singlet WAS TERRIBLE
Bob was a great wrestler & athlete, but boring on the mic.
@@LuisReyes-pb4dt The singlet made him look like a jobber, or at best, Salvatore Bellomo. I'm surprised the McMahons let him go with that look. Maybe Vince wanted Backlund to start getting less popular at that point.
@@TerryKeefeMedia Yes it was horrible.I always thought McMahon did that intentionally to get everyone sick of him
It was amazing to watch Bob wrestle in the garden. He was great. He looked so good beating all the monster heals
Backlund drew until towards the end, even Cornette admits it. He was McMahon Sr.’s vision of having an NWA styled champion like Brisco, Funk, Race etc….a real wrestler who could brawl, go an hour, or have a scientific match with anyone. A tremendous champion…78-81 especially
Backlund was never a draw. He was a good in ring worker. He was strong and a legit wrestler who made his work look real.
But Bob Backlund was a boring champion like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels.
I was so disappointed when he lost the belt. He never had it after his 4 year run. I thought that was unfair.
Glad to have a first hand perspective like yours
Well, Backlund didn't draw at the end due to booking as Vince K took the book from his dad at that time
@@afdcg He sold out MSG every month for five years. I was there in 1979. He was a great workhorse and face of the "sport."
My first time going to see wrestling, Bob and Don main evented. This was in 1983 in a small Upstate NY town on the Canadian border. Good times.
I saw Bob Backlund many times at the Spectrum. He was an awesome athlete, strong as hell and the crowd loved him. He wrestled everyone and every match was great. I was there. Don’t believe a word of this crap that he wasn’t a draw,etc. Every seat was sold.
I completely agree! I used to see Bob wrestle at the Spectrum too. Every match he had was a story and he always did some crazy show of strength. Amazing!
In Bobs book, he was very complimentary of both these men
I’ll never forget Don Muraco and Backlund, and Don using the thumb lol
Backlund was terrific, and some of the commenters here do a good job of explaining why.
I saw a few of his MSG matches as a kid, and it always felt like Backlund was defending the belt on the crowd's behalf. The idea that he didn't connect is nonsense.
The promos were totally consistent with his persona, and a very stark contrast to the heels. It's like Backlund didn't want to waste energy on popular-kid charisma. Too focused on the daunting task at hand.
He played that role very, very well.
Obviously naive fans did like him because they watch a wrestling event to see a good guy beat a bad guy and not the opposite.
Bob Backlund as an individual hardly had any personality. He was boring as a champion who couldn't really work angles or anything. The heels had to work hard on building the rivalry as well as get heat so the fans love backlund.
But Backlund was a good worker. He had good matches with most heels he faced.
Most of the people who criticize Backlund either weren't there, or had career gripes like Superstar (which were legit enough). The guy drew. He was massively over with the crowds for most of his first championship run. He was presented as a "real" wrestler and it was his opponents that brought the color and drama. Yes, his promos were very dull, but they didn't need to be great when whoever he was facing had managers like the Wizard, Blassie, or the Captain to hype up the bout in their own promo, which always preceded or followed Backlund's promo. Like the "straight man" in a comedic duo, Backlund played the rule-abiding, "scientific wrestling"-based champion who would take on the crazy/evil/huge Monster Heel of the Month in Madison Square Garden/Boston Garden/Philadelphia Spectrum, month after month, and best them with his wrestling skills, despite all their cheating, etc. If the heel was Chris Farley, Backlund was David Spade, and it worked. This was obviously a different time and a very different wrestling business, but Backlund played his role in the WWF Story well. What has to be emphasized also is that the heel challenger was as much as a draw as Backlund, and the undercard was stacked with fan favorites Pedro (hugely over, particularly in MSG with the large Puerto Rican audience), Andre in a feud against the likes of Killer Khan, Blackjack Mulligan, heel Hogan, and then there were always matches with Chief Jay Strongbow, Putski, long-time draws in the mid-cards who wouldn't get awards from Meltzer, but the crowds loved them. And Backlund was playing a role in those promos. He proved he could cut a great colorful promo in the 90s, when he came back as Mr. Backlund.
Backlund was never a draw. Though he was a good worker.
Superstar REALLY went downhill fast though. Ever see his matches in NWA around 84? Ouch! But with Backlund, I wish he went back to NWA after his loss, he could have had some great matches with Flair, maybe even won the title and lose it back to Flair once or twice before Magnum TA blew up...plus he would have had Dusty speaking for him lol
@@TheImapotato If the AWA hadn't been in its decline by then, Backlund was a Verne Gagne champion if I ever saw one. What I've never totally understood is why the McMahons allowed Superstar to do that karate gimmick in the first place. After one look, they could have said to bring back the tie-dye, the old Superstar gimmick, and come back in a month. His physique was nothing like it was, but as kids, I remember we thought he looked pretty strong even in 82. He may have been on so many substances that he couldn't do the great Superstar interviews anymore at that point.
@@afdcg Backlund was over, and as such was a draw. Vince SR did not keep a failure as champ for nearly 6 years, that is a myth based on marks thinking him being called Howdy Doody by heels proved he was a joke. Don't play the fool. That part is a work.
I went to many of his matches in the Garden in 1979-80. He was definitely like that.
Bob was truly a class act Pro Wrestler PERIOD!
Yes.
Most of the criticism comes from people who came late to the dance. I first saw the WWF in 1982, when Backlund was champ and he was believable. I preferred my wrestling to look as legit as possible and Backlund was that. he carried himself like a real athlete, he wrestled like a real wrestler. If ABC's Wide World of Sports had broadcast pro wrestling, as a real sport (and not juts Ali's workout, before the Inoki match), Bob was the kind of guy you'd expect to see and for whom they would do a profile, showing them at home and in training.
Muraco nails the difference in the period when he says Backlund was like an actual contest and Hogan was like a movie. Still, you watch Backlund with Muraco or Snuka, Billy Graham, Ivan Koloff, Peter Maivia......Bob's promo would be solid, low key, humble All-American athlete, while they added the fire. They would get wild in the ring and hit Bob with everything, then he'd outwrestle them, shock them with his strength, then beat them convincingly.
His best year was 1979. He owned MSG and the sport for a while, but Hogan was the future and was groomed while Backlund babysat the title.
Bob Backlund was 100% underappreciated. Just because people think that he wasn't a draw. Heck Superstar Billy Graham said in a shoot interview that he thought Bob acted like a "mentally challenged" child in his first match because Bob refused to wear the belt on the outside of his robe. With all due respect to Superstar, Bob Backlund could have easily ended Superstars career if he wanted to considering Bob's Amatuer background and his endurance. Harley knew better than to try anything on Bob and Flair said in an interview that he thought that it was insane that Bob thought that Flair might double cross him in a title vs title match
@@ithinkaboutthings9052 exactly. Bobby was a NCAA D2 national champion
Harley said he could blow up anyone in the ring. After an hour, Bob was doing jumping jacks. He said his cardio engine was absolutely insane.
@@Shagrat65 I mean bob backlund is still in great shape. He was on the Lost Treasures show and was doing the Indian clubs while looking great. I’d put money on it that he could still go
No disrespect to Superstar (RIP) but his years of juicing did him in ! Bob was a fabulous true wrestler .. very, very strong guy .
Cant believe this is Don muracco so humble and nice
All of you are great I enjoyed you matches. Thank you for you kind words for Bob Backlund.
Where's Backlund getting a bad rap? Everything I've ever seen of him in modern stuff is everyone saying he was great? I remember his comeback in 1992/93 and Vince really screwed that up initially trying to have him presented the same way as a decade before, but within a year Backlund himself recreated his character and was drawing electric heat, he absolutely had a personality, and being 'Mr Backlund' proved that. Heck, even his later TNA stuff was gold.
Many historians and critics say he was boring and that he was being booed towards the end of his title run.
I am very proud to say that in 1979, while wrestling against Backlund, Bulldog Brower once spit on me! (I was 5th row ringside).
When bob was champ I was watching NWA but when he came back as the crazy heel busting peoples arms with the chicken wing it was classic
Backlund was the man!
A young Muraco looked like Lou Ferrigno. (face and hair)
I saw Backlund beat Valentine in 1979 at MSG.
Greg and Don Thabk you for telling the truth about Bob.
I'm lucky enough to have very young but still able to love Bob Backlund in the kayfabe era.
It saddens me every time I think of the untapped potential in the original story for Backlund back in the 90s. The story had to change and he just dropped the belt to Diesel in a squash.
Caught me the earliest Hammer in Mid Atlantic.Greg was tough like his Daddy.
I saw Valentine vs Backland for the WWF title live in Toronto on an NWA card in 1982
I saw them in 1979 at MSG. Backlund ruled the WWWF and was a great role model plus a "real" wrestler.
I watched him and you two also. I loved Backlund.
Growing up Bob Backlund was my favorite wrestler.
Backlund and Lesnar look like they could be cousins.
Imagine today if every champion were booked to go an hr regardless. Champions in those days had to wrestle 60 minute draws but today's entertainers can barely go 30 minutes.
Backlund let his grappling skills do the talking. He had some memorable bouts with Valentine and Ken Patera. Those matches were far superior than anything that Hulk Hogan could produce in the squared circle.
I'm a big Bob Backlund fan and not so much of Hulk Hogan, and I agree with what you say. A little aside, though, I saw Backlund wrestle Hogan when Hogan was a heel, and the match was tremendous and lengthy. Hogan was actually really, really, good in this match. I think it was a draw, but you could tell the crowd was very impressed with and excited about Hogan.
@@PeterBrown-mz4nv Hogan was more impressive before he won the WWF title, look at his work in Japan. But he became lazy when he saw all he had to do once he was put over, and that was all he did. He regressed for sure.
I agree with your take.
He was my favorite wrestler at the time. Glad to see these guys giving him props. Just recently watched a video of Bill Eadie AKA The Masked Superstar also giving him props. And to any of the former wrestlers who were jealous because they felt like they were more deserving, give it up. He drew big crowds, and got loud poops when he won his matches. I saw him defend his title twice at The Philadelphia Spectrum. The place went nuts booth times when he won.
I haven't heard Valentine say anything bad about anyone.
There were many reasons why Backlund was so unappreciated. He was still under the shadow of Bruno and got overshadowed by Hogan. Plus, I felt Bob was champion at a difficult time not only in the WWF but also what was going on in society with the Iran hostage, low employment, AIDS, the movie and music industry were down. Then to make matter worse, he couldn't cut a promo and he was more of a NWA material than the WWF. Bob was a tremendous wrestler and could make his opponent look good. He was just champion at the wrong place and at the wrong time.
Well....no.
I would say the opposite: Backlund was a great workhorse and wonderful role model plus a "real" wrestler who grew the WWWF tremendously during his reign. Hogan was the future of the "sport" as of 1980 (McMahon had long planned his title run), but Backlund didn't need attitude or to be flashy because he had tremendous strength and could handle the rulebreakers. Wrestling as we know it today would not exist without him.
@raygordonteacheschess5501 You know what, you got a point. The Rock n' wrestling wouldn't happen without him. I noticed a lot of wrestlers that Bob put over in the early 80's were stars by 85 including Hogan. Yeah, Hogan made the Rock n' wrestling the way it was but it was Backlund that created that fire.
The stuff they're doing now in WWE and AEW is a shell of what guys like Don Muraco and Greg Valentine gave us. It's impossible to suspend disbelief with these Flying Wallenda trapeze artists passing themselves off as pro wrestlers today. Muraco and Valentine MADE you believe because they were so good at the craft and at making less into more. Today's wrestlers pale in comparison, Don. Never sell yourself as less than the garbage being presented today, because you guys were 1000% better!
Bob Backlund was a great champion. His matches were great. I think his mic skills were better as a heel later on his crazy run. I was 10 and Bob had a line of 100 fans or more signing autographs outside the Hamburg, Fieldhouse in PA. Everything a champ should be at that time. Perfect for a baby face that could back it up.
Backlund was a good Champ once you got passed the 180 of him beating Superstar. He was a great worker, a precursor to the modern style.
Backlund was great. Bob was always in excellent shape. He would’ve beat snuka if not for that damn splash
I love these two!
When he came back as a heel Backlund was awesome watch the video promos,
Jane's u mentioned having don and hammer when doing muraco's podcast. This is great
Bob was a real worker. He always gave his all even at the house shows. I was a fan of Superstar Billy Graham, but Bob Backlund is my favorite champion because if it was a shoot, Bob still would have been champion.
The main things that tarnished his career were the clean job to Doink and the 3 second squash to Deasal.😊
Bob was a goofy PURE wrestler and was everything a baby face should aim to be
I mark out for Bob's short arm scissor power lift every time. Would've been a great shooter-heel to turn on Hogan the entertainer, but Bob just didn't have the personality to pull it off (not the wacky 90's version) and was adamant about not turning heel to protect his daughter. I wonder how many wrestlers would turn down, probably hundreds of thousands of dollars, to protect their daughter from school yard insults.
Muraco with the stomach-mounted phone for the stream, apparently. 😏
I definitely remember the crossface chicken wing
Bob was a strong guy too.
I met Bob in a hotel back in the day. His hands were as large as a catchers mitt. Simply put, he was larger than life. Good man.
Backlund was the 2nd best ever behind Bruno
The only comparison between the two is both never used roids and never touched drugs. Both were tremendously strong. And they both sucked when it came to the promo interview. That's where it ends.
Backlund was a way better wrestler than Bruno.
Bruno was kick, stomp, and punch over and over again that he wrestled like a heel. Nobody could even put Bruno in a head lock because of that wig he wore.
Bruno was popular because of the demographic of Italians in the North East.
Damn. This getting old stuff just flat out sucks.
Bob had many fine attributes as a champion, but he did need great pros like Don M. and Greg V. to bring it out. That is not a criticism at all. Everybody did their job.
Not under appreciated imo. Five years as champ???
But he killed the territory though. 😂. I always appreciated him. Love to watch him.
I think Bob's reign was less than 2 months shy of the 6 year mark. Bob was not as charismatic as Hogan or Superstar but he was a very good technical wrestler and always had outstanding conditioning. He was always in tremendous shape. Harley Race said that nobody he ever faced in the ring had better conditioning than Bob. He wore Harley out and Harley was a very tough guy himself who could go an hour with a whole bunch of guys. But he said Bob wore him out.
@@Blacattacsquadron Well I would not say he killed it as much as he got old and fans had enough of him. Just like the fans got tired of the rock at one point so it happens
@@Blacattacsquadron No, he did not. Provide your evidence. No promoter commits suicide for nearly 6 years.
Greg describes Bob as a great wrestler. There were no gimmicks or ladders or high flying matches.The matches were basic and scientific.
Bob should have had one of the good talking managers turn face and talk for him. Freddie Blassie would have been an amazing mouthpiece for him.
His manager was Arnold Skaaland.
@@raygordonteacheschess5501 Oh yes, that is true, I forgot all about Arnold
Later is his career I didn't like the crazy character they made him as.
Don lost the match with his phone on this one. My god set it down
I think people should hear this on face book they think Bob was a good enough champion and these know they wrestled him . In plenty of classic matches ..sad people down grade Bob Backlund even valentine and muroco were great ic Champs!!
Worse Champ ever Horrid Belt Change
Backlund. Was a worker. His ring skills were up there. 🎤 his promos though were a snooze 💤 fest. Not good on the stick 🗣️
He was a squeaky clean baby face, his promos were on the money. Why so many marks in the comment section?
His whole image was based on being a genuine wrestler and good guy.
Bob not as "colorful"... unless you have a background in psycopathy, then he get's interesting
Backlund sucked as champion. Why Vince Sr decided to run with Backlund for that long boggles my mind.
Wrestling was different back then and in a territory if you couldn’t work it was too hard to hide your weaknesses from the audience. Hulk worked because WWF went national and it was something new
@@iBmEVanquisher Bob backlund was boring champion and he also was a flop because of that.
Bob was a terrific wrestler who was believable. He had many good rivalries but he wasn't drawing money for WWWF.
The same goes to Vince making Bret Hart the WWF champion because Luger had backstage heat after the Lex express and Bret hart was crying backstage.
All that doesn't do much for the business. Both Bret and Bob backlund were flops because they were boring as hell.
Certain fans or critics may not appreciate their body of work and randomly call them a minor draw or blame the era to manipulate themselves and others that they were the right guys to be champions.
Today WWE has some of the best wrestlers along with AEW and nobody is a draw.
Even guys like Punk, Daniel Bryan, AJ styles and many others haven't proved to be bankable like Cena or Hogan.
The truth is wrestling needs more charismatic wrestlers and characters to make wrestling entertaining.
Vince made the change because the times were changing and Vince did not care about the sport, only his own success. The lack of insight from the fans is comical.
He was a workhorse, no drugs, no issues, squeaky-clean image, great wrestler. Sold out MSG for years, including my $12.00 a month for 5th-8th row ringside in 1979-80. The WWE as it exists today is in large part thanks to the audience he built when wrestling was just a sideshow.
@@afdcg "Bob backlund was boring champion and he also was a flop because of that". LMAO, that's why he held the belt for nearly 6 years. That's some flop. Backlund was anything but boring in the ring. In fact he could do it all in the ring.
Was boring .. yawn boring .. had moments but .. being total good guy for the kids must have been tough to be exciting
Magnificent moments
It's Triple B, Boring Bob Backlund
That was my nickname for him!
He was boring AF
On the mic, I agree.
Bret Hart was also boring.
@@afdcg As I said about Bob, I say the same about Bret. Good to watch in the ring, boring on the mic.
Bob Backlund was boring on the mic 🎤. He had no personality and his wrestling was ok but he had no charisma kinda like watching paint dry.
Bret Hart was more boring than Backlund.
@AFD - Not really but thanks for your opinion.
@@harrydaniels2788 For those who want cartoons, straight men are a yawn. Bret and Bob were the foils to the colorful cartoons that you love so much, their challengers.
@rickstalentedtongue910 - Bret was entertaining Bob was just boring as hell. It's just my opinion 🤷.
Backlund's whole image was based on his being an NCAA wrestling champion and "real" wrestler who let his strength and skills talk. Boring was his calling card but the man was a beast in the ring.