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Mr. Backlund wasn't always a dictionary wielding psychopath on WWF television.
He began as a pure mat technician and the fans loved him through the AWA
where he began in to Florida where he and Steve Keirn formed a successful
tag team. In 1978, just 5 years after his wrestling debut in the AWA, Backlund,
with manager Arnold Skaaland, defeated Superstar Billy Graham to become
the WWF Champion for the first time and stands as the second longest reigning
champion in its history. Backlund did drop the title to Antonio Inoki in
Japan but that title change is disputed and not recognized by the WWE today.
Backlund's WWF reign as tremendous as he waged war against stars like the
Wild Samoans and faced the constant threat of the diabolical Grand Wizard
who brought everybody he could to try and unseat Backlund. Backlund wrestled
his great NWA versus WWF Title Match against Ric Flair in 1982 to make
headlines and then a year and a half later Backlund defended the title
against the Iron Sheik and due to a back injury, Backlund was unable to
get out of the Camel Clutch. He refused to submit and Skaaland threw in
the towel in a moment that haunted Backlund throughout his career. Backlund
did stay with the WWF for a while after and actually re-introduced Hulk
Hogan to the WWF in a tag team feud against the Wild Samoans. It was supposed
to be Backlund versus the Iron Sheik in 1984 at MSG but Hogan took the
shot for Backlund and the rest is history. Backlund was soon out of the
WWF and not part of the Rock-n-Wrestling boom, going into semi-retirement.
Backlund returned almost ten years later in 1992, lasted longer than anyone
else in the 1993 Royal Rumble and actually lost to Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania
9 in a big upset. Backlund was a mid-carder and nothing more until the
sumer of 1994 when he "snapped" after a loss to WWF Champion Bret Hart.
Backlund turned heel and used the cross-faced chicken wing on all his enemies
including former manager Arnold Skaaland who was, at that time, a very
old man. Backlund teamed with Owen Hart in a dual feud with Bret Hart and
Davey Boy Smith and at Survivor Series 1994 Backlund beat Bret Hart when
Bret's mother Helen threw in the towel when Owen tricked her. Backlund
lost the belt to Diesel a few days later and then to Bret Hart in a Wrestlemania
11 I Quit Match refereed by Roddy Piper. Backlund briefly managed the Sultan
alongside the Iron Sheik and also Kurt Angle in 1999 before running for
officer in the State of Connecticut. Backlund remains very active in the
political community and still wrestles from time to time and his status
as one of the greats makes him more than deserving to be in the UWOW Hall
of Fame!
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Mr. Backlund wasn't always a dictionary wielding psychopath on WWF television.
He began as a pure mat technician and the fans loved him through the AWA
where he began in to Florida where he and Steve Keirn formed a successful
tag team. In 1978, just 5 years after his wrestling debut in the AWA, Backlund,
with manager Arnold Skaaland, defeated Superstar Billy Graham to become
the WWF Champion for the first time and stands as the second longest reigning
champion in its history. Backlund did drop the title to Antonio Inoki in
Japan but that title change is disputed and not recognized by the WWE today.
Backlund's WWF reign as tremendous as he waged war against stars like the
Wild Samoans and faced the constant threat of the diabolical Grand Wizard
who brought everybody he could to try and unseat Backlund. Backlund wrestled
his great NWA versus WWF Title Match against Ric Flair in 1982 to make
headlines and then a year and a half later Backlund defended the title
against the Iron Sheik and due to a back injury, Backlund was unable to
get out of the Camel Clutch. He refused to submit and Skaaland threw in
the towel in a moment that haunted Backlund throughout his career. Backlund
did stay with the WWF for a while after and actually re-introduced Hulk
Hogan to the WWF in a tag team feud against the Wild Samoans. It was supposed
to be Backlund versus the Iron Sheik in 1984 at MSG but Hogan took the
shot for Backlund and the rest is history. Backlund was soon out of the
WWF and not part of the Rock-n-Wrestling boom, going into semi-retirement.
Backlund returned almost ten years later in 1992, lasted longer than anyone
else in the 1993 Royal Rumble and actually lost to Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania
9 in a big upset. Backlund was a mid-carder and nothing more until the
sumer of 1994 when he "snapped" after a loss to WWF Champion Bret Hart.
Backlund turned heel and used the cross-faced chicken wing on all his enemies
including former manager Arnold Skaaland who was, at that time, a very
old man. Backlund teamed with Owen Hart in a dual feud with Bret Hart and
Davey Boy Smith and at Survivor Series 1994 Backlund beat Bret Hart when
Bret's mother Helen threw in the towel when Owen tricked her. Backlund
lost the belt to Diesel a few days later and then to Bret Hart in a Wrestlemania
11 I Quit Match refereed by Roddy Piper. Backlund briefly managed the Sultan
alongside the Iron Sheik and also Kurt Angle in 1999 before running for
officer in the State of Connecticut. Backlund remains very active in the
political community and still wrestles from time to time and his status
as one of the greats makes him more than deserving to be in the UWOW Hall
of Fame!