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Post by willywonka666 on Dec 17, 2018 18:18:24 GMT -5
I didn’t watch at all then, and had to read up on some quick facts, but for those that did-why did Vince bring him back?
It’s been said he was out of place, and things picked up when he “snapped” but were things that awkward for his original face return?
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Cranjis McBasketball☝🏻
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball☝🏻 on Dec 17, 2018 19:41:46 GMT -5
He seemed to me to be about 100 million years old, he was younger than AJ Styles is now.
It was always seemed to me like an old guy getting one last shot.
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Post by Joe Neglia on Dec 17, 2018 21:52:03 GMT -5
Never have figured out how or why Bob got back into the game. Obviously, Vince was trying to stabilize after the steroid scandal, but why he looked Bob's way? Dunno. Backlund had been a virtual ghost in the industry for about seven years at that point. Maybe Vince just wanted some people on the roster he knew wouldn't get him put in another courtroom.
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Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Dec 17, 2018 23:15:08 GMT -5
Never have figured out how or why Bob got back into the game. Obviously, Vince was trying to stabilize after the steroid scandal, but why he looked Bob's way? Dunno. Backlund had been a virtual ghost in the industry for about seven years at that point. Maybe Vince just wanted some people on the roster he knew wouldn't get him put in another courtroom. Was it maybe a move to play off of the rejuvenation of another old vet in George Foreman's boxing career? Maybe they tried to push a parallel there of "The old guy who's been away for a while getting back in the game and excelling"?
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Perfect Timing
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Post by Perfect Timing on Dec 18, 2018 1:56:22 GMT -5
As a kid I couldn't get my head around him. It was like "why is this jobber so special he's getting to run down the isle" and they would mention he was a former WWF champion and I was like "meh he's got no music he still sucks" and his style was very outdated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 3:23:22 GMT -5
Never have figured out how or why Bob got back into the game. Obviously, Vince was trying to stabilize after the steroid scandal, but why he looked Bob's way? Dunno. Backlund had been a virtual ghost in the industry for about seven years at that point. Maybe Vince just wanted some people on the roster he knew wouldn't get him put in another courtroom. Was it maybe a move to play off of the rejuvenation of another old vet in George Foreman's boxing career? Maybe they tried to push a parallel there of "The old guy who's been away for a while getting back in the game and excelling"? I believe that was a big part of the reason why. George's comeback was big news at the time. Nolan Ryan was still bringing the heat in his 40s (even threw a no-hitter the year before).
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Post by G✇JI☈A on Dec 18, 2018 3:34:43 GMT -5
Only thing I remember of it is the match he had with Razor Ramone at Wrestlemania IX, and a picture in WWF magazine featuring him using a food processor and grinning at Virgil eating a carrot.
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SmashTV
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Post by SmashTV on Dec 18, 2018 8:22:37 GMT -5
I liked the idea of a 'wrestler' coming to the WWF, and was initially impressed with him as a returning veteran. Sometimes he'd give jobbers a pep talk after the match, telling them they had a future in the business if they continued as they were, which was a bit corny but fitted in with his gimmick.
After the 93 Rumble, though, he suddenly just became very stale and outdated. For whatever reason they didn't capitalise on him after his Rumble performance, and he lost all momentum until coming back to (short lived) prominence in late 94.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 8:33:12 GMT -5
Some years back I recall Backlund's return being explained somewhat. He had left wrestling for several years, but his return was......for moreorless financial reasons, and I guess by that point Vince didn't think it'd hurt to bring him back in some capacity (even though IIRC Vince was not a fan of him when he first took over the company). and a picture in WWF magazine featuring him using a food processor and grinning at Virgil eating a carrot. When you say something like that you immediately find and post the picture too! It's proper fan forum etiquette, dang it! ;p
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Post by Milkman Norm on Dec 18, 2018 10:55:27 GMT -5
I loved it. It was much better than his heel run when he had a personality and a submission finish. His face run had everything I love about pro wrestling. Dull heatless matches featuring a really boring guy that ended in an O'Conner roll!
In all seriousness though on STWW Prichard pretty much came out and said the plan all along was for Mr.Backlund and he was brought back as a face specifically so he could snap and turn heel.
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hassanchop
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Post by hassanchop on Dec 18, 2018 11:01:21 GMT -5
I used to think he came back during the scandal because he had problems with Hogan and him in hot water made it all worthwhile for him to come back and stick it to the Hulkster. I loved it. It was much better than his heel run when he had a personality and a submission finish. His face run had everything I love about pro wrestling. Dull heatless matches featuring a really boring guy that ended in an O'Conner roll! In all seriousness though on STWW Prichard pretty much came out and said the plan all along was for Mr.Backlund and he was brought back as a face specifically so he could snap and turn heel. Did they ever addressed "rumored innuendos" involving Papa Shango being the reason for Bob Backlund snapping?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 11:06:29 GMT -5
I will always think that he would have earned a permanent spot in the discussion of all-time great heels if he would have snapped and became the "Mr." Bob Backlund character straight out of his early '80s megaface run, most likely after Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel causing him to lose the belt.
It's crazy to think of an alternate Rock & Wrestling era where Backlund is on the same level as Piper, going after an uncouth plebian like Hogan who plays rock & roll music, rides a motorcycle, and tears his shirt like a neanderthal.
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Post by Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite on Dec 18, 2018 13:06:02 GMT -5
He was there TWO years before turning heel?!?!!
For some reason I remember him showing up and almost immediately turning into Mr. Backlund
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Post by Joe Neglia on Dec 18, 2018 13:40:04 GMT -5
He was there TWO years before turning heel?!?!! For some reason I remember him showing up and almost immediately turning into Mr. Backlund A full two years. He returned July 1, 1992 and wouldn't turn heel until July or August of '94.
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cjh
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Post by cjh on Dec 18, 2018 13:53:29 GMT -5
He was there TWO years before turning heel?!?!! For some reason I remember him showing up and almost immediately turning into Mr. Backlund He technically was but after WrestleMania 9, he barely appeared on TV. According to History of WWE, he didn't make any televised appearances between the 1994 Royal Rumble PPV and returning in July to challenge Bret and turn heel.
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auph10imitated
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Post by auph10imitated on Dec 18, 2018 14:04:02 GMT -5
Yeah he was very sporadic, first match back was July 1992 but didn’t show up on TV until like November. My god I thought he was dull and went to show how much things had changed in 10 years. But yeah after Mania 9 he just did the odd jobs up until the 1994 heel turn.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Dec 18, 2018 14:10:08 GMT -5
I remember when WWF Magazine ran a piece before his comeback where they making it seem like he was ancient.
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Post by Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie on Dec 18, 2018 15:31:18 GMT -5
i was genuinely excited to see him as RR93 and loved every second he was in it! such a goober style of grappling that threw everyone off ..... don't remember much after until going googoogaagaa
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Post by Brandon Walsh is Insane. on Dec 18, 2018 16:15:10 GMT -5
I used to think he came back during the scandal because he had problems with Hogan and him in hot water made it all worthwhile for him to come back and stick it to the Hulkster. I loved it. It was much better than his heel run when he had a personality and a submission finish. His face run had everything I love about pro wrestling. Dull heatless matches featuring a really boring guy that ended in an O'Conner roll! In all seriousness though on STWW Prichard pretty much came out and said the plan all along was for Mr.Backlund and he was brought back as a face specifically so he could snap and turn heel. Did they ever addressed "rumored innuendos" involving Papa Shango being the reason for Bob Backlund snapping? Didn't they nix the Papa Shango stuff because he got over on his own? I've heard every STWW but it's all a blur right now.
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thecrusherwi
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Post by thecrusherwi on Dec 18, 2018 19:07:53 GMT -5
He was there TWO years before turning heel?!?!! For some reason I remember him showing up and almost immediately turning into Mr. Backlund I don’t remember seeing him at all between the Wrestlemania IX match and the heel turn outside of the Royal Rumble. I’m sure he was there but I have no recollection of that. I will say that as a kid, I was terrified of heel Bob Backlund. I thought the Crossface Chickenwing was going to cripple people.
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