Why did Backlund hold the belt for so long?

[brutuscheesecake]

6 friggin years! Yea I know he technically dropped the belt twice over that time frame, but much like the Rockers title win, the WWF never acknowledged it, most fans don't remember it, so it pretty much never happened.

Even in the late 70's - early 80's, a clean cut opie champion seemed way behind the times. How did he hold on to the belt for so long? How did the fans not grow weary of him much earlier?

[thwak is T.hawk]

because backlund was a good worker and people had longer attention spans back then.

[Flexy Lexy]

I was wondering the same thing.

How was he a face when he sounded exactly like the Mr. Backlund character?

[Error]

thwak said:

because backlund was a good worker and people had longer attention spans back then.

That's the truth. Back then it was presented as close to a real sport as ever and having an All American athlete and good amateur wrestler was what most champs were. Plus Bruno had a 7 or 8 year reign. It was common to present a babyface champ as dominate then.

takerfan said:

I was wondering the same thing.

How was he a face when he sounded exactly like the Mr. Backlund character?

Different times and cultures, as well as being presented differently by the bookers.

[Milkman Norm]

It was Vincent James McMahon's company and Backlund worked well for his New York area audence.

[Ass Dan]

The WWF Championship was Backlund approved.

[Tom Selleck]

There also wasn't a 2 hour Raw every week so people didn't see him enough to get sick of him.

[Garee]

I know it was a different time, and culture, and things but I have always wondered the exact same thing

[Arturo Classico]

Simple he is Mr. Bob Backlund!

[Flexy Lexy]

jinxed said:

takerfan said:

I was wondering the same thing.

How was he a face when he sounded exactly like the Mr. Backlund character?

Different times and cultures, as well as being presented differently by the bookers.

One era's psycho is another's golden boy, I guess.

[T Vang is a HO-DADDY~!]

It's definitely the fact that there was no tv. People would purchase tickets when Backlund was the champ and they wanted to see him by the time they got to.

[Ultimo Chocula]

In an odd way, I kind of wish I was around for the wrestling scene in the 70's. In those days it must have been quite the show.

[HMARK Center]

ultimochocula said:

In an odd way, I kind of wish I was around for the wrestling scene in the 70's. In those days it must have been quite the show.

My uncle's told me quite a bit about it, it sounds like an amazing time.

["IcePic" Rick Cobos]

I would have loved to have been a fan during the heyday of Bruno, Backlund, Race, Briscos, Funks, Flair, Rhodes, Baba, etc.

[Deleted]

I'm assuming part of it was politics. Vince SR. probably thought Backlund was the only guy he could trust to not jump to another territory.

[Dynamic Dee]

I think it was a combo of things. Backlund was liked and trusted by Vince Sr. He also was a great athlete and amateur wrestler which many old school champions were. Champions back then also did not wrestle on tv every week. You might see clips of their matches from the last house show and maybe an interview for the next big match. Other than that, they made you buy tickets to see the champ in action. This kept them from getting overexposed and stale.

Whats interesting is that he beat Superstar Billy Graham who was much more charasmatic and colorful. He was a heel but was also getting some cheers as well. The thing is he was very limited in the ring. He held the belt longer than any other heel to that point but he was really just setting up the next babyface that would lead the WWWF into the 80s. Backlund became the chosen one.

[The Boss]

brutuscheesecake said:

6 friggin years! Yea I know he technically dropped the belt twice over that time frame, but much like the Rockers title win, the WWF never acknowledged it, most fans don't remember it, so it pretty much never happened.

That's why it's up to us fans to make sure that it is never forgotten. I finnally pressured the AWA into recognizing HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN'S 2 AWA World title wins that Verne Gagne ignored for so many years. Now they are officially recognised by the AWA. Since then more and more people have learned about them and recognise them. Even the WWF has acknowledged them on DVD.


The same must be done with Antonio Inoki's WWF World title reign. It may have been brief, but it still needs to be recognized. After all many World champions have had shorter reigns.

It is up to us fans to make sure that important moments like this are never forgotten.

Even in the late 70's - early 80's, a clean cut opie champion seemed way behind the times. How did he hold on to the belt for so long? How did the fans not grow weary of him much earlier?

The fans grew tired of him years before he dropped the WWF World title to the Iron Shiek. The WWF had fallen behind both the NWA and the AWA. In fact the WWF World title had even lost World title recognition by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

No disrespect intended toward Bob Backlund, but he (much like Bret Hart) while a respectable champion, just didn't have the carisma and drawing power for such a long reign. Vince McMahon Sr. was getting on in years and he just didn't seem to care anymore.

[MolotovMocktail]

With Inoki, didn't he voluntarily vacate the title, and say that he didn't want to be recognized as a champion?