Bob Backlund

Biography

Born on August 14, 1949, in Princeton, Minnesota, Robert Louis Backlund, better known as Bob Backlund, began his athletic career as an accomplished amateur wrestler before transitioning into professional wrestling.

Career History and Evolution

Bob Backlund’s professional wrestling career began in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the early 1970s. However, he shot to national prominence after joining the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), now known as WWE, in 1977.
Backlund’s career significantly evolved over the decades. In the early years, he was often presented as an All-American face (heroic character), noted for his extraordinary technical prowess and unyielding resilience. Backlund held the WWWF Heavyweight Championship (which later became the WWF Championship) for nearly six years from 1978 to 1983.
After a hiatus from WWF in the mid-1980s, he returned in the early 1990s with a vastly different character. He morphed into a delusional heel (villainous character) who felt that society had degraded, leading to a second WWF Championship reign in 1994.

Titles Won and Biggest Matches

During his career, Backlund won the WWWF/WWF Championship twice, with his first reign being the second-longest in the title’s history. He also won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Pedro Morales.
Backlund’s biggest matches include his title win against “Superstar” Billy Graham in 1978, his submission match against Bret Hart at Survivor Series 1994, and his infamous 1983 encounter with The Iron Sheik, which ended his near six-year title reign.

Biggest Rivalries and Tag Team Partners

Bob Backlund’s most notable rivalries include his feud with “Superstar” Billy Graham, The Iron Sheik, and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. These rivalries resulted in some of the most iconic matches of his career.
In terms of tag teams, Backlund primarily focused on his singles career, but he had a notable partnership with Pedro Morales, with whom he won the WWF Tag Team Championship.

Family Life

Backlund is married to Corrine Gentzkow since 1974, and they have a daughter named Carrie.

Finishing Move, Clothing, and Entrance Music

Backlund’s finishing move, the “Crossface Chickenwing,” became a feared submission hold during his heel run in the ’90s.
As for his attire, Backlund was often seen wearing traditional wrestling gear, including a red, white, and blue singlet and matching boots, representing his All-American character.
While entrance themes were not as prevalent during the majority of his career, during his ’90s heel run, Backlund entered to a dramatic instrumental piece that signified his intense and deranged character.

Legacy

Bob Backlund is widely respected for his in-ring skills and his ability to play both heroic and villainous characters effectively. His nearly six-year championship reign remains one of the longest in professional wrestling history. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, cementing his legacy as one of the greats in the wrestling industry.