THE BEST OF BOB BACKLUND
I am a big fan of Bob Backlund from his days as the WWF champion back in The early eighties. This series of tapes cover the majority of his
greatest matches from his days in the WWF, as well as two rare uwfi japan matches and a WWF title screw job that predates Bret Hart's screw job by 20 years!
THE BEST OF BOB BACKLUND (GOOD Q)7HRS 45M (4 disks)
(UNLESS NOTED, ALL MATCHES ARE WWF TITLE DEFENSES AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN)
1. Bob Backlund V. Superstar Graham (In progress. Backlund Wins The WWF Title 2/20/78)
2. Bob Backlund V. Graham (11/82)
3. Bob Backlund V. Graham (Great Cage Match, 4/78 With Japanese Commentary)
4. Bob Backlund V. Antonio Inoki (Mr. Saito & Ueda Bloody Inoki And Backlund, Japan 12/14/78)
5. Bob Backlund V. Pat Patterson (Good Cage Match 9/24/79 - Picture Rolls Occasionally)
6. Bob Backlund V. Antonio Inoki
(INOKI PINS BACKLUND FOR THE WWF TITLE! Backlund didn't know that they were going to count his shoulders down. One
week later, they held a rematch, but it was ruled a no-contest. Inoki, however, gave Backlund back the belt before he left japan, but on
the condition that he wanted a rematch at msg. Vince Mcmahon sr. never gave Inoki the rematch, but instead had him wrestle the
Iron Sheik and was billed as the "WWF World Martial Arts Champion" this entire escapade was never made public to the fans in the
U.S. until only recently. VERY GOOD TECHNICAL MATCH 11/30/78)
FOR THE HISTORY BUFF, THIS INCIDENT PRE-DATES THE NOW INFAMOUS BRET HART DOUBLECROSS AT THE
1997 SURVIVOR SERIES BY NEARLY 20 YEARS! EXECPT IN THIS CASE IT WAS VINCE MCMAHON SR. WHO WAS
INVOLVED.
7. Bob Backlund V. Jimmy Snuka (Good Match 8/15/82)
8. Bob Backlund V. Jimmy Snuka (The Infamous Cage Match Were Snuka Misses, 6/82)
9. Bob Backlund V. Buddy Rose (Good Match)
10. Bob Backlund V. Superstar Graham (Same As Match #2)
11. Bob Backlund V. Big John Studd (1/83)
12. Bob Backlund V. Don Muraco (2/83)
13. Bob Backlund V. Don Muraco (Great Texas Death Match 3/83)
14. Bob Backlund V. George Steele (7/83)
15. Bob Backlund , Jimmy Snuka & Andre The Giant V. John Studd, Samoan Afa & Lou Albano (2/3 Falls)
16. Bob Backlund V. Sgt. Slaughter (Texas Death Match, Tony Garea Is The Ref. Spectrum 9/83)
17. Bob Backlund V. Masked Superstar (10/83)
18. Bob Backlund V. The Iron Sheik(Arnold Skaaland throws in the towel signifying the end of an era as backlund loses the title
after a nearly 6 year reign as champion. Contrary to popular opinion, Backlund did indeed know that he was going to be
dropping the title to the Sheik. MSG 12/83)
19. Bob Backlund V. Nobuhiko Takada (Tremendous Match, UWFI Japan)
20. Bob Backlund V. Masanaru Funaki (Funaki Pounds Backlund and gets DQ'd. UWFI Japan)
21. Bob Backlund V. Bret Hart (MSG 6/93)
BOB BACKLUND PART 2 (VG Q) 2HRS
1. Bob Backlund & Dusty Rhodes v. Stan Hansen & Hulk Hogan (RARE TEAM-UP OF RHODES & BACKLUND, NOT TO
MENTION THE EQUALLY RARE TEAM OF HOGAN & HANSEN)
2. Bob Backlund v. Swede Hansen (MSG)
3. Bob Backlund v. Hossein "Iron Sheik" Arab (ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC TECHNICAL MATCH. Both men put on a
technical wrestling fans clinic. This is not the match where Backlund loses his title. MSG 1980)
4. Bob Backlund v. Greg Valentine (MSG)
5. Bob Backlund v. Sgt. Slaughter (Cage Match, Philly Spectrum)
BEST OF BOB BACKLUND vol. 3 (VG - FAIR Q) 4HRS 10MIN (2 disks)
1. Bob Backlund v. "Super Star" Billy Graham (1978-msg. Backlund wins the WWWF Title)
2. Bob Backlund v. Billy Graham (Scicilian Stretcher match - Philly Spectrum 9/78)
3. Bob Backlund & "High Chief" Peter Maivia v. Spiros Arion & Victor Rivera (WWWF TV 1978 - Maivia,
who is the Grandfather of the ROCK, turns heel)
4. Bob Backlund v. Bobby Duncum (Texas Death Match - MSG, 12/79)
5. Bob Backlund v. Ken Patera (Spectrum, 7/80)
6. Bob Backlund v. Ken Patera (Texas Death match from MSG 5/19/80. This is a total brawl, and was
chosen as the Observer's Match of the Year for 1980.)
7. Bob Backlund v. Harley Race (EXTREMELY RARE WWF V. NWA title match. This match was
taped with an 8mm camera. The picture is surprisingly good, but there is no sound.)
8. Bob Backlund & Pedro Morales v. The Samoans (Backlund, who was the WWF World Champ, and Morales
who was the I-C champ pinned the Samoans to capture the WWF Tag Team Titles!)
9. Bob Backlund v. Stan Hansen (MSG, 1979)
10. Bob Backlund v. Larry Zbysko (Spectrum, 10/80)
11. Bob Backlund v. Larry Zbysko (Tony Atlas is the guest referee - Spectrum, 11/80)
12. Bob Backlund v. Killer Kahn (MSG, 12/80)
13. Bob Backlund v. Stan Hansen (MSG, 3/16/81)
14. Bob Backlund v. Stan Hansen (Cage Match - MSG 4/81)
BEST OF BOB BACKLUND vol. 4 (VG - FAIR Q) 6HRS (3 disks)
Most matches are complete, but some are joined in progress.
1. Bob Backlund v. Angelo "King Kong" Mosca (MD Capital Centre, 6/10/81)
2. Bob Backlund v. Angelo Mosca (MSG, 5/81)
3. Bob Backlund v. George "The Animal" Steele (Spectrum, 6/29/81)
4. Bob Backlund v. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (Because of the controversial finish, the title would be held
up pending a return match at the next month's MSG show - 10/19/81)
NOTE - Unlike today, where the title seems to be held up just before EVERY Pay Per View, back in
the early 80's, the title being held up, was a BIG development.
5. Bob Backlund v. Greg Valentine (Texas Death Match for the held up WWF Title. GREAT MATCH!
MSG 11/81)
6. Bob Backlund v. Jesse "The Body" Ventura (Spectum, 2/82)
7. Bob Backlund v. Jesse Ventura (Ivan Putski is the guest ref. Is Putski biased toward the champion?
You be the judge)
8. Bob Backlund v. Adrian Adonis (Spectrum, 3/82)
9. Bob Backlund v. Adrian Adonis (MSG, 82)
10. Bob Backlund v. Swede Hansen (Billy Graham destroys the WWF Title!)
11. Bob Backlund v. Billy Graham (MSG, 1982)
12. Bob Backlund v. Billy Graham (Lumberjack Match, Swede Hansen is the ref - MSG 1982)
13. Bob Backlund v. "Playboy" Buddy Rose (Joined in progress from MSG)
14. Bob Backlund v. Buddy Rose(Lumberjack Match - Spectrum 11/82)
15. Interview - Bob Backlund (immediately following the previous match)
16. Bob Backlund v. Sgt. Slaughter (MSG 1982 - The picture may roll occasionally)
17. Slaughter v. Tony Garea (Backlund is at ringside attempting to break the record for the step up test and
gets whipped by Slaughter - WWF TV 1983)
18. Bob Backlund v. Sgt. Slaughter (Texas Death Match - MSG 3/83, Tony Garea is the Ref)
19. Bob Backlund v. Adrian Adonis (Lumberjack match - Capital Centre 3/83)
20. Bob Backlund v. "Iron" Mike Sharpe (Spectrum, 83)
21. Bob Backlund v. Ivan Koloff (Spectrum, 83)
22. Bob Backlund v. The Iron Sheik (One of Backlund's last sucessful title defenses before losing the
WWF Title. VERY GOOD MATCH - Spectrum 11/83)
23. Bob Backlund acceps the Iron Sheik's persian club challenge. Of course while swinging the clubs,
Backlund is attacked by the Sheik and is "injured". This leads to…
23. Bob Backlund v. The Iron Sheik (Backlund loses the title after nearly 6 years as champion)
24. Post-match interviews with both the Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund
BEST OF BOB BACKLUND IN JAPAN (VG Q) 4hrs 40min (2 disks)
This tape chronicles Bob Backlund's many matches in the Land of the Rising Sun. Included are virtually the
entire history of the Backlund v. Inoki series including the match where Inoki won the WWWF title! You also
will see 2 of Backlunds matches from his time with the UWFi "shoot" promotion, as well as a RARE match
against the AMERICAN DREAM Dusty Rhodes! The first 4 matches are from the series that Backlund
and Inoki had during Backlunds reign as WWF champion. Although these would be considered EXTREMELY
boring by today's standards, WRESTLING fans of this era will remember these as some FANTASTIC scientific
contests between the two.
1. Bob Backlund v. Antonio Inoki (Mr. Saito & Ueda run in and attack Inoki - 12/14/78)
2. Bob Backlund v. Antonio Inoki (INOKI WINS THE WWF TITLE! - 11/30/78)
Actually, Inoki wasn't supposed to win this match, but New Japan and Inoki pulled a doublecross on Backlund
and the ref counted 3 when Backlund was expecting to kick out at 2. Needless to say Backlund was UPSET.
3. Bob Backlund v. Antonio Inoki (12/6/79 - REMATCH from #2. The Japanese screw job continuesBacklund pins
Inoki, but doesn't win the title. Inoki was suppposed to drop the title back to Backlund but the match appears
to have been RETROACTIVELY declared a non-title match, and Inoki is allowed to keep the title. Inoki
eventually gives the title back before Bob returns to America. In exchange, Inoki was promised a title match
at Madison Square Garden, but wound up facing the Iron Sheik with Inoki billed as the "World Martial Arts
Champion". I'm sure Inoki wasn't happy about that, but he got what he deserved.
4. Bob Backlund v. Antonio Inoki (Stan Hansen runs in to attack Backlund. Inoki makes the save - 8/22/80)
5. Bob Backlund v. "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (a "Dream" [no pun intended] Match between what
Would be the WWF and the NWA's most popular pre-1984 champions.)
6. Bob Backlund v. Tiger Jeet Singh (12/79)
7. Bob Backlund v. Tatsumi Fujinami (GREAT MATCH between the WWF Heavyweight Champion and the
former WWF Jr. Heavyweight Champion. PRICELESS ENDING as Backlund pins Fujinami, who appears
to kick out at the 2 count. The ref counts 3 anyway and gives the match to Backlund WHO REFUSES TO
ALLOW HIS HAND TO BE RAISED! "Mr. Fair Play" refused to take a victory that in his eyes was tainted.
8. Bob Backlund v. Nobuhiko Takada (GREAT MATCH! UWFI early 1990s. Backlund was known as a pretty
stiff worker in his time, so this style was right up his alley.)
9. Bob Backlund v. Yoji Anjo (ANOTHER GREAT MATCH! UWFi 12/22/91 - The former WWF champion
puts Anjo away with the CROSS FACE CHICKENWING!)
10. Bob Backlund v. ??? (Battlarts B-Cup Quarter Finals) Bob hits all of his signature moves in this one. The move
where he suplexes his opponent out of an arm bar, the Big Atomic drop, the Crossface Chickenwing, and of
course, the Reverse Rollup into the "Backlund Bridge".
11. Bob Backlund v. SASUKE (Battlarts B-Cup Semi Finals - 11/23/98)
12. Bob Backlund v. Yuki Ishikawa (Battlarts B-Cup Finals - 11/23/98)
BEST OF BOB BACKLUND vol. 6 (GOOD Q) 6HRS (3 disks)
Thought I couldn't find anymore Backlund footage huh? All matches with a * after it were filmed with an 8mm camera with a Voice over.
1. Backlund vs. Superstar Graham ( Backlund wins the title )
2. Backlund vs. Hulk Hogan *
3. Backlund vs. Mr. Fuji *
4. Backlund vs. Ken Patera ( Boston Garden ) *
5. Backlund vs. Greg Valentine ( Boston Garden )
6. Backlund vs. Pat Patterson ( 10/13/79 Boston Garden ) *
7. Backlund vs. Superstar Graham ( 78' Providence, RI ) *
8. Backlund vs. Superstar Graham ( 7/15/78 Boston Garden ) *
9. Backlund vs. Superstar Graham ( 78 ' cage match, Boston Garden ) *
10. Backlund vs. Ivan Koloff ( 10/2/78 Boston Garden ) *
11. Backlund vs. Ivan Koloff ( 78' Boston Garden ) *
12. Backlund vs. Don Muraco ( cage match, Boston Garden ) *
13. Backlund vs. ( unknown opponent ) *
14. Backlund vs. Superstar Graham ( Sillian stretcher match 9/16/78 )
15. Backlund vs. Blackjack Lanza *
16. Backlund vs unknown opponent (GREAT MATCH!) *
17. Backlund vs. Larry Henning *
18. Backlund vs. Harley Race ( lumberjack match 2/3 falls 16mm ) *
19. Backlund vs. Bobby Duncum *
20. Backlund / Peter Maivia vs. Spiros Arion / Victor Rivera ( Maivia turns heel )
21. Backlund interview ( re: Maivia turning heel )
22. Backlund vs. Re'ene Goulet ( WWF TV )
23. Backlund vs. Hulk Hogan ( Spectrum )
24. Backlund vs. Spiros Arion ( 6/26/78 MSG )
25. Backlund vs. Larry Zbysko ( Tony Atlas special referee, Spectrum 79' )
26. Backlund vs. Killer Khan ( MSG 79' )
27. Backlund vs. Larry Zbysko ( spectrum 79' )
28. Backlund vs. Stan Hansen ( MSG 79' )
29. Backlund vs. Bobby Duncum ( unoffical title win for Backlund 12/12/79 MSG )
30. Backlund v. King Kong Mosca
31. Backlund v. Adrian Adonis
32. Backlund vs. Greg Valentine ( cage match 80' Spectrum )
33. Backlund vs. Jesse Ventura ( Ivan Putski special refeere )
34. Backlund & Putski v. Jonny & Jerry Valiant
