This is a collection of reviews of Bob Backlund matches from 1981 as WWF Champion. His challengers from 1981 include Sgt. Slaughter, Stan Hansen, King Kong Mosca, Killer Khan, George The Animal Steele, Don Muraco, and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter - WWF, Philly 1/10/81
I can hear Johnny Sorrow of Titans of Wrestling fame talking about Kal saying Backlund was "pumping pain" into Slaughter. Kal explains that these two are just living on weird street in this match.
It is Gomer Pyle vs Howdy Doody. Dick & Kal blames Vince for getting Gomer Pyle over. Right in the front row there is a sign says "Kill Gomer Pyle" and there are constant chants of Gomer. Slaughter is really frazzled by all this and has a hard time concentrating. He muffs his ears. This is a really fun shine with the typical Backlund showing up his opponent, but Slaughter is extra good at taking the bumps. Slaughter tries to sneak attack with the swagger stick after giving Backlund the thumbs down. Them's fighting provocations. Slaughter totally whiffs on a punch and tumbles over the top rope. Love it. Backlund single leg pick up. Slaughter rams his shoulder into the post. The Backlund arm work is actually unusually lackluster. Slaughter uses headbutts to break the hold. He uses the headlock to cover up driving knuckles into Backlund's head. Backlund is really WOAHING tonight. I like Kal description of Slaughter looking like a cartoon character with his jaw, big eyes and his expressive face. The ref catches Slaughter cheating and thus he switches to the back with backbreaker and then using trunks to pull Backlund into hard strikes on the back. Backlund fires back and knocks Slaughter onto weird street with a big headbutt. HUGE PILEDRIVER! Slaughter needs a quick jab to the throat and Dick says that Backlund opponents have no alternative because Backlund is so good. He signals for the unbreakable Cobra Clutch, but Backlund slips out. Slaughter is press slammed off the top. Slaughter kicks off Backlund in the O'Connor Roll sending him crashing to the floor. Backlund is knocked loopy. This is when the match goes into overdrive. The fans are urging Backlund on as Slaughter gets a chance to recuperate. Slaughter drives Backlund back first into the railing and backbreaker on outside. He drives Backlund's head into the post and turnbuckle. Backlund is busted wide open and Slaughter is very proud of his work. Slaughter bites the cut and punches Backlund's forehead on apron.Slaughter punches himself out and Backlund fires back with two headbutts into the midsection that doubles Sarge over. Backlund whips Slaughter for him to take his signature bump. The crowd goes wild and so does Backlund who is incensed and kicks the shit out of Slaughter on the outside driving him into hard metal objects. They fight on the apron and Backlund knocks Slaughter back in the ring giving Slaughter a countout win. The post-match brawl is awesome with Backlund kicking major league ass. The ref brings the title in the ring and Slaughter uses it to crack Backlund and the ref into the head.
I thought this match did a lot better job than the Backlund/Patera match in setting up the gimmick match. I really liked Backlund/Patera match as a classic wrestling match, but this is the match that makes you want to see a bloody steel cage match. Slaughter kicked the ass of Backlund and then left Backlund laying. Plus Backlund kicking ass was also awesome. A really awesome set up match for the steel cage match. ****1/2
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - WWF MSG 2/16/81
Two of my favorites that just never managed to have that all time classic together. My favorite match of theirs is still the 1980 NJPW match, but this is the best of the New York matches. It starts off auspiciously with Hansen meeting Backlund at the gate and Backlund firing off rounds into Hansen's face and then a belt shot for good measure. Backlund actually pretty much straight up kicks ass. We know Hansen is an asskicker so I was like maybe I was just kinda out of it the first time I watched it, but then I realized what my issue was. Hansen was pretty content to just sit in holds. I thought Backlund did keep them interesting with his struggling and facial expressions. One classic Backlund moment is Hansen is trying wrangle Bob back into an armbar and most people would let him do it, but Backlund kicks him right in the face before he can get it on. It is those little touches that make Backlund one of the best to have ever lace them up. The match picks up once Backlund blasts Hansen with a high knee! Then runs through his bombs: butterfly suplex, vertical suplex and PILEDRIVER~! Backlund whiffs on a high knee and crashes to floor. Hansen busts Backlund open with fists. You can see Backlund concentrating on trying to pump blood through his forehead and his selling is great. Hansen beats him senseless with fists and gnaws at him. This is really good. Backlund fires up with rapid fire punches to the gut and then big time punches send Hansen reeling to outside where Backlund busts him open. They brawl in the ring and ref has lost control and it Is a No Contest due to excessive bleeding.
The beginning and the finish stretch were pretty awesome and want you want from these two, but the middle was pretty boring. Wish we got that one kickass Backlund/Hansen brawl. ***3/4
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - MSG 3/16/81
Before the match, Pat Patterson challenges Sgt Slaughter to a match for next months Garden show. Now there's a series of matches I need to rewatch!
I cant believe, I am going to say this, but Hansen felt subdued in this match. He was totally content with rhythm breaks and grounding Backlund. It was not his usual running around with reckless abandon. The match was fine and told a decent story. Backlund jumpstarted the match and he wanted to beat the shit out of Hansen. Hansen wanted no part of it. Hansen could never keep Backlund down who was throwing headbutts to mid section and fists to the head. So Hansen kept running, which is just very un-Hansen like. Eventually, Backlund gets fed up and starts chasing him to the outside. Hansen misses his lariat on two occasions and pays for it, but always makes it to the outside. The third time Bob follows him to the outside he caught coming back into the ring with the Lariat! It looked good, but not great and didn't feel like a climax. Backlund cant make it back in, which sets up a rematch in a cage. Backlund gets his heat back by sending Stan packing. Good match, but disappointing. Their NJPW match is way better. ***
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WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter
WWF, Philly 3/21/81, Steel Cage Match
"He hit him where he lives and where he loves." - Kal Rudman on when Slaughter punches him in the testicles.
For my money, the best WWF steel cage match of the 1980s, but it is close. It is a perfect combination of bumps and violence. Backlund at avoiding moves to elicit a big pop. Slaughter smashes his hand and head into the steel cage because Backlund ducks. Backlund throws Slaughter into the cage a couple times and Slaughter really launches himself into the cage. Kal's bloodlust is working in overdrive during this match as he eagerly awaits the bloodletting of Sarge. Slaughter after getting his ass kicked goes low and then inverted atomic drop on the balls. He throws Backlund shoulder first into the cage twice. Dick lets us know that Backlud shoulder was injured by Hansen at MSG. Backlund shows great wherewithal always grabbing Sarge's foot before Slaughter can exit via the door. BACKLUND PILEDRIVER! Here comes a classic Titans of Wrestling line about pablum, which was a classic Johnny Sorrow/Parv interaction. Backlund tries to climb out, but Slaughter is able to yank him down. Slaughter tries to climb the cage himself so Backlund gets some payback and smashes Slaughter's balls. Both men are down and to quote Kal Rudman, They are on Weird Street! Again Slaughter tries to exit the door and Backlund is able to stop him by grabbing the foot. BIG SLAUGHTER BUMP OVER THE TURNBUCKLES INTO CAGE! Kal's bloodlust is revving up. Backlund is teeing off on Slaughter's head and throwing him into the cage. Kal cant believe there is no blood. It is only a matter of time, Kal says, Backlund with big hammer punches on Sarge. Kal is so excited when the blood gushes and even says he is working on the cut. That's exactly what I was going to say! Slaughter backs him into the corner and Backlund moves as Sarge rames his head into the post on a mistimed shoulderblock. LOVE IT! Backlund rakes Sarge's face on the steel. THAT IS BLOOD! Kal exclaims. Backlund's awesome punches are on full display here. He punches Slaughter so hard he falls to the door. This is the best escape struggle. He slams Slaughter's head into the steel doorframe. OW! We get a closeup of Sarge's fingers on the door and then Backlund stomps those fingers on the steel! OUCH! Awesome! Slaughter goes back to work on the nuts of Bob Backlund because that is his only offense. There is a quick cut in my version. Backlund slams Slaughter's head into top of cage. Backlund triumphantly parades out to a roaring crowd.
The cut hurts the finish and makes it feel a little lackluster. This was a great Backlund asskicking. As with most Backlund matches, I do wish we get some more heat on Backlund, but after the January match you wanted to see Backlund kick the shit out of him and that's what you got. Sarge took some awesome, awesome bumps. Classic steel cage match. ****1/2
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen - WWF MSG 4/6/81 Steel Cage
Two sentences I did not think I would ever write: I saw Stan Hansen's ass & Stan Hansen needed more offense. Even with that complaint, I thought this was the best match these two have ever had together. I am a huge fan of both and it is disappointing that they never really hit out of the park, but this was great. It was an all out fight. Because they went for that fight there was not much selling, which I think makes sense, but then there were times when a pro wrestling sell became overselling because they were going for that fight feel. Backlund is rocking this whole match. His punches looked great. Hansen took a bunch of cage shots. Lots of energy. Stuff like Hansen ballshotting Backlund and Backlund being back on offense soon after or Backlund ballshotting Hansen and Hansen bodyslamming Backlund soon after was a bit off putting. What I liked was there was no downtime. I thought it was cool there was no shine, no heat, no finish. It was just a fight. You will not find a bigger defender of the shine->heat->comeback->finish formula, but I think deviations like this are necessary. It was just two big strong dudes just to beat the shit out of each other. Hansen gets color and Backlund works over the cut. Good drama getting out the door and over the cage. Hansen takes two big bumps off the top rope. Backlund emphatically exits through the door to a MASSIVE pop. Unique take on pro wrestling, good energy, Hansen getting some more offense and smarter selling would have improved this, but definitely a match worth seeing and you really don't have to watch the other ones. ****
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco
WWF MSG 9/21/81 Texas Death Match
Backlund and Muraco try to get this started hot with punches, but I just did not believe them. Muraco takes over on offense with a whiffed clothesline; I think Backlund fell a little too early. I actually thought Muraco was pretty damn good on top for ten minutes. That was the part I was dreading the most. He wrenched the chinlock he had. the front facelock was not egregiously long. The best part was the midsection work. He was a beast stomping Backlund, standing on him, double stomping, ab stretch. Backlund was great at selling this gasping for breath and doubling over. He was fightback and Muraco was just throw big time blows to the midsection. It was really good stuff. Muraco rams his shoulder hard into the post when he wanted charge into the midsection. Backlund goes to town with armbar, boot rakes the face and NASTY elbow to the bridge of the nose. Muraco pussies out of the piledriver. Backlund's arm work is great; it just goes on forever. There are ton of great spots he incorporates and it is really well worked. Muraco sells well and is fighting back too. It could have been about 5 minutes shorter. It never felt like it was going anywhere even if it was technically great and entertaining.
The finish run is very dramatic and is what really the entire match should have been. Backlund hits his big Atomic Drop, but Muraco ends up on the outside and Backlund lunges at him from the ring with a headbutt. Muraco grabs a chair and jabs it in his throat. Backlund is coughing and has spit on his lips. One of the all time great I cant breath selling. Of course, this sets up for the Muraco Double Thumb Asiatic Spike, which he uses liberally. Things do not look good for the champ as he collapsed on the outside. Backlund is an underrated seller. Big Asiatic Spike on the apron sends Backlund flying over the railing! Muraco goes out after him and punches him in the crowd. Fantastic. Backlund falls into the ring out of instinct and Muraco looks to suck the life force out of him with the Asiatic Spike. Backlund is firing up and BIG BACKLUND SUPLEX!!! I would have popped huge if I was in the crowd for that. Backlund cant capitalize. Muraco covers Backlund! As Jesse would say that's just depressing as hell. MURACO TOMBSTONE! MURACO SUPERFLY SPLASH! VERTICAL SUPLEX! He is pouring it on. Im loving this. Muraco goes for the Butterfly Suplex and Backlund deadlifts him from this position backdrops him out to cover to win the match to a huge pop! WAIT! There is controversy as Muraco clearly had his foot on the rope, but cant leave it up to chances, bud, need to kick out. Nice way to protect the IC Champ.
Awesome finish stretch, Muraco & Backlund control segments were entertaining and technically proficient just did not really go anywhere and Backlund armwork was way too long. Easily, a safely great match, but needed an editor. ****
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco - WWF Philly 10/17/81
I have been both dreading this match and am intrigued by it. Doing it this the same way as the Valentine draw in twenty minute intervals.
"They are really playing to the crowd" - Dick Graham as Backlund sits in his third hammerlock of the night
"You cant doubt Don Muraco is a great athlete." - Dick Graham as Muraco sits in his third stomach claw
"This feels like it has been going on for hours and hours." - Dick Graham finally getting it right
" This is too much for even a masochist to handle" - Kal Rudman with the great line of the night
First Twenty Minutes: It picked up in the last 3 minutes, but the first 17 were pretty damn boring. The lone highspot was a Bob Backlund monkey flip. Muraco headlock was transitioned into a Backlund hammerlock. There was some movement in and out of the hammerlock, but yeah they are clearly going long. Last three minutes Muraco picks it up with some great midsection work. Double stomp. Standing on him. Bob is great at selling this. Bearhug and as Backlund balls up the fist the ref admonishes him allowing Muraco knee him in the gut. Bob's look at the ref was hilarious. Muraco digs the Asiatic Spike in the midsection as twenty minutes in this contest goes by. Will Backlund make a comeback? Will Muraco break a sweat? Will I be able to stay awake?
Second Twenty Minutes: Muraco is so fucking lazy he invents a new resthold. He literally hugs Backlund's leg for like two minutes. Christ. There was some decent movement in and out of the stomach claw with Backlund not able to capitalize until finally he punches out and boot rake and nice elbow. Then Backlund headscissors. This was brutally boring. Muraco gets out by prying the legs open and making a wish. Decent leg work until the hugging the leg bs. Backlund escapes but Muraco comes down with all his weight on the leg. Escape again, but Backlund cant hold him up and Muraco gets two. They tie each other up. Muraco had a leg hold and Backlund his arm. Can this match be any more boring? Will Muraco come up with any more new restholds? Will Dick Graham fall asleep before me?
Last Fifteen Minutes: You know what this match needed? A fucking Indian Deathlock! Backlund escapes a toehold by smashing Muraco face with the heel of his boot. Muraco lunges for the leg and Backlund hammers Muraco's leg for revenge. Backlund sells leg well and at first the leg work looks good until the Indian Fucking Deathlock. Backlund leans too far back and Muraco rakes the face and gets some nice punches in. There is about ten minutes left, maybe this will heat up. Muraco is up favoring his left leg. Muraco drops him throat first on the top rope setting him up for the Asiatic Spike. He kisses the protected thumb. He nails up, but Backlund is unphased. He Hulks Up! Muraco hits the Asiatic Spike in the corner and Backlund is gasping for breath. So Muraco sticks the thumb in his throat. Yep we needed another hold! Backlund powers up and shoulder tackle. Backlund walks into a phantom Spike and he rolls to outside. Muraco gets him back in and nails a Tombstone to set up the Superfly, but eats knees! It is a draw as Backlud hammers away. NOW THEY BRAWL! This match sucks!
The way they worked was grab a hold, two escapes each ending up back in the original hold and then third time is a charm the other takes over with a new hold. The times in each hold was way too long. Not enough movement. No real story. Just hold->escape->hold->escape->hold->successful escape. Worst Backlund match I have ever seen. Silver lining: it was just a 55 minute draw.
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WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine - MSG 10/19/81
Huge kudos to the Titans especially Pete to get me to watch this in short order. This bad boy did not disappoint.
"Anything you can do, I can do better." - Bob Backlund's motto. Whether it is out-brawling Patera, out-powering Hogan or in this match out-slugging Valentine, Backlund's game is to prove he is better than his opponent at their game. It is this attitude that truly makes him a world heavyweight champion (I acknowledged it was not recognized as a World title, but damnit Bob is my boy.).
In this match, there a countless of examples of Valentine executing a move and Backlund absorbing the move and then dishing out the same move but with even more impact and ferocity. This is established early with Valentine getting three early takedowns. Backlund fires back in rapid fire those three same takedown. Anything you can do, Hammer, I can do better and don't you forget it, pal!
The crux of the match centers around Valentine and his full court press to apply the figure-4 on Backlund. He begins by weakening the knees. There is a great spot where Backlund gets a monkey flip out of a half crab. Anytime, Backlund looks to turn the tide, Valentine comes crashing down with a thunderous blow. Valentine tries 8 million ways to apply the figure-4, but he can't wrangle the ever-scrappy Backlund. This is just perfect pro wrestling. You can feel Valentine's frustration about not being able to apply this hold and simultaneously you feel Backlund's desperation to avoid this hold at all costs. The figure-4 becomes everything and you are totally invested in this struggle between these two competitors. Valentine tries a different tact. He turns the match into a slugfest. Against pretty much anyone else, Valentine could bully his way to victory with his vicious forearms, but not against our hero. Backlund gives as good he gets with equally vicious elbows, fists and headbutts that must have inspired BattlArts, The dynamic switch between stand up and ground really feels like you are watching BatBat match take place in early 80s WWF in MSG. It is crazy. Valentine bullies him into the ropes and goes back to the legs. He applies the figure-4 and Backlund immediately flips to his stomach. GREATEST SPOT EVER! Bow down at the altar of Bob Backlund! Again Valentine stymied switches to slugfest and this ends with a BACKLUND PILEDRIVER~! Only two for Bob, who misses the leg drop and hurts the injured leg. BattlArts headbutts from the knees ensue and they just beating the shit outta each other.
Then we get the finish. Valentine hoists Backlund up for the airplane spin, but hits the ref. Backlund ends up on top, a groggy ref counts to three, Valentine is up first and because they wearing the same trunks and have similar builds the ref hands the title incorrectly to the Hammer thus the title is held up. I get that they are setting up for a rematch and this is creative, but I didn't dig it. It is just kinda lame. I can't really explain it. It is just lame in my eyes. It knocks the match down just a peg. Still one of the all-time classics of the Backlund era, an absolute pleasure to watch and guide on how to sell the importance of a hold and a match. Terrific performance from both wrestlers. ****1/2
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Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine
MSG 11/23/81 WWF Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred
MSG 11/23/81 WWF Heavyweight Championship, No Holds Barred
This is the rematch from last month's disputed finish show where The Hammer walked out the Champion, but did not win the match. Thus the championship is held up and there must be a winner! Backlund is red-hot to start and beats Valentine's ass from pillar to post. The Hammer was great here at selling, begging off and bumping for Backlund making him look like Superman. Valentine goes for broke rushing into the corner with double knees and jams them in the turnbuckles. Backlund gives a taste of his Hammer's medicine to the Hammer working over the leg. I will say the one thing that did bring it down for me was Backlund's kicks to the leg were not the best. I recognize this is not Shoot-Style Japan, but Backlund has those killer headbutts, punches and forearms it makes his kicks look extra weak. Valentine is selling this for all its worth and when Backlund does use his fist to work the leg or an actual hold it is better for it. Valentine tries to dig himself out of this hole with desperation lunges, but it seems too deep at first with Backlund headbutting and punching his way back into control. On a figure-4 attempt, Valentine is able to punch Bob in the head and pounce on his leg. Valentine takes Backlund to school. No disrespect to the champ, but this is how you do it. Backlund fights him off and throws some wicked European Uppercuts to Valentine's leg from ground. Holy shit, both their legs are just shot and I am loving the double leg psychology. Valentine just grabs Backlunds ankle and scoots out and wraps his knee around the post. There is no avoiding it this time, Backlund is taken into the Figure-4 twice and his mettle is tested, but GOSHDARNIT HE IS BOB BACKLUND AND HE NEVER GIVES UP. With every fiber of his being and muscles bulging, Bob turns Valentine into the ropes. Both men are just exhausted. Valentine is the first one to try a suplex for a victory, but he can't capitalize. Backlund hits a magnificient, textbook German with a beautiful bridge to win the match! MSG explodes and Backlund leads him in a proto-Yes chant. I agree with the Titans this feels like the climax of Bob Backlund's reign. I thought this was exactly on par with the original 1981 match. I thought the original one just felt a bit grittier. Valentine was more frustrated and Backlund scrappier, but this one had sweet feel-good finish. It is a total toss-up; both are all-time classics. ****1/2
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