#Bob Backlund

[tzaraat]

image in reblog, to get past automatic flagging.

[championshipwrestling]

[guyincognitojr]

[urethrachr0nicles]

[WWF Action Zone | 12/23/1995]

merry christmas to all who celebrate!

[rawsmackdownnxtdivas]

Smackdown Flashback - Miz TV with Special Guests Darren Young and Bob Backlund

[blueonwrestling]

aw terrible news, bob backlund is currently dealing with dementia.

what an absolute shame, backlund's a legendary figure and his 1994 heel run was EXTREMELY underrated, and he lost the belt far too quickly.

[wrestlingisfake]

Saw this on Twitter, from a 1983 issue of Gong magazine. I'm trying to use Google Translate (and a little common sense) to figure out who everybody is.

Hulk Hogan (roller skating in California)

Bruiser Brody (riding the space shuttle, piloted by a gorilla)

Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. (falling off a horse)

Fritz, Kevin, Kerry, and David Von Erich (standing together in Texas)

Ric Flair (literally jet-flying, wearing the NWA world title)

Harley Race (in Missouri, punching out the Funks' horse)

Ted DiBiase and the Junkyard Dog (dressed like jazz guys, to represent New Orleans and Mid-South)

Verne Gagne (in Minnesota, giving the thumbs up)

Nick Bockwinkel (holding the AWA world title)

Dick the Bruiser (dressed like a Chicago gangster)

Jerry Lawler (dressed like Elvis because he's in Memphis; a curious foreshadowing of his cousin becoming Honky Tonk Man in 1986)

Stan Hansen (wearing a cowboy hat, standing in Georgia)

Ricky Steamboat (in the Carolinas, pointing at Lawler)

Andre the Giant (standing between Canada and New York)

Dusty Rhodes (representing Florida, riding the surfboard)

Bob Backlund (swinging off the Statue of Liberty, wearing the WWF world title)

[joearlikelikeswrestling]

[machobusta]

Bob Backlund celebrates winning the WWF Championship Survivor Series November 23, 1994

[mostbelovednjpwtournament]

Most Beloved NJPW Wrestler Tournament

[jasvvy]

[guyincognitojr]

[wrestlingfaves]

Royal Rumble Marathon: 1993

We’re rumbling into 1993.

Spoilers for past Rumbles.

The undercard:

The Beverly Brothers vs the Steiner Brothers. WCW lost some big names to the WWF during this time period: Ric Flair, the Steiner Brothers, Lex Luger. None would have long runs with the WWF. (Flair would a decade later for a longer run, Scott Steiner’s return would be as brief as his first run). Scott’s promos may have been more boring but in-ring he was much more enjoyable to watch in his pre “Papa Pump” era.

Rockers team and breakup/Marty’s return hype video. Sherri Martel, now managing Shawn Michaels, has mirror smashed over her head when Shawn throws her into the path of Marty. Sherri was such a beast in everything she did. There was no other woman like her during this era. (Luna Vachon come close).

Shawn Michaels vs Marty Janetty. Sherri is at ringside with no proclaimed loyalty to either man.  The Rockers broke up over a year ago but the feud was backburnered when Marty left the WWF due to addictions/personal issues. A year later and we’re finally getting the long-awaited match. Sherri’s interference costs Marty the match. Sherri’s loyalty remains unknown after the match. Mean Gene attempts to interview Sherri after the match but is interrupted by the brawling Shawn and Marty.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Big Boss Man. Match was okay but would have been the “bathroom/merch break” match for me if I was at the arena.

Bret Hart vs Razor Ramon. Bret is the World Heavyweight champion. Stu and Helen Hart are at ringside. It’s noted (for the first time) that the winner of the Royal Rumble will be given a shot at the World championship. Great match (not surprising considering its Bret and Scott).

Bobby Heenan unveils “the Narcissist” Lex Luger, which is Luger posing before mirrors and monologuing over his perfection. Moving on…

“Ceasar and Cleopatra” issue a proclamation on Wrestlemania (it takes place in Vegas in ’93). The duo proclaim the winner of the Rumble will battle the world champion at Wrestlemania. Let the games begin.

The entrants, in order of appearance:

Ric Flair

Bob Backlund (before he shaved his head and “snapped”)

Papa Shango (aka Kama aka the Godfather)

Ted DiBase (accompanied by Jimmy Hart)

Nast Boy Knobbs

Virgil

Jerry “the King” Lawler

Max Moon (Konan)

Genichiro Tenryu (This is pre-internet so I wonder how many fans in the arena knew who Tenyru was. Tape trading was a thing but access wasn’t easy compared to getting on youtube and searching for videos of a wrestler).

Mister Perfect (Curt Hennig)

Skinner (Steve Keirn)

Koko B Ware (at the time ½ of High Energy with Owen Hart)

Samu (accompanied by Afa, ½ of the Headshrinkers)

Berzerker (John Nord)

Undertaker (accompanied by Paul Bearer)

Terry Taylor (non-Rooster)

El Gigante (accompanied by Harvey Wippleman, making his WWF debut, El Gigante eliminates himself)

Damien Demento

IRS (accompanied by Jimmy Hart

Tatanka

Nast Boy Sags

Typhoon (aka Tugboat aka Shockmaster)

Fatu (accompanied by Afa, ½  of the Headshrinkers, better known as Rikishi)

Earthquake

Carlos Colon (Monsoon refers to Colon as a “youngster”, umm, not so much. As with Tenyru, how many of the fans knew who he was?)

“El Matador” Tito Santana

“The Model” Rick Martel

Yokozuna (accompanied by Mr Fuji, my youngest sister was very young when we watched this Rumble for the first time, I will never forget her response to Yokozuna’s appearance: Why is he wearing a diaper?”)

Owen Hart (1/2 of High Energy)

Repo Man

Randy Savage (Savage continues to be confused as to the rules of a Rumble as he eliminated himself in a previous year and attempted to pin Yokozuna in this Rumble).

Yokozuna wins the Rumble. The ending credits show Yokozuna having a confrontation with Bret backstage.

I spotted Bill Alphonso as one of the outside referees. I’m so used to him as “Fonzie” in ECW that seeing him as a referee is weird.

There were 31 participants in this year’s Rumble. 30 if you don’t count El Gigante who was a “surprise” appearance. First time Rumblers: Bob Backlund, Papa Shango, Jerry Lawler, Max Moon, Samu, El Gigante, Damien Demento, Tatanka, Fatu, Carlos Colon, Yokozuna, Owen Hart

Tenyru and Colon would be the first surprise/random entrants in the Rumble.

Undertaker has the first “big man goes on a rampage and eliminates everybody” spot.

We also had the first “unite to throw the big man out” spot when the entrants attempted to eliminate Yokozuna.

Backlund had the longest performance.

Quick Eliminations: Papa Shango, Terry Taylor

Feuds in the Rumble: Flair/Perfect, Taker/Gigante, Santana/Martel

Road to Wrestlemania: Bret/Yokozuna and Gigante/Taker set up.

The Taker-Gigante face-off was ridiculous. Gigante was supposed come off as menacing but how can I take seriously a man in a poor Bigfoot cosplay. Taker’s gimmick is equally cartoony but he can bring the menacing aura. Gigante can’t.

Loved the face-off between Yokozuna and Earthquake: the pretend sumo wrester vs the wrestler with an actual sumo wrestler.

Rating: 8 out of 10.  The undercard was strong (minus the Bigelow-Boss Man match). The Rumble itself finally had “victory = title shot at Wrestlemania) established along with several key spots: surprise entrants, big man on a rampage, unite to throw the heavyweight out.

Wrestlers and others who have passed on: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, Howard Finkel, Joey Marella, Sherri Martel, Mean Gene Okerlund, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Boss Man, Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), Stu Hart, Helen Hart, Virgil, Paul Bearer, Mr Fuji, Yokozuna, Owen Hart, Randy Savage.

Total deceased individuals: 17 (down 9 from the previous Rumble).

[truthnado]

WWE Wrestlemania (formerly WWF) came at the right time for professional wrestling in America and how Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan unified the nation, using marketing. Also a little about Andre the Giant.

[championshipwrestling]

[joearlikelikeswrestling]