Grand Wizard - Superstar Billy Graham - Bob Backlund - Lou Albano - Ivan Koloff - Baltimore

[@donwilcox728]

Looking back on it 44 years later and seeing this Superstar Graham interview, and then directly after the Bob Backlund interview, it illustrates what a monumental history changing mistake Vince Sr. made by putting the belt on Backlund at that time. Also makes me wonder how the hell Bob Backlund got over with the 1970s, early 80s New York fans?

[@mrwonderful3577]

Your exactly right horrible mistake and vince sr shoved backlund down EVERYONES THROAT even if people hated him they were forced into stadiums in order to see wrestling at all or his opponent's

[@MrAitraining]

Bob was over mostly because the WWF then was so good at villainizing their bad guys so good. By the time they got to backlund at the big arenas the crowd just wanted bob or anyone to kill the guy already. It was the WWF formula and it worked.

[@DoubleRR44]

Superstar should have been made a baby face and had epic battles against Ken Patera so sad we never saw it.

[@donwilcox728]

​@@DoubleRR44 I think I heard somewhere that Graham wanted Ivan Koloff (who was a frequent tag team partner of Superstars) to turn on him turning Superstar babyface and starting a feud between the two. Then future opponents would have been heels coming in for shots just like they did for Backlund. Patera, Patterson, Race, Stomper and Pak Song would have been interesting battles with Graham being the conquering hero. 🤔💪⭐

[@Rokinray]

@@MrAitraining That's great analysis. Bob was the wholesome, all-american collegiate wrestling champion and it was easy to root for him. He slayed all the villains for years and I don't recall anyone suggesting it should be any other way.

[@dkingofdworld]

Superstar was the man!

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

He was great!

[@mauricemason7135]

I do not think Graham fully understand how important he was to many wrestling fans, as well as his counterparts. Though a shell of himself, he still got over in his promos. God Bless you Superstar... you are missed.

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

I will pass this along to my brother who loans me his old recordings.

[@capacola262743]

based on what i have seen on youtube, the baltimore promos were way more colorful than the ones we were getting in new york. fuck!

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

My brother is the one that recorded the tapes -- but is it true that they used to tape all of the interviews for all of the cities in one day?

[@markdouglas9182]

Rumour has it that a 16 year old Nikita Koloff visited the US at this time to watch his Uncle Ivan wrestle in New York. Nikita decided here he wanted to be a wrestler too.

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

Wow -- I will have to tell my brother this. I wonder if he ever heard of this. He's the one who loans me his old recordings to post.

[@oldgoat142]

A silver platter filled with knuckle sandwiches. Damn, Uncle Ivan could cut a pretty good promo. I'm stealing that! I just know that Lou Albano turned away from the camera to keep from cracking up. This was great stuff! Doing stuff off the cuff and not reading from cue cards. Damn I miss these days. RIP to all of you gentlemen who were such a big part of my youth. Gone, but not forgotten.

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

I had to rewatch the clip to see what you mentioned. Many thanks!

[@battlestarmarc]

superstar looked like a bad ass in the 70's.

[@philaman1972]

WWE should put up these local house show promos on Peacock because they were obviously *so* entertaining!

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

I wish there were someone to see these old recordings.

[@nickphillips4559]

GOD Bless you brother!!!!!!!

[@nathanwanner..44]

Backlund was sooo boring. Superstar should have never lost the belt

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

I agree -- but he sure packed the house at the Baltimore Civic Center and Capital Center in Landover, MD.

[@televiper11]

Rare to hear Vince Sr ever mentioned and clearly Jr wasn’t into it

[@asmundukkelberg8741]

Indeed. Superstar broke kayfabe here, and gave away the real decision making. A few seconds later, Superstar tells Vince Jr not to kick him on the leg (!).

[@seenoevil85]

Maybe he was getting back at them, it is known that he was very bitter about jobbing to a dull dud like Bob Backlund. If you see Vince's face expression the tension is obvious.

[@MrAitraining]

I started watching around this time and I never heard anyone reference vince sr on the air.

[@Rokinray]

@@seenoevil85 Vince was always upset when the bad guys were talking. I loved him as an interviewer, far more than as an on-screen owner.

[@zuul3.057]

Back when McMahon was still sane lol Kholoff the greatest Canadian Fake Russian lol

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

Oh wow -- I never knew that -- had to look that up on Wikipedia -- but it's my brother who loans me his recordings to post.

[@jasonhoff1177]

Rip to the wiz!

[@masterj4777]

This is the youngest Vince has ever looked 😄

[@RobertGundlachMusic]

He does look real young.

[@masterj4777]

@@RobertGundlachMusic And it was the last the last time he looked that young!