WrestleCon: Superstar Billy Graham: "Bob Backlund Was Boring Champion"

Former WWWF champion Superstar Billy Graham chats with John Pollock on Fight Network about his current health situation, not being invited to the WWE Hall of Fame, his thoughts on Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund, his run with the title and more.

[@jonstefanik9400]

He won that championship 20 days after I was born. In 2005, I was pointed at by the Superstar at a house show in Boston. Sadly today we lost a legend. Never duplicated. R.I.P. Eldridge Coleman, a.k.a. "Superstar" Billy Graham (1943-2023)

[@patrickfahey7159]

WOW!!!!😮😲 (My reaction to Superstar Billy Graham winning the championship 20 days before your birth.) It's really sad he's gone. I watched his Hall of Fame induction ceremony from 2004. (I watched WrestleMania XX that Sunday and have that awesome case that it came in, wish the Hall of Fame Ceremony was included.)

[@user-og5qp4rn8o]

It was reverse psychology. His boring howdy-doody act made the fans enjoy watching him get mauled by one heel after the other.

[@josephcohen8372]

It's obvious who hulk hogan & jesse the body got they style from the super star

[@DLR-ft8vl]

Absolutely! The one and only Superstar Billy Graham! Most stated often duplicated! "Oh Yeah Brother!"

[@guyincognito5706]

And Dusty

[@bjtucker5]

And the Nature boy ...WOOO!

[@stevewilliams3129]

And the Macho Man Randy Savage!

[@affordableaquariumservices1663]

And scott steiner.

[@kpflo123]

Everything Superstar says is true. Saturdays we would all tune-in with the hope of hearing a Superstar interview with the Grand Wizard at his side.

[@DrGargani]

he was what wrestling was all about those days, a tremendous showman: Backlund was one of my favorite technical wrestlers, but yes, in interviews , he was incredibly monotoned and boring.

[@Nightrain76]

Backlund must have been doing something right to hold the belt as long as he did. He was also Be of the most underrated heels of all-time.

[@grawakendream8980]

No question, has he not gotten the car to go to New York, to me it’s clear he would have rained as NWA champion. They were grooming him for that, with the NWA Missouri championship, and I think also Texas title

[@Mvile1]

Backlund as a Heel was most Unusual as he actually Wrestled more scientific than he did as a Face which was dependent on whom he wrestled!!

[@pulsarstargrave256]

I agree, Backlund's interviews may not have set the world on fire but he had some AWESOME matches! Sgt. Slaughter, Superfly Snuka, Pat Patterson, Big John Studd, Spiros Arion and many more learned that Backlund was a MONSTER in the ring! His matches were LOADED with action! Memory sure is selective!

[@Kgio-2112]

Exactly! I loved superstar , but he was a thud in the ring. Not exciting. Great interviews and flash but was not exciting to watch in a match.

[@MALANGA1]

Backlund's entertainment value was when he actually wrestled in the ring. He could do a lot of technical stuff and he knew how to sell his opponents' moves very well. There was no pattern to Bob Backlund's moves and there was no maneuver that was not a part of his repertoire (except off the top aerial moves) which made his matches unpredictable.

[@henrylicious]

Exactly. A guy like that you really have to pair them up with someone else with some technical ability.

[@dumdum6280]

@@henrylicious They did ... much later ... with Bret.

[@voxpox1850]

Mascaras was just as good, and much more exciting.

[@_Captain_Benji_]

Backlund may have sucked a face but his heel work was flawless.

[@CLewey44]

Had he went heel in 84 against Hogan he would have had an outstanding run and probably never left.

[@OaktownABQ]

Totally. Backlund was freaking awesome as a heel!

[@jonstefanik9400]

@@OaktownABQ He scared me as a heel.

[@OaktownABQ]

@@jonstefanik9400 I can believe it, especially when his eyes 👀 bugged out of his head!

[@djangofett4879]

they were going for a more "all american" aka vanilla babyface to go up against a rogues gallery of heel characters. it was a good formula imo. backlund was a real pro and he wasnt selfish like Hogan. yeah, Hohan was a much bigger draw for his incredible sizzle but that doesnt take away from backlund being a great babyface. bob has a lot of great matches back then.

[@TheHannibalTV]

The Superstar Billy Graham "Face to Face" DVD he speaks about in this interview is available now at RFvideo.com

[@bgandjsco1]

It's always debatable when someone say that someone is AHEAD OF THEIR TIME,but not in Grahams case. Superstar was the template of what Wrestling became.

[@jmdrummer7]

Superstar B.G., Ric Flair, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Dusty Rhoads, Roddy Piper,etc.made wrestling interesting.

[@justmythoughts2786]

Backlund was better than everyone on your list that’s a fact he held the title longer than anyone other than Bruno

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

@@justmythoughts2786 No. He didn't even hold it as long as Hulk Hogan. Backlund was boring. You weren't even born yet so you wouldn't know.

[@justmythoughts2786]

@@apostasiaelegcho5612 Hogan only held it a couple more days longer than Backlund Backlund is a living legend And it’s far from boring you’re just too young to know about the man ,he is 3rd on the all-time list And he had to do it on his own Hogan got a push

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

@@justmythoughts2786 Backlund held it 2,121 days. Hogan, 2,185 days. Bruno, 4,040 days. So, there's that.

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

@@justmythoughts2786 I'm 50 years old. No one with the name "Bitcoin" is above the age of 25. Sit down and be quiet. You haven't a clue what you're talking about, little one. There's no such thing as "doing it on your own", you dink.

[@jakethemuss3]

"I eat T-Bone Steaks, lift barbell plates, I'm sweeter than a triple chocolate cake!"

[@user-md7fq8ls2l]

One of my favorites, we truly lost one of the greats with Billy :(

[@Mvile1]

I ONLY watched the WWF was Because of CHAMPION BOB BACKLUND as I never found his matches boring. Bob could Actually Wrestle. It was not all Punch & Kick!!

[@switchbuckle5th]

Actually it's been stated by nearly everybody who's ever been in the business, from the top down, that Backlund was kept as Champion not because he was over with the fans but because Vince Senior thought the people wanted a young "All American Boy" type champion and refused to take the belt off him even when business went down. I like Backlund, I think he's one of the rare success stories in wrestling, but he really was and is considered a boring champion by a great many.

[@brodocbetty4856]

Vince Sr was dead wrong.

[@Mvile1]

I NEVER considered Backlund Boring!! Chump Hogan was A No Talent Who got cheers by Ripping off his t shirt! Ole Anderson was Correct, “HOGAN WAS THE SHITS💩” And Had No In Ring Wrestling Ability, Strictly A Brawler🤬 Setting a Great Example..NOT.. For Doing things via SHORTCUT!! He Broke more Rules than the HEELS!!

[@MiningForPies]

@@Mvile1 he sold tickets though. Something that evaded Ole in later life and made him even more bitter.

[@patrickfahey7159]

@@Mvile1: Yep. You're right about Hogan.

[@boothdos]

Everything you said is correct!!!

[@rehobothwell]

I have gone through a series of Backlund matches on KZbin recently. Backlund may have lacked 'charisma' and microphone skills, but he was a tremendous technical wrestler who was strong as a bull as well. His matches at MSG were packed and people liked him. It was a different era back then, but I remember both Backlund and Graham. Backlund was better.

[@jimmorrison3927]

Sorry michael lee, but backlund was not better...he was a better in ring technician, but this is pro wrestling, where promos and mic skills are far more important..personality and charisma is what gets people into you...which is why backlund was never a popular champion.

[@midnitedip8850]

RIP Mr Graham .Legends never die .

[@dkupke]

Backlund May have been dull on the stick, but his technical skill was something to behold and he was over like gamgbusters as champion. He was a perfect foil to the dominant heels of the time, including Billy Graham.,

[@larrygonzales5245]

As a face he was boring and bland. As a heel, Backlund was a gem. He had to wait till his daughter got older before he could be a heel. That way she could understand that it was a work.

[@MrDownslider]

I wonder if Vince JR saw what the future of the business would be with wrestlers like Graham.? Hogan was a Superstar Graham clone, and Vince changed the indutry forever with him, in case you hadnt heard !!

[@oldschoolfan420]

I watched both in their prime and when backlund went heel as the demon opie. Backlund was the better wrestler and had some unique scientific moves. His interviews were a bit boring when he was a face but I liked his interviews alot when he was a little heel. Superstar's interviews were extremely good in his earlier days but his wrestling was basically punching and kicking. Vince sr. Went with backlund because he wanted a wrestler to represent him rather than a showboat Stomper. Vince Jr. Choose the showboat Stomper(Hogan) over the wrestler type and drew more money and thus created sports entertainment.

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

The Hulkster saved Backlund and changed his ways in his return to the federation. Those no good pencil neck geek WWF announcers were still bad mouthing poor Freddie Blassie when he was nowhere in sight to defend himself as well.

[@brianbenoit6883]

Backlund's second run was pretty entertaining, but next to Billy Graham, everybody looked boring except for Dusty.

[@unknowncustomizer4276]

Backlund was great wrestler and champion. This was still in the time when other promoters could try and pull a swerve and try to make other promotions champions look bad. Backlund wasn't going to be pinned unless he wanted to or was told to.

[@manickreations]

Bob Backlund was my favorite growing up, he was clean cut champ for the kids to look up to, saw him many many times at the garden, even shook his hand once as he was coming to the ring, for me he was the best!!!

[@bishopaz]

Yes indeed. I saw Bob wrestle Sgt. Slaughter in L.A. in 83. It was the best from both men. Not the obvious acrobatics of today.

[@nazgul7575]

When I was kid I didn't appreciate his character as I got older and watched his old footage wow Superstar was something else

[@richardalbert7506]

Bob Backlund, is a true champion. And because of the cowboy like code of conduct that he lived his life. He doesn't have the same health problems as the other wrestlers that chose to abuse their bodies. Superstar tried to sabotage Backlund before he even had the belt on him. Must be pretty heavy to carry around a bitter pill for so many years.

[@DoubleRR44]

He has dementia now sadly

[@kpflo123]

Also - read Superstar's book. I think it's "Between the Ropes."

[@albertseanchen7929]

Bob Backlund was an excellent technical and mat wrestler, skills you couldn’t begin to comprehend, let alone match. Your act: the tye dye tights, the minutes you spent taking off your wrestling attire followed by the Grand Wizard combing your hair, the countless time spent posing and the very limited technical wrestling skill (bear hug = boring 😴) ran its course. Yes, you were the precursor to Hulk Hogan, but technical wrestling and grappling were still the prevalent trend at the time. Today I can’t help missing well-performed deep arm drags, suplexes and drop kicks.

[@DixiePokerAce]

Yeah, well you were in the minority. The WWF was not as popular with Bob Backlund. Backlund was in tremendous physical shape and one of the all time best in ring guys but professional wrestling is supposed to be entertaining. Backlund definitely wasn't that. He definitely held the belt WAY too long and as soon as Vince McMahon Jr. had the chance he replaced Backlund. Superstar Graham was Hulk Hogan before Hulk Hogan. And Hogan, with a style very similar to Graham's, made wrestling more popular than ever. Backlund couldn't do that.

[@albertseanchen7929]

@@DixiePokerAce I realize I was in the minority and times do change. Hogan made wrestling more popular, but it became the same tiresome routine (throw into the ropes, boot 🥾 to the face and leg drop 🥱😴). Even Hogan’s time passed and wrestling went back to wrestlers like Brett Hart (wrestlers with technical skills and brawling tendencies). Shawn Michaels vs Brett Hart were some of the best matches ever. Don’t even want to speak 🗣 on what its evolved into today 🤦🏽‍♂️.

[@username-zj9id]

​@Albert Sean Chen guys like Shawn and Brett were pushed largely because of the steroid trouble Vince was in. He wanted to go back to normal sized guys, although they were infinitely better athletes than Graham and Hogan. But even Brett was repetitive

[@NightWarriorAlive]

One of my favorite wrestlers. Sorry never got the chance to meet him in person.

[@nastybastardatlive]

I grew up watching wrestling at msg in the 70s, and let me tell you: NYC loves the baby faces, but we love the heels too! Ask any wrestler; I met them all at the garden and at sunnyside gardens in queens. Great video.

[@chrishonegger7180]

Backlund is still in great shape for a 71 year old

[@tankstoner8496]

Graham talked about it. He said that Vince Sr. told him the day he would get the belt from Bruno (4/30/1977) and the day he would drop it to Backlund (2/20/1978). Vince Sr. had a rep for planning things out up to 1 year in advance

[@resmediamarketing]

Great interview. Super-star looking sharp here.

[@ryledavis7210]

no billy bob baacklund was NOT boring! he was anything but. one of the best champions to hold the belt

[@fightsports66]

Read Larry Zbysko's book. In his book he goes into detail about how Vince Sr got Bruno to come out of retirement and asked Ivan Putski, Pedro Morales and Domenic Denucci to put off retiring because Bob Backlund was not selling tickets.

[@blkpanther11]

Wow Can you Tell Me The Name of The Book

[@fightsports66]

blkpanther11 adventures in larryland is the title.

[@Youdidnthearme]

RIP superstar billy graham !!

[@sjdrifter72]

Sure, Backlund had no charisma and was horrible on the mic, but the man had the wrestling skills that would put many to shame. Graham had the look, the personality, and the mic skills that many have long since imitated. But he would never equal Backlund as far as technical ability in the ring.

[@YankeezFan4Lyfe]

R.I.P. Superstar! 🖤👑

[@MagicKirin]

Billy you had the bear hug and a few power moves. Backlund has 50 times more moves

[@Storm331]

but he was entertaining! If you look back, his schtick was the blueprint for Hulk Hogan & Hulkamania.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

PlanetStorm And that was the problem. I always thought Hogan's matches were the dullest matches on any given card. 1. Hogan tears T-shirt and comes out with a few clotheslines and maybe a suplex. 2. Bad guy tries to mount offense but fails as Hogan tosses him around. 3. Hogan makes mistake and Hogan takes a few whacks from badguy.. 4. Bad guy makes "signature move" but Hogan kicks out. Bad guy punches in futility. 5. He "Hulks up" and makes "finger-point" of doom 6. One punch, second punch, swings bad guy into ropes to face "big boot" on rebound.. One Leg drop and the match is over. Hogan poses to "Real American" and shapshots. The first wrestling video I ever rented was"Hulkamania". It was match after match of that stuff and I was bored to tears. The only saving grace was that his original themesong was "Eye Of The Tiger" and I never got tired of hearing it!

[@Storm331]

Pulsar Stargrave You may be right, but the formula made millions and in the end, that was the whole point.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

PlanetStorm But Hogan didn't do it alone--if there had been no Roddy Piper or Jimmy Snuka (who was still there at the beginning) I really don't think Hogan would have become as huge as he did. Vince McMahon capitalized on that crucial early period and his success--and relatively bigger paychecks--lured guys like The Macho Man Randy Savage, Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch, The Hart Foundation, Tito Santanna, Greg The Hammer Valentine, Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda and many others into the WWF--including the production team and bookers who came from the World Class and Mid-Atlantic territories. That's what I mean when I say Hogan's matches--especially after his feud with Piper ended--were usually the dullest matches on any given card. I preferred to watch all those other guys I mentioned!

[@pulsarstargrave256]

Euroheat0022 Oh really? Why don't you look at some of those Backlund videos. There sure were a lot of people in the arenas and he got some loud "pops"! Bruno didn't cut great promos either but people came in droves to see him, why? Because he was Italian and a "working" man's champion. If Graham had remained champion longer I wonder how long it would have taken for his act to get stale? I don't think Bob sold out the Garden the way Graham did but those who did see his matches got their money's worth because they were more exciting than Graham's!

[@chrisscovitch7237]

I seen this match in Baltimore civic center. it stunned the crowd , they couldn't believe it everything got real quiet..........................

[@TheAlain005]

I agree.SUPERSTAR was great in promos,but BACKLUND was the wrestler.

[@magicbus63]

Billy Graham is a class act!

[@toddhawk9921]

I have never understood the criticism directed toward Bob Backlund. Granted, he was different, perhaps bland, but he served his purpose well as a champion. To me, there was nothing wrong with his work.

[@MrAitraining]

100% right. Graham was and maybe still is bitter. Bob was one of the great workers ever and totally reliable. The McMahons could sleep well at night with him and backlund was a legit mat hooker and shooter so If any opponent ever went off-script, bob would make them regret it real quick. Lastly backlund was bland, sure but the heels were the characters then so by the time backlund got to them, the fans just wanted someone to finally beat them down.

[@jamesblames2]

Backlund may have been a bona fide athlete....but he was nowhere near as entertaining as the Superstar....

[@stardaddyo9]

Backlund was a baby face and many fans find those guys boring

[@Batman-wv5ng]

james blames Backlund was much better wrestler then Graham will ever be.

[@tonymctony4551]

Backlund had msg roaring with cheers. Superstar turned into some strange Yul Breynerish character after WWF, Bob stayed relevant as a heel. Reinventing himself

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

@@Batman-wv5ng This isn't the UFC. Nobody cares. Backlund was boring.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

@@apostasiaelegcho5612 He was ok.

[@patrickfahey7159]

Good interview. Cool guy Billy Graham was here.

[@MrCarl220]

Billy looks back on the good old days of wrestling! But why is he upset he wasn't attending the HOF, I thought HE didn't want to be associated with them anymore.

[@DEADBEA7]

dude whats the intro song

[@TroyandMilva]

Outside of Andre, Superstar is my WWE shinning light!

[@capacola262743]

that is for sure! all these people who weren't even born at the time want to say backlund was boring etc. backlund was a hell of a lot less boring than sammartio! his character was supposed to be like a "man of few words" who did his talking in the ring. and he was very, very popular with the fans and sold out the garden every month or else they would have gotten rid of him! i was in the garden the night he won the title from graham (no b.s.) the crowd erupted for what seemed like 5 minutes.

[@antoniosalieri1414]

Bob Backlund was spectacular wrestler . He had the best wrestling ability.

[@thegamingknight3448]

Backlund was a great wrestler

[@prayingmantis6777]

The key word here is wrestling. Baclund would entertain us with great scientific moves. Superstar would just kick,punch, and bleed.

[@jayinri6658]

Man all baclund had was armbars, it's a work man at the end of the day its about entertainment & superstars effect on wrestling speaks for itself

[@rayp4050]

SBG put more asses in seats. Vince Sr and Jr. had to stack cards when Backlund headlined. No knock on Bobby, I loved him, but Graham had a megaton more charisma.

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

Scientific moves never put asses in seats, ever. Wrestling is a work. Nobody cares who the better real life wrestler was. It's all about excitement. Backlund had zero excitement.

[@prayingmantis6777]

@@apostasiaelegcho5612 I can't agree. As a teenager me and my buddy would hitchhike to the Spectrum every month to watch Backline as champion. The matches were always sold out. It was amazing to see him out maneuver wrestlers who always outweighed him.

[@003937]

can someone tell me who the guy to superstar's right is

[@Carriesaglock]

Loved the Superstar back in the day.

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Backlund and Sammartino were champions back in the days when champions were perceived as men who were formidable tough men in real life, which is why wrestling was treated as being more real back then!!!!!!! That's more than likely why their title reigns were so long also, since it was less about characters and storylines, and more about having a good, tough, gritty champion that people could follow and support over the years!!!!! That's probably why Hogan's first title reign was four years or so also, because they were trying to keep up that "realistic" formula with extra long term champions!!!!!!!!

[@speedanchor2781]

'94 Bob Backlund is one of the most entertaining personalities in wrestling history, but his work before that was almost unbearable.

[@stndrds79]

Agreed

[@carolcanuso8636]

Super star Billy graham was one of the best heel's ever people would come to see him get beat up! fantastic man 💪

[@SubZero_125]

God bless you Superstar Billy Graham r.i.p 🙏

[@superlex611]

Backlund was THE greatest wwe Champion of all time, with Sammartino, if they had a Backlund vs Sammartino match then history will be made in their time

[@teamchb3143]

Backlund was nowhere near the draw that Bruno was.

[@superlex611]

Chris Nata he defende every week during 6 years title run and has some very good opponents

[@teamchb3143]

alex kanyima True. But still, he was not the draw that Bruno was.......

[@superlex611]

Chris Nata but you cannot compare those 2 top champions Bruno and Backlund were much better influential champion then Hogan, and for me Bruno didn't have some worthy opponent to drop the belt against anybody

[@teamchb3143]

Alex, well my take is that Hogan really didn't do that much for the company, because two years after Hogan left WWF, the company almost went bankrupt.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

If one match in six years...which Snuka is more famous for BTW...if that's your basis, then that validates SBG's point. His trio of matches against Dusty Rhodes are more noteworthy than any three matches Backlund had from '78 to '83.

[@mercoid]

Billy is correct in every thing he said here. They barely used 15% of Billy's potential as champ.

[@fizzy4149]

Its true that Backlund lacked charisma, but he still managed to have a certain appeal.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

Backlund's interviews were "boring" but his MATCHES were FAR more exciting than either Graham's or Hogan's!

[@MrDeterioration]

Bullshit.

[@stndrds79]

Bull shit

[@pulsarstargrave256]

+Flike Yeah, right, you've probably never seen em or you just want to argue.

[@MrDeterioration]

+Pulsar Stargrave I saw Sammartino, Graham and Backland in person back in the 70s. never saw Hogan, though.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

+Flike I've mostly seen Backlund's matches on DVD, KZbin and clips from local television whenever he came to the Boston Garden. Every match I've seen in its entirety was awesome! Newsclips mostly focused on his freakish strength. I've also seen Graham's matches and although he could sell his opponents moves, I wasn't impressed with his kick, punch and bearhug offense. Hogan I just plain couldn't stand! Same thing time and time again. So yeah, I loved and still love Backlund's title reign! I only regret that I was too young to see him live! But with the old BG maybe that was a good thing!

[@annex4398]

Billy was great but he overstates how the fans were rooting for him. He was still a heel and fans were happy when he lost the title to Backlund (who was a solid champ)

[@speedwayaudio3]

That was a good video

[@KevinOkeirn67]

The DVD was entertaining. Good stories.

[@hotzpizza10]

I don't get it, whenever i watched Bob on TV wrestling at the Philadelphia Spectrum, the place looked sold out, and the fans were going bananas for him.

[@OnceAspark]

I heard Backlund got boo'd in Philly.

[@jamiepreston1490]

Super Star was so right when he said there was nobody more colorful then Super Star Billy Graham. And Backlund ( nothing personal) was indeed a boring champion. RIP SUPER STAR.

[@sheepstittydiddle1222]

Backlund was a boring champion. He was a fucking master in the ring and when I had the pleasure of meeting him, he taught me more about how to improve my matwork in 15 minutes than any teacher I ever had, all without even seeing me wrestle. The man just has it, he's like shawn michaels but lacking the charisma.

[@njsps72]

Having a face champ was sr's recipe. As you can see, I believe Graham's was the longest heel reign the wwwf. If only sr could've thought outside the box and realized what he had with Graham, he would've had a longer reign or multiple reigns. I think backlund did very well considering he was taking over for a legend such as bruno

[@MrAitraining]

Yes Graham was the longest heel run. Graham AND Bruno did not think Backlund was ready at the time. Great story in Grahams book where Bruno and Graham create an "injury" together on Graham in a match right before so when he lost to Backlund, it would appear injury tainted. Vince Sr notices Graham limping before the match and tells Backlund to start going after Grahams knee in the beginning as Vince was suspicious. I love these stories! Great book btw

[@RyMicTheKing]

Superstar Billy Graham is your hookup! Holla! If ya hear me!

[@piro4351]

RyMicTheKing lmao

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

Billy was truly ahead of his time to a point where it hurt his career..the timing was all wrong, he was in his prime while working for Vince Sr. with all due respect to Vince Sr. he was old school like Billy said and he did not have the marketing and business sense like his son Vince Jr. had. Had Billy Graham worked for Vince Jr. during his prime he would of been a star like Hogan..

[@georgemiser]

IF Billy had done so, He would have become the face of the wwe for 10 years. Hulk hogan would have most likely remained a heel.

[@MrAitraining]

True and I was a fan of his back then but Billy did not help himself either. He admits in his book that he brooded and self pitied and drugged his way out of another chance to be a world champion. If not in the WWF then elsewhere. He really f''d himself up.

[@jamescarter3196]

Vince Jr.’s “marketing and business sense” have only made wrestling worse, not better, due to his egotism and hunger for money at the cost of many great people’s health, by encouraging unhealthy behavior to ramp up the spectacle. There is no intelligent point to make in saying Vince made a lot of money. He’s done more to make wrestling suck than anybody else.

[@lonnietoth5765]

Bob Backlund is a nice guy , too nice for pro wrestling . Roger Staubach or Bart Starr would not have made as an effect wrestler as Dick Butkus or Deacon jones . It is all about appearance and attitude projection . Billy Graham fit that mold perfectly , doing the good or bad guy ! It's pro wrestling , not the Lady Bing Award .

[@MrNYCman530]

Backlund was a great athlete and wrestler, but it was his mic skills that were boring as hell. But that all changed when he turned heel. It gave him more charisma.

[@njsps72]

I was lucky enough to see backlund's reign from about 1980 forward. From what I seen personally and prior to 1980 here on youtube, backlund owned the garden and tbe territory. McMahon sr was a genuis and naturally the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree with jr. Being a adult now and watching bob's promos, yes they were bland compared to others of the time and today's standards. They were still very sellable though because backlund was humble and told the kids to do good in school etc just like hogan with his promos after he became champ with the vitamins etc

[@fuqui035]

Superstar was great to listen

[@dedeldedel123]

Hes a great wrestler, even now at 66 he looked in great shape when he came in and locked Heath Slater in the chicken wing but he was boring as hell as a champian imo a champian has to have charisma its a must but even so he had a 6year run with the title. When he returned as a heel in the 90s he became entertaining, he played a great heel and won the belt, he went from being boring to one of the best crazy charactors in the wwe.

[@Batman-wv5ng]

dedeldedel123 More like 73 years.

[@Fear2Stop]

I wouldn’t call Backlund boring in the least considering many of his defenses ends up finishing in bloody brawls

[@JustinLeeper]

I respect Graham a lot, but there are a few off things here. A heel's job is to get the babyface over, not himself. If that's what he's being paid to do, that's his job. He can go to creative and ask for a turn, but he still needs to know his role. Second, saying someone is boring is not a fact. He is stating his opinion. Backlund was not the greatest champion ever, but the length of his reign shows he was a quality champion.

[@hayesman76]

I know Bob Backlund has his share of loyal fans, which is great. Apparently he was a top legitimate wrestler before going pro. Having said that -- and even though BB admittedly became WWWF champ a bit after I lost interest in pro wrestling -- even back then in the late-1970s I remember thinking, "How in the world did this guy get to be the WWWF champ?" In response to my own question, and with years of hindsight, what I think happened is that the McMahons were looking for someone to fill "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino's shoes. IMO, the Scandinavian-heritage Backlund was supposed to be an "Anglo," "All-American"-type version of the Southern Italian Bruno, kind of a "Bruno II". I do find his new shtick of a crazed nutcase on the brink of a nervous breakdown to be brilliant, though. He reminds me of the character Michael Douglas portrayed in the early-1990s film "Falling Down". Backlund has also always seemed like a good guy.

[@hayesman76]

Funny story: One time when I was overseas I befriended a Swedish guy who's surname was Backlund. I immediately told him, "Hey, there was an American wrestling champion named Backlund." He immediately replied, "Yes, I know, that's my brother [or uncle, I forget]." For a second I thought he was serious and was amazed, but then realized he was pulling my leg. LOL

[@trevmac8362]

Michael Douglas from 'falling down' good analogy

[@DJRitty]

was that R-Truth in the background? lol

[@richardbain8746]

Bob Backlund vs HBK in there prime would be a classic!

[@pulsarstargrave256]

at1212b And Backlund was tough! I've got a Hogan\Backlund Legends video where Mike Graham (the son of Eddie and no relation to the Superstar) told a story about how Backlund accidentally choked out one of the real-life tough guys in the business. I think it was Buzz Sawyer but I might be mistaken. And Backlund just had that goofy "Opie" grin on his face! "Sorry, didn't mean to do that!"

[@pulsarstargrave256]

at1212b I'll raise you two more. There's a video on KZbin where he wrestles Dusty Rhodes and unlike other wrestlers who receive "help" to lift a big guy, he picked Dusty up like he was nothing! And when I was in H.S. our local T.V. station would actually show clips of matches that were held at the Boston Garden and they showed Backlund executing a piledriver on BIG JOHN STUDD who was 6' 10" and close to 400 pounds! Feats like these are how Backlund remained champion for FIVE AND A HALF YEARS--if Backlund couldn't put butts in seats, there is no way that Vince Sr. or anybody would have let him reign that long!

[@MichaelSimmons.]

Vince Sr. is a man of his word, I will give him that. But, he clearly missed the boat with Superstar Billy Graham. If he had given Graham his babyface run, he would have had another year of instant sell-outs. The problem with Backlund, is that he couldn't draw money. Vince said in an interview years ago, that they always had to have a strong undercard to sell-out the bigger arenas with Backlund. Graham's name sold-out arenas through out the country on his own.

[@JokerXDHaHaHa]

PLUG THAT DVD!

[@stndrds79]

Lmao

[@maxpower7g]

Interviewer- Are you an Ariel Helwani fan? It seems you've had some influence or a similar style to his. Well done.

[@kbuselmeier69]

SBG talks a good game about Backlund. I would've like to see him try and shoot on Backlund back in the day. Fans take about the toughest wrestlers and mention Haku, Race, Andre, Robinson, etc... Well, no one would mess with Backlund in the ring. He would stretch the best with ease. Just ask Angelo Mosca. Also, what SBG fails to realize is that Vince Sr was looking long term. SBG absolutely sucked in the ring. Trailblazer on the mic and in character but the worst in ring, long term champ ever. How many count outs and blood stoppages ended SBG's matches. You can only run the same ending so many times. SBG somewhat cleanly beating most of the opponents he faced was just not believable. He was actually that bad. As far as fans putting BB down here, I have one question-how many actually saw BB wrestle during his first title reign live? One would have to be 50 or so to have seen him live back in the day. By some of the comments here I know many haven't but I am sure some have. I saw BB at least 2 dozen times in MSG and the place was always packed and was always electric. SBG was the Ultimate Warrior of his day. He was red hot for a short period, so they put the belt on him, but just did not have the long term viability so it was necessary to pull the belt off him. Bitter old man.

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

No one in wrestling would last a second with any top 10 UFC fighter, so get that "he could beat up that guy" mentality out of your head. Nobody in wrestling, haku or even Curt angle, would last a round. Brock Lesnar was a fluke which is why he didn't last long as UFC champion.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Yes and no. When he cut promos, there were legitimate cheers and pops for him. But of course, the face winning a belt is gonna be popular. But I absolutely agree that SBG was a tweener by that point. People legitimately cheered him at MSG and in the northeast.

[@robertosso5210]

the last few months of superstars title reign he was getting cheered and was liked but vince sr couldnt see that

[@Messiah717]

Superstar was just ahead of his time. He should've been the Hulk Hogan character since Hulk himself says he took a lot from Superstar.

[@robertosso5210]

bob backlund vs jimmy snuka. bob backlund vs sgt slaughter. bob backlund vs pat patterson. bob backlund vs peter maivia. i was at all these matches when i was a teenager and they were all exciting matches. bob backlund wasnt a boring champion, and he sold out madison square garden many times

[@fuqui035]

I have been saying the same thing Bruno also

[@paul-egz4264]

Nobody could hold a candle to the SUPER☆

[@suzannewillis817]

I agree people wanted a kick butt champ not one that would bore you to sleep.and belive it or not there is plenty of them out there right now.

[@warriorgman]

super is awesome and backlund is not boring now as a heel.

[@dubbrown5594]

I don't think Bob was boring. He had a nice run as champion

[@carolcanuso8636]

Bob backlund look like Opie from the Andy Griffin show.

[@tubewrestler]

Billy Graham was a poser.. not that good of a wrestler.. had an unbelievable body but Mcmahon Sr. wanted a real wrestler who could handle himself in case of a double cross. he was easier to control and the psychology was different back then; good guy vs bad guy.. Backlund did his job well.. play the humble babyface champion. he was also strong as hell.. ive seen him lift hogan from the ground ( dead weight) and seat him on the corner turnbuckles.. what a feat of strength.. without steroids billy graham.. that to me wasn't boring..but a real exhibition of strength.. i appreciated that.. so did the sold out arena crowd. who actually watched wrestling for some wrestling then..

[@maliareid4411]

tubewrestler no...vince thought billy was too heelish.... knowing full well the crowd was turning him babyface he opted for the change to ur typical generic bum

[@1citybuilder]

tubewrestler Backlund was the poser, Vince Sr. made the biggest mistake of his career having Superstar lose the belt.

[@jimmorrison3927]

You are talking about superstar how had a 600+lb bench press right...a guy who competed in the world strongest man competition...and his in gym lifting was legendary...he trained with arnold...

[@Chelsie40ify]

I met Superstar at Wrestlecon and was impressed at the time he took with me. Really nice guy but I could tell his body was paying the price from his years in the ring.

[@flyersphan65]

Backlund may have been boring but he could wrestle. Graham didn't know a wristlock from a wristwatch. More importantly Backlund can still walk upright unlike someone who abused steroids...Mr Graham.

[@kronos77]

Not all the title changes were in MSG as he said. Pedro lost to Stasiak in Philly.

[@NickWeissMusic]

Different skill sets. Watch any videos of Backlund back in the day, nothing but packed houses popping for Backlund. Graham was an innovator no doubt, and Backlund wasn’t great on the mic until his heel run. But Backlund was strong as an ox and really knew how to entertain in the ring, he wasn’t as big as SBG but frankly used more power moves than SBG did, along with his superior grappling game.

[@garnetkelly8898]

A lot of the young people don't know Bob Beckham was an NCAA champion in wrestling.

[@dillinger916]

Where he says uhhhh uhhhh at 2:34 he sounds like Spinner Dunn from Death to Smoochie lol (random reference I know).