- Born
- Birth nameRobert Lee Backlund
- Nickname
- Mr. Bob Backlund
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Robert Louis Backlund is an American retired amateur and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation from 1976 to 1984 and in the 1990s, where he held the WWWF Championship/WWF Championship on two occasions. His first reign was the second longest in history. Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
Backlund began his career in amateur wrestling, competing for the North Dakota State University Bison from the late 1960s to early 1970s. He began training as a professional wrestler in 1973 under Eddie Sharkey and competed for the American Wrestling Federation. He then wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance and won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship in 1976. Later that year he joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation, defeating Superstar Billy Graham for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship in 1978. He held the championship until 1983, where he lost it in a match against the Iron Sheik. Shortly after losing the title, Backlund left the WWF, but returned in 1992 and was in the 1993 Royal Rumble match for over an hour, a record held until the 2004 Royal Rumble. At the 1994 Survivor Series, Backlund won his second WWF Championship, defeating Bret Hart. He held the championship for three days, before losing it to Diesel at a house show in Madison Square Garden.
In addition to his time with the WWWF/WWF, Backlund has had success in Wrestling and Romance, Championship Wrestling from Florida, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bonitao
- SpouseCorrine Gentzkow(October 31, 1974 - present) (1 child)
- Finishing move: Crossface Chickenwing
- Trademark move: Backlund Bridge
- Trademark move: Atomic Spinecrusher (Atomic Drop)
- Made a brief WWF return to be the "manager" of Kurt Angle. The relationship ending when Kurt Angle attacked him because he set up a match that put the Intercontinental and European Titles on the line.
- Famously told Vincent McMahon "I like my robe" when being told to not conceal the WWF Championship belt with a full length boxing robe.
- Was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 6, 2013 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His friend, Maria Menounos, was in attendance.
- Ran for Senator in the state of Connecticut in the year 2000.
- 1976 Wrestling Rookie of the Year.
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