Bob Backlund

On this page you find the full wrestling profile of Bob Backlund, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Robert Louis Backlund was born in Princeton, Minnesota on August 14, 1949, and he is currently 77 years old.

He is currently an Ambassador, working for World Wrestling Entertainment.

Bob Backlund is a 2-time World Champion, and has won a total of 8 championships in major promotions during his career.

Bob Backlund was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 as an individual, in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2008 as part of the Modern Era wing.

Profile Info

• Real NameRobert Louis Backlund
• GenderMale
• Born August 14, 1949 (age 77)
• NationalityUnited States
• Birth PlacePrinceton, Minnesota
• Billed From
  • Princeton, Minnesota
• Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
• Weight
  • 234 lbs (106 kg)

Career History

• Ring Names & Gimmicks

  • Bob Backlund (June 1, 1973 - Present)

• Roles

  • Ambassador (January 1, 2020 - Present)
  • Part Time Wrestler (April 20, 2018 - April 21, 2018)
  • Manager (May 5, 2016 - October 29, 2017)
  • Ambassador (December 10, 2007 - October 29, 2017)
  • Part Time Wrestler (October 24, 2001 - August 12, 2011)
  • Manager (September 9, 1996 - April 20, 1997)
  • Wrestler (July 1, 1992 - October 23, 2001)
  • Part Time Wrestler (August 27, 1985 - June 30, 1992)
  • Wrestler (June 1, 1973 - August 26, 1985)

• Promotions History

  Promotion	from	to
  PromotionWWE	January 1, 2020	Present
  PromotionWWEBrand Raw	July 19, 2016	October 29, 2017
  PromotionWWE	December 10, 2007	July 18, 2016
  PromotionTNA	January 14, 2007	July 15, 2007
  PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	October 7, 2001	October 13, 2001
  PromotionWWF	January 23, 2000	April 2, 2000
  PromotionINDY	May 16, 1998	October 16, 1999
  PromotionBATTLARTS	October 5, 1998	May 15, 1999
  PromotionWWF	July 1, 1992	April 20, 1997
  PromotionWAR	August 25, 1994	October 12, 1994
  PromotionUWF I	September 26, 1991	December 22, 1991
  PromotionUWF HA	June 9, 1991	June 9, 1991
  PromotionUWF NEWBORN	December 22, 1988	May 21, 1989
  PromotionAWA	October 23, 1984	August 26, 1985
  PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	August 24, 1984	May 22, 1985
  PromotionJCP	February 14, 1985	February 26, 1985
  PromotionNWA	March 6, 1974	November 13, 1984
  PromotionWWF	December 11, 1976	August 4, 1984
  PromotionCWF	July 17, 1983	September 1, 1983
  PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	November 30, 1979	August 6, 1982
  PromotionPPW	February 10, 1982	February 11, 1982
  PromotionUWA	April 26, 1981	May 1, 1981
  PromotionSLWC	January 4, 1980	November 21, 1980
  PromotionBTW DETROIT	October 28, 1979	October 12, 1980
  PromotionAWA	June 1, 1973	October 21, 1977
  PromotionNWA GCW	January 1, 1977	March 25, 1977
  PromotionCWF	May 3, 1976	March 15, 1977
  PromotionSLWC	December 5, 1975	December 10, 1976
  PromotionNWA GCW	May 30, 1975	April 19, 1976
  PromotionCWF	September 30, 1974	July 15, 1975
  PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	July 5, 1974	March 13, 1975
  PromotionWSS	March 4, 1974	September 20, 1974
  PromotionNWA TRI STATE	October 22, 1973	December 5, 1973

• Finishers

  • Crossface Chickenwing (June 1, 1973 - March 31, 2014)
  • Atomic Spinecrusher - Running Atomic Drop (June 1, 1973 - December 31, 1989)
  • Atomic Knee Drop - Diving Knee Drop (June 1, 1973 - December 31, 1978)

• Theme Songs

  • Theme Song"Hail To The Chief" by Jim Johnston - Single (December 7, 1976 - April 2, 2000)

• Images History

  

  Jan 2020

  

  May 2016

  

  Jan 2007

  

  Apr 1997

  

  Sep 1996

  

  Aug 1994

  

  Jun 1993

  

  Jul 1992

  

  May 1983

  

  Jan 1979

  

  Dec 1976

  

  Jun 1973

• Face / Heel Turns

  Alignment	Details	from	to
  Heel	Snapped attacking Bret Hart after a match	July 30, 1994	October 29, 2017
  Face		June 1, 1973	July 29, 1994

• Card Positions

  Status	Details	from	to
  WWE Inactive	Cameos/Indies only	December 10, 2007	August 12, 2011
  TNA Low Card		January 14, 2007	July 15, 2007
  NJPW Mid Card		October 7, 2001	October 13, 2001
  WWE Mid Card		January 23, 2000	April 2, 2000
  WWE Low Card	Commentary/managing	July 12, 1996	April 20, 1997
  WWE Inactive	House shows/Cameos	December 12, 1995	July 11, 1996
  WWE Mid Card		January 22, 1995	December 11, 1995
  WWE Upper Card		October 23, 1994	January 21, 1995
  WWE Mid Card		July 16, 1994	October 22, 1994
  WWE Inactive	House show wrestler only	January 23, 1994	July 15, 1994
  WWE Mid Card		November 6, 1993	January 22, 1994
  WWE Low Card		June 21, 1993	November 5, 1993
  WWE Mid Card		November 28, 1992	June 20, 1993
  WWE Inactive	Return vignettes	September 27, 1992	November 27, 1992
  WWE Inactive	House shows	July 1, 1992	September 26, 1992
  NJPW Upper Card		May 17, 1985	May 22, 1985
  NJPW Inactive	Various territories	September 4, 1984	May 16, 1985
  NJPW Upper Card		August 24, 1984	September 3, 1984
  WWE Upper Card		December 6, 1977	August 4, 1984
  WWE Mid Card		December 11, 1976	December 5, 1977

Titles & Accomplishments

• Career Awards

• • WWE Hall of Fame - Individual (Year2013)
  • NJPW Hall of Fame - NJPW Greatest 18 Club (Year1990)
  • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Modern Era (Year2008)

• World Wrestling Entertainment

  • x2 WWWF Heavyweight/WWF Championship
  • x1 WWF World Tag Team Championship (with Pedro Morales)

  New Japan Pro Wrestling

  • NJPW MSG Tag League (1980) (with Antonio Inoki)

  National Wrestling Alliance

  • x4 NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship

  Wrestle Association R / Wrestle and Romance

  • x1 WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (with The Warlord)

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

  • 1 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (with Steve Keirn)

  Georgia Championship Wrestling

  • 1 NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (with Jerry Brisco)

  NWA Western States Sports

  • 3 NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship

  Northeast Wrestling Federation

  • 1 NEWF Heavyweight Championship

  St. Louis Wrestling Club

  • 1 NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship

  Western States Sports

  • 3 NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship

• Other Accomplishments

  • NJPW MSG Tag League Winner (1980 – with Antonio Inoki)
  • George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2016)
  • WWF Slammy Award - Most Eccentric (1994)
  • PWI Wrestler of the Year (1980, 1982)
  • PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1994)
  • PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1977, 1981)
  • PWI Rookie of the Year (1976)
  • PWI Match of the Year (1978 - vs. Billy Graham, on 02/20)
  • PWI Match of the Year (1982 - vs. Jimmy Snuka, Steel Cage match on 06/28)
  • 7° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (Class of 2004)
  • WON Best Technical Wrestler (1980)
  • WON Match of the Year (1980 - vs. Ken Patera, Texas Death match at WWF on MSG Network)

Teams & Relations

• Tag Teams & Stables

  • Bob Backlund & Pedro Morales - Pedro Morales (July 8, 1980 - August 10, 1980)
  • Bob Backlund & Steve Keirn - Steve Keirn / Skinner (May 11, 1976 - November 2, 1976)

• Managers

  • Arnold Skaaland (December 11, 1976 - May 5, 1984)

• Managed Wrestlers

  • Fred Rosser / Darren Young (May 5, 2016 - October 29, 2017)
  • Kurt Angle (March 6, 2000 - April 2, 2000)
  • Rikishi (September 9, 1996 - April 20, 1997)

• Notable Rivals/Feuds

  • Antonio Inoki
  • Hulk Hogan
  • Ivan Koloff
  • Superstar Billy Graham
  • The Iron Sheik

Game Appearances (3)

SuperCard

Showdown Legends Of Wrestling

Legends Of Wrestling 2