Backlund said he couldn't match strength with Jesse but he was the only WWF wrestler (aside from the Iron Sheik) who could do the Persian Club weight exercise and do it well.
I never understood why they let Backland hold the title as long as they did. It would have been more interesting to flip-flop it from baby face to heel every 6 months to a year.In saying this, Backland probably was a big draw so they kept the title with him. It was Backland, not Hogan, that made The WWF what it became.
I only went to a couple Wrestling events at the Spectrum when I was a kid and this was 1 of them. Putski was my favorite and I was happy he gave me a thumbs up for my paper sign - Polish Hammer is number 1..
Greg admitted in a shoot interview that when he did the Suplex to Pedro, he protected Pedro so much, that when he landed, he actual injured his own neck in the process.
WWF @ Philadelphia, PA - Spectrum - February 20, 1982 (10,972) Televised on the PRISM Network - featured Dick Graham & Kal Rudman on commentary: Charlie Fulton defeated Jeff Craney at 10:19 Adrian Adonis pinned SD Jones at 10:48 Capt. Lou Albano, WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji, & Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea, Rick Martel, & Tony Atlas in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 16:28, 2 falls to 1; fall #1: Martel pinned Saito at 9:38; fall #2: Saito pinned Martel at 3:19; fall #3: Fuji pinned Garea at 3:31 after Saito came off the top with a blow to the back of the head as Garea had Fuji in an abdominal stretch (The Life & Times of Capt. Lou Albano) Greg Valentine defeated WWF IC Champion Pedro Morales via disqualification at 14:51 when Morales choked the referee in an attempt to get at his opponent WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned Jesse Ventura at 17:43 Ivan Putski pinned Killer Khan at 6:33 Steve Travis & Rick McGraw fought Jose Estrada & Johnny Rodz to a curfew draw
As a kid, It didn’t strike me the humor of a grown man wearing a turban named the Grand Wizard & that we are supposed to take it seriously. Of course as kid, I believed it was real & couldn’t stand him. Now I laugh
This was The Grand Wizard of Wrestling at his best! I laugh every time I watch it….calling Morales a “low class pig!” and thanking Vince when he says it’s one of the worse things he ever saw Hilarious!
That main event was ok..kind of funny as Bob could make guys look foolish with the leg trips. I guess they didn't think Jesse had a lot to offer in the feud as this was 1 of the few 1 match battles Bob would have and win. No ending that would force a return matchup. Bob wrestled Adonis the next month at the Spectrum
WHY WAS BACKLUND NEVER GIVEN A MANAGER HES LIKE THE FRICKIN WHITE WONDER BREAD ON THE MIC BOYS. FEEDING HIM, LITERALLY, LIKE THE WHEAT TOAST HE IS TO JESSE
Jesse i love you man but in a real fight you could never beat Bob Backlund hogan, Bruno or Ivan puduski did hear me brother? Answer the question as McMahon would say to you
Amazing how the faces & heels are inches of each other during these interviews....
Backlund said he couldn't match strength with Jesse but he was the only WWF wrestler (aside from the Iron Sheik) who could do the Persian Club weight exercise and do it well.
Bob Backlund used to make me think that the volume on my TV was too low. So i would raise it to just hear him.
I never understood why they let Backland hold the title as long as they did. It would have been more interesting to flip-flop it from baby face to heel every 6 months to a year.In saying this, Backland probably was a big draw so they kept the title with him. It was Backland, not Hogan, that made The WWF what it became.
I only went to a couple Wrestling events at the Spectrum when I was a kid and this was 1 of them. Putski was my favorite and I was happy he gave me a thumbs up for my paper sign - Polish Hammer is number 1..
Greg admitted in a shoot interview that when he did the Suplex to Pedro, he protected Pedro so much, that when he landed, he actual injured his own neck in the process.
I’ve seen that interview and you correct!
WWF @ Philadelphia, PA - Spectrum - February 20, 1982 (10,972)
Televised on the PRISM Network - featured Dick Graham & Kal Rudman on commentary:
Charlie Fulton defeated Jeff Craney at 10:19
Adrian Adonis pinned SD Jones at 10:48
Capt. Lou Albano, WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji, & Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea, Rick Martel, & Tony Atlas in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 16:28, 2 falls to 1; fall #1: Martel pinned Saito at 9:38; fall #2: Saito pinned Martel at 3:19; fall #3: Fuji pinned Garea at 3:31 after Saito came off the top with a blow to the back of the head as Garea had Fuji in an abdominal stretch (The Life & Times of Capt. Lou Albano)
Greg Valentine defeated WWF IC Champion Pedro Morales via disqualification at 14:51 when Morales choked the referee in an attempt to get at his opponent
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned Jesse Ventura at 17:43
Ivan Putski pinned Killer Khan at 6:33
Steve Travis & Rick McGraw fought Jose Estrada & Johnny Rodz to a curfew draw
When wrestling was great
It's funny how they dont hide the fact that the heels and babyfaces are there together doing promos
These local promos were gold!
Lol 1:12.
Grand wizard was funny.
As a kid, It didn’t strike me the humor of a grown man wearing a turban named the Grand Wizard & that we are supposed to take it seriously. Of course as kid, I believed it was real & couldn’t stand him. Now I laugh
This was The Grand Wizard of Wrestling at his best! I laugh every time I watch it….calling Morales a “low class pig!” and thanking Vince when he says it’s one of the worse things he ever saw Hilarious!
It's funny seeing Vince young
Grand Wizard looks like he just walked out of the cantina scene from Star Wars. Guy was great heel manager! Bob Backlund 😴
Grand Wizard was a great hype man as a manager
Grand Wizard, Fred Blassie, and Capt Lou Albano best era for heel managers period. End of conversation.
He found him in the AWA, Bob! The very same place where you started.
HAHA.
I hope the Grand Wizard got his eyes fixed, having to wear an eye visor like that guy in Star Trek must have been tough.
His teeth needed some severe whitening up
This was the first wizard I believe. If so, he passed away in the near future of this promo being it was 83 when he went
Backlund's mic skills were the shitz !!!
Ironically Jesse had better promos than Hogan when they were managed by Blassie
That main event was ok..kind of funny as Bob could make guys look foolish with the leg trips.
I guess they didn't think Jesse had a lot to offer in the feud as this was 1 of the few 1 match battles Bob would have and win. No ending that would force a return matchup. Bob wrestled Adonis the next month at the Spectrum
Did Jessie really work security for the Stones, I'm sure it was a work.
Yes, he really did.
if you're sure then don't ask.
Damn, cut Jesse off just as he was getting good.
This is why I could never get into "Mr. McMahon" , I remember corny, announcer McMahon from the 80's.
Grand wizard was funny.
Jesse was colorful.
Jesse was a great talker and copied superstar Graham.
WHY WAS BACKLUND NEVER GIVEN A MANAGER HES LIKE THE FRICKIN WHITE WONDER BREAD ON THE MIC BOYS. FEEDING HIM, LITERALLY, LIKE THE WHEAT TOAST HE IS TO JESSE
Wasn't his manager Arnold Skaaland?
In real life bob Backlund was probably ten times stronger then jesse
Jesse i love you man but in a real fight you could never beat Bob Backlund hogan, Bruno or Ivan puduski did hear me brother? Answer the question as McMahon would say to you
Bob Backlund was actually stronger than Jesse Ventura. Backlund was extremely strong.
Backlund was legit, very strong, and a superb grappler, he was just boring as sh*t.
He was also a really good wrestler.
A lot of the wrestlers on TH-cam interviews say how strong Backlund was.