68-Year-Old Bob Backlund Returns To The Ring In Japan

Far East frivolities for former WWE Champion

by Michael Hamflett
Bob Backlund Bruno Sammartino
Twitter.com/DPSnacks

Former two-time WWE Champion Bob Backlund made two remarkable appearances in Japan as special guest on Tatsumi Fujinami's 'Dradition' New Japan nostalgia cards in Tokyo and Osaka.

Known within the industry as one of the most well-conditioned athletes ever, Backlund looked in rude health despite his advancing years in a tag team victory alongside Fujinami and Riki Chosu against Kazma Sakamoto and fellow WWE alumni Jinsei 'Hakushi' Shinzki and Yoshihiro Tajiri. The six-man tag drew 1,500 fans to the legendary Korakuen Hall on April 20th, with the Wrestling Observer reporting a possible 2,473 in attendance in Osaka for rejigged rematch featuring Backlund, Fujinami, Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. The icons paid respectful tribute to late fellow icon Bruno Sammartino on both nights, referring to the 'Living Legend' as "the greatest legend in wrestling history".

Backlund was last featured on WWE television in 2016 as Darren Young's life coach in an angle that ultimately failed to salvage the latter's flailing WWE tenure. Following a lengthy injury layoff, Young was released in 2017 whilst Backlund disappeared from television without explanation. A 2007 'Gimmick Battle Royal' on Monday Night Raw's 15th Anniversary was his last match official match with the organisation.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett