10 Times The Past Screwed WWE's Present

5. Bob Backlund Vs. Bret Hart (Survivor Series 1994)

Hulk Hogan Triple H
WWE

Bob Backlund is one of the most tenured WWE Champions of all-time. Only Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan can top the 2,138 days that he held the title for, and he was legitimately one of the company’s biggest stars in the pre-Hulkamania era. Backlund, in fact, was vital as a transitional franchise player between Sammartino’s decline and Hogan’s rise, but he drifted into semi-retirement in 1984.

Backlund returned to WWE in 1992, and reinvented himself as a crazy heel who was so dedicated to his gimmick he’d reportedly refuse to sign autographs unless the fan could name every US President in chronological order. This act saw him inexplicably rise back to the top of the card in 1994, and at Survivor Series, he challenged for Bret Hart’s WWE Championship.

It was a “Throw in the Towel” submission match, and with Bret locked in Backlund’s Crossface Chickenwing for what felt like a lifetime, Helen Hart threw the towel on his behalf. 16 years after his first WWE title victory, Backlund had defeated the company’s biggest babyface for the belt. This ultimately led to him dropping the belt three days later to Diesel, who soon became one of the lowest-drawing WWE Champions of all-time, rendering his transitional reign even more confusing.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.