10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Sept 21)

2. Bob Backlund Thought He Was 'Going Crazy' After Turning Heel

You could've heard a pin drop during some of Bob Backlund's babyface matches in the early-90s. A pasty-white relic from the past, Backlund wasn't what a new generation of fans had come to expect from the term 'WWF Superstar'. An iconic (but sadly overlooked in the modern era) heel turn changed all that.

Almost overnight, Backlund turned from All-American good old boy into an out-of-touch, deranged psychopath who believed those young 'uns needed a lesson in respect. It was a genius move, and it prolonged Bob's career; the character was so well-received by Vince McMahon that Backlund received another, admittedly brief, shot at being WWF Champion in 1994.

Throughout the whole ordeal, he told the Duke Loves Rasslin show about worries he might be going crazy.

Backlund grew infatuated with his new heel gimmick, so much so that he had to occasionally snap himself out of losing touch with reality. Living the guise became a ton of fun, and it left Bob concerned that he might be going too far or end up losing his mind.