10 WWE Main Eventers Fans Rejected
9. Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund's six-year WWE Championship reign is the second longest in company history. First capturing the belt in 1978, Backlund acted as a stepping stone from one era to another, as Bruno Sammartino’s career was winding down, and Hulkamania was still to peak.
He was perfectly acceptable as the face of the company for a while, but fans eventually grew weary of him, and by the '80s, Backlund's saccharine goody-two-shoes persona and increasingly repetitive matches had fans yearning for a more exciting and dynamic figurehead. Nicknamed 'Howdy Doody' by The Grand Wizard, Bob's act looked obsolete when compared to the surging Hulk Hogan, and his inability to evolve in line with the audience's expectations saw them turn on him.
With the fans clamouring for the more charismatic and eye-catching Hogan, Vince McMahon initially suggested Backlund turn heel to lose the title to 'The Hulkster.' Bob refused, however, showcasing the disconnect between his outdated mentality and what the fans wanted to see at the time. This led to him dropping the WWE Championship to The Iron Sheik, with the Iranian’s transitional reign quickly giving way to Hogan, who carried the company through wrestling's 'Golden Age.' Backlund, meanwhile took an eight-year hiatus from WWE, and didn't return until 1992.