Whether as an All-American Division II wrestler who became WWF champion or as a bats**t crazy oldster who has no problem in locking anyone in the cross-face chicken wing submission hold, Bob Backlund was a completely legit as both a wrestler and character during his two eras as a championship-level performer in the WWF. Arnold Skaaland throwing in the towel for Backlund versus the Iron Sheik is one of early 80s wrestling's most iconic moments because, the crowd "knew" that's the only way a seasoned technician like Backlund would submit is if the towel was thrown in. As well, Backlund as a crazy man in the 90s may not have drawn big numbers, but from a character standpoint, he's golden.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
