9 Things You Didn't Know About WWE Backlash

7. 2001 Event Features Only Submission Iron Man Match In WWE History

There haven't been too many Iron Man matches in WWE history. By my count, there have been 18, which includes two 15-minute 'Iron Man' matches (which doesn't really take an iron man at all, does it?), two non-televised Bret Hart bouts (against Ric Flair in 1993 and against Owen Hart in 1994), and one Triple H vs. Curtis Axel contest that was quickly halted by Vince McMahon.

Two of the exclusive category of men to have competed in the full-on sixty minute version, Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle, had something of an Iron Man match against each other at Backlash in 2001, albeit with a twist.

The two mat technicians squared off in the first and only 'Ultimate Submission Match' in WWE history. The premise was simple; whoever makes their opponent tap out the most within a 30 minute timeframe is the winner.

Naturally, with this being the WWF there had to be some shenanigans, and both men were tired 3-3 at the end of the allotted time. The match went into sudden death overtime, where Benoit won by making the Olympic hero submit in 91 seconds with the Crippler Crossface.

As an aside, Backlash 2001 is also one of the rare times that the Intercontinental Title was defended in a PPV main event - with IC Champ Triple H teaming with WWF Champion Steve Austin to take on Tag Team Champions Kane and Undertaker in a winner takes all match.