Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best

7. Bob Backlund

WWE Champions Ranked
WWE.com

Bob Backlund transitioned the WWE Championship between babyfaces Bret Hart and Diesel in over a matter of a few days in November 1994, went absolutely mental in the build to become an anti-New Generation heel to do so, and rewrote his own history with a generation of fans in the process. 

This isn't really the story of Backlund and the top strap.

His 2,135 days (give or take a few sly non-televised hold-ups here and there) between 1978 and 1983 speak for themselves, with only Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan above him for longevity and proven ability to maintain the all important Madison Square Garden audience. The two/three formula of Backlund Vs Heels worked over and over again for Vince McMahon Snr - the latest and last of his inspired choices to hold the prestigious title in this manner before his son bought the company and took things in an aggressively different direction.

Time's not been kind to Backlund's matches or the character itself, particularly when viewed in between the ruggedness of Bruno and bombast of Hogan. But contextually, few can compete with what he accomplished, and even fewer could remain in such rude health well into their 70s having kept to that brutal schedule. 

 
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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett