4. Bob Backlund
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eov_8n8GaUU Bob Backlund is unique on this list as the changing taste of the viewers is the only reason that caused his popularity to wane. Bob Backlund won the WWE Championship from "Superstar" Billy Graham in February 1978 and would hold the title for 2,135 days. The second longest reign in history. Backlund dominated WWE during his reign and represented the company against fellow World Champions, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Nick Bockwinkel and Antonio Inoki across the globe on several occasions against each. By 1983, wrestling fans were evolving and Bob Backlund's clean cut image was not charismatic enough for fans and they started getting bored with it. December of that year Backlund would lose the championship to The Iron Sheik who a month later would lose the championship to Hulk Hogan. Backlund would exit the company in August 1984. Backlund's apparent lack of charisma at a time when professional wrestling was evolving into sports entertainment is why the fans began to abandon him in the end. Backlund was just lost in the shuffle of changing times, something that could have happened to whomever was champion prior to the dawn of Hulkamania.
JV Vernola
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JV Vernola has been a wrestling fan since he was three (around the same time Hogan was bodyslamming Andre) and has been able to write almost as long. He lives in the scorched earth that is the Arizona desert while trying to maintain awesomeness.
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