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Spotlight - Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund would debut in Toronto in 1978 after beating the seemingly unbeatable Superstar Graham for the WWWF Title. 'The All-American Boy', as he was often called would leave his mark on the area with some great wrestling and a historic bout.
Graham would get a chance to regain the title on three consecutive cards the summer of 1978, but the new champion would earn the respect of the fans by beating his larger opponent in a steel cage in August to seal the feud.
Backlund would make frequent appearances against a vast variety of opponents in Toronto. In addition to his WWWF area feuds (Pat Patterson, Buddy Rose), Backlund would also face the stars of both the AWA and the NWA as a result of Tunney's involvement with all three major groups. Some interesting matches would entail against opponents such as Ric Flair, The Destroyer (Beyer), and the history making title unification bout versus AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel.
The young champ would also team up with Dino Bravo for a time and the two complimented each other very well. In 1979 Tunney would book both Backlund and AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel on the same cards leading up to their Mar 1979 match-up and the historic Title Unification Bout.
In 1982 Backlund’s feud with Superfly Jimmy Snuka would thrill the fans and end with a cage match to settle the score. Snuka would perform his famous leap off the top of the cage but miss, enabling the champ to cover him for the pin.
Backlund would make his last area appearance with a decisive victory over Playboy Buddy Rose in a Texas Death Match in 1982 and we wouldn't see the WWF Title defended here again until post-84.
For more on Backlund see
T.O. Tidbits - Oshawa 1979
Pic Of The Month - Bob Backlund
Sunday Night - Jan 17 1982
Features - WWWF vs AWA
Notable Canadian Matches
Apr 28th 1977 Winnipeg
Bob Backlund goes to a draw with Billy Robinson
Aug 13th 1978 Toronto
WWWF Champ Bob Backlund beats Superstar Graham in a Steel Cage
Oct 22nd 1978 Toronto
WWWF Champ Bob Backlund beats former champ Ivan Koloff
Nov 19th 1978 Toronto
WWWF Champ Bob Backlund & Dino Bravo beat AWA Tag Champs Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens (dq, so no title change)
Mar 25th 1979 Toronto
WWWF Champ Bob Backlund and AWA Champ Nick Bockwinkel go to a double count-out
July 15th 1979 Toronto
WWWF Champ Bob Backlund beats Ric Flair
Jan 13th 1980 Toronto
WWF Champ Bob Backlund vs The Destroyer (Beyer) ends in a double count-out
Jan 17th 1982 Toronto
WWF Champ Bob Backlund beats Greg Valentine
Aug 22nd 1982 Toronto
WWF Champ Bob Backlund beats Jimmy Snuka in a Steel Cage
* Results from
Gary Will's Toronto Wrestling History
Canadian Results Archive
  
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