bkord123

Here's another blurb I was hoping we could talk about (I'll probably be arrested for copyright infringement). Doesn't Bob have a rep with some people of taking too much of his matches? Unless I'm misunderstanding it, this quote sort of says the opposite of that. It's from the night he won the title from Graham. Any thoughts? As I sat there in the parking lot thinking about the business— I realized that just because something had always been done a certain way in the WWWF didn’t mean it had to continue to be done that way. I realized I was bringing to the table a whole new approach to the business of professional wrestling— and an approach that, once understood, ought to be popular both with the front office and with the boys in the locker room. By implementing more of the NWA’s model of leaving most heels with their heat so they could maintain their drawing power and longevity in the territory, we would have more options in booking feuds or interesting semi-final matches for the undercards, and, as a consequence, do better business because of it. Backlund, Bob; Miller, Robert H. (2015-09-15). Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling's World Champion (Kindle Locations 3490-3494). Sports Publishing. Kindle Edition.

In case anyone was on the fence with this book, here's a blurb that I copied from the Kindle version. It's a really good book and I highly recommend it. I love details like this. Basically, back in those early days at the Philadelphia Arena, the boys got there at around eleven in the morning with Vince McMahon Jr. to start taping three weeks of house show interviews. They typically spent the whole day laying those down, because each card would require three different sets of interviews (one for each week of TV) for at least two and sometimes three of the feature matches. Nothing was scripted, so it often took a few takes to get the interviews right and to make them sound different enough so the fans wouldn’t catch on that they were all recorded on the same day. Add in the hijinx and the ribbing and the guys standing just off camera goofing around and trying to make Vince Jr. or each other laugh while they were recording, and you had a recipe for a pretty long day. That night, I met most of the wrestlers on the WWWF roster, all the managers, and a bunch of the office guys. Captain Lou Albano, Arnold Skaaland, Freddie Blassie, and Ernie Roth (the Grand Wizard of Wrestling) were all sitting there talking with Vince Sr. when I walked in. I also met Domienic DeNucci, Mikel Scicluna, Johnny Rodz, and Gorilla Monsoon. A bunch of them were playing cards. Scicluna was smoking a long, curled pipe and really had the look of a Maltese Nobleman. It was a strange new world— as I had never set eyes on any of these guys before in any of the other territories where I had previously wrestled. The Captain was pretty well lubricated with alcohol by that time of the day, and he was yelling and laughing and carrying on with his big belly hanging out of his shirt, which was all the way unbuttoned. He was loud and I certainly wasn’t used to that kind of brashness. I hadn’t met anyone like him before that, and it caught me off guard. There were people in that dressing room, like Albano and DeNucci and Scicluna and Chief (Jay Strongbow) who had all been in the territory for a long time and knew each other well. I was an outsider— but I think everyone sensed, even on that first day, that I was there for a reason. I don’t know whether Vince Sr. had discussed it with anyone before I got there, or told some of the people that I was coming in, or what— but there was definitely a kind of stand-offish curiosity among the boys about who I was and what I was about. There was a definite clique in that dressing room, comprised of Bruno, DeNucci, Rodz, Garea, Chief, and Scicluna. They were a strong and tight-knit group. Fortunately for me, Vince McMahon Sr. went out of his way to make me feel welcomed and at home. Backlund, Bob; Miller, Robert H. (2015-09-15). Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling's World Champion (Kindle Locations 2508-2512). Sports Publishing. Kindle Edition.

In case anyone wants to talk about this a year later, I just saw this match yesterday for the first time in many many years. I have to say I was a bit disappointed. A couple things off the top of my head: - Obviously the finish coming out of nowhere and not really a convincing pin - Flair's selling at times bordered on comedic - A couple really noticeable misses: one top rope fist and a knee-drop by Ric. Also a corner boot by Vader. - Flair should never go to the top rope because even when he connects, it's awful. An overhand fist? Eh. I didn't hate it and there were some great moments. But I've been hearing people mention it lately and was expecting more. I was thinking a great finish would have been Flair running up behind Vader when he goes to the top and either powerbombs him or back suplexes him for the pin. Loved the Flair-Garvin Starrcade fwiw.

Someone else mentioned it...every time you say Dory Funk, I laugh my dick off. Can't explain it.

I was really hoping someone would do this. Thanks for posting.

Loving this series, guys. I thought I knew a lot of wrestling. There are so many matches here that I've never seen. Can't want to investigate them.

He has them up on a site or something? #imdumb

Nice. Thanks, dude. I really appreciate it. I didn't want to watch unless I knew it was the classic.

I think it is, but it says it's a December 89 match. Does someone know for sure?

I can't believe I don't have a thousand replies of LOL. I listen to this daily, and no, I don't give a fuck what that says about me. There was too much cream! hahahahahaha

https://soundcloud.com/bkord123/39-titans-of-wrestling-39-wwf-april-1981

Hey Parv, what excited you more: 1. Vince Sr. being caught on tape or 2. Having managers get involved when you were a kid? I love that anecdote.

You're right. I think Johnny said he's probably lost both feet to diabetes by now. haha

Someone has to find this man (if he's alive) and see if he still has these tapes.

I can't understand why Sarge doesn't get more support for the Observer HOF. He was great.