Loss Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 Talk about it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 What stands out the most here is how much of an afterthought Bret is. I wouldn't say he's being buried, but Shawn is obviously the star of the promotion -- even while on the sidelines. Bret's entrance is cut short and Vince isn't going as gaga over him as he normally does. This arena is crazy dark, to the point that this looks like a Capital Centre show in 1982. Diana Smith's constant dumbfounded look is always funny to me. Too many things surrounding the presentation of this match for me to notice the quality of it all that much, but I don't think I missed much. Davey Boy runs in for the DQ, and I have no idea why Backlund is being so protected. But Bret is absolutely not being portrayed as a red hot champion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Diana Smith's constant dumbfounded look is always funny to me. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Evans Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 This match proves how out of touch WWF was at the time. You have the champ taking on the guy he wrestled at Mania and all the announcer can talk about is Stu Hart and the Bulldog. Just a dead match and a dead crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankensteiner Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 These guys always match up well and this was no exception. The 4 minute opening ground/mat-work section culminating with Bret dropkicking Backlund out of the ring was pretty great. Loved all the waistlock go-behind stuff, and Bret ducking his head to avoid Backlund elbowing out was cool. I wish they had another 5 minutes because this was building to a MOTYC before they had to cut to the finish. Still, a lot of fun and probably their 2nd best match together after MSG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Yeah, I liked the work here too--in fact, I liked it quite a lot. But it's a total old-school, '70s-style match in front of a completely dead crowd probably in the middle of a long TV taping, which means it's basically the embodiment of everything the WWF was doing wrong in the face of Nitro. There's no way anyone here can compete from a star power or charisma level with a group consisting of Hogan, Savage, Sting, Luger, and Flair. Well, Bret can, but not the way he's been booked as champion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenjo Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Some nice chain wrestling early doors. Backlund then had a period working his opponent over that felt a fair deal longer than it actually was. Things then built towards a finish before Bulldog runs in for a lame DQ. They could certainly have had a good match with more of an effort on the booking and presentation. The high point was Bob, sorry I mean Mr. Backlund going nuts afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 WWF Champion Bret Hart vs Bob Backlund - WWF RAW 12/11/95 Non-Title Well put me in the camp that would vote for Bob Backlund over Donald Trump. After pretty much nothing on WWF TV after WrestleMania XI, Bob Backlund gets one last quick push. He has been attacking people most notably Jim Ross with the Crossface Chickenwing in order to set up a match with WWF Champion Bret Hart this week on RAW. I LOVED the opening matwork. It was so tight & competitive. It felt organic. The whole match felt like a real sporting contest. It is weird coming from 1994 WWF as this is a much bigger building but it seems like they are forcing it as they try to complete with new, fresh Nitro. I love the fact that Backlund Main evented a Monday Night Wars RAW. Bret gets a drop kick to Backlund’s back as he was jawing with the fans. Backlund comes back from break and almost gets the Crossface Chickenwing on. His heat segment on the arm was great. Lots of good rope-assisted stuff. Great armbars. Good stiff shots. I don’t think this was better than the Superstars match but it was better than Mania XI. Bret is able to wriggle into shifting his weight and begins his comeback as we go into break. He looks to finish with the Sharpshooter but Davey Boy shows up. I would be remiss not to mention how terrible Diana’s interview is about how she feels about the upcoming title match between Bret & Davey Boy and Davey Boy as a heel. Backlund applies the Crossface Chickenwing. They ring the bell early but Bulldog stomps Bret in the hold and there’s the DQ. Look Superstars and Survivor Series matches are classics BUT I felt like these two had another one in them here. Shame about the finish but I felt like they could have topped even Survivor Series on this night with more time and the right finish. It was solid heat for the impending Bret/Bulldog match that coming weekend. It is shame that this is the swan song for Backlund. I checked his Cagematch and this his last hurrah. He still had more to give. Really enjoyed the opening amateur wrestling and rest of it too. ***1/2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.