[1981-01-10-WWF-Philadelphia, PA] Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund vs Sgt. Slaughter - WWF, Philly 1/10/81

 

I can hear Johnny Sorrow of Titans of Wrestling fame talking about Kal saying Backlund was "pumping pain" into Slaughter. Kal explains that these two are just living on weird street in this match.

 

It is Gomer Pyle vs Howdy Doody. Dick & Kal blames Vince for getting Gomer Pyle over. Right in the front row there is a sign says "Kill Gomer Pyle" and there are constant chants of Gomer. Slaughter is really frazzled by all this and has a hard time concentrating. He muffs his ears. This is a really fun shine with the typical Backlund showing up his opponent, but Slaughter is extra good at taking the bumps. Slaughter tries to sneak attack with the swagger stick after giving Backlund the thumbs down. Them's fighting provocations. Slaughter totally whiffs on a punch and tumbles over the top rope. Love it. Backlund single leg pick up. Slaughter rams his shoulder into the post. The Backlund arm work is actually unusually lackluster. Slaughter uses headbutts to break the hold. He uses the headlock to cover up driving knuckles into Backlund's head. Backlund is really WOAHING tonight. I like Kal description of Slaughter looking like a cartoon character with his jaw, big eyes and his expressive face. The ref catches Slaughter cheating and thus he switches to the back with backbreaker and then using trunks to pull Backlund into hard strikes on the back. Backlund fires back and knocks Slaughter onto weird street with a big headbutt. HUGE PILEDRIVER! Slaughter needs a quick jab to the throat and Dick says that Backlund opponents have no alternative because Backlund is so good. He signals for the unbreakable Cobra Clutch, but Backlund slips out. Slaughter is press slammed off the top. Slaughter kicks off Backlund in the O'Connor Roll sending him crashing to the floor. Backlund is knocked loopy. This is when the match goes into overdrive. The fans are urging Backlund on as Slaughter gets a chance to recuperate. Slaughter drives Backlund back first into the railing and backbreaker on outside. He drives Backlund's head into the post and turnbuckle. Backlund is busted wide open and Slaughter is very proud of his work. Slaughter bites the cut and punches Backlund's forehead on apron.Slaughter punches himself out and Backlund fires back with two headbutts into the midsection that doubles Sarge over. Backlund whips Slaughter for him to take his signature bump. The crowd goes wild and so does Backlund who is incensed and kicks the shit out of Slaughter on the outside driving him into hard metal objects. They fight on the apron and Backlund knocks Slaughter back in the ring giving Slaughter a countout win. The post-match brawl is awesome with Backlund kicking major league ass. The ref brings the title in the ring and Slaughter uses it to crack Backlund and the ref into the head.

I thought this match did a lot better job than the Backlund/Patera match in setting up the gimmick match. I really liked Backlund/Patera match as a classic wrestling match, but this is the match that makes you want to see a bloody steel cage match. Slaughter kicked the ass of Backlund and then left Backlund laying. Plus Backlund kicking ass was also awesome. A really awesome set up match for the steel cage match. ****1/2

[MichaelZ]

I just watched this thanks to a recommendation on the greatest match ever project and it was really good. Sarge in particular was a standout, but the last half or so of this match is outstanding. Great fire from both guys and a laundry list of cheating and bumping from Sarge. A+ post match too. 

[Makai Club #1]

The Philly crowd love heckling the heels. They chant Gomer Pyle at Slaughter, reling him up before the bell. Slaughter attempted to cheap shot Backlund but it came around on him as he ran into a turnbuckle and hurt the arm. Naturally Backlund attacked the arm but unlike the October ‘80 match, Slaughter quickly escaped via headbutts and went to work on Backlund’s back. Backlund constantly moving, constantly threatening a comeback caused Slaughter to cheat his way back in control with shots to the throat and closed fists. The match did a good job in getting the Cobra Clutch and Slaughter over as a dangerous threat no matter Backlund’s dominance. Backlund can have things in hand but Slaughter is a dangerous man and could get the win very easily. The final third of the match was particularly good. Slaughter had some amazing punches and Backlund sold them wonderfully. He wouldn’t bump for one, or even two of them but he would stagge and then struggle to stand once he was dropped. The final stretch of the match was sublime. My favourite moment of the match was Slaughter jumping in glee once Backlund started to bleed on the outside. Slaughter bit Backlund’s wounds and Backlund clearly wouldn’t have that. Backlund hit a headbutt to the sternum and threw Slaughter over the corner posts. Backlund goes to get him but gets counted out in the cheap WWF fashion. Backlund attacks after the bell but Slaughter gets the final say, attacking Backlund with the title. Great match. ****

[tcg91]

This is not as famous as other early WWF matches and it's a shame because it was a damn good one. As usual, they stalled a bit at the beginning, but they quickly moved to the good stuff (unlike what they did in 1980). Slaughter sold everything in a great way, then digging in the headlock as a way to get revenge for the pain the champion caused him. I feel like Backlund held things back at the beginning, but he was great when he bled around and made a furious comeback, fighting with the desperation of a blind bull. We get a non-finish to stop Backlund's rage, but it was predictable and it built towards a stipulation rematch, so no complaints on this one
***3/4