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September Classics: Bob Backlund vs. Pat Patterson - MSG 9/24/79

I first saw this match on the Bloodbath DVD set released about 10 years ago. After having watched some Bob Backlund in the Old School section of the Network vault, and then add this match, Backlund was certainly capable of holding his own in a brawl. Of course, we've all seen Patterson's feud with Sgt. Slaughter by now, and he can certainly work through a bloodfest as well. Good stuff here as both guys desperately attempt escapes.


WWF MSG 1979 - Bob Backlund Vs. Pat Patterson by Bluthor

Comments

  1. Pat really stuck it to him here.

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  2. I've been on a Bob Backlund kick lately watching different matches throughout his title reign and I'm amazed by his ability to work different types of matches based on the style of the opponent he's facing.Bob's wrestling persona is that of a scientific wrestling "All-American Boy," but he could get easily get into pissed off brawler mode when he needed to. Plus, he may not have had a bodybuilder's physique but Backlund was freakishly strong. In a match against Ivan Koloff, Koloff had Backlund in an arm scissors and Backlund simply picked him up while in the hold and placed him on the second rope. That was an impressive spot that I would love to see a modern power based wrestler to repeat. If only he found an appropriate wrestling persona during the WWF's national expansion he could have found a place during the post-84 wrestling landscape.

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  3. Stranger in the AlpsSeptember 1, 2014 at 2:12 PM

    The Backlund we see on the 94-95 RAWs is just irritating. Sure, there's nothing wrong with seeing the guy snap and go nuts, but they pretty much made it into a comedy character.

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  4. After watching the Old School shows on the Network, I've come to the conclusion that '70s WWF just isn't for me. Give me '70s NWA stuff any day.


    I also have to admit having trouble getting into the few Bob matches I've seen from the era. He always seems goofy when slugging it out, to me at least. But then, I didn't really love the Slaughter-Patterson alley fight match on first watch, so maybe it'll take time. I tend to think it's more to do with the style and pacing, though.

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  5. With the exception of the Bob Backlund title defenses most of the matches were a chore to sit through at least the cards I saw.

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  6. Stranger in the AlpsSeptember 1, 2014 at 2:18 PM

    Certainly Vince Sr's WWWF had a ton of slugs on the roster. Backlund was the purest athlete there at the time. You could make exceptions for Bruno and Superstar as well, but other than that there wasn't too much to get excited about.

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  7. #LOLBACKLUNDWINS!

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  8. There were two babyface turns I loved: Piper in 1986 and Savage in 1987. They sold them both as tweeners, although Piper more so. Piper did the whole tag team with Hogan only to give him the bird at the end of the match at MSG. In fact, the only time Piper and Hogan were ever booked as buddies was 1992. In 1987, they were both still holding their heat from 1985. Probably that was what was so fresh about face Piper in 1986 -- that he was booked as a tweener.

    Savage in 1987 seemingly gets the same treatment. Savage is still a super heel after mania and if it wasn't for pregeant wives giving birth and politics -- Randy Savage's neat babyface run in fall of 1987 may have never happened - although those face pops in April/May 1987 tell a different story. Savage did seen to be in limbo without Stramboat and all of a sudden - one day Macho gets upset at Honky and gets right into Jimmy Hart's face and boom -- another tweener turn -- and then Macho turns face with the mega power handshake.

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  9. I wasn't so much into the Bruno and Superstar matches I've seen as well. The guys throughout the NWA territories that came in were some of the bright spots but most of the WWWF roster, particularly the faces were not worth much. The WWWF mainstay heels were better workers and more entertaining characters. I have certainly learned to appreciate the heel antics of Spiros Arion from watching these cards.

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  10. Stranger in the AlpsSeptember 1, 2014 at 2:37 PM

    LOL for 6 years straight.

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  11. 94 Backlund was still awesome. Once he jobbed the title, and went completely goofy, not so much. I found him hilarious, but it still would piss me off because it was detrimental. He was too good for that shit.

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  12. I enjoyed the the match until the end. The psychology of the match revolving around escapes is exactly what's required in a WWF escape rules steel cage match. The escape attempts were convincing for most of the match until the very end. The ending sequence was just a bit too contrived to make the heel look bad. Patterson just slowed down a bit too much in order for Backlund to get the advantage which would lead to his escape. Plus the disconnect between the rules of modern escape rules cage matches and the 1979 version made the ending that match harder to swallow.

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  13. A typical example of the bookers not knowing what to do once the transitional champion transitions the title.

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  14. He could have jobbed clean to every single opponent, as the loss wouldn't have hurt him, and it would have turned his opponent into a star! Instead he just buried each and every one of them!

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  15. I would have liked an alternate universe where Backlund stayed in Minnesota and feuded with Bockwinkel.

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  16. What was Meltzer's issue with him anyway? Or did he like him in the 70s only?

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  17. I don't Meltzer ever liked Backlund even in the 70s.

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  18. Patterson had his way with Backlund and left him a bloody mess.


    Then they went out and had a great wrestling match!

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  19. Sure, he could have been Pedro Morales, but when you've been on top for the better part of a decade it's hard to downshift to a midcarder role that quickly.

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  20. Mine was much better.

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  21. Please don't mention my worthless half-brother

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  22. ...but both feet did not touch the ground. Patterson should have pulled Backlund back in and beat on him some more.

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  23. I haven't heard the "3 superkicks" comments yet. I don't know if I missed it, or did they actually edit it?

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  24. I just watched the 11/18/96 episode and they edited out Jericho vs Johnny Grunge. It was only a five minute match. Anyone know why they would do this? Are there many other edits for the other Nitro shows?

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  25. Never mind. I just heard it.

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  26. The matches Dusty got out of Superstar are by far the best I've seen of his.

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  27. Eric Bischoff just called Nitro the "War Zone" on Nitro. Ha!

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  28. Wasn't impressed by Dusty in the WWWF. He spent way more time playing to the crowd than anything else. His entire offense consisted of bionic elbows which got tedious after long minutes of non-action.

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  29. I've made it to 1992 and I feel like I should celebrate or something. I'm really enjoying 1992 WCW though.

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  30. December 8, 1996.

    A fake Sting came out to attack The Steiners but the real Sting showed up, teased teaming up with Jumpin' Jeff Sting but of course he attacked the fake Sting instead. And then he attacked The Steiners (Because WCW).

    The usual Nitro schmozz then ensued where a bunch of guys just started illogically fighting each other and in the midst of all the chaos, Rey Mysterio tried to springboard off the top rope but Sting (who had his back to Mysterio) hit Rey out of instinct then just walked off.

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  31. I am caught up on WWE with the raws and ppvs in 95 but I was trying to get up to 95 with WCW between he PPVs and Clashes and am only up to 90...I am a failure.

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