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Post by elliott on Sept 24, 2019 5:38:47 GMT -5
Truly excellent match with both wrestlers looking fantastic. Backlund seriously looks like it may as well be 1979. Low-tech compared to things happening elsewhere, but it kinda shows how timeless the old school style was because this still looks excellent. This has to be on the shortlist for best WWE TV matches of the 90s. They really foreshadowed the Backlund heel turn with Lawler on commentary just relentlessly praising him. Jim Ross is great calling this match. Lawler to JR: “You’ve been brainwashed by the Hitman, which in your case you could do with an eyedropper.” Great match and now I want to watch their Survivor Series match.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Oct 2, 2019 9:49:20 GMT -5
Not quite as good as the 1-2-3 Kid match but this match is feather in Bret's cap as the touring WWF champion in 1994, the only time the WWF felt like the NWA was in 1994. I am a huge Backlund mark and am glad he got a reprise run in 1994 so everyone knows who he is. Seconding this.
WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart vs Bob Backlund - WWF Superstars 7/30/94
I often extol Bret's talents in these face vs face matches and I think this just one of many examples you can use as evidence for his incredible capability in this very challenging environments. I want to focus on Bob Backlund in this one. To really appreciate this match, I think you need immerse yourself in the matches of Bob Backlund's title reign. Bob Backlund lives by the mantra "anything you can do, I can do better" and his unmatched tenacity. We see that on display here with Backlund going for the early, unique rollups. You can see Bret selling these through his frustration with the ref. Bret knows this aint no walk in the park. But you also see how Backlund has a lost step. That Bret is able to control this match with holds. Backlund still has his freaky strength look at that amazing bridge on the half nelson/hammerlock pinning combination. He still has tenacity look at those multiple waistlock takedowns to the outside. How about how Bret will hit a strike and Backlund will come back with that same strike that is classic Backlund. But still he cant maintain control he was once able to that's what I mean when he has lost a step. He is Bob Backlund but he is older and Bret can overwhelm him. He can fight out of the Sharpshooter all he wants but Bret will drop that elbow on him. Some really great sequences here with backslides and bridge outs. Just some really great classic, technical wrestling that is all about competition. Backlund besides the cradles does not have as much in his offensive arsenal in terms of stringing things along and I think that was a great way to show his age. Bret takes a nasty spill to the floor when Bob gets up early on a dropdown. I LOVE THAT! That's just a perfect little thing that could happen in a wrestling match. Backlund tries to take advantage but cant really capitalize and then Bret is able to get a small package after about 6 unique cradles from Backlund, Bob succumbs to a small package. Beautiful symmetry. This is just a great classic championship match that Bret does a great job treating it like an NWA Champion would and Backlund makes for such a unique opponent. The post-match turn with Bret offering a handshake of respect and Bob snapping and attacking him with the Crossface Chickenwing is one of the best WWF angles of all time. It is only further enhanced by how they played off the past history with Backlund being screwed out of the championship in 83 with the towel being thrown in on his behalf and the Arnie Skaaland segment they do later is great. Taken all together it is just terrific pro wrestling. ****1/4
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Post by microstatistics on Aug 14, 2020 17:12:21 GMT -5
Third. Very good stuff with the aging technician determined to prove he still had what it took, only to snap after being outfoxed by the skilled champion.
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Post by mvz on Feb 28, 2023 8:54:43 GMT -5
I probably haven’t watched this since around the time it aired. This was really smart in-ring storytelling. Backlund going for the quick win with the variety of pinning combinations in the early going was great. Bert took control and there was always a sense of struggle with everything that was happening. So it made sense both guys were spent, they sold the exhaustion well. Beer winning with small package was a nice touch. Post match is amazing and leads to the supremely entertaining heel run. Good comfort food wrestling.
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