Bob Backlund | |
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![]() Backlund in April 2014 | |
Birth name | Robert Louis Backlund |
Born | Princeton, Minnesota, United States | August 14, 1949
Spouse(s) | Corki Backlund (m. 1967) |
Children | 1 |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Bob Backlund Mr. Backlund |
Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1][2] |
Billed weight | 234 lb (106 kg)[1][2] |
Billed from | Princeton, Minnesota[1][2] |
Trained by | Eddie Sharkey |
Debut | 1973 |
Retired | 2018 |
Robert Lee "Bob" Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for working for the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation from 1977 to 1984. He is known for holding the record for the second longest reign as WWE Champion in history which is ahead of Hulk Hogan's first reign and behind Bruno Sammartino's first. Signature move known as the cross face chicken wing was said to be inescapable once fully applied.
Before becoming a professional wrestler, Backlund started as an accomplished amateur wrestler and wrestled for the North Dakota State University Bison during the late 1960s to early 1970s. He also ran for a Connecticut seat in Congress on a Republican ticket in 2000 but was unsuccessful. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Maria Menounos on April 6, 2013.