The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 2

Bob Backlund (February 20, 1978 - December 26, 1983)

Bob Backlund: The last WWE Champion of the Vince McMahon Sr era

Bob Backlund didn't really look like the typical World Champion. An accomplished amateur wrestler, Backlund definitely had the credentials. But his clean cut demeanor and average physique meant he did not appear to be a match for many of the top stars of the era.

However, this was precisely the attraction of Backlund as champion. An underdog face champion was a novel concept at the time and one that proved to be dynamite at the box office, as Vince McMahon Sr's midas touch continued.

Backlund cleanly pinned Superstar Billy Graham to become champion on February 20, 1978. He defended the strap successfully versus a wide array of notable opponents such as former champions, Stan Stasiak and Ivan Koloff, plus Ken Patera, High Chief Peter Maivia and as his reign entered the 1980s, fresh opponents such as Sgt Slaughter, Killer Khan and Antonio Inoki to name a few.

However, when McMahon Sr's son, Vince Jr. purchased the newly re-monikered WWF in 1982, Backlund was not the figurehead required for his national expansion. Cue his title loss to the Iron Sheik in December 1983.