From: zimmerma@corsa.ucr.edu (Christopher Robin Zimmerman) Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling Subject: Transcript: Bob Backlund on MNR, 19/9/94 Date: 20 Sep 1994 07:50:52 GMT Organization: UC Riverside, Dept. of Computer Science Lines: 189 Message-ID: <35m48s$dmt@galaxy.ucr.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: corsa.ucr.edu The regular RAW report is still going to show up, sooner or later. The length of the Detroit/Dallas game kept me from watching RAW at its usual time, but it is on tape. Anyway, to tide you over, here is a transcript of Vince McMahon's interview with Mr. Bob Backlund. Things are getting good... (from Monday Night RAW on the USA Network, 19 Sep 94) Vince McMahon: Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the former World Wrestling Federation champion..Bob Backlund. Audience boos. VM: Mr. Backlund, would you please? You heard it Mr. Backlund, you heard all these boos from this capacity crowd, what about it? (More boos.) They have a reason to boo, Bob Backlund. I mean, they think back as I do, they think back to when you first came to the World Wrestling Federation. Former NCAA collegiate champion, in the amateur ranks. Coming into the WWF, why, you typified what sportsmanship was really all about when you were the WWF champion in the past, years ago. (Crowd is chanting "Has-been") But, Bob Backlund, in a recent match with the Hitman Bret Hart, the reigning World Wrestling Federation Champion...many people feel as though Bret Hart proved his superiority in that match. Nonetheless, let's go back to several years ago, when you decided to make a comeback to the World Wrestling Federation. You decided to set a goal once again, once again to be the World Wrestling Federation champion, and everyone thought that you would bring with you those same values that you had when you were the WWF champion, they thought that you would be a sportsman, a consummate sportsman...and you were, up until the match with the Hitman Bret Hart. But after he proved his superiority, you snapped, Bob Backlund. Plain and simple, snapped! Randy Savage: Snapped! VM: This is foreign! Is this what you want? Is this Bob Backlund, this? What's going on in your head? RS: Nothing! Bob Backlund: First of all, I do not like the word 'former.' I celebrated my 16th anniversary as being the champ last year, and I'm going for 18! RS: He's so messed up in his head he can't even count! BB: And I'm very cognizant of what I'm doing, ladies and gentlemen. Before the end of that match, I defeated Bret the Hitman Hart 1, 2, 3. And as far as my standards, McMahon, my standards are higher than they ever have been in my life. My standards are too high for the plebeians in this world! You can't live up to my standards! And I'll fight for those standards! Society today is corrupt! Society today has teachers that help kids cheat on tests! They got principals that go driving around dressed like women! Do you think I want to be a member of that society? I'm appalled! I'm disgraced! To think...and you people...I used to love you! And you changed! You destroyed the world around you! And if you could live under my standards, we would have...a Utopian! A Perfect world! And I put the chicken wing on Bret the Hitman Hart for one reason. Because, when I did that, I had the opportunity to put it on each and every one of you people...plebeians! I'm not one of you anymore! I walk tall! I don't have to cheat and I hope that each and every one of you felt the pain of the greatest hold in professional wrestling..the chicken wing! You know, when I came back, McMahon, I didn't use the chicken wing because I wanted to make these people happy. Well, these people could drag anybody down. Because they're not successful! They're manipulators, and they manipulate themselves! The chicken wing...(boos) VM: This is Bob Backlund? BB: The chicken wing is the greatest hold in professional wrestling and nobody, including the man with the belt, not the champion, can't get out of it! And I'll be...("Has been" chant) RS: Somebody should have told Backlund the NFL's throwback weekend was over! VM: Does that bother you? Do you hear what they're chanting? They're chanting "Has-been!" BB: Do I look like a has-been? The people out there are has-beens, I run more miles in a day than they do in their lifetime! When I say something, ladies and gentlemen, I do it! You're too weak! You can't go on a diet for more than one day! You suffer from dyslexia! 50% of the people in America can't read! Now, what kind of education system do we have? VM: And by the way... BB: That's what I'm fighting for! VM: I'd like to take exception to a remark you made that there is no escape for the chicken wing and the crossface, because you yourself at one time Bob Backlund said "for every move there's a counter, for every hold there's an escape." You're saying there's no escape... BB: Ladies and gentlemen, and I use that term loosely...(boos)...if there's anybody that can walk away or get out of that chicken wing once I get them pinioned to the mat, I'll retire from professional wrestling for good! RS: Can we get that in writing? VM: Pretty bold statement, Mr. Backlund, that's an awesome hold, but that's a pretty bold statement. Now what's this? Bob removes his jacket. BB: You ready? VM: What? BB: Come on! VM: Now, wait a minute. RS: What is he, challenging McMahon? Hey, I'd like to see this myself. Hey, Vince, go! Go for it! VM: If you'd like to bring out a WWF superstar, or challenge someone from the dressing room, fine! Who's it gonna be? RS: Rule #1, never let ANYBODY put a hold on you, without earning it. Bob challenges Howard Finkel. VM: Wait a minute... RS: Hey check this, out, hey Lou, where ya going? VM: Louie? Lou Gianfroddo, who writes for WWF Magazine is here, covering tonight's activities, you invite him up here? RS: This is incredible! Lou's been writing about Bob Backlund for years, positively, I might add, and he's got respect for Bob like we all had. VM: You're going to put the chicken wing upon Louie, why? RS: And they're friends! BB: He'd like it demonstrated, I'll demonstrate it. VM: Are you game for this, Lou? LG: Absolutely. Let's go, Bob. I'm ready for it, Bob. VM: All right, Bob, he's ready for it, as a demonstration. RS: As a demonstration, cool. Atta baby, Lou. VM: Are you up for the task? I mean, ok, but I mean there could be a WWF superstar you could call out here. RS: I'd rather see that. BB: I said, if ANYBODY gets away from it, I'll retire! VM: For good. BB: When I say something, I'm not going to be fallacious with these people. I don't lie, and I don't cheat! If I say I'm going to do it, whether you like it or not, I'm gonna tell you the truth! RS: I need a dictionary when Bob Backlund talks. VM; Ok, give us a demonstration of the chicken wing, all right. (Has been chant..Randy joins it) VM: OK... (Bob puts it on) LG: Easy Lou, easy... VM: Ok, can you get out of it, Lou? OK, you've proved your point. Hey, wait a minute! Hey! Hey, he writes for the magazine! Hey, let him go! Let him go! (Bob has snapped. He's yelling lots of unintelligible stuff, like "Try it! Get out of it!" and "Aaaaaah!" Lou is in a lot of pain, and doing some unintelligible screaming of his own.) RS: What the....? The hell with Tunney! (Savage leaves his position and joins several WWF officials and Vince in breaking them up. While everyone helps Lou out, Bob looks at his hands...and smiles) BB: Ladies and gentlemen, my name is MISTER Backlund, and nobody can get out of the chicken wing. Did you feel it? Did you feel it? That's what DISCIPLINE is all about, ladies and gentlemen! (Cascading boos...) -- / Christopher Robin Zimmerman / kzim@koko.csustan.edu / zimmerma@corsa.ucr.edu /