Picture it, America, spring of ’78. Roman Polanski skips bail and flees to France. For the first time in history senate hearing could be heard on the radio, and The Copyright Act of 1976 was passed. China lifted its ban on Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Dickens. Serial killing seemed to be slowing down with the apprehension of The Sacramento Vampire and Ted Bundy . Charlie Chaplin’s remains were stolen from his grave. Harvey Milk was shot and killed, and Americas resident pervert Larry Flynt was paralyzed by gunfire.
Top Songs:
Top Grossing Films:
Top Shows: Dallas, The Incredible Hulk, Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars Holiday Special let us see Boba Fett for the first time!
Space Invaders is created and released . That should be all the pop culture we need.
The WWWF going into 1978 still has “Superstar” Billy Graham as champion. He would start the years facing NWA Champion Harley Race in an attempt to unify the titles. “Superstar” also lost to Dusty Rhodes by blood loss. Two short months later the title would change hands , and the “All-American Boy” from Princeton, Minnesota Bob Backlund is champion.
Now from the Philadelphia Spectrum! We are going old school!
WWWF World Title Match- Bob Backlund vs. Spiros Arion
Arnold Skaaland- a quick summary on this man. He managed both Sammartino and Backlund meaning he managed the World Champion for 6,175 days! He was at the very beginning of the WWWF in 1963. He was the main producer at the time and an agent for Andre the Giant in life for realsies. He was in the Hall of Fame in 1994. He also was tag champs with Spiros in the 60’s.
Bob Backlund- Bob is a fellow Minnesotan, even though he resides in Connecticut where he ran for congress. His land loyalty has changed so that diminishes him a smidgen in my book cause REP YA TURF. In ’69 Backlund was a freshman in college, and an All-American in football and wrestling. Sophomore year he again was All-American in wrestling, he later transferred to North Dakota. He won the Division II Championship in wrestling while gaining a degree in physical education. Bob went to train under Eddie Sharkey. By 1973 he was in the AWA, he resembled Howdy Doody with his clean cut looks which made him a good guy right off the bat. He then worked for The Funks, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and Championship Wrestling From Florida . While trekking the territories he won numerous singles and tag titles. In 1977 Bob joined the WWWF and was given Arnold Skaaland as a manager. Four months into joining the company, he got his first title shot. It took over 4 attempts at Billy Graham to win the WWWF title for the first time. This brings us to tonight and his first title defense. Later this year he faces NWA Champion Harley Race in attempt to unify the titles. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Spiros Arion- Spiros made his debut in France in 1961, he wrestled in Europe before finding home in WCW Australia . One of the reasons I enjoy going old school is learning the history about the industry I love. I never knew Australia had a WCW that was even apart of the NWA . Spiros was the champion in WCW and one of the more popular wrestlers. He had his first run in WWWF between ’66-’75. In his second match he captured tag team gold with Tony Parisi . He was the first protégé of Bruno Sammartino, he also did not lose until 1974. He turned heel shortly after his loss, and joined up with Classy Freddie Blassie . Then he started a feud with Bruno’s new protégé Larry Zbyszko. He challenged Bruno for the belt a lot, but never won. After his return in ’77 he didn’t accomplish much. Shortly after this match he was stabbed by a fan while leaving the ring. A wrestler I’m surprised hasn’t made it to the hall of fame yet.
WWWF Championship match: Bob Backlund (c) vs. Spiros Arion
As the introductions are made Vince points out that Backlund works out six hours a day!! Arion tried to match strength with Backlund but failed. Vince points out that Bob is 28 years old, same age as our current champions Seth Rollins. Another impressive feat of Mr. Backlund is he does not where knee or elbow pads. The first ten or so minutes is waist locks and waist lock reversals. Backlund even goes for a pin attempt while having Spiros in the waist lock. They then do a test of strength which Arion won but only a moment. Backlund got ahold of the leg and did a stump puller. He then tried to pull the leg of Arion. Bob sits down and yanks on Spiros’ leg, as Backlund grunts the crowd keeps the cadence he makes. Arion gets to the ropes, before Backlund lets go he asks the ref if it’s illegal to stomp the leg first! The referee warned against it, Bob did it anyway in retaliation for getting punched with a closed fist earlier in the contest. He works over the right leg which is weird to me, I’m so used to American modern wrestling where the left appendages.
Arion finally gets ahold of Bob and Rams his head into the turnbuckle. Backlund falls to the ground and Spiros hits him in the groin. The funny part is that it was blatant, Vince called it too! Makes me wonder when the low blow became illegal in the WWWF? Last week (year) we saw DQ’s for far less. Off of the groin kick Backlund is hurting on the outside, he almost lost by count out. Bob got in in time but was caught in Spiros finisher the Backbreaker. Everyone thought that was it, no one ever got out of it, Backlund did and reversed it. Bob fires back and hits a PILEDRIVER for two! Backlund hits his finish the Atomic Drop but the ref got knocked out. A yay/boo happens but the crowd won’t know when to yay or boo for another 40 years. These two keep brawling, agents come out, wrestlers come out, the ref is stretchered out, Spiros then walks to the back.
And I’m Like… It ends in double disqualification, Arions feet hit the ref while he was in the Atomic Drop. Either way what a fun match! I love me some Bob Backlund, unless it’s mid 90’s Backlund. I’m a Bret Hart fan forever and I cried when Owen threw in that towel at Survivor Series. I had a thought though, my dishwasher grew up in the 70’s and told me they still thought it was real. I’m sure some were wise to the game, but kayfabe was alive and well. Especially in Minnesota and our AWA. My point is, this era of wrestling has to be slow and plodding. You can’t expect to view these matches with the same eye. You have to learn to appreciate the nuances, like when Backlund gets out of the waistlock by driving his elbow into Spiros’ forearm. They can’t afford to be fast paced and blow a move that makes it look fake.
Bruno Sammartino vs. Ken Patera
They were on the last Old School card.
If your looking for what they were up to before 1978.
I tried to find interesting details for Patera and Bruno for the year that passed since last review, nothin much happened in their careers at this point. The match is booked because Patera called out Bruno. Sammartino has enough pull in ’78, that a win over him is still seen as an accomplishment worth noting.
Patera attacks Bruno the second he enters the ring. Ken does a number on Bruno’s back, stomps from the middle rope, elbow drops and a body slam. Sammartino, when he was champion broke his neck in a match against Stan Hanson. After that match, it seems every plan to beat Bruno was based around back work.
Bruno works his way back by moving out of a Patera knee drop. Sammartino starts working the leg over, cinches in a single leg crab (which McMahon calls a Boston Crab)! The story seems to be, when Patera is on the offensive he is as cocky as ever. The instant Bruno gains the upper hand ken rolls to the outside to re-game plan.
It’s back and forth until Patera hits a flying knee, tries to follow it up with is finisher The Full Nelson. Sammartino noticing the dangerous position he is in rushes to the corner and has Patera hit head first in the turnbuckle. Sammartino proves his worth by going for a stomp, hesitating, looks to the crowd and they are hitting high octaves and creating thunderous applause. Bruno applies a chinlock on Patera’s 42 inch neck (that’s a damn waist size). Bruno applies The Full Nelson and Ken gets to the ropes and gets to the outside following the matches theme.
I can tell the match is closing, the breakdown of matches around his time is heavy punches and not much selling. Adds a fast pace feel. Just as I type that Bruno slows it down with a headlock. Patera weasels his way out, gets Bruno in the corner and unloads flurries of punches. Sammartino is now caught in a bear hug. With all the damage done to his back in the match, this could be it for Bruno. While the bear hug is applied Patera drops to one knee and pins Bruno. Sammartino kicks out and is able to break free of the hold. They both are clearly worn down, Patera resorts to choking Sammartino. He AGAIN gets Bruno in the bear hug. Once Bruno fights out mayhem ensues. They battle to the outside, Patera gets his head bounced off a sitting chair. Bruno picks up what looks to be an office chair, hits Patera over the head with it. The bell is rang for a draw.
And I’m Like… I watched this at work on my smoke breaks. You had two dudes who mastered the 70’s style of wrestling. With this and Backlund’s match being back to back, you can tell that the match layouts are quickening their pace with the younger generation coming in. I find myself enjoying Ken Patera the more I watch him.
Haystacks Calhoun vs Nikolai Volkoff
Their career summaries are also here. Should I link it like that or copy and paste what I wrote before, just without hyperlinks? Let me know what you would find more convenient as a reader.
This match was quick, some punches, some corner splashes. Haystacks Calhoun jumps for a splash and a pin.
And I’m Like… I am genuinely surprised that the match had a finish. Last time he wrestled it ended in a curfew draw. Meaning The Garden had to close by 11 pm. The match was 4 minutes.
That was an ok fun card. Makes me excited for next week!
Thanks for reading, please do your social media thing. I gotta cook some Eggs Benedict.
-Jake
