Andrew Lutzke
Presented by RF Shoot
Funk and Bob share a slightly awkward hug and share some pleasantries.
They compare marriage lengths and talk about their children a bit.
Backlund talks about working the Amarillo territory in which Funk owned at that point.
Bob and his wife left items behind in Amarillo with fans since Bob thought he was coming back in a matter of weeks – he never returned.
The plan was for Bob to be a lower card guy there but Funk had him put over.
Funk says Bob is the epitome of what a wrestler should be.
Terry explains that once you know how to work, you can basically wrestle blind since you have such a feel for it.
Both agree that calling matches in the ring is the preferable method of working compared to the over scripted methods today. Funk says the revenue WWE compiles might suggest they do it the right way though.
Using psychology can create more drama and intrigue than running angles and often it can be done quicker.
Backlund was stiff when he first started working and Funk jokes he was scared of Bob at the time.
Eddie Graham helped foster Backlund’s skills and Funk puts over Graham’s genius.
Funk helped prep Backlund for working in Japan as well.
A territory wouldn’t work today because of the scope and expectations of the modern business. Funk compares the WWF to a traveling circus business model.
MMA is just another form of pro wrestling as the MMA promoters find and groom stars just like a wrestling promotion.
Cable killed the original wrestling business model, and Backlund says even McMahon Sr. was wary of the effects cable would have on wrestling.
Backlund admits the NWA champions had to be a lot better technical workers than the WWF champ.
Florida was Backlund’s proving ground as he was able to draw money there and soon after was named WWWF champion.
Terry explains that kayfabe had to be protected in the territories since things like a heel and a face riding in together would spread fast through the smaller towns that were run.
Funk’s dad beat up a guy who told a young Terry that his dad was a phony. Another time Papa Funk tossed a guy off a roof who wanted to test his skills.
“If you’re not tougher than the fans, you shouldn’t be in the business.”
Backlund tried to avoid a fight once for the sake of avoiding unnecessary conflict – he was ordered back to the scene to finish the issue.
Lou Thesz, Ricky Starr, Verne Gagne and others came in and trained guys in Funk’s gym. The guys would end up shooting on each other to test the other’s skills but Funk says he won’t say who won.
Eddie Graham liked Backlund due to his shooting abilities – even at a time where shoots were becoming a rare occurrence.
Backlund says the WWF asked him to do things he didn’t want to do in 1984 since he had a daughter entering school and he didn’t want her affected by him playing heel or whatever else.
Bob implies that Vince Jr’s demands for a large body and heavy working schedule led to the guys using drugs to get by – but Bob says the guys ultimately chose to do it.
Funk can’t say that if he was 21 now that he wouldn’t do the roids or whatever else it would take to participate in the business he loves.
They discuss PEDs (Performing Enhancing Drugs) and Funk thinks there should be a one and done policy with guys being caught using and that would clean the sports world up.
Fame is hard to pass up though and it’s understandable why the route of PEDs is used.
They ask the guys who the greatest wrestler ever is and Backlund asks if raising a family, staying off drugs, keeping your marriage intact and so on is part of the parameters or if we just care that the guy drew money?
“Are you rich if you have no family?”
Funk laughs that the WWE gave him 2 ½ minutes to cover his 40 year career at his Hall of Fame induction.
Superstar Graham, Snuka and others chose to blow their fortunes and it was their choices so more power to them.
Backlund went to Vince in 1994 and asked to turn heel. Bob points out that as a heel he was actually the most square goody two shoes possible – a babyface in another era.
Nash stiffed Backlund the night he won the title from Bob and Backlund was legit injured and he warned Nash that it wouldn’t happen again.
Backlund claims Bret and him were suppose to trade the WWF title instead of Nash getting a run with it.
Bret’s family being in the business gave him a great mentality to succeed and Funk thinks Bret marked the end of an era.
Backlund is wearing a suit top…and a fanny pack. He and Funk compare fanny pack supplies.
Stan Hansen even thought Backlund was stiff(!)
Superstar Graham is a great artist. Bob refutes Graham’s claims that Backlund was paranoid about being shot on while WWWF champion.
Funk watches MMA and sees openings for submissions that he learned while training that the MMA guys miss frequently.
Danny Hodge was the last guy in the world you’d want to shoot on.
George Steele and Bob Backlund both found the other hard to work with. Bob loved working with Don Muraco, Greg Valentine, and Sgt. Slaughter.
Funk loved Dusty Rhodes since they drew more money with each other than other program Funk had. He’s glad he learned from Thesz, Johnny Valentine, Gene Kiniski, Pat O’ Connor, Danny Hodge and other legends.
Hodge was the only person to ever win a national title in wrestling and boxing.
Backlund doesn’t watch TV – much less wrestling.
Funk is amazed that Kurt Angle isn’t the perennial babyface TNA world champion.
Backlund didn’t like working in TNA’s 6 sided ring.
Walking relaxes Backlund and he was looked at as an odd duck for walking a fair distance in order to go from the hotel to the Impact Zone.
Backlund gave up lifting weights in the early 80’s and would do steps for and hour and a rolling ball exercise for 45 minutes as his only forms of training.
Funk finds scripted promos to be a necessary evil of modern wrestling. Terry understands that it’s because of time constraints and so on.
Getting over is up to the office now more than ever.
Backlund was a big fan of Da Crusher growing up in Minnesota.
Terry thinks part of the allure that made guys want to get into wrestling was due to how protected the business was and how hard it would be to earn a spot to train and prosper.
Jake Roberts told people Terry Funk was to blame for some of his cocaine use.
Backlund didn’t know Bruno Sammartino existed since Bruno never made it to the AWA.
Brad Rheingans trained with Backlund in college.
After the Americans skipped the 1980 Olympics, Backlund helped Brad get in the business.
Bob didn’t hang out in the locker rooms when he was champ. He trained in the arenas, did his match and went home.
Backlund did occasionally try and drink with Andre the Giant.
Andre carried the cartilage that was pulled out of his knee during surgery in a jar.
Big John Studd was hard to get a good match out of.
Backlund has no regrets and Funk loved hanging out with him today. Backlund jokingly put Funk in a headlock and Terry jokes how stiff Backlund still is.
Final Thoughts: Terry Funk is has been one of the most progressive minds in wrestling for the past 40 plus years and Bob Backlund is a nutter – and this combo produced an entertaining shoot about the days of old. The 2 hours flew by and Feinstein managed to escape asking any inane questions for a change – we did get 2 or 3 incidents of things that should have been edited out if RF was a real professional – including Backlund using the bathroom being picked up on the mic. The stars brought the content though.
