Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Maria Menounos inducted Backlund. She said that to induct anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame is so special and praised wrestlers for all they do as entertainers and doing it while taking bumps.
She explained how much she loved Bob Backlund growing up and how they became friends on the set of her first movie. She said that there is no better friend to have than Bob Backlund.
She told a story of the Iron Sheik's Persian Clubs and how Backlund was the only man who could do it and Backlund told her how if you could believed you could do something you can. She then told a story of Backlund doing the Harvard Step Test for 8 hours.
She said that when she was on Dancing with the Stars, when she wrestled at Wrestlemania and making it in Hollywood, Backlund's advice and words helped her.
She noted that after losing the belt, Bob refused to turn heel because it would let down the kids who looked up to him. Then years later he came back and reestablished himself as a top heel for a new audience.
Maria told a ton of unknown facts about Bob. She said he was a top shootfighter but intentionally never squashed an opponent because it could hurt them in the future. The crowd was turning on her because it was so long.
Backlund came out and thanked Maria. He said that he's known her a long time and she's a lady's lady and he has the utmost respect for her.
Backlund said being put in today is an honor because of who's being put in with him. He talked of meeting Bruno Sammartino for the first time in 1977. He said he respects Bruno because he paved the road for guys like Bob. He got to know Bruno very well and Bruno works hard and never gives up like John Cena gives up. He said the crowd boo but if you want to be successful, you can't give up.
He asked if anyone thinks Vince McMahon made excuses when he wanted to control the world of wrestling, they are wrong.
Backlund told the story of how he thought he was family when Vince McMahon Sr. wanted an All American Boy. He said growing up, he had an outhouse in Minnesota. He said they didn't have much but they had each other.
Backund said he got into amateur wrestling in fifth grade and lost every match he had. He was mad at himself and the coaches wanted him to quit. He showed them. He got excited when he learned that when you lose, you never lose unless you quit. He began questioning why he lost and bought his first exercize machine.
Backlund began telling all these zany stories about workout machines and routines he created. He was really really animated and awesome.
Backlund said he was still losing but got better little by little. He said his last match, he worked really hard. Verne Gagne mentioned his name on TV and everyone told him he was gonna win. He got lazy and was beaten by a substitute wrestler. He didn't cry until he got back to the locker room because he let his mother and everyone else down. It was the worst thing to ever happen to him and the best because he never gave up.
He went nuts screaming about how hard he worked and never gave up and is fitter than anyone else here. He began ranting about the marks Sgt. Slaughter left on his body. He asked if anyone remembers the last time he was in MSG...because he doesn't either.
Backlund pointed out Betty Skaaland in the front row and spoke lovingly of her husband, Arnold who managed him. He warned HHH not to laugh at him and HHH went all serious...then Backlund said he was laughing too. This is awesome.
Backlund asked his brother to come on stage and put him in a side headlock. He pointed out a young athlete he works out with.
Vince McMahon snuck out on stage in a funny manner and told Bob he was done. Bob played it off and said he was waiting for a signal.
Backlund went nuts with a rant about the young athlete andrew cuomo getting better every day and pushing HHH to sign him. They ended the speech with Bob going nuts. HHH got on stage and they did some silly back and forth. Bob kept going and going and Vince came back out and they turned the lights out and played music. Bob kept going.
This was the most entertaining, odd, awesome speech ever. I hope it doesn't get edited. It was way out there in outer space
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
