WWF on MSG Network - 20/10/1980
WWF Heavyweight Title Match: Bob Backlund (w/Arnold Skaaland) (c) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Backlund started the match by uploading on Slaughter and tossed him about with arm drags and hip tosses, settling into an armbar while Slaughter tried to not to let Backlund completely overwhelm him. Slaughter was finally able to escape the onslaught by throwing Backlund to the outside floor and ramming Backlund’s head into the post, apron, stairs, anything hard. Somewhere in all of this, Slaughter gets bloody and Backlund starts throwing the fists. The wrestling went back and forth until Arnold Skaaland nailed Slaughter with a chair for the DQ. Inexplicable booking for your babyface champion. Although Backlund was in deep danger of losing, that simply does not happen in wrestling. Apparently the background to this match was Skaaland being attacked by Slaughter on TV which could explain the revenge/cheap shot. Good WWF Title match though. Great bumping by Slaughter and a good performance in both offence and selling by Backlund. ***3/4
WWF Philly Spectrum - 10/01/1981
WWF Heavyweight Title Match: Bob Backlund (c) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
The Philly crowd love heckling the heels. They chant Gomer Pyle at Slaughter, reling him up before the bell. Slaughter attempted to cheap shot Backlund but it came around on him as he ran into a turnbuckle and hurt the arm. Naturally Backlund attacked the arm but unlike the October ‘80 match, Slaughter quickly escaped via headbutts and went to work on Backlund’s back. Backlund constantly moving, constantly threatening a comeback caused Slaughter to cheat his way back in control with shots to the throat and closed fists. The match did a good job in getting the Cobra Clutch and Slaughter over as a dangerous threat no matter Backlund’s dominance. Backlund can have things in hand but Slaughter is a dangerous man and could get the win very easily. The final third of the match was particularly good. Slaughter had some amazing punches and Backlund sold them wonderfully. He wouldn’t bump for one, or even two of them but he would stagge and then struggle to stand once he was dropped. The final stretch of the match was sublime. My favourite moment of the match was Slaughter jumping in glee once Backlund started to bleed on the outside. Slaughter bit Backlund’s wounds and Backlund clearly wouldn’t have that. Backlund hit a headbutt to the sternum and threw Slaughter over the corner posts. Backlund goes to get him but gets counted out in the cheap WWF fashion. Backlund attacks after the bell but Slaughter gets the final say, attacking Backlund with the title. Great match. ****
WWF on PRISM Network - 14/02/1981
WWF Heavyweight Title Match: Bob Backlund (c) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Well, they can’t all be hits. This was simply a bridge to the next month in Philadelphia. Backlund did not mess around in the opening moments, launching Slaughter into the turnbuckle (Slaughter took a big bump off it) before mounting punches, including a nasty punch after sending Slaughter running into the ropes. They went back and forth, doing a short brawl with nothing that memembroble. Just a few good punch exchanges and the big bump here and there. This ends with a double count out with Backlund chasing a fleeing Slaughter. ***1/4
WWF on PRISM Network - 21/03/1981
WWF Heavyweight Title Steel Cage Match: Bob Backlund (c) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
After Slaughter ran away last month, this was the perfect stipulation for this feud. This felt absolutely huge as well. For all the talk that this match was built for Bruno Sammartino, Backlund pretty much perfected the style of match intended. Slaughter’s sole intent was to escape and cheaply win the WWF title by escaping the cage without engaging Backlund first but Backlund wouldn’t have it. Slaughter had to beat Backlund down but it was never enough for him to get a chance to escape. Slaughter took every chance he could find to escape, whether it be through the door or over the time but Backlund would hang on to the boots or, at one point, low blow Slaughter. Whatever it took. I once praised Orton’s performance against Batsita in their 2009 Steel Cage match for committing to escaping but Slaughter blew it out of the water. He’s brilliant in this. Bumps, selling, character work. Everything. He’s hanging onto the edge of the cage door, hanging sideways as Backlund pulls at him, like his life depends on it. He’s just sublime. As is this match. Excellence at every degree. And the finish was just so good. Slaughter and Backlund are punching each other on the top of the cage when one of Backlund’s punches - a peach of a punch at that - and a slam into the top of the cage, sends Slaughter down, typing his legs in the ropes, allowing Backlund to triumphantly exit the cage. Holy cow! This felt like a Rocky Movie. ****3/4
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