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BOB BACKLUND DISCUSSES THE PASSING OF VERNE GAGNE AND MUCH MORE

By Mike Ryker on 2015-04-29 07:45:00

WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund joined Doug Mortman and Dave Lagreca on Busted Open. You can hear Busted Open on SiriusXM 92 and on the SiriusXM app. Also go to Busted OpenNation.com for all the details. 
 
Q:  Talk about your relationship with Verne Gagne.
BB: Verne Gagne came to most of my tournament matches when I went to High School in Minnesota. He used to sit next to a guy who I worked for whose name was Reed Henschel who happened to be a pastor. When I was in 10th grade, I tried to find the hardest job in my town and that was the one I found. Verne knew me a lot more than I knew him. There was a piece on the WWE website that says Verne got me into pro wrestling but that’s incorrect. Eddie Sharkey was actually the guy that helped me get started but Verne was a great guy.
 
Q: What were some of the lessons Verne instilled in you? It seems like you guys are similar in that you are both no nonsense type of guys who are very into physical training.
BB: I never really had to be coached. When I was a Junior in High School, I was ready. I wanted to outwork everybody. I was going to be in the best shape of anyone on the team. I wasn’t really around Verne much. The Funks ( Terry and Dory) helped me a lot when it came to starting my career. Verne was a great man but I just wasn’t around him very much.
 
Q: When you were champion, there was a lot more actual wrestling in Pro Wrestling than there is right now.
BB: It’ changed so much. I’d like to go back in the ring and put some W back in it but I don’t think that is going to happen.
 
Q: You have one good run left in you?
BB: Yea but I think the WWE is a little nervous after what happened to Jerry Lawler when he stepped into the ring and had a heart attack. But Jerry never really worked out a day in his life and I work out now harder than I ever have.
 
Q: Who worked the Bob Backlund heel character? How did that character come about?
BB: When I first started I wanted to be the typical good guy, but then I realized it was going to be hard to reach the same level of intensity with the fans than I would otherwise as a heel. I asked if I could be a bad guy, and they asked why. I said because the good guys are lying, cheating and swearing. Let me be bad by being good. I also said I wanted to have a luminous vocabulary so I can upset the plebeians.
 
Bob also taked about the WWE Hall of Fame, his relationship with Vince McMahon, and his physical training. 

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