27 years ago today. As a WWWF fan I had no clue this match was even happening. Found out it happened after the fact in an Apter mag. Which makes sense I guess (no need to promo the match to WWWF-Philly fans)
Never got mentioned before or after the fact on WWWF TV. By today's standards an odd way to promote the match. This match and the Rich-Sawyer "Last Battle Of Atlanta" must be the most highly sought after video footage ever.
Where you were living -- did you know this match was taking place prior to it happening? And if so -- how was it promoted?
____________________ "The Beej portion was legit the best moment of the whole thing for me." - Carpetbeggar reviewing the Rise & Fall Of WCW DVD
Is Backlund's appearances on the TBS "around" in people's collections? I've never seen it before. Would it be on the Orlando Macchia collection? I'm only half way through watching it, so if I knew that was upcoming then it would surely be a nice treat to look forward to.
Also did Backlund just make the one appearance on the show? Was the appearance he did do the day of or day before the match or a week or so beforehand? Did he wrestle any other matches down that way while he was down there?
I dont remember seeing him wrestle. I do remember reading somewhere he was on the saturday morning show then the main Saturday night show before the 4th. That was it.
____________________ "The judge won't allow Pee Wee Herman to defend himself, and Pee Wee is sure he can get himself off."- James E Cornette
I forgot about the rest of the world having cable in 1982. In Philly the political side of things kept people that lived in Philly from having cable until years later.
Backlund wrestles Gerald Finley on TBS at one point - pretty sure that was leading up to the match vs Falir at the Omni and yes the Backlund-Flair-TBS stuff does exist on video/people have it. The Omni match has never surfaced though.
____________________ "The Beej portion was legit the best moment of the whole thing for me." - Carpetbeggar reviewing the Rise & Fall Of WCW DVD
beejmi wrote: I forgot about the rest of the world having cable in 1982. In Philly the political side of things kept people that lived in Philly from having cable until years later.
Backlund wrestles Gerald Finley on TBS at one point - pretty sure that was leading up to the match vs Falir at the Omni and yes the Backlund-Flair-TBS stuff does exist on video/people have it. The Omni match has never surfaced though.
I remember seeing Backlund/Flair promo on TBS and was hoping to see the highlights the following week with Gordon Solie, it never happened.
____________________ i'm not prejudice, i don't like anybody.
freebirdsforever2001 wrote: beejmi wrote: I forgot about the rest of the world having cable in 1982. In Philly the political side of things kept people that lived in Philly from having cable until years later.
Backlund wrestles Gerald Finley on TBS at one point - pretty sure that was leading up to the match vs Falir at the Omni and yes the Backlund-Flair-TBS stuff does exist on video/people have it. The Omni match has never surfaced though.
I remember seeing Backlund/Flair promo on TBS and was hoping to see the highlights the following week with Gordon Solie, it never happened.
beejmi wrote: Backlund wrestles Gerald Finley on TBS at one point - pretty sure that was leading up to the match vs Falir at the Omni and yes the Backlund-Flair-TBS stuff does exist on video/people have it. The Omni match has never surfaced though.
The Flair - Backlund confrontation takes place on the July 3 - 1982 episode of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Solie interviews both Champions at the same time a couple of times during this show while hyping the upcoming unification match on July 4th at the Omni. During the second interview we get to see footage of Flair beating Mike Jackson from an old episode of GCW and also highlights of Backlund winning the WWWF championship from Superstar Graham. Afterwards Flair refuses to shake Backlund's hand and just walks away from the podium.
beejmi wrote: I forgot about the rest of the world having cable in 1982. In Philly the political side of things kept people that lived in Philly from having cable until years later.
Backlund wrestles Gerald Finley on TBS at one point - pretty sure that was leading up to the match vs Falir at the Omni and yes the Backlund-Flair-TBS stuff does exist on video/people have it. The Omni match has never surfaced though.
Dont feel bad..in a few months after this we would lose TBS and wouldnt get it back until 1991.
____________________ "The judge won't allow Pee Wee Herman to defend himself, and Pee Wee is sure he can get himself off."- James E Cornette
Good stuff. I had completely forgotten about this. Backlund's mike skills were just awful. It would have been better had he been interviewed as a cut away and not live. It sounds like he had a stuttering problem.
____________________ "Hey Hanrahan! Hanrahan! Hanrahan - Suzanne sucks pussy! Hey Hanrahan she's a dyke! I know, I know! She's a lesbian, a lesbian, a lesbian!"
Reggie Dunlap - Player/Coach - Charleston Chiefs (RIP)
July 4, 1982 - Atlanta, GA - Omni
Kevin Sullivan over Masa Saito 7:02
Masked Superstar over Mr. Wrestling II
Super Destroyer beat Tom Pritchard 11:00
Leroy Brown over John Studd (Texas Death Match)
Paul Orndorff W/DQ Jimmy Snuka
Don Muraco over Dusty Rhodes 0:49
National Tag Team Title Match:
Freebirds vs. Wild Samoans
NWA Tag Team Title Match:
Stan Hansen & Ole Anderson L/DQIvan Putski & Tom Pritchard (sub.Tommy Rich) 9:00
WWF/NWA Title Match:
Bob Backlund DCOR Ric Flair
____________________ "Then Simple Man, where he really played to his base hard core rednecks (singing about hanging drug dealers that the crowd cheered for but were probably high on Crystal meth)" - Count Grog on the free Charlie Daniels show he attended
July 4, 1982 - Atlanta, GA - Omni
Kevin Sullivan over Masa Saito 7:02
Masked Superstar over Mr. Wrestling II
Super Destroyer beat Tom Pritchard 11:00
Leroy Brown over John Studd (Texas Death Match)
Paul Orndorff W/DQ Jimmy Snuka
Don Muraco over Dusty Rhodes 0:49
National Tag Team Title Match:
Freebirds vs. Wild Samoans
NWA Tag Team Title Match:
Stan Hansen & Ole Anderson L/DQIvan Putski & Tom Pritchard (sub.Tommy Rich) 9:00
WWF/NWA Title Match:
Bob Backlund DCOR Ric Flair
Were the Samoans also visiting from the WWF or were they not there at that moment?
