Professional Wrestling Flashback: Bob Backlund and the Chicken Wing

The year was 1979. MTV did not yet exist. Space Invaders was the video game of choice and Pac-Man was about to make its debut. My Sharona, by The Knack, was the #1 song on the radio. The internet was not yet a twinkle in Al Gore's eye. And Bob Backlund was the WWE (then known as WWF) Heavyweight Champion of the World. Long before wings were served outside of Buffalo, Bob Backlund ruled professional wrestling with the chicken wing. The chicken wing was a devastating maneuver that would force opponents to submit, or forfeit, before they were pinned. The chicken wing probably would not fly today, because of fear that children mimicking the maneuver would break their friends' arms. However, back in the day, the chicken wing was one of the most feared moves inside the ropes. Bob Backlund was the master of the chicken wing.

The WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) was once called the WWF (World Wrestling Federation), before the World Wildlife Fund disputed the WWF moniker. Back when it was the WWF, many legendary professional wrestlers were in their prime. Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, The Iron Sheik, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, The Samoans, and Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito all graced the ring of the WWF. However, back in 1979, Bob Backlund was arguably the most popular of all wrestlers. He first won his championship title in 1978 and successfully defended it for over five years. Finally, in 1983, he lost a title match, and his reign on top came to an end.