Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Bob Backlund vs. Ivan Koloff (MSG 8/28/78)

My first foray into seriously watching a WWWF MSG match from the seventies. Lou Albano keeps yelling into the mic. I don’t quite get it, but the crowd gets riled up. This really is a time warp, because these tough NYC fans really seem to love the spiffy All-American Backland. He looks like he stole Doug Furnas’ legs and put them on his much shorter body. Koloff, who I’ve read about for years, but never seen, has a great heel look with a cape (shorter than I’d have thought). I get all these Russians mixed up no matter how hard I try, and Nikita Koloff is the only one that’s really jumped out to me. Probably the influence of watching too much 1985 Flair – and I’m realizing this was “Uncle Ivan”. I enjoyed the late 70s Vince McMahon commentary much more than the 90s version.

I surprised at how much fun the early sequences are. Easy to follow and logical, and not nearly as boring as I might have ignorantly stereotyped them to be (WWWF, 70s, slow, blah). It’s got almost an MMA/jiu-jitsu progression to the holds. Even the bridge sequence had some grit and charm. Sure, there are slow parts, but the crowd is hot, and as long as there’s some wrestling logic I like the formula. Backland has a wrestling answer to everything Koloff does. The only crappy part was Backland powering out of a test of strength – too hammed up for me.

Some random thoughts – Whenever the action would pick up in quick spurts after long holds it was surprisingly exciting. The holds were a bit long, but definitely worked well. Backland is so goofy as a face that the only modern day equivalent I can think of is Kenny Omega. The crowd back then had a lot more patience. Love the crowd chanting in rhythm as Backland pulls on the leg of Koloff. Koloff wasn’t horrible, but you get the sense that Backland is definitely leading this dance. I liked Backland’s attempts at leg work and the fact he was kicking out at one while gaining two count near falls on Koloff. Koloff’s control segments are pretty cool, as he keeps the heat on Backland, and the diving knee rules. I love how intense it gets after Backland comes up cut on until the stoppage finish. This was totally a finish you’d see in modern day MMA that would draw a larger house for the rematch (I know some people hate the MMA references, but it’s true).

This match is definitely too long (30 minutes), but I assume this was the typical style of MSG main event in length and structure (anyone more knowledgeable chime in). It’s not exactly what I want out of my wrestling, but it may have been close in 1978.