Below are a couple of top news stories of the day, involving a WWF Legend and SummerSlam 2024.
• According to the Wrestling Observer, WWWF/WWF Legend Bob Backlund is battling dementia these days.
Details about the specific stage of dementia affecting 74-year-old Backlund were not revealed. However, it was mentioned that after many years in Connecticut, he now resides with his sister in Florida, suggesting he requires help.
“While this has been known for some time, it came out this past week at a live Bret Hart signing that Bob Backlund, 74, is suffering from dementia.
Backlund, who had been living in Connecticut since 1977 when he started in the WWWF after being picked to be the replacement for Bruno Sammartino as the top star in the company (Superstar Billy Graham had a transitional run, a super transitional run at the box office). Sammartino said he wanted to slow down his schedule due to suffering from a broken neck in 1976.
Backlund was champion from early 1978 through the end of 1983, when he lost to Iron Sheik to transition to Hulk Hogan. He is now living with his sister in Florida.”
Bob Backlund is a former 2-time WWWF/WWF World Heavyweight Champion and a former WWF Tag Team Champion (along with Pedro Morales) as well. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
• At SummerSlam 2024, Bron Breakker defeated Sami Zayn in just 5 minutes and 40 seconds to win the Intercontinental Championship.
This was Breakker’s first title win on the WWE main roster. Breakker won by delivering 2 vicious spears to Zayn in the end.
According to Fightful Select, time was cut from this match for unknown reason, as the original plan was for this match to be 10 minutes long.
Breakker’s father and uncle, Rick and Scott Steiner, and his girlfriend, NXT wrestler Izzi Dame, were in attendance to see his title victory.
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