LEX LUGER VS. BOB BACKLUND

 Jim Ross and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan are on commentary for this match. Lex Luger makes his way out first, this is the first qualifying match for the 1993 King of the Ring tournament. Heenan claims Bret Hart bought his way into the tournament. Backlund jogs down the ring once they can remove the mirror from The Narcissist’s hands.

 

LEX LUGER VS. BOB BACKLUND

(King of the Ring qualifier)

WWF Wrestling Challenge (2^nd  May 1993)

  Backlund asks for a handshake to start but gets laughed off by Luger, JR and Brain are bickering about Heenan’s chauffeur. Bob Backlund rolls Luger up for a nearfall, he gets another with a backslide and an inside cradle completes the hat-trick. Luger is taken over with an arm drag, Backlund trips him with single-leg takedowns as Luger runs into them like an idiot. Backlund runs the ropes, Luger ducks but is caught in a victory roll for another nearfall, so he goes to the floor to break up the match. Walking all the way up to the curtain because the referee, Bill Alfonso, isn’t too concerned about counting him out. Luger gets back into the ring and Backlund is ready, jumping around like a crazy man. This was a brilliant run for Mr. Backlund. He instantly proves that wrong, teasing an elbow to Luger’s head in the corner but not following through. Lex Luger catches him with a back elbow and Backlund sells it like the plate could have caught him. Luger stomps Backlund before sending his head into the top turnbuckle. Luger grinds Backlund’s face across the top rope and connects with a right hand, then slams him down. Bob Backlund reverses an irish whip and Luger staggers out of the corner into a hip toss. Bob Backlund hits a standing dropkick and slams Luger, holding him in the air for a few seconds. The atomic drop connects and the crowd is going insane for this. Lex Luger grabs for the top rope, he’s brought back into an O’Conor roll but kicks Backlund out of the ring. Bob Backlund gets back to the apron but Lex Luger sends him back to the floor with a running forearm shot, using the steel plate in his arm. Bob Backlund is counted out and Luger moves on to the tournament.

WINNER: LEX LUGER

This match was what you would expect, the fans ate up everything that Bob Backlund did, but I was glad he got as much shine as he did, leading Luger through the match. The count out finish made sense and put over the forearm as a deciding factor for Luger. [**½] 5/10