Top 50 Greatest Wrestling Heels of all time

36. Bob Backlund

Although spending the majority of his career as a white-meat, milk-and-cookies polarizing babyface, he might be best-known by fans today for his contributions as the bombastic nut-case of the mid-90s.

A good guy WW(W)F champion for 6 years, he would be one of the company’s most beloved stars before leaving just before the WWF dove into the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling era. He would return in the early 90s as a babyface but despite what the company wanted, nobody was vying for another Bob run on top. So it was that after a face vs face bout with Bret Hart that he snapped, viciously assaulting Bret in what would turn into one of the most preposterous runs in WWF history.

A hugely-over-the-top character, he became Mr Backlund; dressing in bow ties, using high-brow language and snapping at a moment’s notice – becoming unhinged and dangerous. Unbelievably, the 45-year-old Backlund actually managed to pick up another WWF title run – beating Bret Hart after ‘The Hitman’ was screwed over by Owen. Backlund would drop the belt to Diesel in 8 seconds 3 days after winning it though.

Overall, despite being one of the biggest babyfaces ever, he will likely be remembered for this heel run including his interaction with Jonathan Taylor Thomas, love of people’s ability to recite US presidents and bizarre, screamed comments.