On Monday, December 20, 2021 on the horrible Peacock network WWE posted 6 Madison Square Garden shows in their old school section. All six shows were from 1983, including the historic match where The Iron Sheik captured the WWF World Championship from Bob Backlund.
I don't recall ever watching this match in it's entirety only the finish of the match. On the episode of All Star Wrestling that aired on Christmas Eve 1983, taped December 7th, the Iron Sheik challenged anyone to perform with his Persian clubs, no one had been successful before. This is schtick that the Sheik had been doing for years and I saw him do it at an Indie who in Maine in 1998, I tried it, it's VERY hard to do.
On his third attempt Bob Backlund was successful and he was attacked by the Iron Sheik who struck Backlund with in the back of the neck several time injuring him. Thirty-nine years ago today, On December 26, 1983 Backlund stepped in the ring at Madison Square Garden against The Iron Sheik who dominated the match wearing Backlund down and applying his dreaded Camel Clutch wrenching back on the champion until his Manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel ending Backlund's 2,135 day championship reign.
The narrative had always been that Bob Backlund never got his rematch with the Iron Sheik, but as you'll read below he did get a few return matches, including one Boston, which was a big market. Sheik wrestled all around the then WWF territory as champion wrestling almost everyday of his 28 day reign.
December 27, 1983 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow with his feet on the ropes
December 28, 1983 Hazleton, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Bob Bradley
December 29, 1983 Landover, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo
December 30, 1983 Salisbury, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification
January 2, 1984 Scranton, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo
January 3, 1984 Allentown, Pennsylvania
Championship Wrestling television
Aired January 7, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted John Callahan
Aired January 21, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted Mike Dorsett
January 4, 1984 Hamburg, Pennsylvania
All Star Wrestling Television Taping
Aired January 7, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted Denny Hill
Aired January 14, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted Ken Jugan
January 5, 1984 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Israel Matia
January 6, 1984 La Plata, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow
January 7, 1984 Erie, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo
January 8, 1984 Cincinnati, Ohio
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification
January 9, 1984 Akron, Ohio
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification
January 11, 1984 Jericho, New York
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow
January 12, 1984 Marlboro, Massachusetts
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo
January 13, 1984 Bangor, Maine
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow
January 14, 1984 Boston, Massachusetts
Bob Backlund defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification
January 15, 1984 Pittsfield, Massachusetts
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Ivan Putski
January 16, 1984 Oil City, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo
January 18, 1984 Warren, Ohio
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik fought Bob Backlund to a no contest
January 19, 1984 Monongahela, Pennsylvania
Bob Backlund defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification
January 20, 1984 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow
January 21, 1984 Landover, Maryland (matinee show)
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik competed in an 18 man battle royal that was won by Andre the Giant
January 21, 1984 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik fought Tito Santana to a double disqualification
January 22, 1984 Williamsport, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow
Ivan Putski defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification
January 23, 1984 Madison Square Garden
Hulk Hogan pinned WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik to win the championship
Sheik wrestled four matches on the syndicated shows in his 28 day reign as champion, by comparison in a 6 year period Hogan only wrestled 12 matches as champion on the syndicated shows. You can read about it here: Hulk Hogan's Rare TV Matches
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Until next time!
