"You're saying there's no way to escape the chicken-wing cross-face?"

Vince McMahon: "Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the former World Wrestling Federation Champion, Bob Backlund.

[Bob Backlund jogs to the ring and quickly makes his way to the apron before slowly making his way into the ring beside Vince McMahon.]

Mr. Backlund, you heard all these boos from this capacity crowd. What about? [Crowd boos.] They have a reason to boo Bob Backlund. I mean, they think back, as I'm thinking back to when you first came to the World Wrestling Federation. Former NCAA collegiate champion in the amateur rights. Coming into the WWF why-- You typlified what sportsmanship was really all about when you were WWF champion in the past years ago. But, Bob Backlund, in a recent match with 'The Hitman' Bret Hart, the reigning World Wrestling Federation Champion, many people feel as Bret Hart proved his superiority in that match. [Crowd cheers.] Nonetheless, let's go back to several years ago when you decided to make a comeback to the World Wrestling Federation. You decided to set a goal once again, once again to be the World Wrestling Federation champion. [Crowd chants 'we want Bret!'] And everyone thought that you would bring with you those same values that you had when you were WWF champion. They thought that you-- You'd be a sportsman, a consummate sportsman and you were up until the match with 'The Hitman' Bret Hart. But after he proved his superiority, you snapped, Bob Backlund! Plain and simple. Snapped! This is foreign, is this what you want? Is this Bob Backlund is? What's going on in your head?"

Bob Backlund: "First of all, I do not like the word, former. I celebrated my sixteenth anniversary as being the champ last year and I'm going for eighteen. And I'm very cognizant of what I'm doing, ladies and gentlemen. Before the end of that match, I defeated Bret 'The Hitman' Hart. One, two, three! And as far as my standards, McMahon. My standards are higher than they ever have been in my life. My standards are too high for the plebeians in this world! You can't live up to my standards! And I'll fight for those standards. Society today is corrupt! Society today has teachers that help kids cheat on tests! They have principals that drive around just like women! Do you think that I want to be a member of that society! I'm appalled! I'm disgraced to think that you people, I used to love you. And you changed. You destroyed the world around you! And if you could live up to my standards, we would have an-- A utopia! A perfect world. And I put that chicken-wingon Bret 'The Hitman' Hart for one reason. Because when I did that, I had the opportunity to put it on each and every one of you people, plebeians. I'm not one of you anymore. I walk tall! I don't have to cheat. And I hope that each and every one of you felt the pain of the greatest hold in professional wrestling, the chickewing. You know, when I cam back McMahon, I didn't use the chicken-wingbecause I wanted to make these people happy. Well, these people could drag anybody down because they're not successful. They are manipulators and they manipulate themselves! [Crowd jeers.] The chickenwing--" [Backlund stops abruptly and faces the booing crowd].

[Vince McMahon shrugs.]

Vince McMahon: "This is Bob Backlund?"

Bob Backlund: "The chicken-wingis the greatest hold in professional wrestling and nobody, including the man with the belt, not the champion, can get out of it [Crowd begins to chant 'has-been'.] And I'll be t--"[Backlund stops and turns to the crowd. He begins to pace.]

Vince McMahon: "Does that bother you? Do you hear what they're chanting? They're chanting 'has-been.'

Bob Backlund: "Do I look like a has-been? The people out there are has-beens. I run more miles in a day than they do in their lifetime. When I say something, ladies and gentlemen, I do it! You're too weak! You can't go on a diet for more than one day! You suffer from dyslexia! Fifty percent of the people in America can't read! Now what kind of educational system do we have?"

Vince McMahon: "And by the way--"

Bob Backlund: "That's what I'm fighting for?"

Vince McMahon: "I'd like to take expection to a remark you made, that there is no escape for the chicken-wingand the cross-face, because yourself, at one time, Bob Backlund, said, 'for every move there's a counter. For every hold there's an escape.' You're saying, there's no way to escape the chicken-wingcross-face?"

Bob Backlund: "Ladies and gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, if there's anybody who can walk away or get out of that chickenwing, once I get em pinned to the mat, I'll retire from professional wrestling for good!"

[Crowd cheers.]

Vince McMahon: "Pretty bold statement, Mr. Backlund. That's an awesome hold, but that's a pretty bold statement. [Backlund begins to take off his jacket.] What's this? What?"

Bob Backlund: "Yeah!"

Vince McMahon: "Wait a minute."

[Backlund gets pumped up as the crowd cheers.]

Vince McMahon: "If you'd like to bring out a WWF superstar or someone from the dressing room, fine. Who's it gonna be?" [Crowd cheers while Backlund waves over Lou Gianfriddo who makes his way into the ring.]

Vince McMahon: "Louie? Lou Gianfriddo, who writes for the WWF Magazine who's here covering tonight's activities, you invite him up here? [Gianfriddo and Backlund shake hands.] Now wait a minute. You're gonna put a chicken-wingon Louie? Why?"

Bob Backlund: "You'd like it demonstrated I'll demonstrate it."

Vince McMahon: "Are you game for this, Lou?"

Lou Gianfriddo: "Absolutely. Let's go Bob. I'm ready for it Bob."

Vince McMahon: "Alright Bob Backlund, he's ready for it. As a demonstration. [McMahon pauses while Backlund ponders.] Are you up for the task? [A surprised Backlund shoots his eyes up at McMahon.] Well, I mean-- Okay. Well, I mean there could be a WWF superstar you could call out here."

Bob Backlund: "I said, if anybody gets away from it, I'll retire."

Vince McMahon: "For good?"

Bob Backlund: "When I say something, I'm not gonna be fallacious with these people. I'm not the president of the United States. I don't lie and I don't cheat! [Crowd continues to chant 'has-been.'] If I say it I'm gonna do it. Whether you like it or not I'm gonna tell you the truth!"

Vince McMahon: "Alright. [Crowd continues chanting 'has-been! has-been!'] Are you going to give us a demonstration of the chicken-wing? Go ahead."

[McMahon waives at Gianfriddo, who is slowly put into the chicken-wing cross-face by Backlund as the crowd continues its chant. Backlund then sinks the hold in and starts choking him out.]

Vince McMahon: "Alright Wh- Louie?"

Lou Gianfriddo: "Easy Bob! Easy."

Vince McMahon: "Okay, you proved your point, you can you-- Can you get out, Louie?"

[Backlund starts hoisting and flailing Gianfriddo around like a rag doll.]

Bob Backlund: "Fight it! Fight it!"

Vince McMahon: "Wait a minute, Hey! Hey, he writes for the magazine! He's not even a wrestler! Hey, what are you doing? Let him go! [Backlund continues to choke Gianfriddo in the chicken-wingcross-face. Backlund begins to scream and flail about even harder.] Let him go! Let him-- Let him go!"

[Backlund takes the writer to the ground, who has begin to tap out. McMahon throws down his microphone and grabs Backlund's arms from behind him in an attempt to free Gianfriddo. Randy Savage, springs up from the commentary table and hits the ring, along with four referees. Only then does Backlund let go of the hold after being stopped by Savage. Savage and McMahon stare down Backlund, before Savage shoves a referee and runs over to check on Gianfriddo, who is being helped out of the ring by more officials. The people in the ring get out and surround Gianfriddo, laying next to the ring, leaving a lone Backlund alone. The crowd jeers. McMahon, Savage and a few officials walk Gianfriddo up the ramp and out of the ringside area.]

Bob Backlund: "Ladies and gentlemen, [Backlund points to the camera] my name is Mr. Backlund and nobody can get out of the chickenwing. Did you feel it? Did you feel it? That's what discipline is all about, ladies and gentlemen!"

- Credit: Thanks to inmate Dancer for submitting this promo