Backlund began his career in amateur wrestling, competing for the North Dakota State University Bison from the late 1960s to early 1970s.

Later that year he joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation, defeating Superstar Billy Graham for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship in 1978.

During his freshman year while at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, Backlund was an All-American in both football and wrestling (191 lb [87 kg], finishing third).

Backlund was an amateur wrestler at North Dakota State University, winning the Division II NCAA Championship at 190 pounds in 1971.

He defeated Harley Race to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship on April 23, 1976, and he lost the title to Jack Brisco on November 26.

However, WWF president Hisashi Shinma declared the re-match a no contest due to interference from Tiger Jeet Singh, and Inoki remained champion.

[17] A rematch for the title, held inside a steel cage at the Philadelphia Spectrum in January 1982, also saw Backlund emerge the winner, securing the victory when he hit a piledriver on Valentine onto the mat.

[22] In 1992 with the World Wrestling Federation struggling to find a new direction, Backlund made a surprise return to the company on July 1, 1992 in White Plains, New York and defeated Skinner.

[23] After defeating Skinner in a rematch the following day and Steve Lombardi in July, Backlund went into hiatus while the company prepared to introduce him to a new generation of fans.

Backlund began to tour full time on house shows at the end of November, defeating Papa Shango on multiple occasions.

[26] At the 1993 Royal Rumble, Backlund, the number two entrant lasted sixty-one minutes and ten seconds,[27] a duration record that stood until 2004, when Chris Benoit broke it.

Afterwards Backlund found himself sliding further down the card, losing to newcomers Mr. Hughes and Bastion Booger in numerous house show encounters in the summer of 1993.

Backlund entered the fall of 1993 now in the lower card, and he rebounded to defeat Damien Demento and Papa Shango in numerous house show encounters.

[1] On an episode of Monday Night Raw, shortly after his match with Hart, Backlund claimed that he should still be considered the legitimate WWF Champion, as he had not been pinned by The Iron Sheik, nor submitted to the camel clutch.

[1] He dressed in business suits (complete with a bow tie), had a hyperactive personality and used (and often misused, for comic effect) large words during his interviews.

He demanded that he be addressed as Mr. Backlund, and he would only sign autographs for wrestling fans if they could recite the names of all of the United States Presidents in chronological order.

To serve as his second for the match, Backlund paired up with Owen Hart, the brother and chief rival of the reigning champion who had tried and failed multiple times that year to wrest the belt from Bret.

Late in the match, as Backlund was locked in Hart's trademark Sharpshooter submission, Owen entered the ring and attacked Bret from behind to cause him to break the hold.

Owen took advantage by picking up the pink and black towel Smith carried and, feigning concern for the well-being of his brother, approached his father Stu and his mother Helen who were seated at ringside.

On the March 13, episode of Monday Night Raw Backlund battled Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett in a rare heel vs heel match; Backlund won via disqualification after Razor Ramon attacked Jarrett to prevent the title from chaning hands and preserving Ramon's scheduled title opportunity at the upcoming WrestleMania.

The angle of Backlund's campaign was quietly dropped before it reached a conclusion, and on September 9, 1996 on Raw Championship Friday he announced a partnership with his old nemesis, The Iron Sheik to co-manage his new mystery charge.

On the March 10, 1997 episode of Monday Night Raw, he declared that The Sultan would defeat Rocky Maivia and attain the Intercontinental title at the upcoming WrestleMania 13.

Backlund's final appearance in his second WWF run came at In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker on April 20, 1997 where he managed The Sultan in his win over Flash Funk.

[41][42] In February 1999, Backlund appeared on an episode of Sunday Night Heat in a skit in which himself, The Iron Sheik, and Dominic Denucci gave comedic advice to Mankind before his WWF Championship match with The Rock at St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

He won the WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Scott Putski and former WWF wrestler The Warlord defeating Fuyuki-Gun members Hiromichi Fuyuki, Gedo and Jado on August 26.

Given the tie breaking vote, Backlund launched a long explanation before declaring his decision a draw, and the match was restarted by PCS director Kevin Nash.

During this time, he was described as crazy and weird by commentators Don West and Mike Tenay, somewhat similar to the "Mr. Backlund" gimmick of his second WWF tenure.

Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 6, 2013, by his friend Maria Menounos, and was acknowledged onstage with the year's other inductees at WrestleMania 29.

The 452-page book, contributed to by Robert H. Miller, includes interviews with Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, The Iron Sheik and Vince McMahon.

He played the role of Friar Chuck, alongside Maria Menounos and John Waters, in the feature film comedy In the Land of Merry Misfits.