The 10 Greatest Streaks (or Runs) in WWE History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Bob Backlund doesn't often get the credit he deserves for being WWE's top guy for so long.

Fans tend to remember Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan's as the company's kings of yesteryear, but Backlund was the then-WWWF's top draw for years.

Just how long the ring technician's WWE title reigns were is a point of debate.

Backlund defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham on Feb. 20, 1978 to win the gold and lost it to The Iron Sheik in December 1983.

Some consider that reign to be a singular, uninterrupted one that spanned 2,135 days, an unreal run. Controversy and confusion muddles the picture however.

The title was vacated in 1981 after a controversial finish against Greg Valentine. A groggy ref awarded Valentine the victory despite Backlund pinning him.  This led to the title being vacant, but only in New York.

Earlier in his reign, Backlund lost to Antonio Inoki in Japan, but when he returned to the U.S. he still had the belt. The situation in Japan was quickly ignored.

Even if you count the Valentine and Inoki losses, Backlund still had three consecutive reigns of over 600 hundred days.

Backlund was the clear No. 1 wrestler in the WWE and as champion faced other promotions' champions including Nick Bockwinkel, Harley Race and Billy Robinson. To be selected to carry the title for that long is quite an honor.

Sandwiched between two legends, Backlund is sometimes forgotten, but his time at the top was impressive.