diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
index 1ee2911a8b39..712f45735940 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ def show(self):
         else:
             self.canvas.draw_idle()
         self._shown = True
+        # plt.figure adds an event which makes the figure in focus the active
+        # one. Disable this behaviour, as it results in figures being put as
+        # the active figure after they have been shown, even in non-interactive
+        # mode.
+        if hasattr(self, '_cidgcf'):
+            self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._cidgcf)
+        if not is_interactive():
+            from matplotlib._pylab_helpers import Gcf
+            Gcf.figs.pop(self.num, None)
 
     def reshow(self):
         """
@@ -232,27 +241,3 @@ def on_message(self, message):
 class _BackendNbAgg(_Backend):
     FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasNbAgg
     FigureManager = FigureManagerNbAgg
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def show(block=None):
-        ## TODO: something to do when keyword block==False ?
-        from matplotlib._pylab_helpers import Gcf
-
-        managers = Gcf.get_all_fig_managers()
-        if not managers:
-            return
-
-        interactive = is_interactive()
-
-        for manager in managers:
-            manager.show()
-
-            # plt.figure adds an event which makes the figure in focus the
-            # active one. Disable this behaviour, as it results in
-            # figures being put as the active figure after they have been
-            # shown, even in non-interactive mode.
-            if hasattr(manager, '_cidgcf'):
-                manager.canvas.mpl_disconnect(manager._cidgcf)
-
-            if not interactive:
-                Gcf.figs.pop(manager.num, None)