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Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (born October
6, 1935 in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy), is a former professional wrestler,
known most for being the longest-running champion of the Worldwide Wrestling
Federation, holding the title across two reigns for over 12 years in total.
"The Italian Strongman" has often been called "The
Living Legend" of professional wrestling and is considered one of the greatest
performers professional wrestling has ever known. Sammartino's actual wrestling
ability was somewhat limited compared to "real" pro wrestlers like Lou Thesz,
but his brawling style, power moves, and personal charisma, plus the fact that
he came across as a genuinely nice guy, won him many fans, especially on the
East Coast. During his career, Bruno was also known as "The Original Italian
Stallion." Bruno weighed in at 245 - 285 pounds (he took off some weight in his
later years) and he stood 5'10".
****
Early
life
As a child Bruno and his family hid in caves from
German soldiers during the latter stages of World War II; around 1951 he came to
the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Career
Sammartino started wrestling in 1959. He won the
WWWF World Championship title on May 17, 1963, defeating "Nature Boy" Buddy
Rogers in just 48 seconds. He kept this title for an incredible seven years,
eight months, and one day; it still stands as the longest continuous world title
reign in wrestling history.
Sammartino was undoubtedly the most popular
wrestler in the Northeastern United States during the 1960s and 1970s. He
headlined cards that filled Madison Square Garden on a monthly basis, and over
200 times overall, the most of any individual. He battled the top heels of his
time, including Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon, and George "The Animal"
Steele. Finally, on January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the title at Madison
Square Garden to Ivan Koloff. The crowd was so stunned into silence that
Sammartino thought his hearing had been damaged.
In between his two title runs, on September 30,
1972, Sammartino battled then-titleholder Pedro Morales to an over one-hour draw
in a scientific title match at Shea Stadium in New York. Eventually, on December
10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Championship, defeating Stan Stasiak. His
second title run lasted over three years.
During this time, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino
suffered a neck fracture in a match against Stan Hansen at Madison Square
Garden, when Hansen improperly executed a body slam. After two months of
recovery, Sammartino returned, and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25, 1976 at
Shea Stadium. Sammartino scored a decisive count-out win, after Hansen ran from
the ring. This was rated 1976 Match of the Year by a number of wrestling
magazines.
His second WWWF Championship reign ended on April
30, 1977 when he was defeated by Superstar Billy Graham in a controversial
ending when Graham had both feet on the ropes while successfully pinning
Sammartino.
One of the most emotionally-charged feuds of
Bruno's career started on January 22, 1980, when his former student Larry
Zbyszko violently turned against him during a scientific exhibition, broadcast
on the World Wrestling Federation's Championship Wrestling show. Bruno, shocked
and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko (whom Bruno described as a
"Judas") pay dearly. Their series culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of
36,295 fans at Shea Stadium. As part of the Federation's Showdown At Shea card,
Bruno defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage.
After retiring from wrestling full-time in 1981, he
spent the greater part of his time managing his son David, and wrestled only
occasionally. His most notable feud during the mid-1980s was vs. "Macho Man"
Randy Savage, which began when Sammartino attacked Savage during a TV interview
after Savage bragged about injuring Rick Steamboat by driving the timekeeper's
bell into Steamboat's throat from off the top rope during a televised 1986
match. Sammartino often teamed with Tito Santana and even old enemy George "The
Animal" Steele to wrestle Savage and "Adorable" Adrian Adonis; Sammartino also
defeated Savage (via disqualification) in a lumberjack match for the WWF
Intercontinental Championship.
In recent years Sammartino has publicly criticized
the direction professional wrestling has taken, making reference to lurid
storylines, over-the-top theatrics, steroid abuse, and the like. He disowned his
son David along with the other side of his family, his brother Paul Sammartino
and sister Maria Di Matteo and has not spoken to them in well over 17 years. In
particular he has been on bad terms with Vince McMahon, saying that McMahon has
despoiled the organization that McMahon's father started. As such Sammartino has
refused to provide commentary on WWE-produced retrospectives of his career,
instead participating in a series of independently-produced documentaries on his
career, including Bruno Sammartino's Legends Never Die, La Roccia, The Passing
of the Belt, and The Boys are Back.
Sammartino has also refused entry into the WWE Hall
of Fame; however he is a founding inductee into the unrelated Professional
Wrestling Hall of Fame, and is an inductee of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Hall of Fame.
Championships/Accomplishments
World Wrestling Federation
2-Time WWWF Champion
1-Time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion (with
Spiros Arion)
1-Time WWWF International Tag Team Champion (with
Dominic DeNucci)
National Wrestling Alliance
1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
(Toronto version)
1-Time NWA International Tag Team Champion (Toronto
version) (with Whipper Billy Watson)
Other titles
1-Time WWA Tag Team Champion (with Dick the
Bruiser)
Pro
Wrestling Illustrated
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 200 of
the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
Wrestling Magazine Awards
Bruno won several Awards from Wrestling Magazines
in his career. He won Wrestler of the Year in 1974, Most Inspirational Wrestler
in 1976 and the Editor's Award in 1981. He was part of 5 Match of the Year
Awards: 1972 (won Battle Royal), 1975 (vs. Spiros Arion), 1976 (vs. Stan
Hansen), 1977 (vs. Superstar Billy Graham) and 1980 (vs. Larry Zbyszko).
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Hall of Fame (inducted in 1990)
1980 Feud of the Year (vs Larry Zbyszko)
Championship succession
WWE Championship
Preceded by:
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers First Succeeded by:
Ivan Koloff
Preceded by:
Stan Stasiak Second Succeeded by:
Superstar Billy Graham
WWE International Tag Team Championship
Preceded by:
Gito Mongol and Bepo Mongol First, with Dominic
DeNucci Succeeded by:
Gito Mongol and Bepo Mongol
WWE United States Tag Team Championship
Preceded by:
Lou Albano and Tony Altimore First, with Spiros
Arion Succeeded by:
None, titles abandoned
NWA U.S. Championship (Toronto version)
Preceded by:
Johnny Valentine First Succeeded by:
Johnny Valentine
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URL of Original Article:
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Date Article Copied:
July 22, 2006
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