Bruno Sammartino

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler Template:Professional wrestling sidebar Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Sammartino's first reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion is the longest recognized men's world title reign in wrestling history.

Born in Italy to a family of seven, Sammartino grew up in poverty. As a child, Sammartino survived the German occupation of Italy during World War II. In 1950, he came to the United States with his family, where they would settle in Pittsburgh. Sammartino would later take up bodybuilding before beginning his career as a professional wrestler in 1959.

Dubbed "the Italian Strongman”<ref name=Encyclopedia2>Template:Cite book</ref> and "the Strongest Man in the World"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "the Living Legend".<ref name=Schramm/> Known for his powerful bearhug<ref name=hornbaker>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=davies>Template:Cite book</ref> finishing move,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sammartino wrestled for various territories in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) before joining the WWWF territory.

Already recognized as a future star, Sammartino won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1963 after beating the inaugural champion, Buddy Rogers, in 48 seconds. He then held the title for a reign of a record 2,803 days, or over seven and a half years. While doing so, he became a popular attraction in Madison Square Garden, selling out the arena numerous times throughout his career.Template:Efn He would later reclaim the WWF Heavyweight Championship in 1973 for another reign of 1,237 days before gradually retiring from full-time competition.

After his retirement, Sammartino became a vocal critic of the drug use and raunchier storylines that became prevalent in the professional wrestling industry after his retirement but he reconciled with WWE in 2013 and headlined their Hall of Fame ceremony that year. Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Early life

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935.<ref name=hornbaker/><ref name=nytobit/> He was the youngest of seven children, four of whom died during his early childhood.<ref name=nytobit/> When he was four, his father immigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<ref name=nytobit/><ref name="trib"/> During World War II, Pizzoferrato was invaded by troops of the Waffen SS, leading Emilia to hide Bruno and his siblings in a remote hideout at the top of a nearby mountain called Valla Rocca.<ref name=issues>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="trib"/> During this time, his mother would sneak into their German-occupied town for food and supplies.<ref name="trib"/> In 1950,<ref>Pro wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino dies at 82, Los Angeles Times, 18 April 2018</ref> she and the children joined her husband in Pittsburgh.<ref name=nytobit/>

When the Sammartinos arrived in the U.S., Bruno spoke no English and was sickly from the privations of the war years.<ref name="trib"/> This made him an easy target for bullies at Schenley High School. He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up.<ref name=nytobit/> His devotion to weightlifting nearly resulted in a berth on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team, which went instead to eventual gold medalist Paul Anderson.<ref name=nytobit/>

In 1959, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of Template:Convert, done without elbow or wrist wraps. When he brought the bar down, he did not bounce it off his chest, but set it there for two seconds before attempting the press.<ref name=davies/> He trained in wrestling with Rex Peery, the University of Pittsburgh team coach.<ref name=hornbaker/>

He also became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster Bob Prince put him on his television show. It was there that he was spotted by local professional wrestling promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited the young man into the ring.<ref name=hornbaker/>

Professional wrestling career

Early years (1959–1963)

Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds.<ref name=davies/> Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden in New York City was on January 2, 1960,<ref name=NWA>Template:Cite book</ref> defeating Bull Curry in five minutes.<ref name=slamobit>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sammartino (right) with Verne Gagne and WWWF promoter Vincent J. McMahon

Feeling like he was being held back in the New York territory in favor of National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) star Buddy Rogers, Sammartino gave his notice to Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) owner Vince McMahon Sr. and planned to go to San Francisco to work for Roy Shire. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in Baltimore and Chicago, and as a result was suspended in those territories. California honored the other state's suspension, leaving Sammartino out of work.<ref name=Oliver12>Template:Cite news</ref> In his autobiography, Sammartino states that he believed McMahon set him up, by double-booking him and not informing him of his match in Baltimore, as a way of punishment.<ref name=sammartino>Template:Cite book</ref> Sammartino was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a laborer.<ref name=Oliver12/>

On the advice of wrestler Yukon Eric, Sammartino contacted Toronto promoter Frank Tunney hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population.<ref name=slamobit/> Sammartino made his Toronto debut in March 1962 and very quickly, with the help of self-promotion in local newspapers and radio programs, became an attraction. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated him with that immigrant population.<ref name=Oliver12/> With Whipper Billy Watson, Sammartino won his first professional wrestling championship in September 1962, the local version of the International Tag Team Championship.<ref name=slam/> Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories.<ref name=Oliver12/>

Sammartino also challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz twice for the championship in Canada. One match ended in a draw and the other with Thesz scoring a fluke pin after a collision, despite Sammartino controlling the 20 minute match from the beginning. This match was booked by NWA promoter Sam Muchnick as a preliminary to the forming of the WWWF, to ensure the dominance of the senior organization and its championship.<ref name=won1995>Template:Cite journal</ref>

World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1963–1981)

First World Heavyweight Championship reign (1963–1971)

Sammartino in his second reign as WWWF Heavyweight Champion

After the first WWWF World Champion, Nature Boy Buddy Rogers, was hospitalized three times in April 1963 for chest pains, Vince McMahon Sr. and Toots Mondt made a command decision to make an emergency title switch. Between Antonino Rocca and Bruno Sammartino they went with the younger Sammartino who was 27 years old at the time. The match was scheduled to be concluded quickly so as not to risk Buddy's health any further. Promoters Mondt and McMahon Sr. cleared up Sammartino's suspension by paying his $500 fine, allowing him to return to wrestling in the United States. Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Sammartino and Rogers faced each other two months later at Madison Square Garden in a tag team match, with Rogers and Johnny Barend defeating Sammartino and Bobo Brazil by 2 falls to 1. Rogers pinned Sammartino for the third and deciding fall. Rogers retired prior to their scheduled title rematch on October 4, 1963, in Jersey City, New Jersey's Roosevelt Stadium. Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon. Because Monsoon won the match by disqualification, Sammartino retained his belt.

On December 8, 1969, he teamed with Tony Marino to win the WWF International Tag Team Championship by defeating The Rising Suns (Tanaka and Mitsu Arakawa). Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by Victor Rivera.<ref name=Intertag>Template:Cite web</ref> Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days).<ref name=slamobit/><ref name=CBSremembers>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Sammartino recalled the shocked silence that greeted the result, remarking he thought he had damaged his ears.<ref name=Schramm>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that year, he won the International Tag Team Championship for the second time by teaming with Dominic DeNucci.<ref name=Intertag/> Sammartino took a hiatus from the company in 1971 and 1972 working in Japan, and various territories.

Second World Heavyweight Championship reign (1972–1977)

Sammartino and Mario Trevi

Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. After refusing McMahon Sr.'s initial offer, Sammartino was offered a percentage of all the gates when he wrestled and a decreased work schedule that only included major arenas. Soon after, Sammartino and then champion Pedro Morales teamed up for a series of tag team matches. In a televised match, Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. Two weeks later, all syndicated wrestling shows in the WWWF showed a clip of Sammartino and Morales signing a contract for a title match at Shea Stadium. When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. On September 30, 1972, Sammartino and Morales wrestled to a 75-minute draw at Shea Stadium in New York.<ref name="Davies2001">Template:Cite book</ref>

Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Heavyweight Championship by defeating Stan Stasiak.<ref name="Schramm" /> During his second reign, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino suffered a legitimate neck fracture in a match against Stan Hansen at Madison Square Garden, when Hansen improperly executed a move and dropped Sammartino on his head.<ref name="nytobit">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="slamobit" /> After two months, Sammartino returned and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25, 1976, at Shea Stadium, which was on the closed circuit TV undercard of the Ali vs. Antonio Inoki match for WWWF cities. The match was rated 1976 "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.<ref name="PWI Awards" />

In early 1977, Sammartino informed McMahon Sr. that he felt he could no longer continue as champion due to his injuries. On April 30, 1977, he was defeated by Superstar Billy Graham for the title.<ref name="Schramm" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days (1,237 days).<ref name="slamobit" /><ref name="CBSremembers" /> Despite a very long series of rematches against Graham, Sammartino was unable to regain the title. His final attempt was in Philadelphia, just a few days before Graham was scheduled to lose the title to Bob Backlund.

Later career and initial retirement (1978–1981)

After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the United States and the world. He wrestled then NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race to a one-hour draw in St. Louis. He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, and "Crippler" Ray Stevens. Also during this time, Sammartino began serving as color commentator for the WWF's syndicated programs, WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF All-Star Wrestling.

On January 22, 1980, his former student Larry Zbyszko turned on him at the World Wrestling Federation's Championship Wrestling show. Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. Their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 fans at Shea Stadium.<ref name ="WWFresults309">Template:Cite book</ref> As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage.<ref name="WWFresults309"/> In his autobiography, Hulk Hogan claimed that his match with André the Giant was the real reason for the huge draw at Shea Stadium; however, the feud between Sammartino and Zbyszko sold out everywhere in the build-up to the show. In contrast, Hogan and André headlined exactly one card in White Plains, New York before they wrestled at Shea, and they drew 1,200 in a building that held 3,500.<ref name=WWF6389Book>Template:Cite book</ref>

Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981,<ref name=nytobit/> in a match that opened the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sammartino pinned George "The Animal" Steele in his match. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan.

Return to the WWF (1984–1988)

Sammartino, circa 1987

It was during this time Sammartino found out through Angelo Savoldi, a recently fired office employee of Capitol Wrestling Corporation, that he had been cheated by Vince McMahon Sr. on the promised gate percentages for his entire second title run. Sammartino filed suit against McMahon Sr. and his Capitol Wrestling Corporation.<ref>Bruno Sammartino v. Capitol Wrestling Corporation and Vince McMahon. Wrestlingperspective.com (26 August 1983). Retrieved on 29 September 2012.</ref> The suit was eventually settled out of court by McMahon Sr's son, Vince McMahon after his father had died, and included an agreement for Sammartino to return to the company as a commentator.<ref name=CBSremembers/>

At the inaugural WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, Sammartino was in his son David's corner for his match against Brutus Beefcake.<ref name="timesherald">Template:Cite web</ref> The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and Bobby "the Brain" Heenan in various arenas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. An irate Sammartino attacked Savage during a TV interview, after Savage bragged about injuring Ricky Steamboat, by driving the timekeeper's bell into Steamboat's throat during a televised match. Sammartino defeated Savage in a lumberjack match for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via disqualification at the Boston Garden.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This allowed Savage to keep the championship, as titles cannot change hands via countout or disqualification. He was often teamed with Tito Santana and his old enemy George "the Animal" Steele (who was a fan favorite at this point in his career) to wrestle Savage and "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. Sammartino also engaged in a feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper after Piper insulted his heritage on a segment of Piper's Pit at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino faced Piper in both singles and tag team matches. Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper, while Piper would tag with his "bodyguard", Ace "Cowboy" Bob Orton. Sammartino would eventually get the upper hand in the feud, by defeating Piper in a steel cage match at the Boston Garden. In 1986, Sammartino competed in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago.<ref name=timesherald/> Sammartino also challenge newly crowned Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man for the title several times in July. That culminated in a six-man elimination match that saw Sammartino, Jake Roberts and Tito Santana defeat WWF Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man and World Tag Team Champions Hart Foundation, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart, with Bruno pinning Tonk Man for the win.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sammartino's final match was at a WWF house show in Baltimore on August 29, 1987, where he teamed up with Hulk Hogan to defeat King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang in the main event. Sammartino continued doing commentary on Superstars of Wrestling until March 1988.<ref name=slam/>

Non-wrestling roles and WWE Hall of Fame (1988–2018)

After leaving the WWF, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vince McMahon had taken professional wrestling. He particularly criticized the use of steroids and "vulgar" storylines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in the media in opposition to the WWF on such shows as The Phil Donahue Show, Geraldo, and CNN.Template:Citation needed

Sammartino worked as a commentator for the Universal Wrestling Federation. On October 28, 1989, Sammartino made a special appearance at the NWA pay-per-view event Halloween Havoc, where he was the special guest referee in a "Thunderdome" cage match which featured Ric Flair and Sting taking on Terry Funk and The Great Muta.<ref name=slam/> Sammartino worked several WCW events in a minor analysis role in the early 1990s, as well as a brief run doing color commentary with Jim Ross on Saturday Night in 1992. He also acted as special guest referee in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for a series of matches between Flair and Randy Savage in June 1996.<ref name=slam/>

In 2006, he signed an independent deal with Jakks Pacific to produce an action figure, which is part of the WWE Classic Superstars line, Series 10.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 25, 2010, Sammartino was honoured at the 74th annual Dapper Dan Dinner, a popular awards and charity fundraising event in Pittsburgh, with a lifetime achievement award, for which fellow former Studio Wrestling personalities Bill Cardille, "Jumping" Johnny DeFazio, Dominic DeNucci, Frank Durso, and referee Andy "Kid" DePaul were all present.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sammartino with Triple H at WrestleMania Axxess in April 2014, unveiling a statue created in Sammartino's image and honor

In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. He finally accepted the offer to join because he was satisfied with the way the company had addressed his concerns about rampant drug use as well as vulgarity.<ref name="WWE HOF">Template:Cite web</ref> The ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden on April 6, 2013, and Sammartino was inducted by Arnold Schwarzenegger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sammartino appeared on October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the WWE Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other media

In 2019, Patrea Patrick wrote and directed the documentary Bruno Sammartino emphasizing the influence of his early life in World War II Italy on his subsequent career.<ref>Template:Cite web </ref> Sammartino is also included in two DVDs summarizing his career and life: Bruno Returns to Italy With Bruno Sammartino (2006) and Bruno Sammartino: Behind the Championship Belt (2006).<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>Template:Better source needed Both were only released in Pittsburgh. Sammartino is honored on the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Video games

Video game appearances
Year Title Notes Ref.
2002 Legends of Wrestling II Video game debut <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004 Showdown: Legends of Wrestling <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013 WWE 2K14 Downloadable content <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2023 WWE 2K23 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 WWE 2K24 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025 WWE 2K25 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Sammartino at Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh, 2005

Sammartino was married to his wife Carol from 1959 until his death in 2018. They had three sons together, David and fraternal twins Danny and Darryl. They were grandparents of four grandchildren. The Sammartinos lived in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from 1965 on. They now run pros of wrestling, an indie wrestling company based in the Pittsburgh area.<ref name="trib">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in Jersey City, New Jersey.<ref name=jerseyjournal>Template:Cite web</ref> May 17, 2013 was declared "Bruno Sammartino Day" in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally televised 69th Annual Columbus Day Parade.

Backstage incidents

In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. Cimino was new to his post and intervened in a match finish involving Sammartino, who took a shot at Cimino in the ring and the argument continued backstage. Sammartino ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local Studio Wrestling program, and Cimino suspended him for a month. Irvin Muchnick mentioned the incident in his book, Wrestling Babylon.<ref name=Muchnick2011>Template:Cite book</ref>

In his autobiography, The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption, Bill Watts told of witnessing a backstage incident between Sammartino and Gorilla Monsoon.<ref name=Watts2006>Template:Cite book</ref> Watts wrote that Monsoon "soon found himself in deep water" when messing with Sammartino, and he did not go into further detail on the incident out of respect for Monsoon.<ref name=Watts2006/>

On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" non-confrontation at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Flair had denigrated Sammartino's wrestling ability in his book To Be the Man.<ref name=Flair2005>Template:Cite book</ref> Flair said Sammartino refused to shake his hand at the event, while Sammartino said Flair saw him coming down the hall, turned, and rushed away.<ref name=Flair2005/>

Death

Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011.<ref name=slamobit/> He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems<ref name=issues/> following a two-month hospitalization.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> WWE honored his life with a ten-bell salute before a house show in Cape Town, South Africa later that day, and again on the 23 April episode of Raw in St. Louis, Missouri.<ref name=NBC>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mayor Bill Peduto remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Championships and accomplishments

Sammartino is a two-time and longest single and combined reigning WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Sammartino was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002.
Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.

Notes

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References

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