3.0 3 Ratings. 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 April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in Jersey City, New Jersey. That firstbelt has been missing for over 50 years and, though still considered stolen property, it is unlikely to be recovered. [8] 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. 10/23/67 Bruno defeated Hans Mortier 6,612 paid $18,136.10. May 17, 1963: Bruno Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers with a reverse backbreaker to capture the WWWF World title. The city . Bruno Sammartino had been wrestling professionally since 1959, and the Italian immigrant who had left to the US with his family from Italy in 1950 after hiding from the Nazis during World War II captivated a rising influx of immigrants into the US during and post-war. Can you imagine it? On January 22, 1980, his former student Larry Zbyszko turned on him at the World Wrestling Federation's Championship Wrestling show. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in Baltimore and Chicago, and as a result was suspended in those territories. Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! But it wasnt just any new championship victory Koloff became the first man to pin Bruno Sammartino in a WWF World title match in 2,803 days, ending a reign that lasted nearly eight years. The toll of a near eight year run as the top star in the WWWF a company that was still very much trying to expand its influence nationally beyond the realm of the NWA was beginning to grind The Living Legend down, both mentally and physically. Defeating Stan Stasiak, Bruno became the first-ever two-time WWE Champion. Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino has died at the age of 82. WWE fan? This is the original on-site poster from the Maple Leaf Gardens World Title bout with the great Buddy "nature boy" Rogers, held on July 12, 1962. . There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of which is the longest single reign in the promotion's history at 2,803 days. It wasnt until he got in the ring that Sammartino told him in no uncertain terms that it was HE who was going over that day. In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. In CM Punk's 434 day reign, he defended the title 141 times, or an average of just over once every three . The superstitious blamed New York's descent into hell in the 1970s as punishment for Bruno losing the title. During his reign, he defended his World title against all contenders Buddy Austin, The Crusher, Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski, Dr. Jerry Graham, Giant Baba, Boris Malenko, Freddie Blassie, Gene Kiniski, George The Animal Steele, Crippler Ray Stevens, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Sheik were just some of the names to challenge Sammartino during his reign. At 93 minutes, the reimaged . [36], In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. Turner has agreed to display the King of Classy Titles atthe IPWHF Museum, soon to be built in New York State. non-confrontation at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. 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. Many wonder which duo will be next in line to hold these belts. [11] In 1950,[13] she and the children joined her husband in Pittsburgh. And a packed Madison Square Garden, who had become accustomed to wildly cheering Bruno Sammartino after each title defense, was shocked into complete silence. [11] In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.[45]. Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 The Russian Nightmare had a long career starting in Canada and continuing thru the United States. That works out at one defense every season, which is an astonishingly small number of matches to prove WALTER is still deserving of his championship. NEXT: 5 Longest & 5 Shortest WCW Title Reigns. Sammartino defeated Savage in a lumberjack match for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via disqualification at the Boston Garden. They couldnt believe Bruno got defeated after seven years as champion. Turner plans to maintain ownership of the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship for decades to come. Dubbed "The Italian Strongman"[3] and "The Strongest Man in the World"[6] early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "The Living Legend". Bruno only gave up his championship when he wanted to, and there was one championship belt he decided never to let go. The championship remained vacant for over a year. Bruno!from 20,000 fans at sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City reverberated from the rafters a record-setting 187 timesduring hiswrestling career. During one title reign he held the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days, a period positively unheard of in today's wrestling climate. Answer (1 of 3): George "The Animal" Steele Bruno Sammartino met James Myers in 1967 and immediately saw his potential as a main event performer. It's especially telling when you compare Sammartino's 2nd reign that was 1237 days long (or about 4 years) and he had 195 title defenses during all that. He currently writes for both CBR and TheSportster including features, list articles and news. Despite this, the reign lasted for alengthy 161 days. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! He would briefly return to St. Louis Wrestling Club he challenged Dory Funk Jr. for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight title in May of 1969 in Maple Leaf Gardens by September of that year, he had moved on to New York to begin working with the WWWF. [10] 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. Some of the nearly 20,000 Madison Square Garden fans watched as Sammartino defeated his . [20] Sammartino took a hiatus from the company in 1971 and 1972 working in Japan, and various territories. They were grandparents of four grandchildren. On December 8, 1969, he teamed with Tony Marino to win the WWWF International Tag Team Championship by defeating The Rising Suns (Tanaka and Mitsu Arakawa). By 1971, Bruno Sammartino was beaten up. Sammartino is the longest-reigning WWE Champion in history. As for "Bruno Finally Wins Mat Title," the 260-pound, 27-year-old Pittsburgh matter scored a two-fall win over the long-time champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, 42, 235-pounds of Camden, New Jersey. RELATED: 10 Superstars Who Were WWE ChampionFor One Day Or Less. During his second reign, Bruno Sammartino held the title for 1237 days. The IIconics hold the claim to being the second ever WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, beating the team of Sasha Banks and Bayley atWrestlemania. Bruno headed north to continue working, where he joined Frank Tunneys Maple Leaf Wrestling (Torontos NWA affiliate) in Canada instead, where he was often the Maple Leaf Wrestling challenger to Buddy Rogers when the NWA World Champion headed to Canada. 'The Living Legend' held the world title for over 11 . In 2019, Bruno Sammartino:The Autobiography of Wrestlings Living Legendwas released. WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino revealed why his record-setting WWWF title reign ended. Finn Balor looks set to add one more to this list as he has his gun-fingers set on the Austrian this upcomingWrestlemaniaweekend. WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino died on Wednesday at the age of 82 in Pittsburgh. He would later return for two brief comebacks, and much later as a manager. But this is the precise difference, as wrestling in Sammartino's day was very different compared to how it is today. Pedro Morales was the champion from 1971 until 1973. I didnt know it at the time, I dont even think Buddy knew it at the time either, but we were both booked there. [49], Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. The statue is over 13 feet talland includes a likeness of his 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. Blake & Murphy were one of the first major holders of the NXT Tag Team Titles, belts that they managed to hold for a total of 219 days. Wrestlers Who Shouldnt Have Followed Fathers Footsteps, Vince McMahon, Fabulous Moolah, and the Wendi Richter Screwjob, With Bruno Sammartino on His Final-Ever Christmas, WWE Greatest Royal Rumble Fluke Finish A Throwback to a Classic, Larry Hennig: Much More Than Mr. Perfects Dad, Nikolai Volkoff: A Hero, a Legend, and My Friend, Mark Madden His Controversial Career in Pro Wrestling, Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahons Venomous 25-Year Feud, Buddy Rogers The Man Who Drove a Wedge in the NWA. Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). Bruno Sammartino was the first two-time WWE Champion. Mr. Sammartino, 50, of Allison Park, was the co-owner of the . Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. It was time to make a switch. [20] Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days). "Afterwards, there were obviously bad feelings. That record will never be broken. We never spoke again. Bruno's belt is enshrined in the IPWHF Collection, Watch IPWHF President Seth Turner unbox Bruno's historic belt, Bruno Sammartino: Behind The Championship Belt. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. . On AXS (1/19/21) Eric Young versus Rhino. Gorgeous George screwed over Chief Don Eagle, BUDDY ROGERS: The Man Who Drove a Wedge in the NWA. [14][21] On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff. Buddy Rogers made these claims in a couple of appearances that he made after losing the belt. Bruno, the Italian superhero from Pittsburgh, battled the 6'6" 315 "Mormon Giant" a number of times in 1973 and 1974 and Jonathan won at least twice. 10 Long Championship Reigns With Minimal Title Defenses, Pete Dunne WWE NXT United Kingdom Champion, 685 Days, Cody Rhodes Intercontinental Title, 236 Days, Brock Lesnar WWE World Heavyweight Champion, 224 Days, Brock Lesnar WWE Universal Champion, 504 Days, Shinsuke Nakamura Intercontinental Champion, 201 Days, WALTERWWE NXT United Kingdom Champion, 337+ Days, Blake & Murphy WWE NXT Tag Team Champions, 219 Days, The IIconics WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, 120 Days, Ricochet North American Championship, 161 Days, 10 Failed WWE Champions That Should Have Worked, 10 Superstars Who Were WWE ChampionFor One Day Or Less, remains to be seen who could defeat him in 2020, 5 Wrestlers That Were Better World Champions in WCW (& 5 That Were Better In WWE), Ruthless Aggression: 10 Title Reigns (That We Completely Forgot About), which duo will be next in line to hold these belts. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. In 1966, he began using another gimmick briefly as Red McNulty working Western Canada with NWA Vancouver and Stampede Wrestling (then Wildkat Wrestling), then off to Japan, where he competed for Rikidozans Japan Wrestling Association (JWA) for three months. The belt first placed on Bruno's waist in 1963 had actually belonged to Buddy Rogers and was defended in other promotions as a United States title before Rogers brought the belt to the newly formed WWWF where it was briefly used as his makeshift world championship. Cody Rhodes held the WWE Intercontinental Championship for approximately eight months across 2011 and 2012, though in that time he only defended the belt a total of 4 times on pay per view. His first match against New number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon York reverberated. 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