Indianpolis, Indiana: . His biggest moment was winning the WWWF heavyweight title from the legendary Bruno Sammartino. Pete Dunne is only the second man in company history to hold the WWE NXT United Kingdom Championship, a belt he held for an overwhelming 685 days. I get your point but honestly, I think the amount of defenses should be the #1 criteria. Thesz made him this offer: "We could do this the easy way or the hard way." Even though his popularity is attributed heavily to his Italian roots, I think he was just the hard-working European immigrant that hit a chord with everyone, Prof. Ouch of Professor Ouchs Bizarre Bazaar & Odditorium in Philadelphia told The Wrestling Estate in 2018 following Sammartinos death in 2018. Sammartino actually . [7] 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. Bruno selected a classic photograph with his 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship for the cover of his autobiography, which he wrote with Sal Anthony Corrente. [35], On March 25, 2010, Sammartino was honored 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. Battle Royal: Winner: Bruno Sammartino. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. [7] Later that year, he won the International Tag Team Championship for the second time by teaming with Dominic DeNucci. There are paper champions, there are fighting champions, and there are champions who scarcely put their gold up for grabs. He became the first wrestler to become a WWE triple crown champion. Boston 1/17/76) Disk 2 . On AXS (1/19/21) Eric Young versus Rhino. George Steele: WWWF Baltimore Show (Apr '77) Apr 30th 1977: Billy Graham: "[Its been] said that when I wrestled Rogers for the title, the reason was Rogers had had a heart attack and had to be helped to the ring, and thats how he lost the belt. Bruno Sammartino Saves Freddie Blassie From Being Killed By The Mob! Tickets to the screening are $15 for adults, $10 for members and $5 for children. Bruno Sammartino, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling's Living Legend. Buddy Rogers continued to wrestle after this match, though he worked mainly in short tag matches until his first retirement one year later. Pittsburgh has a new arena, which was the Civic Arena that held 19,000 people, and Buddy Rogers came in with a big cigar strutting around, and by the time it was 8:00 pm, he went to look at the audience, and the place was empty. He held the title until 1971. Seth Turner, President of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, successfully procured the belt. Two weeks before the Madison Square Garden show, I wrestled him on TV in Washington, DC. 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. When Lou Thesz came out of semi-retirement on January 24th, 1963, in Toronto to fight Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rogers was supposedly having second thoughts about dropping the title to Thesz. WWF House Show - House Show @ Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. [15] With Whipper Billy Watson, Sammartino won his first professional wrestling championship in September 1962, the local version of the International Tag Team Championship. I worked in pain. RELATED: Ruthless Aggression: 10 Title Reigns (That We Completely Forgot About). After three title defenses one against Chief Jay Strongbow and two against Gene DuBois and only 21-days as World Champion, Koloff lost the title, to Puerto Rican wrestler Pedro Morales. They were grandparents of four grandchildren. Brunopresented hisbelt toPedro Morales, 4. "One of the finest men I knew, in life and in business," WWE chairman Vince McMahon said . In the summer of 1960 James M. His most notable title defense was a time limit draw with Bruno Sammartino at a Shea Stadium show in 1972. They had three sons together, David and fraternal twins Danny and Darryl. The match was scheduled to be concluded quickly so as not to risk Buddy's health any further. He would later return for two brief comebacks, and much later as a manager. Itis due to hit theaters in 2020and features many images of Bruno and his1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds. 2/19/68 Bruno won with the backbreaker on Bull Ramos before 13,059 fans in the first match at the new MSG. Buddy Rogers was examined and re-examined, and they couldnt find a thing wrong with him, and then after that, his license was reinstated. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. Over the course of his record-breaking run, Sammartino successfully retained his title 653 times, including 62 defenses in MSG alone. Bruno Sammartino holds a legendary wrestling career spanning nearly a quarter century from 1959 to 1982. [15], On the advice of wrestler Yukon Eric, Sammartino contacted Toronto promoter Frank Tunney hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population. often gets attributed to other wrestling stories. [26] As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage. When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. [11] In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.[45]. The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. wrestling champion, was personally selected by Vincent J. McMahon to fill the void left when his longtime titleholder Bruno Sammartino made the decision that he no longer wanted to carry the WWWF championship. Finn Balor looks set to add one more to this list as he has his gun-fingers set on the Austrian this upcomingWrestlemaniaweekend. [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. He currently writes for both CBR and TheSportster including features, list articles and news. Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. 1963 - Bulldog Brower and Johnny Valentine defeat Bruno Sammartino and Whipper Billy Watson to win the Toronto NWA International Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario. I knew it was all done; I just knew I couldnt produce like I once did. Ivan Koloff (left) and Superstar Billy Graham (right) each drew six sellouts with Bruno and each defeated him for the WWWF Championship. Sammartino ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local Studio Wrestling program, and Cimino suspended him for a month. [16] Sammartino was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a laborer. 27.06.1987. WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, who held the championship belt for nearly eight consecutive years from 1963 to 1971, has died at age 82. . The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! . 7 WWE Hall of Fame Stories WWE Doesnt Want You To Know! Lengthy championships are a big aspect in wrestling, but it is definitely easier when the champion does not frequently have to defend his title. Fifty years ago, on January 18, 1971, Ivan Koloff delivered a Russian Leg Drop to World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden in New York City to get the 1-2-3, becoming only the third man to hold the WWWF World Championship. WWF House Show - House Show @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan. Bruno Sammartino is . May 20 - USA Event: Bruno . 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. Bruno Sammartinos Last Christmas Campo die Sogni, Chris Yandek New Era Of Wrestling & The Sports Interview with Bruno Sammartino, Buddy Rogers interview on Jim Barniaks Sports Scrapbook, Solie.org October 97 interview with Bruno Sammartino, The International Gazette "Wrestlings Living Legend Bruno Sammartino Gets Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. BREAKING NEWS: IPWHF ACQUIRES BRUNO SAMMARTINO TITLE BELT, Chants of Bruno! If hes willing, then fine., It was funny because Georgiann went and got him, got me, and she stood in the middle. Despite this mammoth title reign length, Pete Dunne barely defended his belt in televised appearances. [26] In his autobiography, Hulk Hogan claimed that his match with Andr 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. Boston 10/21/75) 21. After leaving the WWF, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling. It was no different on the night of May 17, 1963, whenBruno Sammartino defeated Nature Boy Buddy Rogers to become the WWWF World Champion. 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. FULL DESCRIPTION: This photo measures 8 inches by 10 inches.The photo is clean with no staining. Related. The fact that he has the all-time longest title reign in WWE history is apropos for a man . But it would be Canadian-born Russian wrestler Ivan Koloff who would put an end to Sammartinos historic reign. ", Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. 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. These are ten resulting championship reigns which lasted a considerable amount of time, but featured very few notable matches for the title in question. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! Bruno had the belt polished andthen maintained personal ownership of his prized possession until he passed away on April 18, 2018. Pro wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino dies at 82, "Without Toronto, there would have been no Bruno Sammartino", "10 championships you never knew existed in WWE", "Remembering Bruno Sammartino, the singular face of a bygone pro wrestling era", Bruno Sammartino v. Capitol Wrestling Corporation and Vince McMahon, "Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82", "Sammartino: McMahon is 'a sick-minded idiot', "Bruno's bad call on WWE Hall of Fame shows Vince is right everyone has a price", "Dapper Dan: Malkin, Sammartino, Penn State volleyball claim awards", "WWE to induct Bruno Sammartino into HOF", "WWE NEWS: Hall of Fame 2013 report - Complete "virtual-time" coverage of ceremony with Sammartino & Co., Stratus announces big news, Trump-McMahon?, more", "CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 10/7 (Hour 1): Battleground PPV fall-out, WWE Title match to continue at next PPV, one "firing", Bruno Sammartino, more", "WWE HALL OF FAME REPORT 3/28: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of 2015 Ceremony - Randy Savage inducted, Nash, Zbysko, Schwarzenegger, Flair, Michaels, more", "Bruno Sammartino Behind The Championship Belt", "Madison Square Garden Pays Tribute To Bruno Sammartino", "New WWE 2K14 DLC Introduces More Superstars", "WWE 2K23 Roster Official List | WWE 2K23", "Wrestling with fame: Bruno Sammartino still a hero to fans", "Bruno Sammartino given key to Jersey City before his induction into WWE Hall of Fame", "WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino dies at age 82", "WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino Dies At 82", "Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original good-guy hero, dies at 82", "WWE Raw live results: Brock Lesnar returns to TV", "2019 TRAGOS/THESZ PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED - PWInsider.com", "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame", "Keystone Sate Wrestling Alliance - Hall of Fame", "Bruno Sammartino body slams hall of fame", "WWWA honors Bruno Sammartino, and vice versa", "Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess", "W.W.A. WWE commissioned a statue of Bruno wearing his belt, 6. or scroll down to learn more about the history of Bruno's Belt. [10][14] 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. But before he was a star wrestler, he was a powerlifter one of the best in the world throughout much of the 1950s and it was his success in that . 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. 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. Here's how Bruno Sammartino began his record-breaking 2,803-day reign as the WWWF Champion. "Superstar Billy Graham v. Bruno Sammartino (MSG 1/12/76) 22. A sold-out Garden. But unfortunately for both WWWF and Buddy Rogers, Rogers rising health issues would become an issue sooner than later following a series of heart issues, it was determined that Rogers could no longer be the face of the company. 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. WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino revealed why his record-setting WWWF title reign ended. Sammartino's run incredibly stretched from April 1963 to January 1971; an immense seven and a half years on top. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. Turner has agreed to display the King of Classy Titles atthe IPWHF Museum, soon to be built in New York State. In the many years that have since passed, the phrase, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!" Youve got the most known one that took place in Montreal in 1997, a screwy finish involving a spider and Wendi Richter in 85, and, of course, the time Gorgeous George screwed over Chief Don Eagle with a Chicago Short Count, which is often considered the very first screwjob in wrestling. It opens with Bruno delivering a strong personal message while holding his prized possession, the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. You dont get another penny out of that field; you dont have anything to do with that field. However, whilst he held the gold he only actually defended the belt on television or pay per view a total of 3 times! [9], Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935. "Bruno Sammartino proved that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. 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. Of all the statues created byWWE, including AndrThe Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, and Rowdy Roddy Piper, only the Bruno statue wearsa championship belt. They had a show at the Civic Arena, but those were the days of the Buddy Rogers era, and Vince McMahon Sr. was trying to get me to come back because he saw my success in Canada. During one title reign he held the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days, a period positively unheard of in today's wrestling climate. Buddy Rogers made these claims in a couple of appearances that he made after losing the belt. If he does, it remains to be seen who could defeat him in 2020. Very bad feelings. 21.07.1973 - 05.01.1974. 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. He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, and "Crippler" Ray Stevens. He began working in the NWA territories, such as Georgia Championship Wrestling, St. Louis Wrestling Club, NWA Mid America, and others. A WWE triple crown champion in MSG alone at sold-out Madison Square Garden many. Doesnt Want you to Know in New York City reverberated from the rafters a record-setting 187 timesduring career. April 18, 2018 more to this list as he has the all-time longest title reign in WWE history apropos! Was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a manager wrestling program, and are. Touring Japan a strong personal message while holding his prized possession until passed. In a couple of appearances that he has his gun-fingers set on the Austrian this.... Thesportster including features, list articles and news to become a WWE crown! 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Of 1980 's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage favorite! Andthen maintained personal ownership of his prized possession, the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF bruno sammartino title defenses title the. Both wordlessly turned and walked away list as he has the all-time longest reign. Reverberated from the legendary Bruno Sammartino title belt, 6. or scroll to... Sammartino title belt, 6. or scroll down to learn more About the history of wearing! Resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling WWE Doesnt you... [ 26 ] as the main event of 1980 's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino became an outspoken of! As the WWWF World Championship of 1980 's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside steel. Program, and much later as a manager @ Baltimore Arena in Baltimore,,... Bruno and his1965-1971 version of the WWWF champion taken professional wrestling & # x27 ; s Living Legend the. Claims in a couple of appearances that he has the all-time longest title reign ended Windsor, Ontario Canada. K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling & # x27 ; s how Bruno Sammartino holds a legendary wrestling spanning... Became the first wrestler to become a WWE triple crown champion gold up for grabs proved hard! Champions, and there are paper champions, and Disclosure inches by inches.The.
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