Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino | |
---|---|
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , U.S. | |
Spouse(s) |
Carol Sammartino
(m. 1959) |
Children | 3; including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Trained by | Ace Freeman Rex Peery[3] |
Debut | October 23, 1959 |
Retired | August 19, 1987 |
Part of a series on |
Professional wrestling |
---|
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-American
Born in
Dubbed "the Italian Strongman”[2] and "the Strongest Man in the World"[4] early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "the Living Legend".[5] Known for his powerful bearhug[3][6] finishing move,[7] 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 – nearly 8 years. While doing so, Sammartino became a popular attraction in Madison Square Garden, selling out the arena numerous times throughout his career.[a] Sammartino would later reclaim the WWWF 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".[8]
Early life
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in
When the Sammartinos arrived in the U.S., Bruno spoke no English and was sickly from the privations of the war years.[10] This made him an easy target for bullies at Schenley High School. He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up.[9] 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.[9]
In 1959, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of 256 kilograms (565 lb), 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.[6] He trained in wrestling with Rex Peery, the University of Pittsburgh team coach.[3]
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.[3]
Professional wrestling career
Early years (1959–1963)
Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds.[6] Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden in New York City was on January 2, 1960,[13] defeating Bull Curry in five minutes.[14]
Feeling like he was being held back in the New York territory in favor of
On the advice of wrestler Yukon Eric, Sammartino contacted Toronto promoter Frank Tunney hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population.[14] 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.[15] With Whipper Billy Watson, Sammartino won his first professional wrestling championship in September 1962, the local version of the International Tag Team Championship.[17] Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories.[15]
Sammartino also challenged
World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1963–1981)
First World Heavyweight Championship reign (1963–1971)
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.[19] 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
Second World Heavyweight Championship reign (1972–1977)
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 65-minute draw at Shea Stadium in New York.[23]
Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Heavyweight Championship by defeating
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.[5][25] His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days (1,237 days).[14][21] 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 U.S. and the world. He wrestled then NWA World Heavyweight Champion
On January 22, 1980, his former student
Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981,[9] 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)
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.[28] 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.[21]
At the inaugural WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, Sammartino was in his son David's corner for his match against Brutus Beefcake.[29] 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.[30]
Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man"
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
Non-wrestling roles and WWE Hall of Fame (1988–2018)
After leaving the WWE, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling. He particularly criticized the use of steroids and "vulgar" storylines.
Sammartino worked as a commentator for the
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.[35]
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.[36]
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.[37] The ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden on April 6, 2013, and Sammartino was inducted by Arnold Schwarzenegger.[38] Sammartino appeared on October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh.[39] On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the WWE Hall of Fame.[40]
Other media
Sammartino is 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).
Sammartino has appeared as a
Personal life
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.[10] In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.[46]
On April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in Jersey City, New Jersey.[47] 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.[48]
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.[49] 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.[49]
On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" non-confrontation at the
Death
Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011.[14] He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems[11] following a two-month hospitalization.[51][52] WWE honored his life with a ten-bell salute before a house show in Cape Town later that day, and again on the 23 April episode of Raw in St. Louis.[53][54] Mayor Bill Peduto remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."[55]
Championships and accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2019 [56]
- International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2021[57]
- International Sports Hall of Fame
- Class of 2013[58]
- Keystone State Wrestling Alliance
- KSWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)[59]
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- Los Angeles Battle Royal (1972)[61]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1976)[24]
- Match of the Year (1972) Battle royal[24]
- Match of the Year (1975) vs. Spiros Arion[24]
- Match of the Year (1976) vs. Stan Hansen[24]
- Match of the Year (1977) vs. Superstar Billy Graham[24]
- Match of the Year (1980) vs. Showdown at Shea[24]
- Stanley Weston Award (1981)[24]
- Wrestler of the Year (1974)[24]
- Ranked No. 200 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[62]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2002[63]
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance
- Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)[64]
- World Wide Wrestling Association
- WWWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, final)[65]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation / WWE
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Spiros Arion[17]
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)[37]
- WWE Bronze Statue (2014)[66]
- World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)
- World Wrestling Council
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Feud of the Year (1980) vs. Larry Zbyszko[69]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)[70]
Notes
- ^ While Sammartino is commonly understood to have sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times, records indicate that he only did so approximately 45 times.
- ^ During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, due to the WWWF rejoining the National Wrestling Alliance.
References
- ^ a b "Bruno Sammartino WWE profile". WWE.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7566-9159-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-1613210758.
- ISBN 978-1-77041-124-1.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the originalon October 12, 2000. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1435836259.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (1 October 2014). "Jim Myers: The man behind the Animal". SLAM! Sports. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ Barrasso, Justin (18 April 2018). "'The Joe DiMaggio of Professional Wrestling': Terry Funk Remembers Bruno Sammartino". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McFadden, Robert D. (18 April 2018). "Bruno Sammartino, Durable Champ in WWE Hall of Fame, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Togneri, Chris (24 December 2010). "Bruno Sammartino: Mountain of strength". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ a b Meltzer, Dave (26 April 2018). "APRIL 30, 2018 WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: THE STORY OF BRUNO SAMMARTINO CONTINUED". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ Pro wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino dies at 82, Los Angeles Times, 18 April 2018
- ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-0911137149.
- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the originalon September 19, 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (21 August 1995). "history". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
- ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
- ^ a b c "10 championships you never knew existed in WWE". WWE. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Campbell, Brian (18 April 2018). "Remembering Bruno Sammartino, the singular face of a bygone pro wrestling era". CBS Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
- ISBN 978-0-8239-3432-4. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "PWI Awards". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
- ISBN 978-1492825975.
- ^ Bruno Sammartino v. Capitol Wrestling Corporation and Vince McMahon. Wrestlingperspective.com (26 August 1983). Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82". The Times Herald. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Cawthorn, Graham. "WWE in 1985". History of WWE. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Where legends are displayed". Classicfigs.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008.
- ^ Dvorchak, Robert (26 March 2010). "Dapper Dan: Malkin, Sammartino, Penn State volleyball claim awards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ a b Robinson, Jon (3 February 2013). "WWE to induct Bruno Sammartino into HOF". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Caldwell, James (6 April 2013). "WWE NEWS: Hall of Fame 2013 report - Complete "virtual-time" coverage of ceremony with Sammartino & Co., Stratus announces big news, Trump-McMahon?, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Caldwell, James (7 October 2013). "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". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Caldwell, James (28 March 2015). "WWE HALL OF FAME REPORT 3/28: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of 2015 Ceremony - Randy Savage inducted, Nash, Zbysko, Schwarzenegger, Flair, Michaels, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: In Memory For Bruno Sammartino - For The Fans (21 April 2019). "Bruno Sammartino Behind The Championship Belt". Retrieved 31 August 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Satin, Ryan (19 April 2018). "Madison Square Garden Pays Tribute To Bruno Sammartino". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ Kato, Matthew (7 January 2014). "New WWE 2K14 DLC Introduces More Superstars". Game Informer. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "WWE 2K23 Roster Official List | WWE 2K23". wwe.2k.com. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/roster/wwe2k24/bruno-sammartino
- ^ Rouvalis, Cristina (28 October 1998). "Wrestling with fame: Bruno Sammartino still a hero to fans". Post-gazette. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
- Jersey Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-55022-761-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55022-708-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7434-9181-5.
- ^ ESPN.com Staff (18 April 2018). "WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino dies at age 82". ESPN.com. United States: ESPN Inc. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ KDKA-TV Staff (18 April 2018). "WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino Dies At 82". KDKA-TV. Pittsburgh: CBS Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Alex (19 April 2018). "Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original good-guy hero, dies at 82". NBC News. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Hamlin, Jeff (23 April 2018). "WWE Raw live results: Brock Lesnar returns to TV". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82". National Post. 18 April 2018.
- ^ "2019 TRAGOS/THESZ PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
- ^ "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame".
- ^ Dr. Robert Goldman (12 March 2013). "2013 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Keystone Sate Wrestling Alliance - Hall of Fame". Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ^ "Los Angeles Territory".
- ^ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Puskar, Gene J. (20 February 2005). "Bruno Sammartino body slams hall of fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ Rabito, Lou (6 November 2008). "WWWA honors Bruno Sammartino, and vice versa". The Inquisitor. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "World Wide Wrestling Association (1963)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ "Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess".
- ^ "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "WWC North American Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
External links
- Bruno Sammartino at IMDb
- Bruno Sammartino on WWE.com
- Bruno Sammartino at Find a Grave
- Bruno Sammartino's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database