Date of Birth
6 October 1935,
Pizzoferrato, Italy
Birth Name
Bruno Laopardo Franceso Sammartino
Nickname
The Living Legend
Height
6' 1" (1.85 m)
Spouse
| Carol |
(1959 - present) 3 children |
Trivia
Former WWF World Champion & Tag Team Champion in the 1960's & 70's
Considered by many to be the greatest pro wrestling champion of all time
Bruno's last major feud was with Randy "Macho Man" Savage in 1986-1987, and nearly won the WWF Intercontinental title on several occasions. He also teamed with Tito Santana and one-time enemy George "the Animal" Steele in tag team maches vs. Savage and "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.
He "retired" from wrestling in 1981 (his last match was against old enemy George "the Animal" Steele), and began providing commentary for the WWF's syndicated programming. He came out of retirement in 1985, where he wrestled in tag team matches with son, David (usually against Johnny Valiant and Brutus Beefcake).
The first two-time WWWF (later WWF and WWE) heavyweight champion. His first reign went from 1963-1971, while his second lasted from 1973-1977.
The second ever WWWF Champion. Defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers to win the title.
Fled from his homeland of Italy during World War II. Sammartino was 90lbs when he lived in the mountains as a refugee. When he began his professional wrestling career he was a 250lbs powerhouse.
Had a classic feud with Larry Zbyszko, a man he helped train.
Defeated Stan "The Man" Stasiak for his second WWWF Title reign.
Held the WWWF (WWE) World Title longer then any other wrestler in history, 8 years.
He was examined by a specialist in sports medicine. The doctor indicated that Sammartino had the most badly damaged body of anyone he had examined in his long career.
In 1956 he lost out to Paul Anderson for a spot on the United States Olympic Weightlifting Team.
In 1959 he set a world record in the benchpress by lifting 565 pounds.
He became the most famous professional wrestler during the 1960s and early 1970s. This was long after professional wrestling has stopped appearing on American network television, and well before cable television created nationwide wrestling promotions.
On May 18, 2004, Bruno Sammartino was honored in Pittsburgh for the 41st anniversary of his winning the WWWF title from Buddy Rogers.
Notable Title Wins Included: International Tag Team (Toronto) w/ Whipper Billy Watson; WWWA US Tag Team (Pittsburgh) w/ Argentina Apollo; WWWF World Heavyweight (2); WWWF United States Tag Team w/ Spiros Arion; WWWF International Tag Team w/ Battman; WWWF International Tag Team w/ Dominic Denucci; Grand Prix Tag Team (Montreal) w/ Eduard Carpentier; WWA World Tag Team (Indianapolis) w/ Dick the Bruiser;
Notable Feuds Include: Ivan Koloff, Stan Stasiak, Larry Zbyzsko, Fred Blassie, Lou Albano, Spiros Arion, George "The Animal" Steele, The Executioners, Cowboy Bob Duncum, Nikolai Volkoff, The Valiant Brothers, Waldo Von Erich, Buggsy McGraw, Superstar Billy Graham, Stan Hansen,,Bruiser Brody, Tor Kamata, Ernie Ladd, Killer Kowalski, Ken Patera, Roddy Piper and Brutus Beefcake
Bruno was born in Abruzzi, Italy and immigrated to the United States at age 15.
He idolized a Greco-Roman wrestler named Batisti who represented Italy in the Olympics in the 30s.
In the mid 1960s, his tag team partner was Tony Marino, a man who would come to the ring dressed as and had the ringname of "Batman".
Was the longest reigning WWE Champion in history, back when it the company was known as WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation). Sammartino won the title in 1963 and held it for eight years until 1971, a record that still stands today. His second reign as WWE Champion lasted four years between 1973 and 1977 and is also one of the longest reigns in the history of WWE.
Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 (charter class).
Bruno Sammartino
... then was Bruno Sammartino.)
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