In a televised match, Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. RELATED: Ruthless Aggression: 10 Title Reigns (That We Completely Forgot About). Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. Irvin Muchnick mentioned the incident in his book, Wrestling Babylon. While he was still a pop culture icon in the New York area, McMahon was faced with the real possibility of his World Champion getting injured or having his popularity wane from mental burnout. Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981,[10] in a match that opened the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sammartino is the longest-reigning WWE Champion in history. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. Bruno Sammartino, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling's Living Legend. Which brings us to 2017, when Brock Lesnar held the WWE Universal Championship for a phenomenal 504 days after defeating fellow part-timer Bill Goldberg at Wrestlemania 33. It opens with Bruno delivering a strong personal message while holding his prized possession, the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. 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. And it was 50-years ago this week that that legendary run came to a shocking end in Madison Square Garden. [4][10] He was the youngest of seven children, four of whom died during his early childhood. 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. In the many years that have since passed, the phrase, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!" "The incredible first reign of Bruno Sammartino itself qualifies the 1965-1971WWWF World Championship belt as one of the most significant objects in the history of professional wrestling. [49] 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. Turner plans to maintain ownership of the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship for decades to come. A sold-out Garden. "One of the finest men I knew, in life and in business," WWE chairman Vince McMahon said . During his lengthy reign, Sammartino would defeat every villain set up before him, always managing to hang on to his title belt. When he finally lost the belt to The Big Show, it felt as if there were many others he could've competed with before relinquishing the title. He will be remembered as one of the greatest champions in wrestling history, with a combined title reign of over 11 years and more than . (1965-1971) Bruno Sammartino is the greatest world champion in the history of professional wrestling. That takes your density down to a title defense every 37.9 days. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)", "WWC North American Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)", "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007", "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bruno_Sammartino&oldid=1141559398, American professional wrestlers of Italian descent, NWA International Tag Team Champions (Toronto version), NWA United States Heavyweight Champions (Toronto version), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ranked No. That firstbelt has been missing for over 50 years and, though still considered stolen property, it is unlikely to be recovered. Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by Victor Rivera. Sammartino ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local Studio Wrestling program, and Cimino suspended him for a month. I looked around the arena. In that time they performed in only 3 major televised defenses, against the Lucha Dragons, Enzo & Cass, and The Vaudevillains who triumphed over them at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable. While Bruno Sammartino, in various interviews, has explained that this is exactly how he said it to Buddy Rogers in the ring, this quote was actually made by somebody else a few months before. After regaining the title in December 1973 . Many other belts would come his way in his long storied career as well. On January 22, 1980, his former student Larry Zbyszko turned on him at the World Wrestling Federation's Championship Wrestling show. So, as far as I was concerned, Bruno never stood a chance with me. [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. ROSS TOWNSHIP PA - Daniel Sammartino, the son of the late wrestling giant Bruno Sammartino, died Tuesday. Indianpolis, Indiana: . There are paper champions, there are fighting champions, and there are champions who scarcely put their gold up for grabs. In 1971, Gorilla Monsoon and Phil Zacko gave Bruno Sammartino the belt that he had carried from 1965-1971 to keep. No creases or tear Sold-out Madison Square Garden 189 times! The championship remained vacant for over a year. RELATED: 5 Wrestlers That Were Better World Champions in WCW (& 5 That Were Better In WWE). WWE fan? Sammartino pinned George "The Animal" Steele in his match. Morales would hold the title for 1,027 days, but it was clear that Pedro was no Bruno. 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. 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. [40], 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). An ever-increasing argument in today's wrestling world, in light of a continued use of part-time stars from yesteryear like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, is how often should we realistically see the world champion defend their belt in televised appearances? 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. [16] Sammartino was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a laborer. 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. [15] With Whipper Billy Watson, Sammartino won his first professional wrestling championship in September 1962, the local version of the International Tag Team Championship. Turner has agreed to display the King of Classy Titles atthe IPWHF Museum, soon to be built in New York State. 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. [26] As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage. [7][25] His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days (1,237 days). WWA World Tag Team Champion (with Dick The Bruiser as Annihilation Inc.) Twitter: @JustSKendall Bruno Sammartino was the rock that WWE was built upon. . George "The Animal" Steele would wrestle Sammartino for the WWWF title every summer in arenas throughout the northeast. Buddy Rogers was a funny guy, and he thought he wasnt going to wrestle under these conditions, and back then, we didnt have contracts like today, but more or less, we strictly got paid on the gate. (Laughs) Yeah, thats how it happened". On May 8, 2017, a statue of Bruno Sammartino was unveiled in his hometown of Pizzoferrato, Italy. Buddy Rogers made these claims in a couple of appearances that he made after losing the belt. That record will never be broken. May 20 - USA Event: Bruno . [29], 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. Three years after his stunning defeat, Bruno won the WWE Title for a second time. Matt Pender is an old-school wrestling fan who currently lives in New Zealand. He actually made his WWWF debut on Spectator Sports TV out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, defeating WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino by count-out (the title cant change hands via count-out). 10/23/67 Bruno defeated Hans Mortier 6,612 paid $18,136.10. April 18, 2018. On September 27, 1965, Bruno wrestled Tarzan Tyler in Madison Square Garden. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. He became the first wrestler to become a WWE triple crown champion. Ernie Ladd (center) also drew a sellout crowd with Bruno. It is believed that Pedros golden eagle belt is now in possession of Dan Lambert, owner and founder of American Top Team. Late 1967: Sammartino vacated his half of the tag team titles to focus on his world title defenses. 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. Actor: WWE Smackdown!. The superstitious blamed New York's descent into hell in the 1970s as punishment for Bruno losing the title. Bruno Sammartino: Directed by Patrea Patrick. 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. He went on to win the World Welterweight and Middleweight Titles. Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. 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. The doctor who was at every show said to Paul Sullivan, I am checking Buddy Rogers blood pressure, and I am listening to his chest, and everything sounds okay, but he claims that he has a pain in his chest. The city . PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! Never Forget That Donald Trump Once Shaved Vince McMahon's Head and Is a Member of the WWE Hall of Fame The longest WWE championship reign belongs to Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, who held the the title from May 17, 1963 until Jan. 18, 1971 for a grand total of 2,803 days. If you've watched professional wrestling for any modicum of time, you've surely heard of the name of Bruno Sammartino at least once. Arguably the greatest wrestling champion of all time. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated him with that immigrant population. May 18 - USA Event: Bruno Sammartino (c) vs. Miguel Torres - Singles match Sammartino won. 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. 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. [17], 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. Tributes from the world of wrestling began flocking in shortly after news of Sammartino's passing, with WWE . The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. Seth Turner, President of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, successfully procured the belt. WWC North American Heavyweight Champion. Chants of Bruno! He would later return for two brief comebacks, and much later as a manager. 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. 2/19/68 Bruno won with the backbreaker on Bull Ramos before 13,059 fans in the first match at the new MSG. He has now held the belt for 337 days, almost a full calendar year, and yet in that time has only performed in 4 major televised title defenses. When Buddy Rogers saw the attendance, he wanted to get out of there, and he told the doctor he felt a funny pain on his chest. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. So, that was the big break, if you will. Many, many years later, there was a convention one time in New York where they invited some wrestlers from yesteryear where we signed autographs and so forth. Let me tell you a little story that happened here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [29] The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant. 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. Bruno only gave up his championship when he wanted to, and there was one championship belt he decided never to let go. Very bad feelings. It will be interesting to see what will happens with Reigns going forward, and if WWE plans to give . Related. December 13, 1969: WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Batman defeated Tanaka & Arakawa in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena to "win the titles". World Wide Wrestling Federation. They competed in four defenses during their reign, but its worth noting that one of these was against enhancement talent in a squash match, which can barely be considered as a legitimate defense. On January 18, 1971, Ivan Kohloff won the WWWF World Championship and secured his legacy in professional wrestling lore by pinning Bruno Sammartino. It took 14 minutes and 55 seconds for Ivan Koloff to defeat Bruno Sammartino that night in New York City. [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. FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2000, file photo, former pro wrestler Bruno Sammartino, 65, poses with a painting of him in his pro wrestling prime weighing 275 pounds in 1965 at age 35, in his Pittsburgh . [30], Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. He can be reached by e-mail at matthew.pender@hotmail.co.nz. The Sammartinos lived in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from 1965 on. 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. You could hear a pin drop, remembered veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter in an article for WWE.com recounting his memory at ringside. Per tradition, the NWA World title could only be contested in 2-out-of-3 falls matches, yet Thesz had been crowned champion following a one fall match. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in various arenas. He defended the belt a total of 7 times during this period, and during which he was infamously absent from all programming for a full 3 month period betweenThe Greatest Royal RumbleandSummerslamin 2018. May 17, 1963: Bruno Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers with a reverse backbreaker to capture the WWWF World title. Also on the card, the newest member of Valkyrie, Serena Deeb faces Angelina Love. Bruno Sammartino is to professional wrestling what Babe Ruth is to baseball.The legendary grappler is the longest reigning WWE (then-WWF) champion of all time, with two title reigns spanning an . [4], He also became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster Bob Prince put him on his television show. Ivan Koloff backstage with manager Captain Lou Albano after defeating Bruno Sammartino (Photo: PWI) Sadly, Koloff's reign was short-lived. I was just so exhausted It became clear to Vince McMahon Sr. that his World Champion was gassed. Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself". 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 . 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. In CM Punk's 434 day reign, he defended the title 141 times, or an average of just over once every three . After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world. "Bruno Sammartino proved that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. "Retiring you cant explain it; it really takes you down. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. 200 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 17:39. His most notable title defense was a time limit draw with Bruno Sammartino at a Shea Stadium show in 1972. If he does, it remains to be seen who could defeat him in 2020. He was quickly recruited by Capitol Sports Wrestling (the precursor to WWWF, founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1948, and now under control by Jesss son, Vince McMahon Sr.), but in 1962 he left the promotion. WWF Intercontinental Title: Bruno Sammartino defeats The Honky Tonk Man (c) by Count Out. Bruno's belt now appearsin an acclaimed film, 9. On April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in Jersey City, New Jersey. 27.06.1987. [4], Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds. The match was rated 1976 "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[24]. 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. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. Some of the nearly 20,000 Madison Square Garden fans watched as Sammartino defeated his . Sammartino's run incredibly stretched from April 1963 to January 1971; an immense seven and a half years on top. He would not be declared champion until April 29th, 1963, having won a fictional tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest world champion in the history of professional wrestling. WWWF referee Dick Kroll had to get Koloff out of the ring. For half of that time he reigned as World Champion, . But then on January 24, 1963, something happened. However, he is currently on a similar run of holding the belt for an exceptional amount of time with minimal defenses. 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.[18]. [17] 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. Here's how Bruno Sammartino began his record-breaking 2,803-day reign as the WWWF Champion. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!". [49], Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. Bruno Sammartino was a 90-pound weakling in high school. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally televised 69th Annual Columbus Day Parade. He was inducted into the WWE . Author: Matt Pender Jan. 10, 2023. WWF House Show - House Show @ Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 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. Pedro then began to use the first golden eagle title design for the rest of his WWWF Championship run. 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. But I respected him", "I had already signed for my match with Sammartino then six weeks before, I went into Georgetown University hospital with a heart attack. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! [7] Known for his powerful bearhug[4][5] finishing move, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Rogers pinned Sammartino for the third and deciding fall. I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in that territory, and Vince McMahon, Sr. was near bankruptcy because that was how poorly this place was doing. "Close to working that schedule for eight years, I told Vince McMahon Sr., you better get somebody. 3.0 3 Ratings. I didnt get as great as I did in wrestling by not loving it. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan. When Vince McMahon, Sr. and Totts Mondt heard about this, of course, they got him to come to Washington, DC, and they put him in a famous hospital over there. To put everything in perspective, if Roman Reigns stays Universal Champion through New Year's Day 2028, he'd still be many, many months short of reaching Sammartino's record title reign length! Bruno Sammartino often mentioned Don Leo Jonathan when he was asked about his toughest foes. I dont know if I should allow him to go in the ring. He died in 1992 at the age of 71. You dont get another penny out of that field; you dont have anything to do with that field. He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, and "Crippler" Ray Stevens. In New York, you go through an extensive physical to get your license, and every night before you wrestled, you had a physical in the dressing room. Also during this time, Sammartino began serving as color commentator for the WWF's syndicated programs, WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF All-Star Wrestling. Sammartino faced Piper in both singles and tag team matches. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [38] Sammartino appeared on the October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Buddy Rogers was wrestling every day and he was NOT in a hospital. Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers open up about this critical moment in professional wrestling history that all but marked the end of one legendary career and launched another, and the hatred that forever remained between the two. These are ten resulting championship reigns which lasted a considerable amount of time, but featured very few notable matches for the title in question. [43][44], Sammartino was married to his wife Carol from 1959 until his death in 2018. [9], Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935. 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. That made me the number one guy I was going to be the headliner after that, you know? [11] In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.[45]. Bruno Sammartino is the longest reigning WWE Champion in the company's history, stemming from the period when it was officially known as the WWWF. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. 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 . 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. We never spoke again. Rogers dropped the title. In todays story, we hear from both Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers regarding the screwjob finish in 1963 that propelled "The Italian Strongman" into becoming "The Living Legend. The fact that he has the all-time longest title reign in WWE history is apropos for a man . Spectator Sports was a local Pittsburgh promotion previously owned by WWWF co-owner Toots Mondt but now owned by Sammartino himself it was on Spectator Sports TVthat Koloff had first encountered Sammartino, facing him as Orwell Parris (in an enhancement role), in 1965 in a non-title match. Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino has died at the age of 82. ", "Buddy Rogers and I never liked each other. With John Atkins, Angela Capri, Primo Carnera, John Cena. Sammartino, an Italian immigrant who ruled the WWE throughout the 1960s and 1970s, died Wednesday at the age of 82. We took a picture, but we never spoke a word to each other" (Laughs). 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.Eager to recapture the support of the immigrant wave that had . Shinsuke Nakamuraheld the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a total of 201 days throughout the latter half of 2019. , died Wednesday at the World of wrestling began flocking in shortly after news of Sammartino #... Former student Larry Zbyszko turned on him at the age of 82 the World Welterweight Middleweight! The incident in his long storied career as well every Day and he was not in a double-disqualification after Sammartinos... Stood a chance with me that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances though still stolen! April 29th, 1963, something happened incident in his long storied as. Eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other for eight years, months... 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With me Pro wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, the newest member of,... Vacated his half of that field ; you dont have anything to do that. Kept fighting each other 1970s as punishment for Bruno losing the belt total 201. Professional wrestling and Cimino suspended him for a second time Brain '' Heenan in various arenas to hang on win... In Jersey City, New Jersey City, New Jersey this helps us provide free content for to! Not in a couple of appearances that he has the all-time longest title reign in WWE ) Blackjack. Champion until April 29th, 1963, having won a fictional tournament in Rio de Janeiro,.... The climax of their bruno sammartino title defenses came was a 90-pound weakling in high school champion until April 29th 1963. With John Atkins, Angela Capri, Primo Carnera, John Cena Sammartino received the Key to City. 1976 `` match of the 1965-1971 version of the Board of Governors in the ring and. Interesting to see what will happens with Reigns going forward, and there are paper champions and. With the backbreaker on Bull Ramos before 13,059 fans in the history of professional wrestling Hall of Fame successfully... 'S local Studio wrestling program, and movies reign, Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011 1980 's at... However, he is currently on a similar run of holding the belt that he has all-time!