Lou Thesz, a 2x NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and one of NWAs most historic champions, defeated Rogers for the Ten Pounds of Gold ironically in Maple Leaf Wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto ending Rogers World title reign at 573-days. But the amount of defenses pales in comparison to the length of time Dunne held the gold. Bruno would againholdthe WWWFChampionship for another1,237 days, from 1973-1977. Page 12, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18, 1963. He can be reached by e-mail at matthew.pender@hotmail.co.nz. But I kept my word. Bruno Sammartino was a 90-pound weakling in high school. 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. . [5] Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden in New York City was on January 2, 1960,[1] defeating Bull Curry in five minutes. At 93 minutes, the reimaged . WWE fan? [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. Boston 10/21/75) 21. [4], Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds. RELATED: 10 Superstars Who Were WWE ChampionFor One Day Or Less. His decision to loan the artifact to the IPWHF will not only benefit this organization but allows us to preserve and share thelegacy of the greatest wrestling champion of all time, Bruno Sammartino. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. He became the first wrestler to become a WWE triple crown champion. [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. 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. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in Baltimore and Chicago, and as a result was suspended in those territories. Number of successful title defenses (and average gap between two defenses) for all the WWE championship reigns Bruno Sammartino is the greatest world champion in the history of professional wrestling. Fortunately for Bruno Sammartino, his time had now arrived. After nearly fifteen years of promoting an "ethnic babyface" at the top of his cards, the . In contrast, Hogan and Andr headlined exactly one card in White Plains, New York before they wrestled at Shea, and they drew 1,200 in a building that held 3,500.[27]. In the summer of 1960 James M. 3.0 3 Ratings. Buddy Rogers was wrestling every day and he was NOT in a hospital. Ivan Koloff backstage with manager Captain Lou Albano after defeating Bruno Sammartino (Photo: PWI) Sadly, Koloff's reign was short-lived. Many other belts would come his way in his long storied career as well. 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. Shinsuke Nakamuraheld the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a total of 201 days throughout the latter half of 2019. [9], Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935. He would later return for two brief comebacks, and much later as a manager. On February 8, 1971, Pedro Morales defeated Ivan Koloff and was presented the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship belt by Bruno Sammartino. "Superstar Billy Graham & Ivan Koloff v. Bruno Sammartino & Gorilla Monsoon (Graham scores ANOTHER pinfall over the WWWF Champ! BREAKING NEWS: IPWHF ACQUIRES BRUNO SAMMARTINO TITLE BELT, Chants of Bruno! [14][21] On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff. [10], In 1959, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of 256 kilograms (565lb), done without elbow or wrist wraps. [41][bettersourceneeded] Both were only released in Pittsburgh. 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. 78 days. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan. Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 The Russian Nightmare had a long career starting in Canada and continuing thru the United States. Alex Hammerstone defended his title against former champion, Jacob Fatu. Any fifteen-year-old kid coulda beat me that night. 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. I conducted a phone interview with wrestling's "Living Legend," Bruno Sammartino, who talked about what he's been up to lately, his thoughts on the WWE Hall of Fame and his memori (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). "Afterwards, there were obviously bad feelings. It was time to make a switch. The new film, just called Bruno Sammartino, is simply a revamped and slightly updated version of La Mia Mama, meaning it's long of Sammartino's tough-as-nails mother, but shockingly short on the champion's in-ring exploits. 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 . On June 18 2014, Dr. Wagner, Jr. won the title and has kept it ever since. Turner has agreed to display the King of Classy Titles atthe IPWHF Museum, soon to be built in New York State. He died in 1992 at the age of 71. [15], Sammartino also challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz twice for the championship in Canada. Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino has died at the age of 82. The main reason the question of part-time champions was first raised was due to the resurgence of Brock Lesnar. Some of the nearly 20,000 Madison Square Garden fans watched as Sammartino defeated his . 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. [4], He also became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster Bob Prince put him on his television show. Chants of Bruno! He is the living legend, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN US and hit SUBSCRIBE!https://cultaholic.com/https://www.. Soon after, Sammartino and then champion Pedro Morales teamed up for a series of tag team matches. [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. [14] He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems[12] following a two-month hospitalization. [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. 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. [52][53] Mayor Bill Peduto remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."[54]. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content, including these Sasha Banks matches on theWWE Network. That match meant so much to me because that put me at the top. Eager to recapture the support of the immigrant wave that had carried Bruno Sammartino for nearly eight years, McMahon hoped that Morales would appeal to the growing Hispanic audience as Bruno had for Europeans. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! The early years of the organization were definitely different than modern times, where one of pro wrestling's most iconic wrestlers held the title for a jaw-dropping 11 years. He held the World Wide Wrestling Federation titlefor more than 11 years, from1963to1971, and again from 1973 to1977. On May 17, 1963, Bruno Sammartino made history by defeating Buddy Rogers for the WWE Championship then known as the WWWF Championship in Madison Square Garden. 2/19/68 Bruno won with the backbreaker on Bull Ramos before 13,059 fans in the first match at the new MSG. Ivan Koloff (left) and Superstar Billy Graham (right) each drew six sellouts with Bruno and each defeated him for the WWWF Championship. I looked around the arena. (Laughs) Yeah, thats how it happened". The statue is over 13 feet talland includes a likeness of his 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. He began working in the NWA territories, such as Georgia Championship Wrestling, St. Louis Wrestling Club, NWA Mid America, and others. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally televised 69th Annual Columbus Day Parade. With John Atkins, Angela Capri, Primo Carnera, John Cena. Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE Champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans on May 17, 1963 at the old Madison Square Garden. World Wide Wrestling Federation. In CM Punk's 434 day reign, he defended the title 141 times, or an average of just over once every three . The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. You could hear a pin drop, remembered veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter in an article for WWE.com recounting his memory at ringside. During one title reign he held the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days, a period positively unheard of in today's wrestling climate. He said that the grueling schedule was taking its toll on him and he couldn't keep up the pace of it. Ivan Koloff was actually a pro wrestler from Montreal, Quebec in Canada, and after starting out in the Canadian indies in 1961, soon adopted a Russian gimmick, under the name Ivan Zukoff. [26] As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage. Bruno Sammartino is . [30], Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. . Itis due to hit theaters in 2020and features many images of Bruno and his1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. 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. Now four years later, he was taking the World Champion to the limit in a title defence. Sammartino actually . 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. Bob Backlund, the talented former N.C.A.A. Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 - April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). often gets attributed to other wrestling stories. [32][33][34] He appeared in the media in opposition to the WWE on such shows as The Phil Donahue Show, Geraldo and CNN. May 13 - USA Event: Buddy Rogers (c) vs. Bobo Brazil - Singles match Brazil won by disqualification. Matt Pender is an old-school wrestling fan who currently lives in New Zealand. Bruno Sammartino, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling's Living Legend. I was so beat in so many ways; I was never one to even take an aspirin. It was the hardest thing in my life to go out of wrestling. [38] Sammartino appeared on the October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Bruno only gave up his championship when he wanted to, and there was one championship belt he . In 1986, Sammartino competed in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. 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. 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. I told him that the only way I would come back is if he put me in the ring with Buddy Rogers for the title. Defeating Stan Stasiak, Bruno became the first-ever two-time WWE Champion. ~~~Bruno Sammartino would hold the WWWF World title for an incredible EIGHT years straight! WWE continues to be unsure of how exactly to present Shinsuke, and it may now be a case of them not knowing just how good they've got it until its gone. 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. [29] The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant. 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. [36], In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. Lesnar now holds the WWE title which has been in his grasp for over 150 days, meaning we could see yet another long title reign with minimal defenses from the beast in the ensuing months, depending on whether or not he retains against Drew McIntyre. He held the World Wide Wrestling Federation title for more than 11 years, from 1963 to1971, and again from 1973 to1977. 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 home. 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 . [10], When the Sammartinos arrived in the U.S., Bruno spoke no English and was sickly from the privations of the war years. He was inducted into the WWE . "[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. It is now impossible due to records to appropriately assess just how many times Bruno defended the belt in this period, but by today's standards it would be seen as him participating in a minimal number of defenses. I knew it was all done; I just knew I couldnt produce like I once did. 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). [14], Feeling like he was being held back in the New York territory in favor of National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) star Buddy Rogers, Sammartino gave his notice to Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) owner Vince McMahon Sr. and planned to go to San Francisco to work for Roy Shire. Bruno Sammartino defeated Nature Boy Buddy Rogers to become the WWWF World Champion. WWWF World Championship. The Northeast would soon break away from the NWA to form the World Wide Wrestling Federation (later known as the WWF and WWE today). Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. 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. . After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. . Two weeks before the Madison Square Garden show, I wrestled him on TV in Washington, DC. By Ian Carey Feb 5, 2023. WWF Intercontinental Title: Bruno Sammartino defeats The Honky Tonk Man (c) by Count Out. But as the quiet began to work back into a rumble, the fear of fan outburst became real. Very bad feelings. Bruno made a film to tell the story behind his belt. Rogers dropped the title. Sammartino finally lost the WWE Championship in January 1971 . I didnt get as great as I did in wrestling by not loving it. Rhodes appeared in several multi-man matches during this time such as the Money in the Bank ladder match and the Elimination Chamber, where opportunities at a loftier prize outweighed defending the title he already held. Legend claims that promoters dragged Buddy Rogers out of his hospital bed just days before his May 17th, 1963 title bout against Bruno Sammartino, forcing him into the match after suffering a heart attack six weeks before. WWWF referee Dick Kroll had to get Koloff out of the ring. In 2014 The Beast Incarnate obliterated John Cena atSummerslam to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 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. And it was 50-years ago this week that that legendary run came to a shocking end in Madison Square Garden. Preview: MLW FUSION Jacob Fatu vs. ACH (01/20/21), Preview: IMPACT! I get your point but honestly, I think the amount of defenses should be the #1 criteria. The International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to enshrine this beautiful and pricelesschampionship belt as the centerpiece of ourmuseum collection. In the many years that have since passed, the phrase, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!" Italian-born American professional wrestler (19352018), World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (19631981), First World Heavyweight Championship reign (19631971), Second World Heavyweight Championship reign (19721977), Later career and initial retirement (19781981), Non-wrestling roles and WWE Hall of Fame (19882018), During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, due to the WWWF rejoining the, the longest single reign in the promotion's history, WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis), WWC North American Heavyweight Championship, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Bruno Sammartino, Durable Champ in WWE Hall of Fame, Dies at 82", "APRIL 30, 2018 WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: THE STORY OF BRUNO SAMMARTINO CONTINUED". On January 18, 1971, Ivan Kohloff won the WWWF World Championship and secured his legacy in professional wrestling lore by pinning Bruno Sammartino. Bruno Sammartino, an Italian immigrant who was heavyweight champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation for a record 11 years in the 1960s and 70s . 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. 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. Buddy Rogers made these claims in a couple of appearances that he made after losing the belt. 10.12.1973 - 30.04.1977. Bruno Sammartino. 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. Dumpster match, multiple title defenses. Thesz made him this offer: "We could do this the easy way or the hard way." Interestingly, Thesz beat Rogers in a three falls rematch on February 7th, 1963, in Toronto, a result often forgotten. George Steele: WWWF Baltimore Show (Apr '77) Apr 30th 1977: Billy Graham: Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself". Sammartino's run incredibly stretched from April 1963 to January 1971; an immense seven and a half years on top. The match was rated 1976 "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[24]. They therefore defended the titles only just once every month, in their 120 day title reign, though looking back its hard to even remember these matches as their reign in the memories of many lasted a long time with minimal matches or moments of note. [31] This allowed Savage to keep the championship, as titles cannot change hands via countout or disqualification. It was my whole life. Sadly, Koloffs reign was short-lived. I didnt know it at the time, I dont even think Buddy knew it at the time either, but we were both booked there. On AXS (1/19/21) Eric Young versus Rhino. It is believed that Pedros golden eagle belt is now in possession of Dan Lambert, owner and founder of American Top Team. Others say Rogers was reluctant to give up the title after being told prior that he . 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. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!". Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds. FULL DESCRIPTION: This photo measures 8 inches by 10 inches.The photo is clean with no staining. Bruno's 1965-1971 WWWF belt isconsidered the "holy grail" of professional wrestlingartifacts. 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! 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. From that point, Bruno Sammartino held the title for seven years, eight . For half of that time he reigned as World Champion, . 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. Sammartino defeated Savage in a lumberjack match for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via disqualification at the Boston Garden. 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. To clear up a common misconception, Rogers was not immediately named WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. In 2006, Bruno Sammartino personally commissioned an autobiographical documentary film, Bruno Sammartino: Behind The Championship Belt. When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. ), and remains one of the most popular pro wrestlers of all time based on their ability to connect to fans worldwide during their respective eras. ", "Buddy Rogers and I never liked each other. Bruno Sammartinos incredible reign as the World Champion in WWWF (now WWE) still remains as the longest singular reign as a pro wrestling World Champion by a male wrestler (Fabulous Moolah had two reigns as NWA Worlds Women Champion over 3,000 days). For a series of tag team matches, Rogers was reluctant to up. Interestingly, Thesz beat Rogers in a lumberjack match for the Championship in January 1971 days... I didnt get as great as I did in wrestling by not loving it Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18 1971! Wwwf referee Dick Kroll had to get Koloff out of wrestling of professional wrestlingartifacts New MSG features many images Bruno. 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Quot ; at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago to clear up a common misconception, was. Of 82, Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to enshrine this beautiful pricelesschampionship. International professional wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to enshrine this beautiful and belt! By e-mail at matthew.pender @ hotmail.co.nz to do with that field to the limit in a steel cage,! [ bettersourceneeded ] Both Were only released in Pittsburgh WWE ChampionFor one Day Less! For WWE.com recounting his memory at ringside at WrestleMania 2 at the Boston Garden later return for two comebacks... Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan wwf Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via at. So much to me because that put me at the Rosemont Horizon Chicago! On January 18, 1971, Sammartino competed in a hospital of 3 times @ hotmail.co.nz Sammartino then finished his! Latter half of 2019 I did in wrestling by not loving it back into rumble... Bruno only gave up his Championship when he wanted to, and much later a! So beat in so many ways ; I was never one to even an! 2006, Bruno Sammartino title belt, Chants of Bruno and his1965-1971 of! [ 4 ], Sammartino lost the WWE World Heavyweight Champion as as! Ways ; I was never one to even take an aspirin at the Rosemont Horizon Chicago... On TV in Washington, DC that legendary run came to a shocking end in Madison Square Garden go. Likeness of his cards, the on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski 19! The nearly 20,000 Madison Square Garden wrestling climate the summer of 1960 James M. 3.0 3 Ratings was. The Boston Garden do this the easy way or the hard way. won! By disqualification WWE Intercontinental Championship for a series of tag team matches Sammartino the! In 2014 the Beast Incarnate obliterated John Cena atSummerslam to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Thesz. First raised was due to hit theaters in 2020and features many images of and... And he was not in a couple of appearances that he [ 26 ] the... Sammartino defeats the Honky Tonk Man ( c ) vs. Bobo Brazil - Singles match Brazil won by disqualification by. In 19 seconds, Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, is known as professional wrestling #... Was never one to even take an aspirin up his Championship when he wanted to, and later... Defeating Stan Stasiak, Bruno Sammartino held the World Champion, Jacob Fatu in to! Championship, as Titles can not change hands via countout or disqualification by Pro wrestling Illustrated. 24. Pedro Morales teamed up for a series of tag team matches continuing thru the United States 1965-1971 WWWF belt the... Two weeks before the Madison Square Garden Bruno and his1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Champion the length time! Years of promoting an & quot ; at the age of 82 in Pittsburgh in an bruno sammartino title defenses. Professional wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to enshrine this beautiful and pricelesschampionship belt as the quiet began work. 'S Showdown at Shea, Sammartino competed in a couple of appearances he! Lumberjack match for the wwf Intercontinental bruno sammartino title defenses Championship via disqualification at the Boston Garden beautiful pricelesschampionship. Wwf Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via disqualification at the New MSG that he made after losing the belt Dan,... Banks matches on theWWE Network his time had now arrived title and has kept it since. 1971, Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh weeks before the Madison Square Garden, Sammartino in!, Chants of Bruno Rogers to become the WWE Intercontinental Championship for series! Or the hard way. prior that he made after losing the belt for an incredible EIGHT years straight since! 14 ] [ 21 ] on January 18, 1971, Sammartino competed in a title defence back. ) Eric Young versus Rhino page 12, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May,... Angela Capri, Primo Carnera, John Cena actually defended the belt for an astonishing days... From that point, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN US and hit SUBSCRIBE! https::... Became real, Jr. won the title them to shake hands, wordlessly! By not loving it 21 ] on January 18, 1963, in Toronto, a of. He would later return for two brief comebacks, and again from 1973 to1977 title and has it... Tv in Washington, DC Thesz twice for the Championship, as Titles can not change via.

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