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Bruno Sammartino is an immigrant who came to America idolizing greco-Roman
wrestler Batisti and worked out hard at the gym. Sammartino was scouted
and became a professional wrestler and joined the World Wide Wrestling
Federation in 1959 and in May of 1963, he defeated the "Nature Boy" Buddy
Rogers with a bear hug to become the new WWWF World Heavyweight Champion
in the fledging WWWF under Vince McMahon Sr and Toots Mondt. Sammartino
went on to hold the gold for a record 8 straight years until 1971 when
he lost the title to the "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff. Two years later, Sammartino
defeated the new champion Stan "The Man" Stasiak to become the first ever
two time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. Sammartino defended the title
for another three years and, during that time, he suffered a nearly career
ending neck injury at the hands of Stan "The Lariat" Hansen that climaxed
in a bout at Shea Stadium which Sammartino won. During this time, as well,
Sammartino trained a young Larry Zbyszko, who would turn on Sammartino
resulting in a brutal Steel Cage Match, again at Shea Stadium. Sammartino
would finally lose the title to the "Superstar" Billy Graham in 1977 when
Graham had both feet on the ropes during a pinning combination. Sammartino
had a few re-matches that went to time limit draws and would never again
wear the title.
Bruno Sammartino became a broadcaster full time with Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura, but left the WWF and engaged in a public feud with WWF head honcho Vince McMahon. Bruno Sammartino, to this day, has refused entry into the WWE Hall of Fame but has entered several other honoured Hall of Fame groups. Sammartino has appeared on the independent circuit in a managerial role and in a Commissioner role but is retired from in-ring wrestling. Bruno Sammartino has been called the Living Legend and what a fitting title. His legacy as the greatest and longest running WWF/WWE/WWWF Champion will, doubtless, never be broken and he stands as one of the last great classic wrestlers. |
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When the WWWF became the World Wrestling Federation, Sammartino took a
less active role and moved to the broadcast booth and wrestled sparingly,
calling himself the Living Legend of Wrestling. Sammartino appeared at
the first Wrestlemania as the cornerman for his son David, who went to
a no contest with Brutus Beefcake. Sammartino returned to the ring to feud
with Rowdy Roddy Piper and the Cowboy Bob Orton, resulting in a tag team
bout where Sammartino and Paul Orndorff defeated Piper and Orton in a Steel
Cage in 1985. In 1986, Sammartino took part in the Football versus Wrestler
Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 2, eventually won by Andre the Giant. Sammartino
continued to wrestle part-time with more classics against Randy Savage,
the Honkey Tonk Man and Adrian Adonis.