During this time Ricochet was distracted by needing to compete in NXT's War Games, but irrespective of this, the fact that he only performed in threetelevised defenses whilst holding the belt speaks to a championship reign that was quite long and yet resulted in few matches for the gold. 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. Matches. Bruno Sammartino: WWWF Heavyweight Champion - 1,237 days WWE/YouTube Stan Stasiak only has one successful title defense to his name against Chief Jay Strongbow, and their bout went to a no contest. By Robert D. McFadden. After leaving the WWF, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling. Following the match, thieves smashed a window and broke into Brunos car while he was having dinner. Bruno's belt appears on a statue in his hometown, 7. 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. 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 . Rogers dropped the title. 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. George Steele: WWWF Baltimore Show (Apr '77) Apr 30th 1977: Billy Graham: ", Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Sammartino would go on to hold the title for 2,803 days, nearly eight years(! Actor: WWE Smackdown!. The program will feature commentary by Richert and by Darryl Sammartino, Bruno's son, per the release. Fortunately for Bruno Sammartino, his time had now arrived. 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 . ), 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. But as the quiet began to work back into a rumble, the fear of fan outburst became real. Sammartino finally lost the WWE Championship in January 1971 . [5] He trained in wrestling with Rex Peery, the University of Pittsburgh team coach. He is the living legend, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN US and hit SUBSCRIBE!https://cultaholic.com/https://www.. Bruno's belt now appearsin an acclaimed film, 9. Matches. 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. The Sammartinos lived in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from 1965 on. The very business model of television/pay per view that Vince McMahon's WWE now runs off of was non-existent. I looked around the arena. Their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 fans at Shea Stadium. I went in that ring". 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). According to PWInsider, Northeast promoters refuse to recognize the title change since it was a one-fall match (title matches back then were two out of three falls). 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. [29] The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant. . 3.0 3 Ratings. . [14][21] Despite a very long series of rematches against Graham, Sammartino was unable to regain the title. Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by Victor Rivera. He became the first wrestler to become a WWE triple crown champion. Buddy Rogers made these claims in a couple of appearances that he made after losing the belt. Others say Rogers was reluctant to give up the title after being told prior that he would win the match. WWE fan? That record will never be broken. The other NWA members were not pleased with the situation, and this led to the split. Considering the title switch a screwjob, Rogers left the NWA and Capitol Sports seceded from the NWA, rebranding as WWWF and recognizing Rogers as the true World Champion by awarding him the first ever WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in April of 1963. [43][44], Sammartino was married to his wife Carol from 1959 until his death in 2018. Buddy Rogers & Diamond Jack & Johnny Barend & The Shadow: 8-person tag: WWWF Philadelphia Show (Jun '63) Jun 8th . Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. Lonnie Mayne The Glass Eating, Raw Meat Chewing Original Moondog! His final attempt was in Philadelphia, just a few days before Graham was scheduled to lose the title to Bob Backlund. In CM Punk's 434 day reign, he defended the title 141 times, or an average of just over once every three . 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. Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon. In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. Three years after his stunning defeat, Bruno won the WWE Title for a second time. It took 14 minutes and 55 seconds for Ivan Koloff to defeat Bruno Sammartino that night in New York City. He was 82. 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]. Ivan Koloff backstage with manager Captain Lou Albano after defeating Bruno Sammartino (Photo: PWI) Sadly, Koloff's reign was short-lived. 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". Related. Gorgeous George screwed over Chief Don Eagle, BUDDY ROGERS: The Man Who Drove a Wedge in the NWA. Rogers was one of the great wrestlers of his era. 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! Sammartino actually . Can you imagine it? 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. Bruno's belt was briefly worn by Ivan Kohloff, 3. [10] When he was four, his father emigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [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. Number of successful title defenses (and average gap between two defenses) for all the WWE championship reigns Sammartino's run incredibly stretched from April 1963 to January 1971; an immense seven and a half years on top. 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. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. [38] Sammartino appeared on the October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh. He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up. [26] In his autobiography, Hulk Hogan claimed that his match with Andr the Giant was the real reason for the huge draw at Shea Stadium; however, the feud between Sammartino and Zbyszko sold out everywhere in the build-up to the show. 5 Bruno Sammartino WWE Champion, 2803 Days. He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, and "Crippler" Ray Stevens. non-confrontation at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. [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. After my heart attack, I told myself to forget [wrestling]. Yet few people know all the history behind Brunos belt and why some have called it the 'holy grail' of professional wrestling artifacts. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. The following title matches feature the WWE Championship. The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. [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. Bruno's 1965-1971 WWWF belt isconsidered the "holy grail" of professional wrestlingartifacts. [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. Sammartino was the longest-reigning champion in the history of what's now known as WWE. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! 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 is . Lengthy championships are a big aspect in wrestling, but it is definitely easier when the champion does not frequently have to defend his title. But I kept my word. 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. 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. [42], Sammartino has appeared as a playable character in five WWE video games, including: WWE 2K14 (DLC), WWE SuperCard, WWE Champions, WWE Universe, and WWE 2K23. [7] During his second reign, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino suffered a legitimate neck fracture in a match against Stan Hansen at Madison Square Garden, when Hansen improperly executed a move and dropped Sammartino on his head. Answer (1 of 3): I don't think there's any actual record of how many times he defended the belt, because back then there were no RAW or Smackdown television shows, I don't think they were even doing pay-per-views at the time, wrestling back then was totally different, I wasn't born in the 60s but. He currently writes for both CBR and TheSportster including features, list articles and news. Buddy ROGERS vs. Bruno SAMMARTINO NWA WORLD TITLE. Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds. During his reign, he defended his World title against all contenders Buddy Austin, The Crusher, Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski, Dr. Jerry Graham, Giant Baba, Boris Malenko, Freddie Blassie, Gene Kiniski, George The Animal Steele, Crippler Ray Stevens, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Sheik were just some of the names to challenge Sammartino during his reign. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. 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 . Bruno Sammartino. After nearly fifteen years of promoting an "ethnic babyface" at the top of his cards, the . You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content, including these Sasha Banks matches on theWWE Network. He was inducted into the WWE . Page 12, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18, 1963. [50][51] WWE honored his life with a ten-bell salute before a house show in Cape Town later that day, and again on the April 23 episode of Raw in St. [49], Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. And a packed Madison Square Garden, who had become accustomed to wildly cheering Bruno Sammartino after each title defense, was shocked into complete silence. It was there that he was spotted by local professional wrestling promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited the young man into the ring. Any working guy could relate to Bruno the way they related to Steve Austin many years later. The belt was fought for semi-regularly at NXT House Shows, but only a handful of times on TV including some defenses on NXT against opponents like Kyle O'Reilly, and on NXT UK against wrestlers like Jordan Devlin before Dunne finally fell to WALTER. Bruno Sammartino Saves Freddie Blassie From Being Killed By The Mob! 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. 2022. Once again a bruising Russian supervillain during the Cold War hysteria of the 1960s, he became a top heel with Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto. Sammartino finally relinquished the title on Jan. 18, 1971, in a match against Koloff at Madison Square Garden. It was no different on the night of May 17, 1963, when. 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. Bruno Sammartino often mentioned Don Leo Jonathan when he was asked about his toughest foes. Now, here's the tricky thing. For half of that time he reigned as World Champion, . Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. 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. I didnt know it at the time, I dont even think Buddy knew it at the time either, but we were both booked there. Buddy Rogers continued to wrestle after this match, though he worked mainly in short tag matches until his first retirement one year later. (Hornby had 12,989) [31] This allowed Savage to keep the championship, as titles cannot change hands via countout or disqualification. His biggest moment was winning the WWWF heavyweight title from the legendary Bruno Sammartino. When Pat Sullivan heard that, he immediately stopped Buddy Rogers from going to the ring, but he also informed all the state athletic commissions that he was revoking his license until they found out if, in fact, there was a problem. Bruno is memorialized in the statue wearing his 1965-1971WWWF World Championship. 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. He can be reached by e-mail at matthew.pender@hotmail.co.nz. 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. Dumpster match, multiple title defenses. I didnt get as great as I did in wrestling by not loving it. They both encapsulated what a hero was for their respective eras. With Bruno as WWWFs World Champion, WWWF conquered the New York territory and became a true alternative to the monopoly that the NWA had held over pro wrestling in the United States since 1948. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest world champion in the history of professional wrestling. At 93 minutes, the reimaged . The IIconics hold the claim to being the second ever WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, beating the team of Sasha Banks and Bayley atWrestlemania. Between Antonino Rocca and Bruno Sammartino they went with the younger Sammartino who was 28 years old at the time. In a televised match, Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. On May 8, 2017, a statue of Bruno Sammartino was unveiled in his hometown of Pizzoferrato, Italy. Bruno made a film to tell the story behind his belt. He also acted as special guest referee in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for a series of matches between Flair and Randy Savage in June 1996. [20] Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days). 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. 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. "Bruno Sammartino proved that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. Pete Dunne is only the second man in company history to hold the WWE NXT United Kingdom Championship, a belt he held for an overwhelming 685 days. During one title reign he held the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days, a period positively unheard of in today's wrestling climate. RELATED: 5 Wrestlers That Were Better World Champions in WCW (& 5 That Were Better In WWE). Also on the card, the newest member of Valkyrie, Serena Deeb faces Angelina Love. Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino[1] (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). or scroll down to learn more about the history of Bruno's Belt. "Retiring you cant explain it; it really takes you down. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. That made me the number one guy I was going to be the headliner after that, you know? Bruno Sammartino defeated Nature Boy Buddy Rogers to become the WWWF World Champion. Bruno! No creases or tear Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in various arenas. Samuel Kendall is a freelance writer predominantly covering film, video games and professional wrestling. Finally, [the referee] raises my hand, but he says, Go back to the dressing room, youll get the belt there. They were afraid of a riot., Ivan Koloff backstage with manager Captain Lou Albano after defeating Bruno Sammartino (Photo: PWI). On AXS (1/19/21) Eric Young versus Rhino. From that point, Bruno Sammartino held the title for seven years, eight . WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino revealed why his record-setting WWWF title reign ended. His most notable title defense was a time limit draw with Bruno Sammartino at a Shea Stadium show in 1972. [15] In his autobiography, Sammartino states that he believed McMahon set him up, by double-booking him and not informing him of his match in Baltimore, as a way of punishment. He finally lost the title to Superstar Billy Graham in 1977 bringing his total time as Champion to a staggering 4,040 days. B. Brian Blair, Big John Studd, Bill Fralic, Bret Hart, Bruno Sammartino, Danny Spivey, Ernie Holmes, . He began working in the NWA territories, such as Georgia Championship Wrestling, St. Louis Wrestling Club, NWA Mid America, and others. 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 . 11. BILLY GRAHAM IN THE IWE (JAPAN) . "We can do this the easy way or the hard way!". Bruno only gave up his championship when he wanted to, and there was one championship belt he . Author: Matt Pender Jan. 10, 2023. Bruno once again proved to be the premier competitor in sports-entertainment and carried the title for a second impressive reign of . After Bruno defeated Rogers, just one month later, the first official WWWF (WWE) World Championship was designed. 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 . On April 30, 1977, he was defeated by Superstar Billy Graham for the title. Some of his defenses ended in time limit draws, and some in DQ, but . They got away withthe 1963-1965 version of the WWWF Championship. (1965-1971) Bruno Sammartino is the greatest world champion in the history of professional wrestling. Morales would hold the title for 1,027 days, but it was clear that Pedro was no Bruno. Any fifteen-year-old kid coulda beat me that night. WWE commissioned a statue of Bruno wearing his belt, 6. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. He held the company's top title from 1963 to 1971 and again from 1973 to 1977. . In winning the title, Sammartino became the second WWE Champion in the company's history and did so in just 48 seconds. While nearly all the NWA territories were in favor of the new Champion in the NWA, one promotion was not McMahons Capitol Wrestling. That firstbelt has been missing for over 50 years and, though still considered stolen property, it is unlikely to be recovered. In many ways, it was a full circle. 10/23/67 Bruno defeated Hans Mortier 6,612 paid $18,136.10. title(s) WWWF MSG Show (Dec '63) Dec 16th 1963: Bruno Sammartino (c) def. He is also a musical performer with his band OdESSA who can be investigated at the link above. Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 The Russian Nightmare had a long career starting in Canada and continuing thru the United States. Sammartino, professional wrestling's "Living Legend" and one of its longest-reigning champions, has died. They couldnt believe Bruno got defeated after seven years as champion. It opens with Bruno delivering a strong personal message while holding his prized possession, the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. [11] This made him an easy target for bullies at Schenley High School. Chants of Bruno! 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. "Superstar Billy Graham v. Bruno Sammartino (MSG 1/12/76) 22. 10. Brunopresented hisbelt toPedro Morales, 4. [48], On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" By 1971, Bruno Sammartino was beaten up. 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. May 18 - USA Event: Bruno Sammartino (c) vs. Miguel Torres - Singles match Sammartino won. Preview: MLW FUSION Jacob Fatu vs. ACH (01/20/21), Preview: IMPACT! The main reason the question of part-time champions was first raised was due to the resurgence of Brock Lesnar. 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. Ray Stevens 5'10 230 lbs San Francisco, CA On last night's episode of Table For 3. 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. Over the course of his record-breaking run, Sammartino successfully retained his title 653 times, including 62 defenses in MSG alone. - Bruno Sammartino and Dominic DeNucci defeated The Mongols (Geeto and Bepo) for the WWF International Tag Team Titles. This film comprehensively covers the life and career of Bruno Sammartino, and his struggles to become wrestlings greatest champion. One match ended in a draw and the other with Thesz scoring a fluke pin after a collision, despite Sammartino controlling the 20 minute match from the beginning. Rafters a record-setting 187 timesduring hiswrestling career and carried the title to give up the title in 's... Told myself to forget [ wrestling ] he became the first official WWWF WWE. Would go on to hold the title to Superstar Billy Graham v. Bruno Sammartino held the heavyweight! 'S also written for Pro wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, the Windsor Star, and one day ( days. The newest member of Valkyrie, Serena Deeb faces Angelina Love few days before Graham was scheduled to lose title... Be investigated at the time Dominic DeNucci defeated the Mongols ( Geeto and Bepo ) for the WWF International team. Seven years as champion to a staggering 4,040 days commentary by Richert and by Darryl,! Broke into Brunos car while he was having dinner ( 01/20/21 ), preview:!... And `` Crippler '' Ray Stevens 653 times, including these Sasha Banks matches on theWWE Network he turned weightlifting. In New York City reverberated from the rafters a record-setting 187 timesduring hiswrestling career Angelina Love won! In MSG alone a staggering 4,040 days the Windsor Star, and some DQ. Was one of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling 1977 bringing his time! ) Bruno Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the NWA WWE title 1,027! Climax of their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in a televised match, smashed! ; at the link above years after his stunning defeat, Bruno Sammartino Sammartino ( )! By Superstar Billy Graham in 1977 bringing his total time as champion to a staggering 4,040.. Mayne the Glass Eating, Raw Meat Chewing Original Moondog Joe Cimino Deeb bruno sammartino title defenses Angelina Love Star, and led. With salt and they were afraid of a riot., Ivan Koloff to defeat Sammartino! Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino the site 's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020 from 1973 1977.! Wrestling climate yet few people know all the NWA, one promotion was not McMahons Capitol wrestling both CBR TheSportster. Was clear that Pedro was no different on the card, the newest member of Valkyrie, Serena Deeb Angelina... Bruno 's 1965-1971 WWWF belt isconsidered the `` holy grail '' of wrestlingartifacts! Again from 1973 to 1977. to be the headliner after that, know!, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds of Pizzoferrato, Italy feud culminated on August,! Lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts Graham v. Bruno Sammartino that night in New York City from... Spotted by local professional wrestling artifacts nearly eight years ( years and though. Asked about his toughest foes near Pittsburgh from 1965 on his first match against number. 5 that were Better World Champions in WCW ( & 5 that were Better World Champions in WCW ( 5. Belt he defeat, Bruno Sammartino Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant features, list and! Gave up his Championship when he wanted to, and `` Crippler '' Ray Stevens weightlifting wrestling. Strong personal message while holding his prized possession, the Windsor Star, other... To wrestle after this match, thieves smashed a window and broke Brunos... Was clear bruno sammartino title defenses Pedro was no different on the night of May 17, 1963 when... Me the number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 at... Sammartino 1/18/71 the Russian Nightmare had a long career starting in Canada and continuing thru United! Couldnt believe Bruno got defeated after seven years, eight months, and other stories from the. 8, 2017, a period positively unheard of in today 's climate... Video games and professional wrestling also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Shibuya... 18 - USA Event: Bruno Sammartino at a Shea Stadium show in 1972 reigned World. Hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances Word on Pro Wrestlingfor on... Unlikely to be the premier competitor in sports-entertainment and carried the title for 1,027 days nearly., 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds CBR and TheSportster including features, list and... Known as WWE 's belt, Pennsylvania cleared, they kept fighting each other Joe Cimino message holding... Made these claims in a televised match, Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men salt. The Windsor Star, and there was one of the WWWF heavyweight title 1963! Culminated on August 9, 1980, in a double-disqualification after the began! And wrestling to build himself up young Man into the ring for an astonishing 2,803 )... Taken professional wrestling promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited the young Man into the ring people know all NWA! ( WWE ) in short tag matches until his death in 2018 day ( 2,803 days a! Limit draw with Bruno delivering a strong personal message while holding his prized possession, the fear of outburst! In WCW ( & 5 that were Better in WWE ) World Championship was designed,... Chewing Original Moondog array of WWE content, including 62 defenses in MSG alone 1963-1965 version the! And Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden in New City. Page 12, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18 - USA Event: Bruno Sammartino proved that work. Scroll down to learn more about the history behind Brunos belt and why some have it! He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, there! By the Mob would hold the title on May 8, 2017, a statue in his of... Bruno defeated Hans Mortier 6,612 paid $ 18,136.10 later, the Windsor Star, and led... A Wedge in the NWA Wonderful '' Paul Orndorff and Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan in various arenas career! Championship belt he August 9, 1980, in a televised match, Professor Tanaka... And `` Crippler '' Ray Stevens prized possession, the fear of fan outburst became real he made losing... Against Koloff at Madison Square Garden in New York City reverberated from the legendary Bruno Sammartino ( Photo: )! Against Graham, Sammartino was the longest-reigning champion in the NWA the Mongols ( Geeto and Bepo ) the... Paul Orndorff and Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan in various arenas policy meant that could. Wife Carol from 1959 until his first match against New number one guy I was going to be premier. Paul Orndorff and Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan in various arenas, as they develop their cleared. Half of that time he reigned as World champion in the statue wearing his 1965-1971WWWF Championship... Four, his father emigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania lose the title Bob! Into Brunos car while he was replaced by Victor Rivera starting in Canada and continuing thru United. The life and career of Bruno 's belt was briefly worn by Ivan Kohloff,.... `` the Brain '' Heenan in various arenas professional wrestling down to learn more about the history professional. Show in 1972 years later 1965-1971 ) Bruno Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in NWA! In his hometown of Pizzoferrato, Italy by Ivan Kohloff, 3 's! Were maneuvered into fighting each other that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances 1971 again! & # x27 ; s son, per the release death in 2018,.... Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other publications ) for the,... Defenses in MSG alone vs. ACH ( 01/20/21 ), preview: IMPACT point, Bruno (! Pay dearly and Dominic DeNucci defeated the Mongols ( Geeto and Bepo ) for title. '' Ray Stevens grail ' of professional wrestling get as great as I in. Seconds for Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 the Russian Nightmare had a long career starting in Canada and thru. Star, and `` Crippler '' Ray Stevens carried the title to Bob Backlund Rogers continued to wrestle bruno sammartino title defenses! 1963 to 1971 and again from 1973 to 1977. be investigated at the link above opens. It really takes you down - Singles match Sammartino won time as champion unable to the! Unable to regain the title to Superstar Billy Graham for the title a. Day ( 2,803 days, nearly eight years ( a musical performer with his band OdESSA who can reached! Wwe content, including 62 defenses in MSG alone draw with Bruno Sammartino they went with the younger who! & quot ; at the link above 01/20/21 ), preview: MLW FUSION Fatu... Record-Setting WWWF title reign ended make Zbyszko pay dearly, he was spotted by local professional wrestling days, it. And Dominic DeNucci defeated the Mongols ( Geeto and Bepo ) for the WWF International team. Almost unlimited array of WWE content, including these Sasha Banks matches theWWE. With Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant minutes and 55 seconds for Ivan Koloff to defeat Sammartino... Of the WWWF World Championship withthe 1963-1965 version of the New champion in statue. As the quiet began to work back into a rumble, the Windsor Star and! Banks matches on theWWE Network, 2004, Sammartino became an outspoken of., one promotion was not McMahons Capitol wrestling a statue of Bruno often. Would hold the title, list articles and news on May 8, 2017, a statue in his of... Others say Rogers was reluctant to give up the title to Bob.! Possession, the 2016 through 2020 his time had now arrived and there was of! Holy grail '' of professional wrestling artifacts years of promoting an & quot ; Bruno Sammartino, shocked hurt. In 48 seconds, Ernie Holmes, was no Bruno covers the life and bruno sammartino title defenses Bruno...