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{{short description|American professional wrestler (1935–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler {{Infobox professional wrestler
|name =Bruno Sammartino |name = Bruno Sammartino
|birthname = Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino
|image =]
|image = Bruno WWWF Champion.jpg
|image_size =
|caption =Bruno Sammartino at ] in ], 2005 |caption = Sammartino as ] in 1971
|names ='''Bruno Sammartino''' |names = Bruno Sammartino
|height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name=wwe>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/bruno-sammartino|title=Bruno Sammartino WWE profile|publisher=WWE.com|access-date=16 February 2022}}</ref>
|height ={{convert|5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=hornbaker/>
|weight = 265 lb<ref name=wwe/>
|weight ={{convert|265|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=hornbaker>{{cite book|author=Hornbaker, Tim|year=2012|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|publisher=Sports Publishing|isbn=1613210752}}</ref><ref name=davies>{{cite book|author=Davies, Ross|pages=23–24|year=2001|title=Bruno Sammartino|publisher=Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=1435836251}}</ref>
|spouse = {{marriage|Carol Sammartino<br>|1959|<!--Omitted when marriage ends with death of subject per Template:Marriage instructions-->}}
|real_height =
|children = 3; including ]
|real_weight =
|birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1935|10|6|mf=y}} |birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|10|6|md=y}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|04|18|1935|10|6|md=y}}
|birth_place =], ]
|birth_place = ], ], Kingdom of Italy
|death_date =
|death_place = |death_place = ], U.S.
|billed = {{flagicon|ITA}} ], ]<ref name=Encyclopedia2/><br>]
|resides =], ], ]
|trainer = Ace Freeman<br>Rex Peery<ref name=hornbaker/>
|billed =]<br>], ]
|debut = October 23, 1959
|trainer =Ace Freeman,<br>Rex Peery<ref name=hornbaker/>
|debut =1959 |retired = August 19, 1987
|retired =1987
}} }}
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}
'''Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino''' (born October 6, 1935)<ref name=hornbaker/> is an ]-born ] ] ]. He is best known for being the longest-reigning ] of the ] (WWWF) now known as WWE, holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years (4040 days) in total, as well as the longest single reign in history.
'''Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino''' (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-American ]. He is best known for his time with the ] (WWF, now WWE). Sammartino's 2,803-day reign as ] is the longest in the championship's history as well as the longest world title reign in WWE history.


Born in ] to a family of seven, Sammartino grew up in poverty. As a child, Sammartino survived the ] during ]. In 1950, he came to the ] with his family, where they would settle in ]. Sammartino would later take up bodybuilding before beginning his career as a professional wrestler in 1959.
Sammartino's wrestling style was more mat-oriented which was typical of wrestlers from his era. His brawling, power moves, and personal charisma helped him become the most popular American wrestler in the 1960s through the mid 1980s. He was inducted into the ] on April 6, 2013 by his longtime friend, ].


Dubbed "the Italian Strongman”<ref name=Encyclopedia2>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia: Updated & Expanded|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|pages=56–57|publisher=]|year=2012|isbn=978-0-7566-9159-2}}</ref> and "the Strongest Man in the World"<ref>{{cite book|title=Capitol Revolution: The Rise of the McMahon Wrestling Empire|last=Hornbaker|first=Tim|pages=212–213|publisher=]|year=2015|isbn=978-1-77041-124-1}}</ref> early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "the Living Legend".<ref name=Schramm/> Known for his powerful ]<ref name=hornbaker>{{cite book |last=Hornbaker |first=Tim |year=2012 |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=978-1613210758}}</ref><ref name=davies>{{cite book |last=Davies |first=Ross |year=2001 |title=Bruno Sammartino |publisher=Rosen Publishing Group |isbn=978-1435836259 |pages=23–24}}</ref> finishing move,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2014/10/01/21978431.html|title=Jim Myers: The man behind the Animal|last=Murphy|first=Jan|date=1 October 2014|website=SLAM! Sports|publisher=]|access-date=7 September 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128093453/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2014/10/01/21978431.html|archivedate=28 January 2020}}</ref> Sammartino wrestled for various territories in the ] (NWA) before joining the WWWF territory.
==Early life==
Born in ], ], ]<ref name=hornbaker/> on October 6, 1935, Sammartino was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters. Four older siblings died during his time in Italy. During his childhood, Sammartino's family hid from ] soldiers in a mountain called Valla Rocca, during the latter stages of ].<ref name="trib"/> During this time, Sammartino's mother, Emilia, would sneak into their German-occupied town for food and supplies.<ref name="trib"/> She once was captured and another time shot in the shoulder during such trips. Eventually, Sammartino caught ] but was nursed back to health by his mother with hot blankets and leeches. In 1950, he moved to the ] and settled in ], ], where his father had already lived for several years.<ref name="trib"/>


Already recognized as a future star, Sammartino won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1963 after beating the inaugural champion, ], in 48 seconds. He then held the title for a reign of a record 2,803 days – nearly 8 years. While doing so, Sammartino became a popular attraction in ], selling out the arena numerous times throughout his career.{{efn|While Sammartino is commonly understood to have sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times, records indicate that he only did so approximately 45 times. }} Sammartino would later reclaim the WWF Heavyweight Championship in 1973 for another reign of 1,237 days before gradually retiring from full-time competition.
When Sammartino first came to America, he spoke no English and was sickly from his experiences of surviving during the war years.<ref name="trib"/> This made him an easy target for bullies in school. Sammartino wanted to build himself up physically and became devoted to weight training.


After his retirement, 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 ] ceremony ]. ] commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2018/04/19/bruno-sammartino-terry-funk-eulogy-obituary-wwwf|title='The Joe DiMaggio of Professional Wrestling': Terry Funk Remembers Bruno Sammartino|magazine=]|first=Justin|last=Barrasso|date=18 April 2018|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
Bruno's devotion to weightlifting nearly resulted in a berth on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. He was edged out by legendary strongman ] – who outweighed Sammartino by 70 pounds. In the early years of Sammartino's career, he was measured at 5'10" and weighed around 280 pounds.


== Early life ==
Bruno set a world record in the bench press with a lift of 565 pounds in 1959. Bruno completed this lift while not wearing any elbow or wrist wraps. When he brought the bar down, he did not bounce it off his chest but set it there for two seconds before attempting the press.<ref name=davies/>
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in ], ], Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935.<ref name=hornbaker/><ref name=nytobit/> He was the youngest of seven children, four of whom died during his early childhood.<ref name=nytobit/> When he was four, his father emigrated to ].<ref name=nytobit/><ref name="trib"/> During ], Pizzoferrato was invaded by troops of the ], leading Emilia to hide Bruno and his siblings in a remote hideout at the top of a nearby mountain called Valla Rocca.<ref name=issues>{{cite web|last1=Meltzer|first1=Dave|title=APRIL 30, 2018 WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER: THE STORY OF BRUNO SAMMARTINO CONTINUED|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/april-30-2018-wrestling-observer-newsletter-story-bruno-sammartino-continued-256531|website=Wrestling Observer|access-date=27 April 2018|date=26 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="trib"/> During this time, his mother would sneak into their German-occupied town for food and supplies.<ref name="trib"/> In 1950,<ref></ref> she and the children joined her husband in Pittsburgh.<ref name=nytobit/>


When the Sammartinos arrived in the U.S., Bruno spoke no English and was sickly from the privations of the war years.<ref name="trib"/> This made him an easy target for bullies at ]. He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up.<ref name=nytobit/> His devotion to weightlifting nearly resulted in a berth on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team, which went instead to eventual gold medalist ].<ref name=nytobit/>
Sammartino also competed in bodybuilding and won "Mr. Allegheny" in the late 50s.


In 1959, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of {{convert|565|lb|disp=flip}}, done without elbow or wrist wraps. When he brought the bar down, he did not bounce it off his chest, but set it there for two seconds before attempting the press.<ref name=davies/> He trained in wrestling with Rex Peery, the ] team coach.<ref name=hornbaker/>
His high school, ], didn't have a wrestling program, but he worked out with the ] wrestling team under storied coach Rex Peery.<ref name=hornbaker/> Sammartino became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster ] put him on his television show. It was there that he was spotted by local wrestling promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited Sammartino for professional wrestling.<ref name=hornbaker/> Miller knew that Sammartino could easily be marketed as an ethnic strongman, and that he would appeal to Italian immigrants who supported wrestling.


He also became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster ] put him on his television show. It was there that he was spotted by local ] promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited the young man into the ring.<ref name=hornbaker/>
While working in construction in 1956, Sammartino wrestled an orangutan at a carnival. After taking much punishment, Sammartino punched the orangutan in the stomach and was disqualified by the animal's owner. Sammartino left the cage with swollen eyes and shredded clothes. Because of the disqualification, the owner refused to pay Sammartino the $50 he was promised for the match.


==Professional wrestling career== == Professional wrestling career ==
=== Early years (1959–1963) ===
Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, ] Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds.<ref name=davies/> Sammartino's first match in ] in ] was on January 2, 1960,<ref name=NWA>{{cite book|title=National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling|url=https://archive.org/details/nationalwrestlin00horn|url-access=limited|last=Hornbaker|first=Tim|pages=–187|publisher=]|year=2007|isbn=978-1-55022-741-3}}</ref> defeating ] in five minutes.<ref name=slamobit>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2018/04/18/bruno-sammartino-dies-at-82/|title=Bruno Sammartino dies at 82|date=18 April 2018|last1=Oliver|first1=Greg|last2=Johnson|first2=Steven|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref>


] and WWWF promoter ]]]
===Studio Wrestling–Pittsburgh Promotion (1959–1974)===
Feeling like he was being held back in the New York territory in favor of ] (NWA) star ], Sammartino gave his notice to ] (CWC) owner ] and planned to go to ] to work for ]. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in ] and ], and as a result was suspended in those territories. California honored the other state's suspension, leaving Sammartino out of work.<ref name=Oliver12>{{cite news|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2012/04/10/without-toronto-there-would-have-been-no-bruno-sammartino/|title=Without Toronto, there would have been no Bruno Sammartino|date=27 March 2012|last=Oliver|first=Greg|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref> 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.<ref name=sammartino>{{cite book |last1=Sammartino |first1=Bruno |last2=Michelucci |first2=Bob |year=1990 |title=Bruno Sammartino: An Autobiography of Wrestling's Living Legend |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=978-0911137149}}</ref> Sammartino was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a laborer.<ref name=Oliver12/>
Sammartino made his professional debut in ] on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds.<ref name=davies/> On December 23, he defeated Miguel Torres, for the local Spectator Sports promotion, in Pittsburgh. He soon became extremely popular. The name of the local TV wrestling program was '']'' and it was broadcast on ] Channel 11. The host was Pittsburgh personality "Chilly Billy" ].


On the advice of wrestler ], Sammartino contacted ] promoter ] hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population.<ref name=slamobit/> Sammartino made his ] debut in March 1962 and very quickly, with the help of self-promotion in local newspapers and radio programs, became an attraction. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated him with that immigrant population.<ref name=Oliver12/> With ], Sammartino won his first ] in September 1962, the local version of the ].<ref name=slam/> Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories.<ref name=Oliver12/>
In 1966, Sammartino bought the Pittsburgh-based Spectator Sports promotion which promoted in the Tri-State area of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio & West Virginia. The promotion was a stopping point for national stars such as ], ], ], ], and ], as well as featuring local talent like ], Frank "Carnegie Cop" Holtz, Hurricane Hunt, ], and an early Sammartino protege ] (who later gained fame as Johnny Valiant). The Pittsburgh promotion was truly independent, ran its own storylines and had its own tag champions - despite the use of Northeast's based promotion ] (WWWF, currently WWE) talent. Before the Civic Arena was built, Spectator Sports held their big Pittsburgh shows at Forbes Field - the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.


Sammartino also challenged ] ] twice for the championship in Canada. One match ended in a ] and the other with Thesz scoring a fluke pin after a collision, despite Sammartino controlling the 20 minute match from the beginning. This match was ] by NWA promoter ] as a preliminary to the forming of the WWWF, to ensure the dominance of the senior organization and its championship.<ref name=won1995>{{cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave|title=history |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=21 August 1995 |journal=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}</ref>
Unlike many promoters, Bruno was said to be a good payoff man & very fair to his fellow wrestlers. Many men, including George "The Animal" Steele, have stated that Bruno has always shown concern for how much all of the wrestlers earn on a card – not just himself. Sammartino sold the promotion in 1971. He was later asked by the new Buffalo-based owners to help with the booking of Pittsburgh area shows. The local TV show was canceled in 1974, and the promotion shut down. The Pittsburgh area then became part of the WWWF territory.


===Capitol Wrestling Corporation/World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1959–1988)=== === World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1963–1981) ===
==== First World Heavyweight Championship reign (1963–1971) ====
]]]
After the first WWWF World Champion, ], was hospitalized three times in April 1963 for chest pains, Vince McMahon Sr. and ] made a command decision to make an emergency title switch. Between ] and Bruno Sammartino they went with the younger Sammartino who was 27 years old at the time. The match was scheduled to be concluded quickly so as not to risk Buddy's health any further. 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. Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWE 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5 |page=16}}</ref> Sammartino and Rogers faced each other two months later at Madison Square Garden in a tag team match, with Rogers and ] defeating Sammartino and ] by 2 falls to 1. Rogers pinned Sammartino for the third and deciding fall. Rogers retired prior to their scheduled title rematch on October 4, 1963, in Jersey City, New Jersey's Roosevelt Stadium. Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new number one contender, ]. Because Monsoon won the match by ], Sammartino retained his belt.


On December 8, 1969, he teamed with ] to win the ] by defeating The Rising Suns (] and ]). Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by ].<ref name=Intertag>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/10-titles-you-never-knew-existed|title=10 championships you never knew existed in WWE|access-date=22 April 2018|publisher=]}}</ref> Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days).<ref name=slamobit/><ref name=CBSremembers>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/remembering-bruno-sammartino-the-singular-face-of-a-bygone-pro-wrestling-era/|title=Remembering Bruno Sammartino, the singular face of a bygone pro wrestling era|date=18 April 2018|last=Campbell|first=Brian|access-date=22 April 2018|work=]}}</ref> On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWE 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5 |page=113}}</ref> Sammartino recalled the shocked silence that greeted the result, remarking he thought he had damaged his ears.<ref name=Schramm>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/schramm_99sep15.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012090207/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/schramm_99sep15.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2000|title=Sammartino the Living Legend|date=15 September 1999|last=Schramm|first=Chris|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref> Later that year, he won the International Tag Team Championship for the second time by teaming with ].<ref name=Intertag/> Sammartino took a hiatus from the company in 1971 and 1972 working in ], and various territories.
====Early headlines (1959–1962)====
Sammartino's first match in ] in ] was on January 2, 1960 against ] (who was substituting for ]). Within six months of his debut in wrestling, Sammartino was headlining at Madison Square Garden (starting in tag matches, teaming with ]).


==== Second World Heavyweight Championship reign (1972–1977) ====
On February 18, 1961, Sammartino faced Chick Garibaldi in an afternoon match at the ] in ]. During the match, Sammartino bodyslammed Garibaldi and immediately noticed his opponent's eyes roll up inside his head. By the time the ref checked on the fallen wrestler, he was dead in the ring. It was later determined that Garibaldi had died from a heart attack. In the movie ''Legends Never Die'', Sammartino stated that it took him many years to get over that incident.
]]]
Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. 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. Soon after, Sammartino and then champion ] teamed up for a series of tag team matches. In a televised match, ] blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. 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 ]. When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. On September 30, 1972, Sammartino and Morales wrestled to a 65-minute draw at Shea Stadium in New York.<ref name="Davies2001">{{cite book |last=Davies |first=Ross |year=2001|title=Bruno Sammartino |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8239-3432-4 |page=77 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPdkZJX4Q80C&pg=PA77 |access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref>


Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Heavyweight Championship by defeating ].<ref name="Schramm" /> During his second reign, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino suffered a ] neck fracture in a match against ] at Madison Square Garden, when Hansen ] a move and dropped Sammartino on his head.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/sports/bruno-sammartino-pro-wrestlings-champ-for-a-decade-dies-at-82.html|title=Bruno Sammartino, Durable Champ in WWE Hall of Fame, Dies at 82|date=18 April 2018|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|access-date=19 April 2018|work=]}}</ref><ref name="slamobit" /> After two months, Sammartino returned and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25, 1976, at ], which was on the closed circuit TV undercard of the ] vs. ] match for WWWF cities. The match was rated 1976 "Match of the Year" by '']''.<ref name="PWI Awards" />
Sammartino made major headlines when he became the first (and only) man to lift the {{convert|640|lb|kg|abbr=on}} ] in a match. He did not slam him as much as lift him shoulder-heigh and drop him.


In early 1977, Sammartino informed McMahon Sr. that he felt he could no longer continue as champion due to his injuries. On April 30, 1977, he was defeated by Superstar Billy Graham for the title.<ref name="Schramm" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWE 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5 |page=211}}</ref> His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days (1,237 days).<ref name="slamobit" /><ref name="CBSremembers" /> Despite a very long series of rematches against Graham, Sammartino was unable to regain the title. His final attempt was in Philadelphia, just a few days before Graham was scheduled to lose the title to ].
After tiring of low payoffs and broken promises, Sammartino left ]'s ] to join a rival New York promoter and former McMahon Sr. partner ]. Kwariani's hold on New York soon weakened because of low attendance and athletic commission pressure to curb violence. In an effort to increase attendance, Kwariani had Sammartino wrestle his tag partner ] twice during this time. Sammartino was then told by Rudy Miller to jump back to McMahon.


==== Later career and initial retirement (1978–1981) ====
Sammartino found himself with even fewer dates and payoffs than the first time he wrestled for McMahon. He gave notice to McMahon that he was going to ], and its large Italian population, to wrestle for promoter Roy Shire. Very soon after arriving, Sammartino was informed by the local athletic commission that he was suspended. Unable to find work across the country (because every state athletic commission honors suspensions given by other state athletic commissions), Bruno headed back to Pittsburgh to work as a laborer. Sammartino found out that his suspension was due to his skipping a match he was ] for in Baltimore. He was also booked to wrestle in Chicago that same night. 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 for working for Kwariani.<ref name=sammartino>{{cite book|author=sammartino, Bruno & Bob Michelucci|year=1990|title=Bruno Sammartino: An Autobiography of Wrestling's Living Legend|publisher=Sports Publishing|isbn=0911137149}}</ref>
After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world. He wrestled then NWA World Heavyweight Champion ] to a one-hour draw in ]. He also wrestled and defeated ], ], ], ], and ]. Also during this time, Sammartino began serving as color commentator for the WWF's syndicated programs, '']'' and '']''.


On January 22, 1980, his former student ] ] on him at the ]'s '']'' show. Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. Their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 fans at Shea Stadium.<ref name ="WWFresults309">{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWF 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5 |page=309}}</ref> As the main event of 1980's ], Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage.<ref name="WWFresults309"/> In his autobiography, ] claimed that his match with ] was the real reason for the huge draw at Shea Stadium; however, the ] between Sammartino and Zbyszko sold out everywhere in the build-up to the show. In contrast, Hogan and André headlined exactly one card in ] before they wrestled at Shea, and they drew 1,200 in a building that held 3,500.<ref name=WWF6389Book>{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWE 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1492825975}}</ref>
On the advice of wrestler ], Bruno contacted ] promoter ] hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population. Despite McMahon trying to blackball him there as well, Tunney decided to take a chance. Bruno 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. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated himself with that immigrant population. With Canadian legend ], Bruno won his first championship in September 1962, the local version of the International tag team title. Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories.


Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981,<ref name=nytobit/> in a match that opened the ] in ]. Sammartino pinned ] in his match. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan.
During his tenure in Toronto, Bruno wrestled and beat the (then) ] (NWA) Champion ] for the title. Rogers was unable to continue after being accidentally butted in the groin while attempting a leap frog. Sammartino refused to accept the title under the circumstances.


=== Return to the WWF (1984–1988) ===
Sammartino also wrestled NWA Champ ] twice in Canada. 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. Like Thesz's win over Buddy Rogers, this match was booked by NWA kingpin ] as a preliminary to the forming of the WWWF, to ensure the dominance of the senior organization and its championship.<ref name=won1995>{{cite journal|authorlink=Dave Meltzer|journal=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|date=August 21, 1995}}</ref> Thesz recounted the matches as nothing special. Bruno has said in interviews that noted "shooter" Thesz did not try to take any advantage of him (as he often did in matches against wrestlers he did not like), but that he was prepared to respond in the event he did.
]
It was during this time Sammartino found out through ], a recently fired office employee of Capitol Wrestling Corporation, that he had been cheated by Vince McMahon Sr. on the promised gate percentages for his entire second title run. Sammartino filed suit against McMahon Sr. and his Capitol Wrestling Corporation.<ref>. Wrestlingperspective.com (26 August 1983). Retrieved on 29 September 2012.</ref> The suit was eventually settled out of court by McMahon Sr's son, ] after his father had died, and included an agreement for Sammartino to return to the company as a commentator.<ref name=CBSremembers/>


At the inaugural ] on March 31, 1985, Sammartino was in his son ]'s corner for his match against ].<ref name="timesherald">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesherald.com/sports/20180418/professional-wrestling-great-bruno-sammartino-dies-at-82|title=Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82|date=18 April 2018|access-date=19 April 2018|work=]}}</ref> The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his ] Johnny Valiant. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. Wonderful" ] and ] in various arenas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/85.htm|title=WWE in 1985|first=Graham|last=Cawthorn|publisher=History of WWE|access-date=19 March 2020}}</ref>
Meanwhile, McMahon Sr. was having a tough time drawing fans with newly created World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion ] in New York. Promoter Willie Gilzenberg appeared on Washington DC TV; referred to a non-title match in Canada; and "returned" the belt to Buddy Rogers (which thus created the WWWF belt). It was also mentioned that Rogers lost to Thesz in a one fall bout; NWA rules specified that the title could only change hands in a 2 out of 3 fall match. Thus, Rogers had not legitimately lost the title.


Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man" ]. An irate Sammartino attacked Savage during a TV interview, after Savage bragged about injuring ], by driving the timekeeper's bell into Steamboat's throat during a televised match. Sammartino defeated Savage in a ] for the ] via disqualification at the ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |year=2013 |title=The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWE 1963–1989 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4928-2597-5 |page=620}}</ref> This allowed Savage to keep the championship, as titles cannot change hands via countout or disqualification. He was often teamed with ] and his old enemy George "the Animal" Steele (who was a ] at this point in his career) to wrestle Savage and ]. The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. Sammartino also engaged in a feud with "Rowdy" ] after Piper insulted his heritage on a segment of '']'' at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino faced Piper in both singles and tag team matches. Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper, while Piper would tag with his "bodyguard", ]. Sammartino would eventually get the upper hand in the feud, by defeating Piper in a steel cage match at the Boston Garden. In 1986, Sammartino competed in a 20-man battle royal at ] at the ] in Chicago.<ref name=timesherald/>
Eventually, promoters ] and McMahon Sr. cleared up Sammartino's suspension by paying his $500 fine (Bruno says they took it out of his future purses). After many weeks of phone calls with McMahon trying to lure Bruno back, Sammartino demanded a title match with Rogers.


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 ] and ] in the main event. Sammartino continued doing commentary on '']'' until March 1988.<ref name=slam/>
To show his gratitude to Tunney, Sammartino still wrestled every other Sunday on the big shows – regardless of how hectic his schedule became.


=== Non-wrestling roles and WWE Hall of Fame (1988–2018)===
====WWWF Champion (1963–1971)====
After leaving the WWE, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling. He particularly criticized the use of steroids and "vulgar" storylines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/1999/10/20/sammartino-no-fan-of-mcmahon/|title=Sammartino no fan of McMahon|date=20 October 1999|last=Molinaro|first=John|access-date=22 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2007/05/03/sammartino-mcmahon-is-a-sick-minded-idiot/|title=Sammartino: McMahon is 'a sick-minded idiot'|date=16 April 2007|last=Mackinder|first=Matt|access-date=22 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2013/03/22/guest-column-brunos-bad-call-on-wwe-hall-of-fame-shows-vince-is-right-everyone-has-a-price/|title=Bruno's bad call on WWE Hall of Fame shows Vince is right – everyone has a price|date=20 March 2013|last=Muchnick|first=Irvin|access-date=22 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref> He appeared in the media in opposition to the WWE on such shows as '']'', '']'', and ].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
He won the ] on May 17, 1963, defeating ] in just 48 seconds. Bruno has said in interviews that Rogers had to be tricked into the MSG main event. Allegedly, Rogers was to win on a disqualification. It was Sammartino himself that broke the news to him in the ring. While the crowd at Madison Square Garden had expected a tough contest they were shocked at the manner in which Sammartino was able to completely dominate the champion. It took just 48 seconds to crown Sammartino the WWWF Champion. Distraught and surprised Rogers quickly left the ring.
]]]
Rogers claimed until his dying day that he had suffered a heart attack a week before the match and was dragged out of a hospital to have the match. Bruno has said (and other wrestlers on the card verify) that all wrestlers were examined and passed by the State Athletic Commission doctor that night as was customary in those days. Bruno has also pointed out that if Rogers was sick, he never took time off from his schedule after he lost the belt. Others have pointed out that Rogers worked mainly in short tag matches until his first retirement one year later (he would later return for two brief comebacks, and much later as a manager)<ref name=won>{{cite journal|authorlink=Dave Meltzer|journal=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|date=July 6, 1992}}</ref>


Sammartino worked as a commentator for the ]. On October 28, 1989, Sammartino made a special appearance at the NWA ] event ], where he was the ] in a "]" cage match which featured ] and ] taking on ] and ].<ref name=slam/> Sammartino worked several WCW events in a minor analysis role in the early 1990s, as well as a brief run doing color commentary with ] on '']'' in 1992. He also acted as special guest referee in ] (WCW) for a series of matches between Flair and Randy Savage in June 1996.<ref name=slam/>
Rogers and Sammartino did face each other two months later at Madison Square Garden in a tag team match, with Rogers & Handsome Johnny Barend defeating Bruno & Bobo Brazil 2 falls to 1. Sammartino did not trust Rogers (who had a reputation for taking cheap shots) and the two did not work together very much during the match. Rogers pinned Sammartino for the third and deciding fall.


In 2006, he signed an independent deal with ] to produce an ], which is part of the WWE Classic Superstars line, Series 10.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where legends are displayed |publisher=Classicfigs.com |url=http://www.classicfigs.com/CS10/sing-10-BS.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210022315/http://www.classicfigs.com/CS10/sing-10-BS.html |archive-date=10 February 2008}}</ref>
Rogers retired prior to their scheduled title rematch on October 4, 1963, in Jersey City, NJ's Roosevelt Stadium.
Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new #1 contender, ] (Monsoon won on disqualification, starting a monumentally successful feud).


On March 25, 2010, Sammartino was honoured 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 '']'' personalities ], ], ], Frank Durso, and ] ] were all present.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dvorchak |first=Robert |date=26 March 2010 |title=Dapper Dan: Malkin, Sammartino, Penn State volleyball claim awards |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10085/1045805-61.stm |access-date=26 March 2010 |archive-date=29 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329222806/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10085/1045805-61.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sammartino kept this title for seven years, eight months, and one day; it still stands as the longest continuous world title reign in men's wrestling history.


] at WrestleMania Axxess in April 2014, unveiling a statue created in Sammartino's image and honor]]
Sammartino was so popular that in 1965 negotiations began to merge the NWA & the WWWF titles with Bruno winning a match over the legendary ].
In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the ], after having declined several times in prior years. He finally accepted the offer to join because he was satisfied with the way the company had addressed his concerns about ] as well as vulgarity.<ref name="WWE HOF">{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Jon |date=3 February 2013 |title=WWE to induct Bruno Sammartino into HOF |publisher=]|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/17789/wwe-to-induct-bruno-sammartino-into-hof |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> The ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden on April 6, 2013, and Sammartino was inducted by ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=6 April 2013 |title=WWE NEWS: Hall of Fame 2013 report - Complete "virtual-time" coverage of ceremony with Sammartino & Co., Stratus announces big news, Trump-McMahon?, more |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_69821.shtml |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> Sammartino appeared on October 7, 2013, episode of '']'' and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=7 October 2013 |title=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 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_73792.shtml |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the WWE Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=28 March 2015 |title=WWE HALL OF FAME REPORT 3/28: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of 2015 Ceremony - Randy Savage inducted, Nash, Zbysko, Schwarzenegger, Flair, Michaels, more |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwsuperstarsreport/article_84145.shtml |access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref>


== Other media ==
For his part, Sammartino says he was not involved in the talks at all, but ultimately killed the idea when he discovered he would be working "35 days a month" and have no time for his family at all.
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).<ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=hoB0PrI_2d0|title=Bruno Sammartino Behind The Championship Belt|author=In Memory For Bruno Sammartino - For The Fans|date=21 April 2019|access-date=31 August 2019|via=]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}} Both were only released in Pittsburgh. Sammartino is honored on the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/madison-square-garden-tribute-bruno/#.XWmj57pRWaM|title=Madison Square Garden Pays Tribute To Bruno Sammartino|publisher=Pro Wrestling Sheet|last=Satin|first=Ryan|date=19 April 2018|access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>


=== Video games ===
NWA officials instead selected ] as Thesz's successor - despite the fact Gene had just completed a run in the WWWF where he was beaten by Sammartino in a series of high profile bouts.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Video game appearances
!Year
!Title
!Notes
!<abbr>Ref.</abbr>
|-
|2002
|'']''
|Video game debut
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=David |date=2002-12-02 |title=Legends of Wrestling II |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/02/legends-of-wrestling-ii-2 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2004
|'']''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy |date=2004-06-23 |title=Showdown: Legends of Wrestling |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/23/showdown-legends-of-wrestling |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|'']''
|Downloadable content
|<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |date=7 January 2014 |title=New WWE 2K14 DLC Introduces More Superstars |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/01/07/new-wwe-2k14-dlc-introduces-hall-of-famers.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109060012/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/01/07/new-wwe-2k14-dlc-introduces-hall-of-famers.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=19 June 2015 |magazine=]}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|'']''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWE 2K23 Roster Official List {{!}} WWE 2K23 |url=https://wwe.2k.com/roster-list |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=wwe.2k.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|'']''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWE 2K24 Roster Official List {{!}} WWE 2K24 |url=https://wwe.2k.com/2k24/roster-list/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=wwe.2k.com |language=en}}</ref>
|}


== Personal life ==
On September 28, 1965, after a match with ] in Madison Square Garden, Sammartino went to a restaurant in ]. When he returned, he found that a car window was shattered and his $10,000 championship belt was stolen.
] in Pittsburgh, 2005]]
Sammartino was married to his wife Carol from 1959 until his death in 2018. They had three sons together, ] and fraternal twins Danny and Darryl. They were grandparents of four grandchildren. The Sammartinos lived in ] near Pittsburgh from 1965 on.<ref name="trib">{{cite web |last=Togneri |first=Chris |date=24 December 2010 |title=Bruno Sammartino: Mountain of strength |publisher=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_715155.html |access-date=24 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227080234/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_715155.html|archive-date=27 December 2010}}</ref> In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rouvalis|first=Cristina|date=28 October 1998|title=Wrestling with fame: Bruno Sammartino still a hero to fans|publisher=Post-gazette|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/magazine/19981028bruno1.asp|access-date=5 May 2007|archive-date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310190849/http://www.post-gazette.com/magazine/19981028bruno1.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>


On April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in ].<ref name=jerseyjournal>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/04/bruno_sammartino_given_key_to.html|title=Bruno Sammartino given key to Jersey City before his induction into WWE Hall of Fame|date=6 April 2013|last=Machcinski|first=Anthony J.|access-date=22 April 2018|work=]}}</ref> May 17, 2013 was declared "Bruno Sammartino Day" in ]. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally televised ].
Sammartino headlined cards that filled both ] and current ]s on a monthly basis. He battled the top ] of his time, including ],<ref name=hornbaker/> ], ],<ref name=hornbaker/> ],<ref name=hornbaker/> ], ], ], ], "Crusher" ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Handsome Johnny Barend, Spiros Arion, Crusher Verdue, Ernie "cat" Ladd, John Tolos,] and ].


=== Backstage incidents ===
During this time, Bruno was involved in a shoot with ]. In a tag match with ] against Miller and ], Miller (who had a long amateur wrestling background) became angry when Sammartino and Parisi kept Iaukea in the ring for a prolonged period. Miller ran into the ring and kicked Bruno in the chest and knocked the wind out of him. Bruno tagged out and after he recovered, asked to tag back in and applied a front facelock on Miller until Miller bled from his nose and passed out in the middle of the ring. Afterwards, Miller approached Bruno in the dressing room, shook his hand and profusely apologized.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}
In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. 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. Sammartino ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local ''Studio Wrestling'' program, and Cimino suspended him for a month. Irvin Muchnick mentioned the incident in his book, ''Wrestling Babylon''.<ref name=Muchnick2011>{{cite book |last=Muchnick |first=Irvin |year=2011 |title=Wrestling Babylon |publisher=ECW Press |location=New York |isbn=978-1-55022-761-1 |page=55}}</ref>


In his autobiography, ''The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption'', ] told of witnessing a backstage incident between Sammartino and Gorilla Monsoon.<ref name=Watts2006>{{cite book |last=Watts |first=Bill |year=2006 |title=The Cowboy and the Cross:The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption |publisher=ECW Press |location=New York |isbn=978-1-55022-708-6 |page=72}}</ref> Watts wrote that Monsoon "soon found himself in deep water" when messing with Sammartino, and he did not go into further detail on the incident out of respect for Monsoon.<ref name=Watts2006/>
Sammartino defended the belt all over the world, including Australia, Spain, Mexico and Japan.


On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" non-confrontation at the ] in Pittsburgh. Flair had denigrated Sammartino's wrestling ability in his book '']''.<ref name=Flair2005>{{cite book |last=Flair |first=Ric |year=2005 |title=Ric Flair: to Be the Man |publisher=Pocket Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7434-9181-5 |pages= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/ricflairtobeman00flai/page/63 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=Flair2005/>
Bruno was honored with a private audience with the Pope in the Vatican during this period.


==Death==
On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to ]. The crowd was so stunned into silence that Sammartino thought his hearing had been damaged. After the pin, Koloff slowly walked across the ring while the ref raised his hand three times. The announcer came into the ring with the belt but, fearful of a riot, did not present it to Koloff. Koloff left the ring while Sammartino stayed inside to keep the crowd's attention off Koloff. As Sammartino left the ring, people started crying.
Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011.<ref name=slamobit/> He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems<ref name=issues/> following a two-month hospitalization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/23230798/wwe-hall-famer-bruno-sammartino-dies-age-82|title=WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino dies at age 82|author=ESPN.com Staff|work=]|publisher=]|location=United States|date=18 April 2018|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/04/18/wwe-bruno-sammartino-dies-82/|title=WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino Dies At 82|author=KDKA-TV Staff|work=]|publisher=]|location=]|date=18 April 2018|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> WWE honored his life with a ] before a house show in ] later that day, and again on the 23 April episode of ''Raw'' in ].<ref name=NBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bruno-sammartino-wrestling-s-original-good-guy-hero-dies-82-n867321|title=Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original good-guy hero, dies at 82|date=19 April 2018|last=Johnson|first=Alex|access-date=19 April 2018|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hamlin|first=Jeff|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-results/wwe-raw-live-results-brock-lesnar-returns-tv-256326|title=WWE Raw live results: Brock Lesnar returns to TV|date=23 April 2018|access-date=24 April 2018|work=]}}</ref> Mayor ] remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/professional-wrestling-great-bruno-sammartino-dies-at-82|title=Professional wrestling great Bruno Sammartino dies at 82|newspaper=National Post|date=18 April 2018}}</ref>


== Championships and accomplishments ==
Three weeks later, ] beat Koloff to win the title; Sammartino congratulated the new champion as he was announced. While Morales drew well in ], the crowds declined in other cities.
].]]
] in 2002.]]
Meanwhile, on January 14, 1972, Sammartino returned to ], ] for the first time in five years to participate in the highlight of promoter Mike LeBelle's year: a 22-man battle royal. The battle royal included competitors such as ], ], ], ], and Ripper Collins. The final two men left in the ring were Collins and Sammartino. After brawling for about five minutes, they noticed that they were the only ones left. After Sammartino bodyslammed Collins several times, he then applied the bearhug. Collins submitted and Bruno was the $11,000 winner of the third annual Olympic Battle Royal. This battle royal marked the first time that ''The Wrestler'', an "Apter Mag", had fans vote on ]. It went on to become the Match of the Year for 1972.
] in 2013.]]


* ''']'''
Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. After refusing McMahon'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.
** Class of 2019 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=126607|title=2019 TRAGOS/THESZ PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED - PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref>

Soon after, Bruno and champion Morales teamed up for a series of tag matches. In a televised match, ] blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. When their eyes cleared, to the surprise of the crowd, they kept fighting each other.

2 weeks later, all syndicated wrestling shows in the WWWF showed a clip of Morales and Sammartino signing a contract for a title match at Shea Stadium. When McMahon gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away.

On September 1, 1972, Sammartino and Morales wrestled to a 75-minute draw at ] in New York.<ref name=Davies2001>{{cite book|author=Ross Davies|title=Bruno Sammartino|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zPdkZJX4Q80C&pg=PA77|accessdate=29 September 2012|year=2001|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3432-4|page=77}}</ref> Despite miserable weather (cold & rainy), the ] narrowly missed becoming the largest take for an outdoor wrestling show at that time.

The match was a scientific trading of holds and mat wrestling. McMahon did not film the proceedings, so all that exists are still photographs. During the match, ], tried to interfere – but was restrained by an army of police before he could enter the ring.

====Second WWWF Championship reign (1973–1977)====
], who later won the ] ]]
Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Championship by defeating ] who had won the title from Pedro Morales nine days earlier in Philadelphia.

In his second reign, Bruno defeated contenders such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. He also encountered old foes Killer Kowalski & George Steele. His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days.

While in Japan, Bruno had a confrontation with an up-and-coming Antonio Inoki in an Osaka tag match. At the urging of noted "shooter" Karl Gotch, Inoki attempted to slap a real submission hold on the World Champion and make him quit. Bruno immediately powered out of the hold, pounded Inoki unmercifully and pitched him out of the ring. Inoki ducked Bruno for the rest of the match.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

Years later, when Inoki broke away and formed New Japan Pro Wrestling, the WWWF signed a deal with them in Japan. Bruno refused to work for Inoki, preferring to stay loyal to his old friend Giant Baba, the owner of All Japan. They had several marathon matches in the '60s, usually ending in hour-long draws.

During this time, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino suffered a neck fracture in a match against ] at Madison Square Garden, when Hansen ] a ] and dropped Sammartino on his head. According to Hansen, Bruno was dazed, but said "give me a minute". Clearing the cobwebs, he managed to wrestle for an additional 15 minutes and did the planned finish of a stoppage due to blood. Despite doctors' orders, Bruno insisted on flying home to Pittsburgh that night. Sammartino was concerned that his elderly parents would find out he was in a NY hospital with a broken neck and would die from the shock.

After two months, Sammartino famously returned, and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25, 1976 at ], which was on the closed circuit TV undercard of the famous ] vs. ] match for WWWF cities.

Sammartino was rushed back into action by ] when the advance gate for the show was a disaster. McMahon claims that the entire WWWF was in peril of folding because of his investment in this card.

Bruno was in no shape to wrestle but nonetheless entered the ring, and when Hansen tried to hit him with his "lariat move" Bruno swung him into the turnbuckle and beat him bloody with 10 punches to the head as the crowd counted the strikes. Hanson was taken away in an stretcher. More importantly, Sammartino drew a large live audience, and big closed circuit TV receipts (the Ali/Inoki match, without the Sammartino/Hansen match, drew very poorly in most of America.) Bruno contends that he was never paid the percentage of the closed circuit gate that he was promised.

The match was rated 1976 Match of the Year by a number of wrestling magazines. Subsequently, after a chance to recover and train, Sammartino scored decisive cage match wins over Hansen around the WWWF circuit.

His second title reign was only supposed to last a year but each year Bruno received bigger payoffs to stay on. Around this time, Bruno's yearly pay equaled that of the highest paid athletes in any professional sport. With only having to appear in the biggest arenas and with an increase of the gate percentages, Bruno had, up to this point, the greatest financial deal in wrestling history.

In early 1977, after suffering the broken neck and many other ailments, Bruno informed McMahon Sr. that he was done with his second title reign. It ended in Baltimore on April 30, 1977, when he was defeated by ]. In a controversial ending, Graham had both feet braced on the ropes (which is illegal in pro wrestling) while successfully pinning Sammartino.

====Later WWWF/WWF Career & Initial Retirement (1978–1981)====
Despite a very long and financially successful series of re-matches against Billy Graham, Sammartino was unwilling to regain the title. His final attempt was in Philadelphia, just a few days before Graham was scheduled to lose the title to ]. The Philly match was the only documented instance of Sammartino losing a ]. He lost by accidentally knocking a bloody and battered Graham through the cage door.

After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world. He wrestled then ] ] to a one hour draw in ]. He also wrestled and defeated, ], ], ], Kenji Shibuya, and ].

During this time period, Sammartino did a rare "clean job" for ] in Canada. At the time, Kowalski was the Grand Prix World Champion and recounted in an interview that he was "touched" his old friend and rival would do that for him.

One of the most emotional feuds of Sammartino's career started on January 22, 1980, when his former student ] violently turned against him during a scientific wrestling exhibition, broadcast on the ]'s '']'' show. Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko (whom Bruno described as a "]") pay dearly. Their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 fans at ]. As the main event of 1980's ], Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage. This feud is considered by many wrestling historians and journalists to be the biggest feud in the history of wrestling in the northeast.

In his autobiography, ] claimed that his match with ] was the real reason for the huge draw at Shea Stadium, however the ] between Sammartino and Zbyszko sold out everywhere in the build-up to the show. In contrast Hogan and André headlined exactly one card in ] before they wrestled at Shea. They drew a paltry 1,200 in a building that held 3,500.

Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981, in a match that opened the ] in ]. Sammartino pinned ] in his match. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan.

====Return to WWF (1984–1988)====
In 1984, Bruno made an appearance at an Italian Festival in ] to do a weightlifting exhibition. While there, he was interviewed by a local TV station and when asked if he still watched TV wrestling he said it made him sick and that he would never watch it. He didn't like the direction that it was taking.

It was during this time Sammartino found out through Angelo Savoldi, a recently fired office employee of Capitol Wrestling Corporation, that he had been cheated by Vince McMahon Sr. on the promised gate percentages for his entire second title run. Bruno filed suit against McMahon and his Capitol Wrestling Corporation.<ref>. Wrestlingperspective.com (1983-08-26). Retrieved on 2012-09-29.</ref> The suit was eventually settled out of court by McMahon's son, ] after his father had died. Part of the settlement included Sammartino returning to do color commentary on WWF television in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars for what amounted to nineteen days of work.

The primary reason Sammartino returned was an attempt to promote the wrestling career of his son ], who became a wrestler against his father's wishes. Despite lingering effects from previous injuries, Sammartino agreed to come out of retirement to help his son launch his career. Bruno says that this time period was his least favorite of his career.

At the inaugural ] at a sold out ] in 1985, Sammartino was in his son's corner, for his match against ]. The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager ]. He returned to in ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake & Valiant at Madison Square Garden. The Sammartinos also teamed against ] and ] in various arenas. Despite being in his early-50's, Sammartino frequently proved to be in much better physical shape than his opponents, often leaving them "blown up" by the middle of the match.

David Sammartino eventually realized he was being used by McMahon to get his famous father to wrestle, as the elder Sammartino still drew huge crowds in the northeast. Disenchanted, the younger Sammartino quit the WWF several times. This forced his father to continue to wrestle, in hopes that he could get his son back in McMahon's good graces.

Sammartino's most notable feud during this run was with ]. An irate Sammartino attacked Savage during a TV interview, after Savage bragged about injuring ], by driving the timekeeper's bell into Steamboat's throat during a televised match.

Sammartino defeated Savage in a ] for the ] via disqualification at the ]. This allowed Savage to keep the belt, as titles cannot change hands via count out or disqualification.

Sammartino would often be teamed with ] and his old enemy ] (who was a face at this point in his career) to wrestle Savage and ]. The climax of the their feud came was a victory for Sammartino & Santana in a ] in Madison Square Garden.

Sammartino also engaged in a feud with ] after Piper insulted his heritage on a segment of ] at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino faced Piper in both singles & tag matches. Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper, while Piper would tag with his "bodyguard", ]. Sammartino would eventually get the upper hand in the feud, by defeating Piper in a steel cage match at the Boston Garden.

In 1986 Sammartino competed in a 20 man battle royal at ] in at the ] in ]. The battle royal featured not only professional wrestlers but also professional football players. Sammartino was eliminated by Killer Kowalski protege ]. André the Giant would go on to win the battle royal.

Later on in 1986 Sammartino would team with ], and Santana in a 6 man Elimination Tag Team Match against ] & ]. Sammartino was the sole survivor of the match pinning the Honky Tonk Man for the win.

Sammartino's last major feud came in the summer of 1987 against The Honky Tonk Man for the ]. Although he dominated the matches against the champion, Sammartino never won the title, winning most of his matches by count out or disqualification.

Sammartino also feuded with ] during this time. Sammartino had his last singles match in the WWF against on August 28, 1987 as he defeated Hercules via count out at the ] Retirement Show in ], ].

Sammartino's final WWF match saw him team with ] to defeat ] and ]. Sammartino continued doing commentary on the ''WWF ]'' until March 1988. Sammartino would eventually criticize Vince McMahon, after he fired his son, David, at that same year, in his attempt to return to the WWF, due to his son punched a fan after the fan spat at him. Sammartino and his son later speculated that the fan was a plant hired by McMahon, in order to give the WWF an excuse to terminate David Sammartino's contract.

====Post WWF Career====
After leaving the WWF, Sammartino began doing commentary for Herb Abrams' upstart ] as it attempted to go national and compete with the WWF, the ], and ].

On October 28, 1989, Sammartino made a special appearance at the NWA PPV ], where he was the special guest referee in a "]" cage match which featured ] and ] taking on ] and ]. Sammartino ended up exchanging blows with Muta at the end of the match and ran him off.

Sammartino worked several ] events in a minor analysis role in the early 1990s.

====2000–present====
Over the years, Bruno was an outspoken critic of the path McMahon has taken pro wrestling, particularly in the use of steroids, other illicit drugs and borderline obscene wrestling angles. In the last stage of his career, he refused to travel with the younger wrestlers for fear of being stopped in a vehicle containing drugs. McMahon provided wrestler-turned-road-agent ] as a travel partner.

He has often appeared in the media in opposition to the WWE on shows like Phil Donahue, Geraldo, CNN News, etc.

On July 26, 2004, Sammartino met in Pittsburgh with McMahon and WWE officials about doing a DVD release and providing commentary for ], but Sammartino would not agree to be a part of the current product.

He was invited to stay for the ''Raw'' show that night, but declined because he did not want to be seen endorsing the product. He was told the main event was ] vs. ]. He reportedly told them he would've stayed if Benoit was wrestling ]; one of the people he said this to was Triple H, who he didn't know. This was also the same night of an incident with Ric Flair (see below). Contract talks stalled.

Aside from 'feuding' with wrestling, Bruno also has a strained relationship with his son, David.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/magazine/19981028bruno1.asp|title=Wrestling with fame: Bruno Sammartino still a hero to fans|publisher=Post-gazette | first1=Cristina | last1=Rouvalis | date=October 28, 1998}}</ref>

In 2006, he signed an independent deal with ] to produce an ], which is part of the WWE Classic Superstars line, Series 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080210022315/http://www.classicfigs.com/CS10/sing-10-BS.html|title=Where legends are displayed|publisher=Classicfigs.com}}</ref>

Sammartino has appeared for independent wrestling promotion ], and was featured on ]'s Kurt Angle biographical DVD. In it, he praises Angle and says that he generally doesn't watch wrestling unless he finds out that Angle's going to wrestle.

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 '']'' personalities ], ], Dom DeNucci, Frank Durso, and referee ] were all present.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Robert |last=Dvorchak |title=Dapper Dan: Malkin, Sammartino, Penn State volleyball claim awards |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10085/1045805-61.stm |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=March 26, 2010 |accessdate=March 26, 2010}}</ref>

On October 8, 2011 Sammartino briefly returned to the Pro Wrestling scene as a special guest when he joined a wrestling show held in his honor by , an Italian pro-wrestling promotion. "Through The Eyes Of The Legend", was held in his country of his birth, ], ], ].

In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the ], after having declined several times in prior years.<ref name=MiamiHeraldHoF>{{cite news|last=Varsallone|first=Jim|title=Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino accepts WWE Hall of Fame honor|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/04/3217611/wrestling-legend-bruno-sammartino.html|newspaper=The Miami Herald|date=February 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name=PostGazetteHoF>{{cite news|title=Bruno Sammartino gets Hall call|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/more-sports/bruno-sammartino-gets-hall-call-673477/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=February 5, 2013}}</ref> The ceremony took place at ] on April 6, 2013. Afterwards Sammartino shook hands with Vince McMahon.<ref name=MiamiHeraldHoF/><ref name=PostGazetteHoF/> Later that year it was confirmed that Bruno Sammartino will be a playable character in ], the first video game offering from ].<ref name=BrunoconfirmedWWE2K14>{{cite news|last=Johnston|first=mack|title=The Rock and Bruno Sammartino 100% confirmed|url=http://wwegaming.com/wwe-2k14-the-rock-and-bruno-sammartino-100-confirmed/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WWEGamingV2+%28WWEGAMING.com+V2%29&utm_content=FaceBook|date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> Sammartino appeared on '']'' on October 7, which was in Pittsburgh, and received a birthday greeting in his hometown.<ref>{{cite web|author=James Caldwell |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_73792.shtml#.UlNbmVMpqSo |title= 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 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=2013-10-07|accessdate=2013-10-07}}</ref>

===Criticism of pro wrestling after retirement===
In his retirement, Sammartino has publicly criticized the direction professional wrestling has taken, making reference to lurid storylines, over-the-top theatrics, and drug and steroid abuse. In particular he has been critical of ], saying that McMahon has been detrimental to ] creation. Sammartino has refused to provide commentary on WWE-produced retrospectives of his career, instead participating in a series of independently-produced documentaries, including ''Bruno Sammartino's Legends Never Die'', ''La Roccia'', ''The Passing of the Belt'', and ''The Boys are Back''. Despite being the biggest drawing card in wrestling during the 1960s and 1970s, Sammartino was not mentioned in the ] wrestling documentary ''The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling''. He attributed his exclusion to McMahon, who provided much of the footage to the production.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Sammartino accepted WWE's offer to join their Hall of Fame in 2013, saying he was satisfied with the way the company has addressed his concerns.<ref name=CBSPittsburghHoF>{{cite news|title=Bruno Sammartino To Join WWE Hall Of Fame|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/02/04/bruno-sammartino-to-join-wwe-hall-of-fame/|newspaper=CBS Pittsburgh|date=February 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>http://www.wtae.com/sports/Bruno-Sammartino-accepts-invitation-into-WWE-Hall-of-Fame/-/9681176/18474128/-/item/0/-/it00gf/-/index.html</ref> He said, "Being that they made those changes, now that they want me in there so badly I absolutely accept it because they did what I wanted them to do, and it is fitting that I accept this honor in Madison Square Garden, which I sold out the most of any single performer."<ref name=CBSPittsburghHoF/>

==Backstage incidents==
*In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former PA Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. Cimino was new to his post and intervened in a match finish involving Bruno. Bruno took a shot at Cimino in the ring and the argument continued backstage. Bruno ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local ] program. Cimino suspended Bruno for a month. Sam Muchnick mentions the incident in his book, Wrestling Babylon.<ref name=Muchnick2011>{{Cite book|last=Muchnick|first=Sam|year=2011|title=Wrestling Babylon|page=55|isbn=1-55022-761-0|publisher=ECW Press|location=New York|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>

*In his autobiography, ''The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption'',<ref name=Watts2006>{{Cite book|last=Watts|first=Bill|year=2006|title=The Cowboy and the Cross:The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption|page=72|isbn=1-55022-708-4|publisher=ECW Press|location=New York|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> ] tells of witnessing a backstage incident between Sammartino and ]. Watts wrote that Monsoon "soon found himself in deep water" when messing with Sammartino. He did not go into further detail on the incident out of respect for Monsoon.

*When Bruno was about 51 years old, he was involved in an infamous backstage fight with a former football player. Six men were backstage at a wrestling show in an area that was restricted. When Sammartino spotted the men, he told them that if security saw them in this area, they might get in trouble. Dave "Rooster" Fleming, a former CFL player with the ], stuck his hand out to Sammartino. When Sammartino went to shake his hand, Fleming began to squeeze hard. Sammartino asked him what he was doing to which Fleming replied "You're nothing but a washed up old man." Sammartino responded "Not too washed up to take care of you." Upon hearing that, Fleming took a swing at Sammartino but it was blocked. Sammartino then punched him and knocked him down. Sammartino soon found himself fighting the other five men at once. At this time, the ] was in the showers after his match and heard the commotion. He immediately jumped in next to Bruno and the two wrestlers proceeded to "clean house" according to Bruno.<ref>{{YouTube|3oLtJIx9ghM|Iron Sheik and Bruno Sammartino fight in locker room story }}. Retrieved on 2012-09-29.</ref>

*July 26, 2004 at ] in Pittsburgh was the site of the infamous "who snubbed who?" non-confrontation with ]. Flair denigrated Sammartino's wrestling ability in his ].<ref name=Flair2005>{{Cite book|last=Flair|first=Ric|year=2005|title=Ric Flair: to Be the Man|pages=63–64|isbn=0-7434-9181-5|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> Flair claims Sammartino refused to shake his hand at the event; Sammartino says Flair saw him coming down the hall, turned, and rushed away.

==Other media==
Bruno 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. Both were only released in ], ]. Bruno is honored on the ] walk of fame. On March 24, 2007, Bruno received the Key to the City in ] as part of . On April 6, 2013, he received the Key to the City in ]. May 17, 2013 was declared "Bruno Sammartino Day" in ]. Later that year it was confirmed that Bruno Sammartino will be a playable character in ], the first video game offering from ]. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally-televised ]. Later on in the event Sammartino arm wrestled Grand Marshal ] in a losing effort.

==Personal life==
Bruno has been married to his wife Carol since 1959 and they have three children, ], and twin sons Danny and Darryl and also has four grandchildren. He and his wife have lived in ], ] near ] since 1965.<ref name="trib">{{cite web | url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_715155.html | title = Bruno Sammartino: Mountain of strength | publisher = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | author = Togneri, Chris | date = December 24, 2010 | accessdate = December 24, 2010}}</ref>

==In wrestling==
*'''Finishing moves'''
**]<ref name=hornbaker/><ref name=OtherArena>{{cite web|url=http://www.otherarena.com/nCo/finish/finish.html|title=Finishing Moves List|publisher=Other Arena|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref>
**]
**]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoy12scN3vE</ref>

*'''Signature moves'''
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]
**]

*''']s'''
**"The Strongest Man in the World"
**"The Italian Strongman"
**"The Living Legend"
**"The Italian Superman"

==Championships and accomplishments==
*''']''' *''']'''
**GPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with ] ** Grand Prix Tag Team Championship (1 time) with ]
*''']'''
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2022 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame}}</ref>
*''']'''
**Class of 2013<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://sportshof.org/2013-hall-of-fame/ |website=www.sportshof.org |author=Dr. Robert Goldman | date=12 March 2013 | access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** KSWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)<ref>{{cite web |title=Keystone Sate Wrestling Alliance - Hall of Fame|publisher=]|url=http://www.kswa.net/kswahof1.html |access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** ] (])<ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=978-0-9698161-5-7 }}</ref>
** ] (]) – with ]<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/sammartino-bruno.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919175629/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/sammartino-bruno.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2015|title=Bruno Sammartino|access-date=19 April 2018|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** Los Angeles Battle Royal (1972)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/la-lebell.html#la|title=Los Angeles Territory}}</ref>
* ''''']'''''
** ] (1976)<ref name="PWI Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|title=PWI Awards|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121172943/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** ] (1972) {{small|]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Match of the Year (1975) {{small|vs. ]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Match of the Year (1976) {{small|vs. ]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Match of the Year (1977) {{small|vs. ]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Match of the Year (1980) {{small|vs. ] at ]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** ] (1981)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** ] (1974)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Ranked No. 200 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{cite web |title=PWI 500 of the PWI Years |publisher=Willy Wrestlefest |url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** Class of 2002<ref>{{cite web|last=Puskar|first=Gene J.|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2005/02/20/Bruno-Sammartino-body-slams-hall-of-fame/stories/200502200222|title=Bruno Sammartino body slams hall of fame|date=20 February 2005|access-date=18 April 2018|work=]}}</ref>
*''']'''
**Ranked No. 10 of the 20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time <ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Pullar III |first1=Sid |title=20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/features/10-greatest-wwe-wrestlers-of-all-time |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/other_sports/20081106_WWWA_honors_Bruno_Sammartino__and_vice_versa.html|title=WWWA honors Bruno Sammartino, and vice versa|author=Rabito, Lou|publisher=The Inquisitor|access-date=19 April 2018|date=6 November 2008|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001608/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/other_sports/20081106_WWWA_honors_Bruno_Sammartino__and_vice_versa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''World Wide Wrestling Association'''
** WWWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, final)<ref name=WWWA1964>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/oh/wwwa/|title=World Wide Wrestling Association (1963)|work=Wrestling-Titles|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}</ref>
** WWWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) with ]
* '''] / ]'''
** ] (]){{Efn|During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, due to the WWWF rejoining the ].}}<ref name=Schramm/>
** ] (]) – with ]<ref name=slam/>
** ] (]) – with ] (1) and ] (1)<ref name=Intertag/>
** ] (])<ref name="WWE HOF"/>
** ] (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/30/triple-h-reveals-bruno-sammartino-statue-at-wrestlemania-axxess|title=Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** ] (]) – with ]<ref>{{cite web |year=2003 |title=W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis) |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/in/wwa/in-wwa-t.html}}</ref>
* ''']'''
** ] (])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/wwc-na-h.html|title=WWC North American Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
* ''''']'''''
** ] (1980) {{small|vs. Larry Zbyszko}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profightdb.com/pwi-500/2007.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007|publisher=Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>
** ] (Class of 1996)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|title=Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505214329/http://pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Notes ==
*'''International Sports Hall of Fame'''
{{Notelist}}
** Class of 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportshof.org/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-2013/56-bruno-sammartino.html|title=Bruno Sammartino Hall of Fame 2013|accessdate=2013-03-10|publisher=International Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref>


== References ==
*''']'''
{{Reflist}}
**] (]) – with ]
**] (])


== External links ==
*''']
{{Commons category|Bruno Sammartino}}
**] (1972) <small>] on January 14, ]</small>
* {{IMDb name|name = Bruno Sammartino}}
**PWI Match of the Year (1975) <small>vs. ] on March 17, ]</small>
* {{wwe superstar|name = Bruno Sammartino}}
**PWI Match of the Year (1976) <small>vs. ] on June 25, Queens, NY</small>
* {{Find a Grave|188956237|Bruno Sammartino}}
**PWI Match of the Year (1977) <small>vs. ] on April 30, ]</small>
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
**PWI Match of the Year (1980) <small>vs. ] at ] in a ]</small>
**] (1976)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012013742/http://100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm|accessdate=2008-07-27|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
**] (1981)
**] (1974)
**PWI ranked him #'''7''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "]" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|title=PWI 500 of the PWI Years|accessdate=2012-08-26|publisher=Willy Wrestlefest}}</ref>


*''']''' {{WWE Hall of Fame|2010s}}
**]

*''']'''
**] (]) – with ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/in/wwa/in-wwa-t.html |title=W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref>

*''']'''
**] (]) – with ] (1) and ] (1)
**] (]) – with ]
**] (])
**] (Class of 2013)

*'''World Wide Wrestling Alliance'''
**Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)

*''']'''
**] (1980) <small>vs. Larry Zbyszko</small>
**] (])

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Pittsburgh|Professional wrestling}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|0759890|Bruno Sammartino}}
*{{wwe superstar|bruno-sammartino|Bruno Sammartino}}
*
*{{YouTube|SfFB0S-3bq4|Video: Beginning of the Sammartino-Zbyzsko feud}}
*
*
*

{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
{{WWE Championship}} {{WWE Championship}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Italian American Sports Hall of Fame}}
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ] -->
|NAME = Sammartino, Bruno
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Sammartino, Bruno Leopoldo Francesco
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = ]
|DATE OF BIRTH = October 6, 1935
|PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ]
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sammartino, Bruno}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sammartino, Bruno}}
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Latest revision as of 20:00, 23 December 2024

American professional wrestler (1935–2018)

Bruno Sammartino
Sammartino as WWWF World Heavyweight Champion in 1971
Birth nameBruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino
Born(1935-10-06)October 6, 1935
Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Kingdom of Italy
DiedApril 18, 2018(2018-04-18) (aged 82)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse(s) Carol Sammartino
​ ​(m. 1959)​
Children3; including David Sammartino
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bruno Sammartino
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight265 lb (120 kg)
Billed fromItaly Abruzzo, Italy
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Trained byAce Freeman
Rex Peery
DebutOctober 23, 1959
RetiredAugust 19, 1987
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Professional wrestling
History
Notable promotions
Notable peopleEarly 20th Century

Mid 20th Century

1970s and 1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s and 2020s

By region
Styles
Concepts
Culture
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Controversies
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Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Sammartino's 2,803-day reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion is the longest in the championship's history as well as the longest world title reign in WWE history.

Born in Italy to a family of seven, Sammartino grew up in poverty. As a child, Sammartino survived the German occupation of Italy during World War II. In 1950, he came to the United States with his family, where they would settle in Pittsburgh. Sammartino would later take up bodybuilding before beginning his career as a professional wrestler in 1959.

Dubbed "the Italian Strongman” and "the Strongest Man in the World" early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "the Living Legend". Known for his powerful bearhug finishing move, Sammartino wrestled for various territories in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) before joining the WWWF territory.

Already recognized as a future star, Sammartino won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1963 after beating the inaugural champion, Buddy Rogers, in 48 seconds. He then held the title for a reign of a record 2,803 days – nearly 8 years. While doing so, Sammartino became a popular attraction in Madison Square Garden, selling out the arena numerous times throughout his career. Sammartino would later reclaim the WWF Heavyweight Championship in 1973 for another reign of 1,237 days before gradually retiring from full-time competition.

After his retirement, 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. Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself".

Early life

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino on October 6, 1935. He was the youngest of seven children, four of whom died during his early childhood. When he was four, his father emigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During World War II, Pizzoferrato was invaded by troops of the Waffen SS, leading Emilia to hide Bruno and his siblings in a remote hideout at the top of a nearby mountain called Valla Rocca. During this time, his mother would sneak into their German-occupied town for food and supplies. In 1950, she and the children joined her husband in Pittsburgh.

When the Sammartinos arrived in the U.S., Bruno spoke no English and was sickly from the privations of the war years. This made him an easy target for bullies at Schenley High School. He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up. His devotion to weightlifting nearly resulted in a berth on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team, which went instead to eventual gold medalist Paul Anderson.

In 1959, Sammartino set a world record in the bench press with a lift of 256 kilograms (565 lb), done without elbow or wrist wraps. When he brought the bar down, he did not bounce it off his chest, but set it there for two seconds before attempting the press. He trained in wrestling with Rex Peery, the University of Pittsburgh team coach.

He also became known for performing strongman stunts in the Pittsburgh area, and sportscaster Bob Prince put him on his television show. It was there that he was spotted by local professional wrestling promoter Rudy Miller, who recruited the young man into the ring.

Professional wrestling career

Early years (1959–1963)

Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds. Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden in New York City was on January 2, 1960, defeating Bull Curry in five minutes.

Sammartino (right) with Verne Gagne and WWWF promoter Vincent J. McMahon

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. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in Baltimore and Chicago, and as a result was suspended in those territories. California honored the other state's suspension, leaving Sammartino out of work. 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. Sammartino was forced to return to Pittsburgh and found work as a laborer.

On the advice of wrestler Yukon Eric, Sammartino contacted Toronto promoter Frank Tunney hoping to take advantage of Toronto's large Italian population. 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. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated him with that immigrant population. With Whipper Billy Watson, Sammartino won his first professional wrestling championship in September 1962, the local version of the International Tag Team Championship. Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories.

Sammartino also challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz twice for the championship in Canada. 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. 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.

World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1963–1981)

First World Heavyweight Championship reign (1963–1971)

Sammartino in his second reign as WWWF Heavyweight Champion

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. Between Antonino Rocca and Bruno Sammartino they went with the younger Sammartino who was 27 years old at the time. The match was scheduled to be concluded quickly so as not to risk Buddy's health any further. 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. Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds. 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. Rogers pinned Sammartino for the third and deciding fall. Rogers retired prior to their scheduled title rematch on October 4, 1963, in Jersey City, New Jersey's Roosevelt Stadium. Sammartino instead that night had his first match against new number one contender, Gorilla Monsoon. Because Monsoon won the match by disqualification, Sammartino retained his belt.

On December 8, 1969, he teamed with Tony Marino to win the WWF International Tag Team Championship by defeating The Rising Suns (Tanaka and Mitsu Arakawa). Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by Victor Rivera. Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days). On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff. Sammartino recalled the shocked silence that greeted the result, remarking he thought he had damaged his ears. Later that year, he won the International Tag Team Championship for the second time by teaming with Dominic DeNucci. Sammartino took a hiatus from the company in 1971 and 1972 working in Japan, and various territories.

Second World Heavyweight Championship reign (1972–1977)

Sammartino and Mario Trevi

Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title. 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. Soon after, Sammartino and then champion Pedro Morales teamed up for a series of tag team matches. In a televised match, Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men with salt and they were maneuvered into fighting each other. When their eyes cleared, they kept fighting each other. 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. When McMahon Sr. gestured for them to shake hands, both wordlessly turned and walked away. On September 30, 1972, Sammartino and Morales wrestled to a 65-minute draw at Shea Stadium in New York.

Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Heavyweight Championship by defeating Stan Stasiak. 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. After two months, Sammartino returned and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25, 1976, at Shea Stadium, which was on the closed circuit TV undercard of the Ali vs. Antonio Inoki match for WWWF cities. The match was rated 1976 "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

In early 1977, Sammartino informed McMahon Sr. that he felt he could no longer continue as champion due to his injuries. On April 30, 1977, he was defeated by Superstar Billy Graham for the title. His second title run lasted three years, four months, and twenty days (1,237 days). Despite a very long series of rematches against Graham, Sammartino was unable to regain the title. His final attempt was in Philadelphia, just a few days before Graham was scheduled to lose the title to Bob Backlund.

Later career and initial retirement (1978–1981)

After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world. He wrestled then NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race to a one-hour draw in St. Louis. He also wrestled and defeated Blackjack Mulligan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Kenji Shibuya, and "Crippler" Ray Stevens. Also during this time, Sammartino began serving as color commentator for the WWF's syndicated programs, WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF All-Star Wrestling.

On January 22, 1980, his former student Larry Zbyszko turned on him at the World Wrestling Federation's Championship Wrestling show. Sammartino, shocked and hurt by Zbyszko's betrayal, vowed to make Zbyszko pay dearly. Their feud culminated on August 9, 1980, in front of 36,295 fans at Shea Stadium. As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage. In his autobiography, Hulk Hogan claimed that his match with André 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. In contrast, Hogan and André 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.

Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981, in a match that opened the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sammartino pinned George "The Animal" Steele in his match. Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan.

Return to the WWF (1984–1988)

Sammartino, circa 1987

It was during this time Sammartino found out through Angelo Savoldi, a recently fired office employee of Capitol Wrestling Corporation, that he had been cheated by Vince McMahon Sr. on the promised gate percentages for his entire second title run. Sammartino filed suit against McMahon Sr. and his Capitol Wrestling Corporation. 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.

At the inaugural WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, Sammartino was in his son David's corner for his match against Brutus Beefcake. The match ended in a double-disqualification after the Sammartinos began brawling with Beefcake and his manager Johnny Valiant. He returned to in-ring action soon after with his son, as they wrestled against Beefcake and Valiant at Madison Square Garden. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and Bobby "the Brain" Heenan in various arenas.

Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. 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. Sammartino defeated Savage in a lumberjack match for the WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship via disqualification at the Boston Garden. This allowed Savage to keep the championship, as titles cannot change hands via countout or disqualification. He was often teamed with Tito Santana and his old enemy George "the Animal" Steele (who was a fan favorite at this point in his career) to wrestle Savage and "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. The climax of their feud came was a victory for Sammartino and Santana in a steel cage match in Madison Square Garden. Sammartino also engaged in a feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper after Piper insulted his heritage on a segment of Piper's Pit at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino faced Piper in both singles and tag team matches. Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper, while Piper would tag with his "bodyguard", Ace "Cowboy" Bob Orton. Sammartino would eventually get the upper hand in the feud, by defeating Piper in a steel cage match at the Boston Garden. In 1986, Sammartino competed in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago.

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. Sammartino continued doing commentary on Superstars of Wrestling until March 1988.

Non-wrestling roles and WWE Hall of Fame (1988–2018)

After leaving the WWE, Sammartino became an outspoken critic of the path on which Vincent K. McMahon had taken professional wrestling. He particularly criticized the use of steroids and "vulgar" storylines. He appeared in the media in opposition to the WWE on such shows as The Phil Donahue Show, Geraldo, and CNN.

Sammartino worked as a commentator for the Universal Wrestling Federation. 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. 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. 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.

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.

On March 25, 2010, Sammartino was honoured 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.

Sammartino with Triple H at WrestleMania Axxess in April 2014, unveiling a statue created in Sammartino's image and honor

In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. He finally accepted the offer to join because he was satisfied with the way the company had addressed his concerns about rampant drug use as well as vulgarity. The ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden on April 6, 2013, and Sammartino was inducted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sammartino appeared on October 7, 2013, episode of Raw and received a birthday greeting in his hometown of Pittsburgh. On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Other media

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). Both were only released in Pittsburgh. Sammartino is honored on the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame.

Video games

Video game appearances
Year Title Notes Ref.
2002 Legends of Wrestling II Video game debut
2004 Showdown: Legends of Wrestling
2013 WWE 2K14 Downloadable content
2023 WWE 2K23
2024 WWE 2K24

Personal life

Sammartino at Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh, 2005

Sammartino was married to his wife Carol from 1959 until his death in 2018. They had three sons together, David and fraternal twins Danny and Darryl. They were grandparents of four grandchildren. The Sammartinos lived in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from 1965 on. In 1998, he said he had been estranged from David since retiring from wrestling against David's wishes for a tag team.

On April 6, 2013, Sammartino received the Key to the City in Jersey City, New Jersey. May 17, 2013 was declared "Bruno Sammartino Day" in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Sammartino appeared as one of the Board of Governors in the nationally televised 69th Annual Columbus Day Parade.

Backstage incidents

In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino. 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. Sammartino ended up in a screaming match with Cimino on Pittsburgh's local Studio Wrestling program, and Cimino suspended him for a month. Irvin Muchnick mentioned the incident in his book, Wrestling Babylon.

In his autobiography, The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption, Bill Watts told of witnessing a backstage incident between Sammartino and Gorilla Monsoon. Watts wrote that Monsoon "soon found himself in deep water" when messing with Sammartino, and he did not go into further detail on the incident out of respect for Monsoon.

On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" non-confrontation at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Flair had denigrated Sammartino's wrestling ability in his book To Be the Man. 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.

Death

Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems following a two-month hospitalization. WWE honored his life with a ten-bell salute before a house show in Cape Town, South Africa later that day, and again on the 23 April episode of Raw in St. Louis, Missouri. Mayor Bill Peduto remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."

Championships and accomplishments

Sammartino is a two-time and longest single and combined reigning WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Sammartino was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002.
Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.

Notes

  1. While Sammartino is commonly understood to have sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times, records indicate that he only did so approximately 45 times.
  2. During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, due to the WWWF rejoining the National Wrestling Alliance.

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