Morales would lose his World title to Stan The Man Stasiak in December of 1973, only to lose it nine days later back to Bruno for another lengthy reign (1,237 days, from 1973 through 1977). . International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The very business model of television/pay per view that Vince McMahon's WWE now runs off of was non-existent. Rogers dropped the NWA Title to Thesz (and got back his deposit on the belt), and the Northeast promoters used the one-fall match as the reason for the split from the NWA. I had seen wrestlers stopped from going to the ring because something wasnt right". News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. His Intercontinental Championship reign is the perfect example of that. [39] On March 28, 2015, Sammartino inducted Larry Zbyszko into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Northeast would soon break away from the NWA to form the World Wide Wrestling Federation (later known as the WWF and WWE today). Sammartino won the title on May 17, 1963, defeating Rogers in 48 seconds. Answer (1 of 3): I don't think there's any actual record of how many times he defended the belt, because back then there were no RAW or Smackdown television shows, I don't think they were even doing pay-per-views at the time, wrestling back then was totally different, I wasn't born in the 60s but. [14] Sammartino made his Toronto debut in March 1962 and very quickly, with the help of self-promotion in local newspapers and radio programs, became an attraction. In that sense, it's easy to see why WWE fans give Reigns' run the title of historic. As the final entrant on this list, Ricochet is unique in the fact that during his NXT North American Championship reign he was actually unsuccessful in ever once retaining his belt on pay per view, losing it in his first defense at an NXT Takeover. Boston 1/17/76) Disk 2 . That firstbelt has been missing for over 50 years and, though still considered stolen property, it is unlikely to be recovered. Bruno! WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, who held the championship belt for nearly eight consecutive years from 1963 to 1971, has died at age 82. . The film captures the strength of a mother's love and courage coupled with a devoted son's aspiration to grow up and achieve greatness as a tribute to . 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. [32][33][34] He appeared in the media in opposition to the WWE on such shows as The Phil Donahue Show, Geraldo and CNN. After Bruno defeated Rogers, just one month later, the first official WWWF (WWE) World Championship was designed. Bruno chose a photo with his 1965 belt for the cover of his autobiography, Bruno Sammartino:The Autobiography of Wrestlings Living Legend, 8. Three years after his stunning defeat, Bruno won the WWE Title for a second time. Company policy meant that Sammartino could not hold two championships simultaneously, so he was replaced by Victor Rivera. The quotes made from Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers were originally compiled by Matt Pender and shared here with thanks to our friends over at Wrestlings Glory Days Facebook page. After nearly fifteen years of promoting an "ethnic babyface" at the top of his cards, the . Pedro Morales was the champion from 1971 until 1973. [23], Eventually, on December 10, 1973, Sammartino regained the WWWF Heavyweight Championship by defeating Stan Stasiak. This match was booked by NWA promoter Sam Muchnick as a preliminary to the forming of the WWWF, to ensure the dominance of the senior organization and its championship.[18]. His ability to speak Italian also ingratiated him with that immigrant population. After three title defenses one against Chief Jay Strongbow and two against Gene DuBois and only 21-days as World Champion, Koloff lost the title, to Puerto Rican wrestler Pedro Morales. He successfully defended the belt against both Ali and The Miz before being recently dethroned by Braun Strowman on the lastWWE Smackdownepisode in January. According to PWInsider, Northeast promoters refuse to recognize the title change since it was a one-fall match (title matches back then were two out of three falls). Bruno is way more impressive than Flair if u ask me. From that point, Bruno Sammartino held the title for seven years, eight . [17] Soon, he was in demand by other promoters in different Canadian territories. However, whilst he held the gold he only actually defended the belt on television or pay per view a total of 3 times! In many ways, it was a full circle. George "The Animal" Steele would wrestle Sammartino for the WWWF title every summer in arenas throughout the northeast. HISTORY: : Sugar Ray Leonard was the winner of a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. 11. Bruno Sammartino: Directed by Patrea Patrick. Bruno Sammartino holds a legendary wrestling career spanning nearly a quarter century from 1959 to 1982. He would not be declared champion until April 29th, 1963, having won a fictional tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With John Atkins, Angela Capri, Primo Carnera, John Cena. Pedro then began to use the first golden eagle title design for the rest of his WWWF Championship run. Tickets to the screening are $15 for adults, $10 for members and $5 for children. Eager to recapture the support of the immigrant wave that had carried Bruno Sammartino for nearly eight years, McMahon hoped that Morales would appeal to the growing Hispanic audience as Bruno had for Europeans. It had been eight long years as champion, and my schedule had been so hectic, you just couldnt believe it, Sammartino said of his first run (in quotes compiled by ProWrestlingStories.I traveled overseas a lot to Japan and Australia you name it, I went everywhere. Actor: WWE Smackdown!. Per tradition, the NWA World title could only be contested in 2-out-of-3 falls matches, yet Thesz had been crowned champion following a one fall match. 1/29/68 Bruno defeated Toru Tanaka in 16:31 Last match held at old MSG 50th Street & 8th Avenue 14,130 paying $42,875.10. He died in 1992 at the age of 71. During one title reign he held the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days, a period positively unheard of in today's wrestling climate. Dr. Jerry Graham: WWWF World Heavyweight Title: WWWF MSG Show (Nov '63) Nov 18th 1963: . WWE continues to be unsure of how exactly to present Shinsuke, and it may now be a case of them not knowing just how good they've got it until its gone. Brock would then defend the belt a total of three times between then and Wrestlemania, with appearances atNight of Champions, Royal Rumble,and the event itself. Man, everything went so quiet, Koloff remembered (again in quotes from Pro Wrestling Stories). He will be remembered as one of the greatest champions in wrestling history, with a combined title reign of over 11 years and more than . Many, many years later, there was a convention one time in New York where they invited some wrestlers from yesteryear where we signed autographs and so forth. Bruno Sammartino was the rock that WWE was built upon. [7] Known for his powerful bearhug[4][5] finishing move, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Twitter: @JustSKendall WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino revealed why his record-setting WWWF title reign ended. The Sammartinos also teamed against "Mr. Bruno was the foot that held the door open for Rocky to become a phenomenon. Following the match, thieves smashed a window and broke into Brunos car while he was having dinner. "Superstar Billy Graham v. Bruno Sammartino (MSG 1/12/76) 22. Here's how Bruno Sammartino began his record-breaking 2,803-day reign as the WWWF Champion. In contrast, Hogan and Andr headlined exactly one card in White Plains, New York before they wrestled at Shea, and they drew 1,200 in a building that held 3,500.[27]. That said, Sammartino's record is likely safe, as it's difficult to imagine WWE ever putting a title on someone even remotely as long as his top reign. They had three sons together, David and fraternal twins Danny and Darryl. Because Monsoon won the match by disqualification, thus Sammartino retained his belt. Despite this, the reign lasted for alengthy 161 days. Despite this mammoth title reign length, Pete Dunne barely defended his belt in televised appearances. Fortunately for Bruno Sammartino, his time had now arrived. [36], In 2013, Sammartino accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after having declined several times in prior years. Turner has agreed to display the King of Classy Titles atthe IPWHF Museum, soon to be built in New York State. Sammartino was living proof of the American Dream, an immigrant who left a wartorn time to become an accomplished athlete. Dubbed "The Italian Strongman"[3] and "The Strongest Man in the World"[6] early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "The Living Legend". WWE commissioned a statue of Bruno wearing his belt, 6. Bruno Sammartino earned his fame. It was dead silence as the new champion left the ring with Albano behind him. Bruno was shattered but more because his body had finally exhausted all its strength after a rugged past decade from fighting for his spot to defending it around the world than at actually losing the title. "Close to working that schedule for eight years, I told Vince McMahon Sr., you better get somebody. Arguably the greatest wrestling champion of all time. After regaining the title in December 1973 . He turned to weightlifting and wrestling to build himself up. The IIconics hold the claim to being the second ever WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, beating the team of Sasha Banks and Bayley atWrestlemania. Matt Pender is an old-school wrestling fan who currently lives in New Zealand. [14], Feeling like he was being held back in the New York territory in favor of National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) star Buddy Rogers, Sammartino gave his notice to Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) owner Vince McMahon Sr. and planned to go to San Francisco to work for Roy Shire. Sadly, Koloffs reign was short-lived. Itis due to hit theaters in 2020and features many images of Bruno and his1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship. In 2006, Bruno Sammartino personally commissioned an autobiographical documentary film, 5. May 2, 2020, the 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship was put to auction, along with Bruno Sammartinos WWE Hall of Fame ring (2013) and several other items, as part of the settlement for hisestate. Ivan Koloff (left) and Superstar Billy Graham (right) each drew six sellouts with Bruno and each defeated him for the WWWF Championship. 10. There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of which is the longest single reign in the promotion's history at 2,803 days. For half of that time he reigned as World Champion, . [10] When he was four, his father emigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [52][53] Mayor Bill Peduto remembered him as "one of the greatest ambassadors the city of Pittsburgh ever had."[54]. The new film, just called Bruno Sammartino, is simply a revamped and slightly updated version of La Mia Mama, meaning it's long of Sammartino's tough-as-nails mother, but shockingly short on the champion's in-ring exploits. [48], On July 26, 2004, Sammartino and Ric Flair were involved in the "Who snubbed who?" May 20 - USA Event: Bruno . [4], Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds. title(s) WWWF MSG Show (Dec '63) Dec 16th 1963: Bruno Sammartino (c) def. Peers revered him, Hollywood celebrities courted him, Italian Americans adored him, and Arnold Schwarzenegger called him "The Star of all stars."Young Bruno and his family fled the Nazi's and were nearly executed. In 2006, Bruno Sammartino personally commissioned an autobiographical documentary film, Bruno Sammartino: Behind The Championship Belt. Very bad feelings. 10.12.1973 - 30.04.1977. Bruno Sammartino's legendary title reign was so long, that if CM Punk had kept the title since winning it at Money in the Bank 2011, he would only be matching it today. When Vince McMahon, Sr. and Totts Mondt heard about this, of course, they got him to come to Washington, DC, and they put him in a famous hospital over there. Bruno Sammartino. Bruno Sammartino depicts the exciting story of the championship wrestler and his family's narrow escape from the Nazis in World War II Italy. In addition, Ivelisse has her first title defense against Mercedes Martinez. Others say Rogers was reluctant to give up the title after being told prior that he . 1959: Bruno Sammartino debuted in the wild world of Professional Wrestling. "Retiring you cant explain it; it really takes you down. "[Its been] said that when I wrestled Rogers for the title, the reason was Rogers had had a heart attack and had to be helped to the ring, and thats how he lost the belt. I didnt get as great as I did in wrestling by not loving it. 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. On September 30, 1972, Sammartino and Morales wrestled to a 65-minute draw at Shea Stadium in New York. But the amount of defenses pales in comparison to the length of time Dunne held the gold. Buddy Rogers was wrestling every day and he was NOT in a hospital. [40], Sammartino is included in two DVDs summarizing his career and life: Bruno Returns to Italy With Bruno Sammartino (2006) and Bruno Sammartino: Behind the Championship Belt (2006). . "The incredible first reign of Bruno Sammartino itself qualifies the 1965-1971WWWF World Championship belt as one of the most significant objects in the history of professional wrestling. After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world. [20] Sammartino held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for seven years, eight months, and one day (2,803 days). Bruno selected a classic photograph with his 1965-1971 version of the WWWF World Championship for the cover of his autobiography, which he wrote with Sal Anthony Corrente. He was inducted into the WWE . A sold-out Garden. Sold-out Madison Square Garden 189 times! "Afterwards, there were obviously bad feelings. Any working guy could relate to Bruno the way they related to Steve Austin many years later. The Sammartinos lived in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from 1965 on. [42], Sammartino has appeared as a playable character in five WWE video games, including: WWE 2K14 (DLC), WWE SuperCard, WWE Champions, WWE Universe, and WWE 2K23. While on his way to California, he missed two bookings in Baltimore and Chicago, and as a result was suspended in those territories. Technically, this means three of the first four World Champions of the WWWF wore the same belt; however, Brunos belt was retired and replaced by a significantly lesser-quality belt for Pedro Morales, which did not last long. That record will never be broken. While Bruno represented the America of working hard, being honest, and overcoming evil, Austin represented the more modern version of giving it to the man, having a beer and saying the heck with it. Georgiann Makropoulos she used to write a lot of wrestling stuff and had been the president of Rogers fan club and then sometime later became the president of my fan club went to him, and she then went to me, and she said, Please, its been all these years. He was 82.