Bruno Sammartino
Italian-born American professional wrestler (1935-2018)
Bruno Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-American professional wrestler. He was born in Pizzoferrato, Italy. He became a wrestler in 1959. He would often beat opponents with his bearhug.
| Bruno Sammartino | |
|---|---|
 Sammartino in 2005 | |
| Born | October 6, 1935 Pizzoferrato, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | April 18, 2018 (aged 82) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bruno Sammartino |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 115 kg (254 lb) |
| Billed from | Abruzzo, Italy |
| Trained by | Ace Freeman |
| Debut | 1959 |
| Retired | 1987 |
On May 17, 1963, Sammartino beat Buddy Rogers to become the second World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion. He held this title for over seven years, a record for professional wrestling world champions. He had his first match in Japan in 1967. He lost to Ivan Koloff on January 18, 1971. On December 10, 1973, Sammartino beat Stan Stasiak to once again be the champion. Billy Graham won the championship from Bruno on April 30, 1977[1] in Baltimore. World Wide Wrestling Federation became the World Wrestling Federation in March 1979. Sammartino wrestled less often after but he did have classic feud with Larry Zbyszko that ended in a steel cage match at Shea Stadium in 1980. He retired in 1987.[2] Sammartino was also a commentator with Vince McMahon.[3][4]
In 2013, he accepted an invitation for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, after he declined many times in prior years.[5]
Sammartino died on April 18, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of multiple organ failure caused by heart disease at the age of 82.[6][7]
Championships and accomplishments
change
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2019 [8]
- International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2021[9]
- International Sports Hall of Fame
- Class of 2013[10]
- Keystone State Wrestling Alliance
- KSWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)[11]
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- Los Angeles Battle Royal (1972)[14]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1976)[15]
- Match of the Year (1972) Battle royal[15]
- Match of the Year (1975) vs. Spiros Arion[15]
- Match of the Year (1976) vs. Stan Hansen[15]
- Match of the Year (1977) vs. Superstar Billy Graham[15]
- Match of the Year (1980) vs. Larry Zbyszko at Showdown at Shea[15]
- Stanley Weston Award (1981)[15]
- Wrestler of the Year (1974)[15]
- Ranked No. 200 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[16]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2002[17]
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance
- Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)[18]
- World Wide Wrestling Association
- WWWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, final)[19]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation / WWE
- WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[a]
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Spiros Arion[13]
- WWWF International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with The Battman (1) and Dominic DeNucci (1)[20]
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)[5]
- WWE Bronze Statue (2014)[21]
- World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dick the Bruiser[22]
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[23]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- ↑ During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, because the WWWF rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance.
References
change- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t5s9U-vKQI Bruno Sammartino versus Billy Graham
- ↑ "Wrestler Profiles: Bruno Sammartino". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ↑ "Bruno Sammartino As A Color Commentator - Pro Wrestling - Sports And Wrestling - WowBB Forums". sportsandwrestling.mywowbb.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
- ↑ "KM : Reading Topic : Bruno Sammartino the commentator". www.infinitecore.ca.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bruno Sammartino announced as WWE Hall of Fame 2013 inductee". WWE. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- ↑ ESPN.com Staff (April 18, 2018). "WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino dies at age 82". ESPN.com. United States: ESPN Inc. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- ↑ KDKA-TV Staff (April 18, 2018). "WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino Dies At 82". KDKA-TV. Pittsburgh: CBS Corporation. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
- ↑ "2019 TRAGOS/THESZ PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
- ↑ "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame".
- ↑ Dr. Robert Goldman (12 March 2013). "2013 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "Keystone Sate Wrestling Alliance - Hall of Fame". Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Bruno Sammartino". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Los Angeles Territory".
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 "PWI Awards". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ↑ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ↑ Puskar, Gene J. (20 February 2005). "Bruno Sammartino body slams hall of fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ↑ Rabito, Lou (6 November 2008). "WWWA honors Bruno Sammartino, and vice versa". The Inquisitor. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "World Wide Wrestling Association (1963)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "10 championships you never knew existed in WWE". WWE. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ↑ "Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess".
- ↑ "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ↑ "WWC North American Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
- ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Kappa Publishing Group. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
Other websites
change
Media related to Bruno Sammartino at Wikimedia Commons
This short article about a sports person can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.