In the World Of Sports, coming second means you are resigned to Obscurity. However today we honour the memory of Bruno Sammartino, the 2nd ever WWE champion and holder of the longest title reign in the Sport's history, who passed away last Wednesday
Bruno was born into War-torn Italy in 1935. At a young age, Bruno had to see the worst of humanity. seeing 4 of his siblings die, Seeing his Father immigrate to America, His family escaped their home to live in a cave, his mother would sneak into Nazi occupied Aruzzo to scavenge for food, In 1950 he and his remaining family joined his father to live in Pittsburgh. The tall Frail 25 year old man didn't know it at the time, But he would go on to be one of the city's well known denizens.
Speaking No English and Malnourished since childhood, Bruno was the target of Bullies, and racist attacks. Bruno would turn to weightlifting, and slowly gained a Physique akin to a bronze Statue of a greek god! He tried out for the The Olympic team and though beaten out of the running, he set the then world's record of 565 pounds, made more impressive he did it without the use of straps or grips! When made public by the Guinness Book of World Records, Bruno would make tv and public Appearances performing tests of strength. That's when he met a trainer called Rudy Miller. And that's when Bruno's storied Career Began.
In 1959 Bruno made his career debut squashing his opponent in 19 seconds. In 1960, Bruno started the decade with his 1st ever win in what he would call his "Second home" Madison Square Garden, where for Over 100+ shows he will sell out the venue making the Garden also a mecca for wrestling that it is today! A year Later, Bruno was in a routine match against Chick Garibaldi, When Bruno slammed Chick, as he done 100's of times before, he saw his opponent's eyes roll back-the ref stopped the match, and told Bruno Chick Garibaldi was dead! He had Died of a heart-attack! In a documentary about his life, Legends Never Die, Bruno revealed the match still haunted him and would shape his career outside the ring as a Crusader for Sportsman Health insurance for wrestlers, Free Medical checkups and the start of a Wrestler's Worker's Union.
Such talk was frowned upon by promoters (even a century later from the Professionalization of wrestling, A wrestler's Union still doesn't exist!) Making Life on the road tough, Constantly moving to Terrorities meant you were told of bookings 2 days in advance, and if you didn't turn up ,you were not paid at best, and at worst, you were Blackballed from working in that town ever again! When Bruno Told Vince McMahon Senior he was going to California full time, and after Sammartino put hands on State Athletic Commissioner Joe Climico, Bruno was Blackballed from Chicago and Baltimore, with Vince Senior setting up the Italian by not telling him as Punishment for speaking out of turn about Forming a Union! Angered, Bruno left to become a laborer, After a small retirement, he was convinced to go to Toronto to take advantage of the Italian Diaspora there!
1962, and the Italian Crossed the Border. With his humble Nature, Man Mountain size and his ability to speak Italian, Bruno became a top draw for his new Promoter, Frank Tunney. Months later Bruno would win his first gold, The Local Version of International Tag team championship, With Whipper Watson! In the Midst of the Fall of the Territory System and the Birth of WWE (THEN CALLED THE WWWF), Bruno faced Lou Thesz, the AWA World's champion twice first to a draw, and during the rematch, Thesz accidentally Headbutted Bruno so hard he was knocked out, despite Bruno having control for most of the 20 minute match! However WWWF officials were watching the Match and Vince Senior asked Sammartino to return to the breakaway company.
In 1963 Bruno rejoined The WWWF after it broke away from the AWA. From now on, the Eastern Seaboard was not a region but the grassroots to a world empire, an upstart to the archaic Territory System, No More Double Bookings, No More More Black-Ballings, No more Fines, Legal Contracts, Medical Check-ups, And Insurance for All Wrestlers. Sammartino was all in to this more square of doing things, on one condition: he got a title match against the 1st ever wwwf champion, Buddy Rogers! who Bruno squashed in 43 seconds. Rogers would claim to his dying breath that he suffered a heart-attack a week before the title match. Bruno Confirmed that WWWF Started Medical checkups to the wrestlers so it was not only a lie, it was also a jab at Bruno's Past!
Bruno would Hold this title for a staggering 7 years and 8 months, a record that will never broken! Selling out Madison Square Garden facing Legends like Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon, Prof.Toru Tanaka (OddJob from James Bond , if you recognized the name!) George Steele, to name a few!
In 1971, The Historic Reign ended by the hands of "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff. The crowd was in such of a stunned Silence. Bruno thought Koloff may had hit him so hard, that he became Deaf! That's when you know you are hated, when the fans won't even acknowledge your wins with Boos!
After a Hiatus, Bruno Lead the Charge to transplant WWF's name in California, winning a battle royal, California has not changed in 40 years, what California lacks in passion, they make up in media exposure, Samartino, and importantly WWF, Were now National Names!
In 1972, the title changed hands, and the Fourth ever WWF champion, Pedro Morales, the 1st Hispanic World's Champion held the crown. Morales, like Bruno had to fight for the little he had as an Immigrant and was well liked. That is when the light-bulb went off-Make 2 fan favourites fight each other-After and angle in a tag match against Mr Fuji and Toru Tanaka, Tanaka throw his signature smelling salts at the Bruno and blinded, decked Pedro! the accident spiraled into a legit Beef!
Shea Stadium, Chicago
September 30th 1972.
Morales retained after Fighting Bruno to a standstill draw...After 65 minutes!
Months Later Bruno did win back the gold by beating the new Champion, Stan "The Man" Stasiak. Back on top Bruno entered 1974 with gold around his waist, Suffering an neck injury from a botch from Stan Hansen in 1976. he would get revenge in the undercard of the Muhammad Ali vs Antonio Inoki First Ever MMA match, in a steel cage, but the neck was in a bad state.
A year later with his Neck in such Pain, Bruno dropped the Belt to Controversial wrestler "Superstar" Billy Graham. Having Bruno, a man who would hard to gain his physique and was humble, losing the belt to a roided up Wifebeater, sickened those in Wrestling Circles!
After his second reign ended, Bruno toured the world, Knowing that his many friends who picked sides during the awa/wwf split would be more than happy to give Bruno a match if his body was up to it! Despite now pushing 40, He fought AWA World Champion Harley Race, Dick Murdoch, Lord Alfred Hayes, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, Giant Baba and Crippler Stevens, to name a few! In 1979, his body could not go on full time, but was fitter than most middle aged men, and was still built as a tank! in 1980, he became mentor to Larry Zybysko, Himself a future hall of famer in his one right, However Sick of being in his mentors shadow, Larry Attacked Bruno after a title match loss. In Shea Stadium, Once more The Living Legend bet his former pupil, in a steel cage match. Retirement seemed a sure thing....IT WASN'T!
In 1984, Bruno learned that Vince Mcmahon Snr had being cheating wrestlers out of Money for years. The revelation couldn't have come at a worst time, as Vince Snr had passed, So the new Chairman, Vince Jnr, paid Bruno out of his one pocket. the sum was never confirmed, only it ran into tens of thousands! Until he Left in 1988, Sammartino partnered and managed his Son David and did some comedy matches at house shows! Tempered flares however, when Roddy Piper called Bruno a "STUPID WOP! (WITH-OUT-PAPERS! A racial slur against Italians!) In a Televised Interview. Bruno's last hurrah was a cage match victory over Piper!
After Leaving WWE in 1988, Bruno would be very vocal about the backstage use of Drugs and illicit sex backstage in WWE. Finally after so much arguing, In 2013 Bruno finally came to where he belonged, IN WWE'S Hall Of Fame, He was inducted where he began! In his House: Madison Square Garden!
Bruno was the Epitome of the American Dream: an Immigrant from Wartorn Italy, With no English and a Suitcase with one change of clothes, to World Champion. In the ring, sure his Brawler style Doesn't hold a candle to the more technical wrestlers i root for, but You knew if Bruno wrapped his arms around you for his Bearhug, you were done! His Strength Physical, was surpassed by the Strength of his Convictions a proud Italian, a Diplomat for his Sport, A Man who grew in a time where his rights were talking away from him, who only wanted a chance! And for that, The sport of wrestling is a better place than when Bruno Found it!
GRACI!
BRUNO SAMMARTINO
THE WORD "LEGEND" IS TOO SMALL AN UNDERSTATEMENT!
1936-2018
