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Bruno Sammartino

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Bruno Sammartino
Sammartino in 2005
Born(1935-10-06)October 6, 1935
Pizzoferrato, Kingdom of Italy
DiedApril 18, 2018(2018-04-18) (aged 82)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bruno Sammartino
Billed height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Billed weight115 kg (254 lb)
Billed fromAbruzzo, Italy
Trained byAce Freeman
Debut1959
Retired1987

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.

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

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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.
  1. During Sammartino's second reign the title was known as WWWF Heavyweight Championship, because the WWWF rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance.

References

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  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t5s9U-vKQI Bruno Sammartino versus Billy Graham
  2. "Wrestler Profiles: Bruno Sammartino". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. "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.
  4. "KM : Reading Topic : Bruno Sammartino the commentator". www.infinitecore.ca.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Bruno Sammartino announced as WWE Hall of Fame 2013 inductee". WWE. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  6. 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.
  7. KDKA-TV Staff (April 18, 2018). "WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino Dies At 82". KDKA-TV. Pittsburgh: CBS Corporation. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. "2019 TRAGOS/THESZ PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  9. "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame".
  10. Dr. Robert Goldman (12 March 2013). "2013 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  11. "Keystone Sate Wrestling Alliance - Hall of Fame". Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  12. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  13. 13.0 13.1 "Bruno Sammartino". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  14. "Los Angeles Territory".
  15. 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.
  16. "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  17. Puskar, Gene J. (20 February 2005). "Bruno Sammartino body slams hall of fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  18. 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.
  19. "World Wide Wrestling Association (1963)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  20. "10 championships you never knew existed in WWE". WWE. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  21. "Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess".
  22. "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  23. "WWC North American Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  24. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  25. "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

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Media related to Bruno Sammartino at Wikimedia Commons