WRESTLING CHAMP SAMMARTINO DEAD:
BRUNO Sammartino, who sold out Madison Square Garden as the marquee attraction 187 times and held the WWE (then WWF) championship for a record eight years, has died at 82.
Sammartino died peacefully with his wife and two children by his side, according to Pittsburgh’s CBS-KDKA. He had suffered from health issues over the past several months.
In 1963, Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds to win the title. He held the championship until 1971, when he was defeated by Ivan Koloff at the Garden.
His second reign began in 1973 with a win over Stan Stasiak. That one lasted until he was pinned by “Superstar” Billy Graham in 1977.
Sammartino’s Italian heritage, brute strength and goodguy charisma helped make him an instant star in the northeast. He had rivalries with Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon and George “The Animal” Steele during his title runs and later wrestled famous grudge matches at Shea Stadium against Pedro Morales, Stan Hansen and Larry Zbyszko.
“Bruno came along in the ’60s and he reflected what was going on in terms of the American Dream story,” Zbyszko told The Associated Press. “Poor, starving immigrant kid who escaped Nazis.”
His family immigrated to Pittsburgh, where he learned the ropes of pro wrestling.
Bullied because he spoke little English, Sammartino dedicated himself to bodybuilding. The WWE said he once benchpressed 569 pounds in 1959.
Zbyszko was billed as Sammartino’s protege until he turned on him during a famous televised match. Zbyszko got a quick lesson on how much fans loved the “Living Legend” when he bloodied Sammartino with a series of chair shots to the head.
“I was getting my car smashed, I had to hide in trunks,” Zbyszko said. “I was going down the highway in a new Cadillac with the windows smashed, the mirrors hanging, the lights are out. It was a different time, a different day.”
Sammartino and Hulk Hogan tagged together in the “Legend’s” final match. He was in his son David’s corner for a bout at the first WrestleMania in 1985 and competed in a battle royal won by Andre the Giant at the second WrestleMania in 1986. Sammartino became a broadcaster on WWE’s weekend morning shows before his frustration over the company’s direction into campier storylines and an outrage over the drug culture he said had permeated the industry led to a bitter, two-decade split with Vince McMahon. He eventually made peace with WWE and accepted his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2013.