Bruno Sammartino

Biography

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). 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. He is overall a two-time world champion in professional wrestling. Dubbed "The Italian Strongman" and "The Strongest Man in the World" early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "The Living Legend". Known for his powerful bearhug finishing move, he is widely regarded as the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Sammartino became a vocal critic of the drug use and raunchier storylines that became prevalent in the professional wrestling industry after his retirement but he reconciled with WWE in 2013 and headlined their Hall of Fame ceremony that year. Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself"

Known For

Andre the Giant

as Self (archive footage)

WrestleMania

as Bruno Sammartino (Ringside)

WrestleMania II

as Bruno Sammartino

Body Slam

as Himself

WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story

as Himself

The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

as Self

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

as Bruno Sammartino

WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden

as Himself

WCW Halloween Havoc '89

as Referee

WWE Hall of Fame 2015

as Self