OTD: Bruno Sammartino’s Legacy Starts In 1963

The day was May 17, 1963, when Bruno Sammartino beat “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to win the WWWF World Heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden.

What seemed like just another name attached to a championship transformed into a legacy, a title run lasting 2,803 days. Sammartino needed only 48 seconds to beat Rogers that night, but kept the belt until January 18, 1971.

During his over seven and a half years’ reign as champion, “the Italian Strongman” faced many top challengers, including the Sheik, Hans Mortier, Larry Zbyszko, Ernie Ladd, and Gorilla Monsoon.

During his title run, Sammartino broke many records, setting a benchmark for future generations. But what starts must come to an end.

What Led To Bruno Sammartino’s Title Loss?

During an episode of Table for 4, he spoke about how the gruelling schedule was taking a toll on him:

Close to working that schedule for eight years, I told Vince McMahon Sr., you better get somebody. My body is broke. Man, I was hurting from head to toe. And, eventually he did.

Sammartino also sympathized with any wrestler who ended his title reign because of the possible heat they would receive from the audiences.

I felt bad because he got a guy that I respected very much as a performer. It was Ivan Koloff. I suggested to Vince, I thought Ivan Koloff would be great, because we had done great business all over. Vince said to me, ‘What do you think?’ I said, I think Ivan, I don’t know for how long, Koloff had done so well. I told Vince, I think this guy could carry it.

Ivan Koloff had previously faced Sammartino on multiple occasions for the title but hadn’t succeeded. On that fateful night, the “Russian Bear” would achieve the impossible in front of 22,000 fans.

While Sammartino was cordial with Vince McMahon Sr., he had run-ins with his son. The veteran was especially critical of the business’s transition into sports entertainment as well as steroid use. They would ultimately bury the hatchet after Triple H convinced him to meet McMahon in 2013. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that year.

H:T/Fightful