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Showing posts with label Bruno Sammartino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bruno Sammartino. Show all posts

February 9, 2019

Triple H on Getting Bruno Sammartino and Ultimate Warrior in the WWE Hall of Fame

Triple H recently spoke to Stone Cold Steve Austin about the difficulties of getting two legendary stars into the WWE Hall of Fame. Those stars are Bruno Sammartino and The Ultimate Warrior, two men that many pro wrestling insiders believed would never be inducted.

Much of the reason for that was due to perceived bad blood that supposedly existed on both sides. The Game spoke about Sammartino specifically and what he had to do to make the move happen.

“When you’re his age, it’s a trust issue. He didn’t know me and had to learn to trust me in a business that long ago, didn’t have a whole lot of guys you could trust. He had to learn to trust me and he said it at the end, you know, he (Triple H) never once lied to me about any of this.'”

But getting the Warrior onboard with the Hall of Fame was a much different issue that presented a different set of problems.

“Warrior was different because we didn’t have a trust. He and I both said as we went though the process, you live and you learn and you grow. The day you stop learning and growing, you’re done. I was a different person when I was in WrestleMaia with him which people bring up a lot to me as if it’s a sore spot in my career. I had a bad personal experience with a guy at the moment but it was one of the coolest moments of my life.

My first WrestleMania was with The Ultimate Warrior. It was a mind bogglingly awesome opportunity for me.

We had to get past a whole lot of whole lot of stuff with him and Vince. He was a unique cat. As I stayed open to that process, I realized it was a lot of misunderstood–a lot of his anger and passion and aggression, he didn’t know how to communicate.”

Triple H has received the credit for making both inductions possible and rightfully so. Vince McMahon had all but given up on the idea of mending fences with either man, but gave Hunter the chance to reach out anyway. Sammartino joined the Hall of Fame in 2013 and The Ultimate Warrior was inducted a year later in 2014.

April 18, 2018

WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino passes away

From WWE.com:

WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino passed away at age 82.

The story of Bruno Sammartino is the story of the American dream.

During his childhood in the small Italian mountain town of Pizzoferrato in the Abruzzi region of Italy, Bruno Sammartino heard stories about how the streets in the United States were paved with gold. Though he believed it literally at the time, Sammartino would experience fortune and fame first-hand as the longest-reigning WWE Champion and the most beloved competitor in the history of the squared circle.

Life wasn’t always so glorious for The Italian Superman. Bruno’s brother and sister both passed away at young ages, and Adolf Hitler’s Nazi forces seized their town, but Bruno persevered. He and his mother hid in a mountain called Valla Rocca during the German occupation and eventually joined his immigrant father in Pittsburgh in 1950.

Sammartino began lifting weights as a young man and grew to become one of the strongest men on the planet. After setting a world record in 1959 by bench-pressing 565 pounds, Sammartino caught the eye of Vincent J. McMahon, and became a sports-entertainer.

Bruno became an overnight sensation, connecting with not only fellow Italians, but also the Latino, Greek and Jewish communities, successfully bridging the gap in America’s melting pot of wrestling fans. His legend continued to grow on May 17, 1963, when Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE Champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans at the old Madison Square Garden.

Bruno held the WWE Championship for nearly eight years — by far the longest reign of all time, and a record for all professional wrestling champions, no matter the organization. A household name all over the country, the beloved hero defended his title in legendary rivalries against WWE Hall of Famers Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon and George “The Animal” Steele.

In early 1968, Sammartino headlined the first wrestling event at the brand-new Madison Square Garden, just eight days after it opened. The Garden truly was the house that Bruno built, as he sold it out an astounding 187 times. When he lost the title to Ivan Koloff in 1971, grown men in the crowd were seen weeping, but on Dec. 10, 1973, Sammartino became the first two-time WWE Champion and held the title for an additional three-and-a-half years.

On Aug. 9, 1980, Sammartino defeated his former protégé, Larry Zbyszko, inside a steel cage at New York City’s Shea Stadium in front of more than 35,000 people. The heated grudge match broke box-office records for wrestling events, and Bruno retired from the ring the following year.

Bruno returned to WWE in the mid-80s as a broadcaster alongside Mr. McMahon and as a mentor for his son David, who was just beginning his grappling career. Now known as The Living Legend, Bruno also engaged in several rivalries with a generation of WWE’s greatest villains, including “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and The Honky Tonk Man.

The star power and influence of Sammartino was exemplified by the fact that he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was the 188th and final time that Sammartino headlined and sold out Madison Square Garden.

January 17, 2015

Chris Jericho Comments On Randy Savage Going Into The WWE HOF


It is much deserved and now, finally, I feel the WWE Hall of Fame is legit. Everybody that needs to be in there — and wasn’t because of politics or petty bullshit — is now in there, including [Bruno] Sammartino, Bret Hart, the Ultimate Warrior and now Randy Savage being the last on that list."

December 11, 2014

WWE Acquires Original WWWF Title Belt


F4WOnline.com is reporting WWE recently acquired the original WWWF title belt worn by Bruno Sammartino, apparently for display in the long-rumored physical WWE Hall of Fame.

Dan Lambert of American Top Team (MMA) is a title belt collector and mentioned in an interview that WWE contacted him about the WWWF belt, which he owned. Lambert didn’t say when he was contacted, but he got a few other championships from WWE in exchange for the original title.

WWE’s Hall of Fame is rumored to be built in the Orlando, Florida area whenever it is announced.

September 16, 2014

This Day In Wrestling History


Bruno Sammartino & Bobo Brazil battle Gorilla Monsoon & Hans Mortier to a draw in the main event of a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Each team scored one fall before the time limit expired during the third fall.
September 16, 1963

At a WWF television taping in Baltimore, Maryland, Roddy Piper hosts his "Piper's Pit" segment at the same time that Adrian Adonis hosts an edition of "The Flower Shop". Piper's guest, Don Muraco, joins Adonis and Cowboy Bob Orton in attacking Piper and beating him down and destroying the Pit set. Later in the show (shown on a different TV episode), Piper returned with a baseball bat and destroyed the Flower Shop set. A new Piper's Pit set would be constructed, and the Flower Shop would never return.
September 16, 1986

April 4, 2014

Video: Bruno Sammartino statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess

February 23, 2014

Stephanie McMahon Talks WWE Network, Triple H/Bruno Sammartino, Kurt Angle Possibly Returning


January 27, 2014

WrestleMania Axxess Signing Schedule


TICKETS
Tickets for WrestleMania Axxess go on sale Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT and will be available on Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 800-745-3000.

ATTRACTIONS
This year's WrestleMania Axxess experience includes Superstar signings, photo opportunities, Superstar Q&A sessions, memorabilia displays, WWE Shop and much more. Check back soon for a full list of attractions!

SUPERSTAR SIGNING DATES & TIMES
Thursday, April 3 — 6 p.m.–10 p.m.

Friday, April 4 — 6 p.m.–10 p.m.

Saturday, April 5
Session 1: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Session 2: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Session 3: 6 p.m.–10 p.m.

Sunday, April 6
Session 1: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS — $45*
General admission tickets include:

Autographs and professional photos with WWE Superstars, Divas and Legends
Enjoy viewing matches, Q&As and contests in the main ring

VIP TICKETS — $95*
VIP tickets include:

Autograph and professional photo with a VIP WWE Superstar
Exclusive VIP line at the event entrance
(1) 8x10 glossy photo of the appearing Superstar

VIP SIGNING SCHEDULES
Thursday, April 3
6 p.m. – Randy Orton
8 p.m. – Bret Hart


Saturday, April 5
Session 1:
10 a.m. – Daniel Bryan

Session 2:
1 p.m. – Big Show

Session 3:
6 p.m. – CM Punk
8 p.m. – Sheamus

Sunday, April 6
8 a.m. – Bruno Sammartino
10 a.m. – Rey Mysterio
12 p.m. – Shawn Michaels

PREMIUM VIP TICKETS — $175*
Premium VIP tickets include:

Autograph and professional photo with a Premium VIP WWE Superstar
Exclusive VIP line at the event entrance
(1) 8x10 glossy photo of the appearing Superstar
(1) Copy of the "WWE 50" book: Celebrating 50 Years of Sports Entertainment

PREMIUM VIP SIGNING SCHEDULES
Friday, April 4
6 p.m. – John Cena
8 p.m. – Batista

Saturday, April 5
3 p.m. – The Undertaker
Children two years old and younger are FREE.

*Prices are PER SESSION and do not include applicable fees

December 29, 2013

Video: Triple H and Bruno Sammartino in "The Garden Transformed" documentary

December 24, 2013

WWE’s Bruno Sammartino, Triple H on MSG’s ‘The Garden Transformed’


WWE refers to Madison Square Garden as “the house that Bruno built.”

Now area pro wrestling fans will get a chance to see Bruno Sammartino receive a VIP look at the Garden being rebuilt.

Sammartino and 13-time WWE champion-turned-executive Triple H will be featured in Part 2 of the five-part MSG series “The Garden Transformed: Year Three” on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. The series will begin Friday night at 11 p.m. for the first of five consecutive nights, in conjunction with the completion of the final phase of the Garden’s $1 billion transformation.

The series will feature notable figures from some of the sports that define the Garden’s history, including the Knicks (Raymond Felton and Tim Hardaway Jr.); Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist); college basketball (coaches Jim Boeheim and Steve Lavin); and boxing (former world champs Larry Holmes and Miguel Cotto, and Long Island’s own Gerry Cooney).

But Sammartino was arguably the Garden’s biggest draw. According to WWE.com he was responsible for selling out the building 187 times during his career, which included runs as champion from 1963-71, and 1973-77.

“Even around the world, this is how they know me,” Sammartino, who along with Triple H donned a hard hat to view the construction, said in a quote released from Saturday’s episode “…In Argentina, in Brazil, I remember going to Australia, all the trips I did in Japan, you know how they’d advertise me? ‘From Madison Square Garden, Bruno Sammartino.’”

The appearance dumps yet another shovel of dirt on the hatchet buried between Sammartino and WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Sammartino, who wrestled for Vince’s father, Vincent J. McMahon, engaged in a longtime feud with the younger McMahon, largely for content on TV Sammartino felt was inappropriate.

Sammartino returned to the WWE fold this year -- largely thanks to Triple H helping to facilitate a truce -- and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last April 6 at MSG, the night before WrestleMania XXIX at MetLife Stadium.

Show schedule:
Friday: Episode 1 – 11:00 p.m. (following Knicks vs. Raptors)
Saturday: Episode 2 – 10:30 p.m. (following Knicks at Raptors)
Sunday: Episode 3 – 10:30 p.m. (following Rangers at Lightning)
Monday: Episode 4 – 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday: Episode 5 – 8:30 p.m. (following Rangers at Panthers)

source: newsday.com

September 13, 2013

Triple H & Bruno Sammartino in NYC


Triple H noted in his Twitter that he and Bruno Sammartino were going to Madison Square Garden today for a show about the history of the Garden. That may be something being filmed for the MSG Network I was told by a WWE source, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Sammartino will also gift a replica championship belt to the Italian American Museum as part of the Feast of San Geanaro in Little Italy in NYC later today. Bruno will be signing all weekend at the feast.

source: pwinsider.com

May 17, 2013

From The Garden to an attic: How the original WWE Title was lost for 50 years — and found

April 17, 2013

Bruno Sammartino Details Meeting With Vince McMahon At WWE Hall of Fame


WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino recently appeared on The NB Show. During the interview, Sammartino admitted that he "didn't expect" the hug from Vince McMahon at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony earlier this month, and discussed their private meeting:

"The private meeting that took place was at MSG that evening [of the Hall of Fame]," Bruno said. "His son-in-law Triple H and Stephanie [McMahon] came to my dressing room, I had my own dressing room, and they asked me, you know, Vince is waiting in his dressing room down the hall and if I minded going over there. I went. Stephanie opened the door and I went in and she shut the door so Vince and I were alone.

"He was standing toward the back of the room. And as I came in I was waiting for him to make the first move to see what he was going to say before I responded. And actually as I walked in he looked at me and he smiled and said 'Bruno, welcome home' just like that. And I said 'Well Vince I'm glad to be home, but we both know the situation and what brought me back home. I have been very critical of you.' I told him right to his face, 'You know I have been very critical of you, but I also will recognize the fact that you have made drastic changes and for that I applaud you. But for all these years, I did not like what happened to the business that I spent 25 years in and the turns it took; drugs, nudity, etc.' Vince said, 'Well Bruno, I know you were always very outspoken about what you believed, I hope now you are satisfied of the changes. They are in the past, we want to go forward and we want to do a better and better product. And we are very happy that you are back.'

"He did say this to me which I appreciate, 'When it was the World Wide Wrestling Federation you were the main reason for this organization to become as big as it did. So we want this (HOF Induction) to happen and we're thrilled that it has happened.' And that was it. So I said, 'Thank you. As long as things stay that way and keep moving forward with improving the product. At this stage of my life there is not much I can do to contribute, but if there is something, especially with young talent, I'd be willing to do that. As long as the product gets better and better.' And that was it basically."

source: wrestlinginc.com

April 15, 2013

Bruno Sammartino Discusses WrestleMania Weekend, His Relationship With WWE Going Forward

April 7, 2013

Photo: Vince, Bruno & Triple H

2013 WWE Hall of Fame Inductees

April 3, 2013

More on Sammartino to the WWEHOF


Something changed last summer, thanks to McMahon's son-in-law, Paul Levesque, who wrestles under the ring name Triple H. Levesque trained under Walter “Killer” Kowalski, an old-school wrestler like Sammartino. Under Kowalski's tutelage, Levesque said, he learned to appreciate the history of wrestling.

Last summer as he started vetting names for this year's Hall of Fame class, Levesque realized that the ceremony would be at the Garden, and thought: What a shame. The wrestler who brought more fans to Madison Square Garden than any other won't be present.

“Not having Bruno in our Hall of Fame is the equivalent of not having Babe Ruth in the baseball Hall of Fame,” Levesque said recently in an interview with the Tribune-Review. “Babe Ruth was the first guy in baseball that became a household name. (For wrestling), that was Bruno.”

He told McMahon he wanted to reach out to Sammartino. McMahon replied: “If you want to waste your time, go ahead.” “And when I got off the phone with Bruno the first time, I thought, ‘Maybe Vince was right,' ” Levesque said. “It was clear there were a lot of issues.”

Sammartino's issues began with steroids. They're dishonest, he has said repeatedly, a form of cheating. And Sammartino takes pride in building himself through hard work and determination, not by taking short cuts. Beyond that, Sammartino loathed what he called the “vulgarity and profanity” of the new WWE. “The girls, the sexual things, the profanity. … I found that so damn offensive and obscene that it drove me nuts,” Sammartino said. “So I quit. I didn't need it. I live a very simple life. Simple, but happy.”

Still, Levesque called.

He told Sammartino that he admired him for his public stance against the WWE, and he refused to hide from the organization's past. “I'm not denying any of it,” he told Sammartino. “All I can do is tell you where we are today and where we are moving.”

Sammartino listened, in part because of his deep respect for Kowalski, who was a villain in the ring, but in real life “a straight shooter, very ethical, very religious,” Sammartino said. “The guy's legit.” But he told Levesque that he had to find out on his own whether the WWE really had changed.

He started by calling an old friend.

Dr. Joseph Maroon — the Steelers team doctor for 25 years and a nationwide expert on concussions — three times operated on Sammartino's spine, which had been badly damaged from his wrestling career. The WWE turned to Maroon when it wanted to launch a new wellness program. Under Maroon's leadership, the organization now has a drug testing policy so strict that wrestlers are suspended without pay for first- and second-time offenses and fired after three positives.

“The WWE, quite frankly, is now cleaner than baseball,” Maroon said recently at UPMC Passavant. “The WWE, in its wisdom, realized that these guys are role models to an awful lot of kids. To ignore drug use would be a disservice.”

Convinced by his friend, Sammartino took the next step: He started watching. “I turned on the TV,” he said. “The nudity, the vulgarity, the profanity — it was completely gone. As critical as I've been of them, now I have to give them credit. They changed.”

Sammartino had reached a crossroads.

For years he had rebuffed WWE officials who urged him to enter the Hall of Fame. For years, he said no, because to accept while remaining so critical of WWE would make him a hypocrite, Sammartino said.

But the product had changed. And Levesque kept calling.

Eventually, Sammartino accepted his invitation.

“It's time,” Maroon said. “He's someone who sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times. He's a legend. And at his age, with his articulateness, he's in a position to deliver a very good message. He can be a crusader for what's right.

“Bruno was in exile for 25 years. But he stuck to his beliefs. Now he's being vindicated.”

In his prime, Sammartino weighed 270 pounds and bench-pressed more than double his weight. He worked out with other celebrity body builders — including Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will deliver Sammartino's induction speech. He famously lifted Haystacks Calhoun — who weighed 640 pounds — above his head before dropping him to the mat in a 1960 match.

But it wasn't just his freakish strength that drew crowds. Sammartino resonated with fans thanks to his humble demeanor and unlikely beginnings.

During World War II, his family hid from Nazis for 14 months on a mountaintop above his native Italian village of Pizzoferrato. When Sammartino contracted rheumatic fever, his mom wrapped him in hot blankets and covered his body with leeches, to suck out the bad blood. He barely survived. When Sammartino came to the United States, he was a sickly 14-year-old boy. Bullies picked on him for his heavy Italian accent and weak, gangly limbs. Once he discovered weightlifting, however, Sammartino grew and quickly became a local celebrity. “Bruno couldn't do nothing wrong,” said Bucky Palermo, a former wrestling referee who owns a leather-working shop in Morningside. “He could've brought a gun in the ring and shot the other guy and they'd have cheered him. I'm not kidding. I've never seen a guy in sports loved so much by the fans. … Small kids, big kids, old people — everybody loved him. Especially the Italians.”

For Levesque, adding Sammartino to the hall — and at Madison Square Garden, of all places — is “like destiny, like it was written to happen this way.”

He added: “He's a class act, a true pro. If Bruno tells you something, you know it's going to happen. One thing I admire about him immensely is he felt something and he was willing at all costs to stand by what he believed in. He said, I'm standing by this, and I admire that.”

source: triblive.com

March 25, 2013

Arnold Schwarzenegger will Induct "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino into WWE Hall of Fame

March 6, 2013

Video: CBS Larry Richert Interview with Bruno Sammartino & Triple H

March 4, 2013

WWE to begin production on Bruno Sammartino DVD release


According to a report by Mike Johnson, WWE is currently working on production for a new Bruno Sammartino DVD and Blu-ray release. The company is expected to film lots of footage of Sammartino over Wrestlemania 29 weekend as he is inducted into the Class of 2013 WWE Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden.

source: pwinsider.com

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