Birthday:
10-06-1935
Deathday:
04-18-2018 (82 years)
Birthplace:
Pizzoferrato, Italy
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"
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"
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Their works
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WrestleMania
Act like Bruno Sammartino (Ringside)
event1985 star_border 6.6
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The first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event taking place on March 31, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show featured nine professional wrestling matches with the main event match pitting Hulk Hogan and Mr. T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.
WrestleMania II
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1986 star_border 6.4
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Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper in a Boxing match Battle Royal featuring superstars and athletes from the WWF and NFL Hulk Hogan (c) vs. King Kong Bundy in a Steel Cage match for the WWF Championship
The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1986
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This Home Video Classic celebrates WWE's original power couple with a memorable look at "The Macho Man" Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. Witness Elizabeth by Savage's side during these battles against the likes of Hulk Hogan, George 'The Animal' Steele, and many more!
WWE Hall Of Fame 2013
Act like Self
event2013 star_border 8
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Donald Trump, Mick Foley, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Booker T, and Trish Stratus are celebrated for their contributions to the wrestling business as they are inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE's Inside the Steel Cage
event1986
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Join Gorilla Monsoon and Johnny Valentine for a journey through time to relive the most exciting battles to take place inside a steel cage. Witness several action-packed Steel Cage Matches featuring the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jimmy Snuka, Andre the Giant, and many more!
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1980
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WWF stadium show in the summer of 1980 from Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York.
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Act like Himself
event2013 star_border 9.2
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The greatest moments from WWE's long and storied history with Madison Square Garden.
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
event2006 star_border 6
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The incredible trendsetting career of legendary wrestler Superstar Billy Graham
WWE Hall of Fame 2015
Act like Self
event2015 star_border 6.8
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See the Class of 2015 take their place in history during the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event2010 star_border 8.3
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.A countdown of the greatest superstars in WWE History. From Hulk Hogan to Randy Savage to The Rock to John Cena enjoy an experience down memory lane for long-time fans, and a new experience for new fans of WWE.
Best of the WWF Volume 3
Act like Bruno Sammartino (Ringside)
event1985
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A collection of some of the best WWF matches.
Best of the WWF Volume 1
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1985
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The best action that the WWF has to offer.
WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1985
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Some of the most astonishing stars the WWF has to offer.
Legends Never Die
Act like Himself
event2006
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Death Has Fallen on Deaf Ears in the World of Professional Sports. Step into the ring and watch all the action as fists fly when Legendary Wrestlers Roddy Piper, Bruno Sammartino, Mick Foley, Dominick Denucci, Shane Douglas, Balls Mahoney, Missy Hyatt, Raven, Mikey Whipwreck, Hillbilly Cousin Luke, Davey O'Hannon, Nikolai Volkoff and many more pro wrestling stars of yesterday and today do battle as they take on the dark forbidden questions that nobody has wanted to ask until now. 3-years in the making, legends never die contains more than 90 minutes of hard hitting interviews and action packed, high flying, heart pounding footage.
Luscious Johnny: The Wrestler
Act like Himself
event2005
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The story of WWF Hall of Fame wrestler Johnny Valiant.
Bruno
event2018
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Witness the life and career of the most celebrated athlete in Madison Square Garden history, the "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino!
Timeline: The History of WWE – 1963-1969 – As Told By Bruno Sammartino
Act like Himself
event2013 star_border 10
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In early 1963, Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon seceded from the governance of the NWA to form the WWWF. Shortly thereafter they would crown their champion and hang the fortune of their venture on him. That man will be your guide for a journey back to 1963 and the formative years of the WWWF up through 1969. Bruno Sammartino was selling out houses all across the northeast and was privy to all the inner workings of the company.
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
event2009 star_border 10
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“Macho Man” Randy Savage was one of the most controversial superstars in history of sports entertainment. His complicated relationship with Miss Elizabeth, his dramatic WWE championship tournament run at WrestleMania IV, the formation and explosive breakup of the MegaPowers with Hulk Hogan, his reign as the Macho King, and his shocking jump to WCW all made him a legend. Savage always brought a chaotic poetry to the ring. He’s widely considered one of the finest in-ring competitors of all time, and his interviews were always a sight to behold. For the first time ever, fans can relive the entire storied career in Macho Madness: The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection, a 3-DVD set that spans two decades of exciting and intense matchups.
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1987
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WWE's biggest superstars converge in the Lone Star State for some incredible mat action. Features WWE Champion Hulk Hogan taking on The One Man Gang for the gold.
The Mob Boss & the Soul Singer
Act like Vito Farrelli
event2002
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When soul singer Chuck Corby and his band Quiet Storm run afoul of a Mafia wannabe who's dying of cancer, we're off on a zany roller coaster ride with hammer-wielding thugs, a cheating wife and a gun-happy killer lurking behind every hairpin curve.
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
event2006 star_border 10
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For more than forty years, the WWE Championship has been one of the most prestigious titles in sports entertainment, History of the WWE Championship presents some of the greatest matches in the title's history. Volume two contains battles from the 90's, with bouts featuring Shawn Michaels, Bret "Hit Man" Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Mankind, and more.
Bruno
Act like Himself
event2018
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A special celebration of the incredible life and career of WWE Hall of Famer, Bruno Sammartino. Join WWE in honoring one of the most decorated and celebrated WWE Champions of all time in this exclusive documentary "Bruno," featuring some of Sammartino's greatest matches, moments and more.
Bruno Sammartino Behind The Championship Belt
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event2006
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Bruno Sammartino gives a detailed account of his life and his career in professional wrestling.
Andre the Giant
Act like Self (archive footage)
event2018 star_border 7.3
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An ambitious and wide-ranging documentary exploring Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated career in WWE, and his forays in the entertainment world.
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Act like Self
event2013 star_border 8.8
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The History of WWE celebrates 50 years of sports entertainment by chronicling the evolution of WWE from small, regional promotion into a worldwide phenomenon. With new interviews from several key personalities past and present, get the inside story behind each era of WWE as well as all your favourite moments and Superstars.
WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story
Act like Himself
event2014 star_border 7.3
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WWE fans, you have waited long enough! His glistening wardrobe, often-imitated cadence and grandiose style was outshined only by his virtuoso performances in the ring. Macho Man, with his gorgeous leading lady Miss Elizabeth, embodied the raging 80s in WWE and later, compounded his success in WCW. Now, the complete story of his incredible life can finally be told in Macho Man: The Randy Savage Story.
Body Slam
Act like Himself
event1986 star_border 5
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M. Harry Smilac is a down-on-his-luck music manager who is having a hard time attracting talent and booking gigs for his band, Kicks (The most recent of the gigs is a Dairy Queen opening!!). When making arrangements for a campaign fund-raiser, he mistakes Rick Roberts, a professional wrestler, for a musician and hires him. At that moment he becomes a wrestling manager and starts to book matches for him and his teammate Tonga Tom. The team is a success, and Harry decides to take his wrestlers and his band on a "Rock n' Wrestling" tour. The tour is a success, and Harry feels what it is like to be a winner again.
Sweet Daddy Siki
event2017 star_border 6
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Reginald "Sweet Daddy" Siki is a professional wrestling icon, successful country music singer, and household name. This is his story, told by wrestling icons, celebrities, fascinating historians, family, friends, and the legend himself.
Bruno Sammartino
Act like Self
event2019
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A documentary about World Wrestling Federation Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino.
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
event1987
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See the WWF's stars in some of the most unusual matches.
Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
event1986
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Truly in a class by himeself! Once Bruno on the mat - watch out! Relive some of Bruno Sammartino's greatest moments, including encounters with Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, and much more.
Tag Team Champions
Act like Bruno Sammartino
event1986
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A tribute to the WWF's dynamic duos precision, timing, and teamwork that make them champions.
WCW Halloween Havoc '89
Act like Referee
event1989 star_border 6.7
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WCW Halloween Havoc '89: Settling The Score took place on October 28, 1989 from the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main event was a Thunderdome match with Ric Flair and Sting versus Terry Funk and The Great Muta. The Roadwarrior competed against the Skyscrapers, Lex Luger defended the NWA US Championship against Brian Pillman, The Steiner Brothers competed against Doom, The Freebirds fought the Dynamic Dudes, The Samoan Swat Team wrestled The Midnight Express, The Cuban Assassin took on Tommy Rich, and Tom Zenk opened the show against Mike Rotunda.
WCW Halloween Havoc '92
Act like Himself (Special Guest)
event1992 star_border 10
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WCW Halloween Havoc '92 took place on October 25, 1992 from the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main event was Jake Roberts versus Sting in a Spin The Wheel...Make The Deal Match. A second main event was a title defense of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship by Ron Simmons against The Barbarian. Steve Williams and Terry Gordy were to challenge the NWA & WCW Wold Tag Team Champions, Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes, however Gordy no-showed the event which led to Steve Austin subbing for him. Another substitution occured when Rick Rude chose not to wrestle twice and defend his WCW US Heavyweight Championship. This led to Big Van Vader defending Rude's title against Nikita Koloff.
WWE This Is Awesome
Act like Bruno Sammartino (archive footage) (1 ep.)
event2022 star_border 10
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Celebrating WWE's awesome history; reliving the moments that made fans go, "This is awesome!"
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Act like Bruno Sammartino (2 ep.)
event1986 star_border 6.8
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WWF Wrestling Challenge was a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1995. The show became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match interviews, and occasionally, summarized weekly events in WWF programming. Matches primarily saw top tier and mid-level talent versus jobbers. At times, there was a "feature" match between main WWF talent. As with other syndicated WWF programming, the show promoted WWF event dates and house shows in local media markets.
WWE Table For 3
Act like Self (1 ep.)
event2015 star_border 8
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Three WWE personalities share stories over dinner.
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