Bruno Sammartino
Born
October 6, 1935
Died
April 18, 2018 (82 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Pizzoferrato, Italy
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
WWE This Is Awesome
Bruno Sammartino (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2022
Bruno Sammartino
Self
2019
Bruno
2018
Bruno
Himself
2018
Andre the Giant
Self (archive footage)
2018
Sweet Daddy Siki
2017
WWE Table For 3
Self · (1 episode)
2015
WWE Hall of Fame 2015
Self
2015
WWE: Macho Man - The Randy Savage Story
Himself
2014
Timeline: The History of WWE – 1963-1969 – As Told By Bruno Sammartino
Himself
2013
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
Self
2013
WWE: Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden
Himself
2013
WWE Hall Of Fame 2013
Self
2013
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Bruno Sammartino
2010
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
WWE: The History Of The WWE Championship
2006
Bruno Sammartino Behind The Championship Belt
Bruno Sammartino
2006
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
2006
Legends Never Die
Himself
2006
Luscious Johnny: The Wrestler
Himself
2005
The Mob Boss & the Soul Singer
Vito Farrelli
2002
WCW Halloween Havoc '92
Himself (Special Guest)
1992
WCW Halloween Havoc '89
Referee
1989
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
Bruno Sammartino
1987
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
1987
WWE's Inside the Steel Cage
1986
Body Slam
Himself
1986
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Bruno Sammartino · (2 episodes)
1986
The Macho Man Randy Savage & Elizabeth
Bruno Sammartino
1986
Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
1986
WrestleMania II
Bruno Sammartino
1986
WrestleMania 2
Bruno Sammartino
1986
Tag Team Champions
Bruno Sammartino
1986
WrestleMania
Bruno Sammartino (Ringside)
1985
WrestleMania
1985
Best of the WWF Volume 3
Bruno Sammartino (Ringside)
1985
Best of the WWF Volume 1
Bruno Sammartino
1985
WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
Bruno Sammartino
1985
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
Bruno Sammartino
1980
Fury Hour
(0 episode)