WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino has died. He was 82.
“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino passed away at age 82,” WWE said. “WWE extends its condolences to Sammartino’s family, friends and fans.”
Nicknamed “The Italian Superman,” the powerful Sammartino was the second-ever WWE Champion, defeating Buddy Rogers at Madison Square Garden in 1963 for the title. Of course in those days, the pro-wrestling promotion was not called “WWE,” but it’s the same company — just with a very different look and reach.
Sammartino went on to hold the title for nearly eight years — by far the longest reign ever. The way wrestling storylines are written these days, that mark will never be eclipsed.
The brawler eventually lost the championship to Ivan Koloff in 1971, though he won it back in 1973, becoming the company’s first two-time champ. Sammartino’s reign that second time lasted three-and-a-half years.
Bruno retired from the ring in 1981, though returned to do commentary a few years later.
Sammartino was born on October 6, 1935 in Italy. When the Nazis occupied his hometown of Abruzzo, Sammartino and his mother hid in the Valla Rocca mountains. They eventually joined Bruno’s father in Pittsburgh in 1950.
In 1959, Sammartino set a world record by bench-pressing an incredible 565 lbs. That’s when Vince McMahon Sr. discovered his new talent.
Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who remembered his fellow weight-lifter on Wednesday:
Bruno Sammartino was a legend. He was the American Dream personified. From his childhood in Italy hiding from Nazis to selling out Madison Square Garden 188 times as the biggest star of professional wrestling, he was a hero in every stage of his life. pic.twitter.com/29KDwT3gcA
Every WWE Champion Ever, Ranked by Number of Reigns (Photos)
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Jinder Mahal # of Reigns: 1
Shortly before this publishing, the "Modern-Day Maharaja" dropped the title to A.J. Styles, ending a somewhat confusing run right before the WWE went to India.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: John "Bradshaw" Layfield # of Reigns: 1
JBL has taken his heel persona from the ring to the announce table. Never without a cowboy hat, Layfield thankfully leaves his lariat clothesline at home.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: The Ultimate Warrior # of Reigns: 1
The muscle-bound maniac who handed Hulk Hogan his first-ever "WrestleMania" loss died after suffering a heart attack three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Pedro Morales # of Reigns: 1
History lesson: Back in the WWWF days, Morales became the first guy in wrestling history to win all three of the major men's titles -- the WWF Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship -- in the company.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Bobby Lashley # of Reigns: 1
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: The Miz # of Reigns: 2
The kid from "The Real World" made good on his over-the-top MTV promos. One of the best on the mic, Miz has been holding down the Intercontinental Championship more than any other Superstar of the past few years.
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: Bob Backlund # of Reigns: 2
Backlund couldn't "Make Darren Young Great Again" -- or even keep the guy employed -- but the master of the cross-face chicken wing had a pretty incredible career of his own.
From Buddy Rogers to Bobby Lashley, here are all the guys from the old WWWF and WWF days — and beyond
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
