That stirs some memories. RIP.
I used to love watching wrestling on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Wrestling #2, The Sheik, Andre the Giant, Bobo Brazil, all the classics. Same format as today’s wrestling but without the explosions, rock music and hot ring girls. Ok, the hot ring girls are an improvement.
I remember Bruno. He had a feud with Rowdy Piper.
Bruno told the story once that Art Rooney (the original Steelers owner) during the early 60’s invited him for a tryout and offered him a contract to be a Pittsburgh Steeler lineman. He turned him down because he would have been taking a pay cut.
He was a true great one. He used to talk about how his mother and his family used to be hiding from the Germans during WWII. He would be on local TV a lot over the years talking about different subjects such as wrestling and growing up in the Pittsburgh area after coming here as an Italian immigrant. He was very interesting to listen to.
When I was a kid (60s/70s), I loved the fact that there were so many guys that were local (Bruno, Jumping Johnny Defazio, Larry Zybysco and Dominic Denucci, etc...). For younger people, you may not know but all pro wrestling leagues were local to areas at that time and we in SW Pa got Vince McMahon Sr and the WWF.
Went to see his match against Haystacks Calhoon,700 pounds of pure fat,in the mid 50’s. Bruno picked up Calhoon and threw him on his back. The expression on Calhoon’s face was priceless.
RIP.
Didn’t get to see Sammartino too much being in the Dick The Bruiser local area back in the 3 falls era.
But I was a wrestling fan in general and Bruno’s name, when mentioned, was always with reverence and awe as he just didn’t lose. I was a boy when he became champ and I was a man when he finally lost.
R.I.P. Mr. Sammartino
One of my favorites. I remember his matches at the Sunnyside Gardens in Queens, also the old Madison Sq Garden. WOW! Are we getting old. RIP