History Wrestling / BrunoSammartino

* CoolOldGuy: Fans see him in this light nowadays.

* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: Bruno losing was a rare sight during his main title run even if the title was not on the line.

* {{Face}}: One of a ''very'' short list of wrestlers who spent almost their entire careers as good guys.

* BadassGrandpa: Just listen to an interview with him from 2013. The main has the look and air of a grizzled veteran of the mat.

* {{Badass}}: Absolutely.

* LighterAndSofter: In old time wrestling, the practice of hooking involved inviting suckers, {{ahem}}, contestants into the ring to beat or last a certain amount of time with a wrestler with a cash prize if they were successful. Rather than beating up and stretching out fools, Bruno just dared anyone to try and lower his flexed arm. [[CharlesAtlastSuperPower No one collected on the money]] and nobody got hurt.

* RedBaron: "The Italian Superman," "The Living Legend"

[[caption-width-right:300:Bruno Sammartino as the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion]]
-> ''"Good conquers evil - it just takes a lifetime to see the final score."''

* GoodOldWays: In his era, {{Kayfabe}} was [[SeriousBusiness the law of the land]], attending a wrestling show was fun for the whole family, with any objectionable content kept at a bare minimum (bleeding was the extent of it, and sexual content was not used at all), and the wrestlers weren't all abusing drugs and steroids like they would as the years went by. Also, Bruno takes pride in his Herculean physique being forged naturally (that is, through years of hard work and smart nutrition), and has been outspoken about his contempt for the steroid and drug abuse that so plagued the wrestling industry in the 1980s and beyond. This was one of the biggest reasons why he estranged himself from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vincent K. McMahon's]] [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWF/E]], the other being the increasing amounts of family-unfriendly content being shown in the arenas and on TV. As wrestling has seen a disturbing die off of wrestlers barely into their 40's in recent decades, its hard to argue with the man.

After retiring, he grew increasingly disheartened with the direction that professional wrestling was being taken throughout the [[TheEighties next]] [[TheNineties few]] [[TurnOfTheMillennium decades]] under [=McMahon=]'s son [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince Jr.]] – most glaringly, the growing amounts of vulgarity and sexuality, and more wrestlers abusing steroids and other drugs. As a result, he famously refused to involve himself with mainstream wrestling promotions unless they cleaned up their act.

* GoodOldWays: In his era, {{Kayfabe}} was [[SeriousBusiness the law of the land]], attending a wrestling show was fun for the whole family, with any objectionable content kept at a bare minimum (if allowed at all), and the wrestlers weren't all abusing drugs and steroids like they would as the years went by. Also, Bruno takes pride in his Herculean physique being forged naturally (that is, through years of hard work and smart nutrition), and has been outspoken about his contempt for the steroid and drug abuse that so plagued the wrestling industry in the 1980s and beyond. This was one of the biggest reasons why he estranged himself from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vincent K. McMahon's]] [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWF/E]], the other being the increasing amounts of family-unfriendly content being shown in the arenas and on TV.

* HowMuchMoreCanHeTake: Had a WWWF title defense against Waldo Wrestling/VonErich that went for eighty one minutes. It had to be called off because the WWWF was encroaching upon a curfew.

* [[FountainOfExpies Iconic Wrestler]]: His [[RedBaron nickname]] is "The Living Legend". WWF tried to reproduce his success with Wrestling/PedroMorales but it did not really take.

* OldShame: His time as a commentator and as his son's tag team partner in the WWF.

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: One of the reasons he was such a star attraction. In 1959, Bruno set a (unofficial) bench press record of 565 lbs, ''without wearing elbow or wrist wraps.'' Wrestling audiences would see this inordinate strength in action as he managed to pick up the 640-pound Haystacks Calhoun and slam him to the mat. And through this, his bearhugs could be devastating, as [[Wrestling/BuddyRogers "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers]] found out the hard way. Nowadays, even as he pushes 80 years old, he is still in excellent health, and can still outlift a lot of much younger men.

* {{Iconic Characters}}Wrestlers: His [[RedBaron nickname]] is "The Living Legend". WWF tried to reproduce his success with Pedro Morales but it did not really take.

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: One of the reasons he was such a star attraction. In 1959, Bruno set a (unofficial) bench press record of 565 lbs, ''without wearing elbow or wrist wraps.'' Wrestling audiences would see this inordinate strength in action as he managed to pick up the 640-pound Haystacks Calhoun and slam him to the mat. And through this, his bearhugs could be devastating, as "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers found out the hard way. Nowadays, even as he pushes 80 years old, he is still in excellent health, and can still outlift a lot of much younger men.

* ArchEnemy: [[Wrestling/GeorgeSteele George "The Animal" Steele]], Ivan Koloff, Killer Kowalski, Larry Zbyszko, Wrestling/GorillaMonsoon, Wrestling/RoddyPiper, Wrestling/RandySavage

* TagTeam: Annihilation Inc., with Dick the Bruiser in Bruiser's World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis.

'''Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino''' was born on October 6, 1935 in Pizzoferrato, Italy. Once in the United States, Bruno began making an impact in the business of professional wrestling.

Climbing his way up to Vincent J. [=McMahon=]'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now the Wrestling/{{WWE}}), Bruno won the world title of the company, and held it across two reigns for a combined total of 4,040 days – the first being the longest single reign in wrestling history at 2,803 days – cementing two records that have yet to be broken. Bruno’s popularity saw him win dozens of matches in the northeast section of the country. Bruno had taken the territory by storm and fans filled arenas hoping to see Bruno take home another victory.

After retiring, he grew increasingly disheartened with the direction that professional wrestling was being taken throughout the [[TheEighties next]] [[TheNineties few]] [[TurnOfTheMillennium decades]] under [=McMahon=]'s son [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince Jr.]] – most glaringly, the growing amounts of vulgarity and sexuality, and more wrestlers abusing steroids and other drugs. As a result, he famously refused to involve himself with mainstream wrestling promotions unless they cleaned up their act.

Ultimately, the WWE had shifted back to producing family-friendly content starting in 2008, and with [=McMahon=]'s son-in-law Wrestling/TripleH convincing him to do so in light of it, Bruno finally accepted induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in early 2013.

!!Tropes associated with Bruno Sammartino:

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Growing up in Italy during WorldWarII; WarIsHell, indeed. As a child during the Nazi occupation of Pizzoferrato, venturing outside his family's hideout at Valla Rocca meant risking their lives, and so food was scarce. Four of his six older siblings died, and his mother was once captured and shot in the shoulder as she retrieved food and supplies before escaping. From his malnutrition, Bruno contracted a near-fatal case of rheumatic fever. [[FromBadToWorse The Nazis then eventually discovered him and his family,]] and they were lined up for execution by firing squad. Fortunately, a resistance movement saved them at the last minute.

* GameBreakingInjury: Stan Hensen gave one to Bruno when the former botched a body slam. Despite returning to action just 2 months later, fans caught on that it had changed Bruno, who was less willing to take moves which required landing on his back or neck.
* GoodOldWays: In his era, {{Kayfabe}} was [[SeriousBusiness the law of the land]], attending a wrestling show was fun for the whole family, with any objectionable content kept at a bare minimum (if allowed at all), and the wrestlers weren't all abusing drugs and steroids like they would as the years went by. Also, Bruno takes pride in his Herculean physique being forged naturally (that is, through years of hard work and smart nutrition), and has been outspoken about his contempt for the steroid and drug abuse that so plagued the wrestling industry in the 1980s and beyond. This was one of the biggest reasons why he estranged himself from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vincent K. McMahon's]] [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWF/E]], the other being the increasing amounts of family-unfriendly content being shown in the arenas and on TV.

* WrestlingDoesntPay: Bruno is a huge aversion to this trope, as he was at one point the most paid wrestler in the WWWF. The fact that he managed what he earned responsibly throughout his life, as opposed to those like Wrestling/RicFlair, certainly helps.

Climbing his way up to Vincent J. [=McMahon=]'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now the Wrestling/{{WWE}}), Bruno won the world title of the company, and held it across two reigns for a combined total of 4,040 days, cementing two records that have yet to be broken. Bruno’s popularity saw him win dozens of matches in the northeast section of the country. Bruno had taken the territory by storm and fans filled arenas hoping to see Bruno take home another victory.

Climbing his way up to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now the WWE), Bruno won the world title of the company, and held it across two reigns for a combined total of 4,040 days, cementing a record that has yet to be broken. Bruno’s popularity saw him win dozens of matches in the northeast section of the country. Bruno had taken the territory by storm and fans filled arenas hoping to see Bruno take home another victory.

* GoodOldWays: In his era, {{Kayfabe}} was still alive and well, attending a wrestling show was fun for the whole family, with any objectionable content kept at a bare minimum (if allowed at all), and the wrestlers weren't all abusing drugs and steroids like they would as the years went by. Also, Bruno takes pride in his Herculean physique being forged naturally (that is, through years of hard work and smart nutrition), and has been outspoken about his contempt for the steroid and drug abuse that so plagued the wrestling industry in the 1980s and beyond. This was one of the biggest reasons why he estranged himself from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vincent K. McMahon's]] [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWF/E]], the other being the increasing amounts of family-unfriendly content being shown in the arenas and on TV.

* WrestlingDoesntPay: Bruno is a huge aversion to this trope, as he was at one point the most paid wrestler in the WWWF. The fact that he managed what he earned responsibly throughout his life, as opposed to those like [[Wrestling/RicFlair Ric Flair]], certainly helps.

[[caption-width-right:300:Sammartino as the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion]]

Climbing his way up to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now the WWE), Bruno won the world title of the company, and held it for a combined total of 4,040 days, cementing a record that has yet to be broken. Bruno’s popularity saw him win dozens of matches in the northeast section of the country. Bruno had taken the territory by storm and fans filled arenas hoping to see Bruno take home another victory.

* BadAss: Absolutely.

* WrestlingDoesntPay: Bruno is a huge aversion to this trope, as he was at one point the most paid wrestler in the WWWF. The fact that he managed what he earned responsibly throughout his life, as opposed to those like [[Wrestling/RicFlair Ric Flair]], certainly helps.

* AboveTheInfluence: Bruno takes pride in his Herculean physique being forged naturally (that is, through years of hard work and smart nutrition), and has been outspoken about his contempt for the steroid and drug abuse that so plagued the wrestling industry in the 1980s and beyond. This was one of the biggest reasons why he estranged himself from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vincent K. McMahon's]] [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWF/E]], the other being the increasing amounts of family-unfriendly content being shown in the arenas and on TV.

* GoodOldWays: See AboveTheInfluence above. In his era, {{Kayfabe}} was still alive and well, attending a wrestling show was fun for the whole family, with any objectionable content kept at a bare minimum (if allowed at all), and the wrestlers weren't all abusing drugs and steroids like they would as the years went by.

Climbing his way up to the WWWF (now the WWE), Bruno won the world title of the company and held it for over 11 years and cemented a record that has yet to be broken. Bruno’s popularity saw him win dozens of matches in the northeast section of the country. Bruno had taken the territory by storm and fans filled arenas hoping to see Bruno take home another victory.

* BadassGrandpa: Just listen to an interview with him from 2013. The main has the look and air of a grizzled veteran of the mat.
* CoolOldGuy: Fans see him in this light nowadays.
* CurbStompBattle: Sometimes in more than 1 match a night. Bruno made a name for himself through decisive victories.
* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: Bruno losing was a rare sight during his main title run even if the title was not on the line.
* GameBreakingInjury: Stan Hensen gave one to Bruno when the former botched a body slam. Despite returning to action just 2 months later, fans caught on that it had changed Bruno, who was less willing to take moves which required landing on his back or neck.

* LivingLegend: A great example of one but this was also his moniker.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Bruno wanted his fight with Larry Zbyszko to be one. The match later became a cage match.

* RingOldies: Definitely one of them.
* TearJerker: Watching Bruno lose his title brought many fans to tears. The referee would not hand the title to Ivan Koloff because he feared doing so would ignite a riot from the crowd due to the emotional atmosphere.
* ThrowingDownTheGauntlet: After being betrayed by Larry Zbyszko, Bruno told him a match would take place.
* UnpleasableFanbase: Most wrestlers have one and Bruno is no exception. Some fans are not happy with Bruno accepting the Hall of Fame induction for various reasons.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: There are a couple of rumors which state Bruno was supposed to have a feud with Andre the Giant before Wrestlemania III to help establish Andre as an undefeatable force.
* WrestlingDoesntPay: Bruno is a huge aversion to this trope as he was at one point the most paid wrestler in the WWWF.

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: Many people were ecstatic to hear Bruno had accepted the WWE’s offer to induct him into the Hall of Fame after having distanced himself from the company for so long.