Fansided

5 most iconic WWE wrestlers of all time

By Chad Porto

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker battle it out at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker battle it out at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images) /
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HOLLYWOOD – SEPTEMBER 22: Professional Wrestler Bruno Sammartino arrives to the Feast of San Gennaro on September 22, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD – SEPTEMBER 22: Professional Wrestler Bruno Sammartino arrives to the Feast of San Gennaro on September 22, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images) /

Bruno Sammartino

Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy. He spent his early years evading the Nazi forces in the mountains of Italy, staying safe thanks to his mother. After years of running, and the end of World War II, Sammartino, and his family immigrated to Pittsburgh, PA where he would build a life and a career. After a youth of weightlifting and wrestling in school and a failed bid at the US Olympic weight lifting team, Sammartino turned his attention to pro wrestling.

Sammartino worked his way up to the World Wide Wrestling Federation, ran by Vince McMahon Sr. and eventually became such an attraction that the folks at the WWWF (now WWE) decided to crown him champion. Sammartino became a huge hit for the 1960s New York scene, with fans of all races able to bond over the Italian immigrant’s multi-national appeal.

Sammartino had memorable feuds with the likes of Gorilla Monsoon, Stan Stasiak, and Larry Zbyszko. It was the Zybyszko feud that was arguably the most impactful feud. The story of Zbyszko walking into the backyard of Sammartino as a teen to introduce himself to the former two-time world champion was something of legend and the two had the chemistry of close real-life friends.

Sammartino would have issues with Vince McMahon Jr. and would ultimately leave the then-named WWF. His legacy would be something held up with the best of the best globally, able to draw record crowds to Madison Square Garden every time he competed, and his legacy became cemented in 2014 when Sammartino put his issues with Vince Jr. aside and accepted an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

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