"The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino Quiz

Answer: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bruno Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy on October 6, 1935. Bruno moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1950. He was billed as hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during his professional wrestling career.

Answer: Weightlifting

Bruno Sammartino contracted rheumatic fever as a child while living in Italy. When he moved to the United States of America as a youngster, he weighed only 83 pounds. Due to his small frame and his weak English speaking skills, Bruno was picked on by his peers. Bruno Sammartino discovered weights and became a dedicated weightlifter. Bruno Sammartino would also perform strongman stunts. Bruno Sammartino was discovered by a wrestling promoter when Bruno was on a local television program displaying some weightlifting techniques.

Answer: 1959

In his professional wrestling debut, Bruno Sammartino defeated Dmitri Grabowski via pinfall in 19 seconds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 17, 1959. During the early part of Bruno Sammartino professional wrestling career, he worked in in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New York City, New York and in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Answer: Buddy Rogers

Bruno Sammartino won the World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Championship on May 17, 1963 In New York City, New York. Bruno Sammartino defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers by submission with a backbreaker in forty-eight seconds. Bruno Sammartino's first World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Championship reign lasted nearly eight years. On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff.

Answer: Stan Stasiak

Bruno Sammartino won the World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Championship for second time by defeating Stan Stasiak. Stan Stasiak had defeated Pedro Morales for the World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Championship nine days earlier.

Bruno Sammartino's second reign as World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Champion ended in Baltimore on April 30, 1977. Bruno Sammartino was defeated by "Superstar" Billy Graham. In a controversial ending, Graham had both feet braced on the ropes while pinning Bruno Sammartino which was an illegal move in pro wrestling.

Answer: Stan Hansen

Bruno Sammartino suffered a neck fracture in a match against Stan Hansen at Madison Square Garden on n April 26, 1976 after Hansen improperly executed a body slam and dropped Sammartino on his head. They completed the match and Sammartino flew back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that night.

Two months later, Bruno Sammartino and Stan Hansen faced each other in a rematch for the the World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Championship on June 25, 1976 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. Bruno Sammartino won the match via countout.

Answer: Larry Zbyszko

On August 9, 1980 at the World Wrestling Entertainment's 1980 "Showdown at Shea" event in Flushing, New York, Bruno Sammartino defeated Larry Zbyszko in a steel cage match in front of 36,295 fans. This match was the "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" magazines "Match of the Year" in 1979.

Answer: David Sammartino

At the 1985 World Wrestling Entertainment's "Wrestlemania" event, David Sammartino battled Brutus Beefcake to a double disqualification. Bruno Sammartino served David Sammartino's manager while Johnny Valiant served as Brutus Beefcake's manager. The match became a double disqualification when all four men entered the ring to brawl.

Answer: Madison Square Garden

Bruno Sammartino became very popular during his two World Wrestling Entertainment World Heavyweight Champion title reigns. His main event matches sold out Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York one hundred eighty-seven times. Bruno Sammartino was so popular that he was granted a private meeting with Pope Paul IV in the Vatican during his first championship reign.

Answer: yes

After Bruno Sammartino left World Wrestling Entertainment, he was very critical of the product. Eventually the World Wrestling Entertainment and Bruno Sammartino reconciled. Bruno Sammartino was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2013. He was inducted by his longtime friend Arnold Schwarzenegger.