WWE History Vol. 2: The magnificent career of Bruno Sammartino

An amazing debut year

Bruno was known for being a 'legit' wrestler, meaning he had a strong amateur background.

There's more to being a great pro wrestler than just athletic ability alone. If that were all it took, the sport would be dominated by cruiserweights.

In order to be a great wrestler, one needs charisma and panache, presence and power. Bruno Sammartino had all of these qualities. It was quickly apparent he was going to excel in the world of sports entertainment.

Most of the time, in the wrestling industry, one loses their debut match. It's considered a rite of passage. However, Bruno not only won his first match against Dmitri Grabowski, but he also did it in under a minute.

Sammartino would soon be invited to perform at the already venerable Madison Square Garden, a rare honor for a rookie wrestler. He defeated veteran Bill Curry in under five minutes on this grand stage.

Sammartino's career was taking off like a rocket, but he would soon hit a major snag.