I was talking with my friend the other day on the phone. And, since he called me, I had to hit the mute button on my sound system. (I was doing work, which meant I had a few TV’s blaring- plus the radio.) When I do that, the “screensaver” comes on the TV and news headlines stream.

I noticed a flash that Bruno Sammartino had died. I asked my friend if he knew who that was- he didn’t. I certainly did.

Because my grandfather was enamored of wrestling. And, that meant he and I watched the events on TV. I say events, because even I, at the age of 7 or 8, knew this was simply fake. (I’m not sure my grandfather did- or even cared.  Moreover, this was among his favorites until I was about 13.)

Two of the more flamboyant fighters who I still remember were Apollo and Bruno. Yup- that Bruno.  (I did think his name was Bruno San Martino, though!)

While he came to America during World War II as the proverbial 80 pound weakling (he was recovering from pneumonia, for which his mom treated him via leeches!), over the next decade, he built himself up to a 275 pound behemoth. And, actually managed to become one of the highest paid athletes- in any sport.

Bruno became one of the most loved wrestlers in the Northeast. Hailing from Pittsburgh, most of the wrestling fans felt he was possibly the only real wrestler. (I almost wrote performer….)

In 1959. he set the world’s record by bench pressing 565 pounds!  And, for what it’s worth, Bruno served as the longest reigning champion of wrestling- ever.

When his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers offered him a slot on their team, he demurred. Because the pay was only $ 8000 a year; he was not persuaded to join them.  He knew he was about to make so much more.

Even by the time it was clear that wrestling was staged, Bruno actually broke his neck.   It happened when his opponent screwed up the expected move and dropped Bruno on his head. Amazingly, he continued to wrestle for 15 more minutes- and was never paralyzed, which should be the norm for such a break.

Bruno was no fan of the owners of the spectacle. As a matter of fact, one of his biggest peeves was with Vincent McMahon, Sr. (That’s the founder of WWE- and the father-in-law of another of TheDonald’s minions- Linda McMahon of the Small Business Association.) Bruno refused to be inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame for years, because the sport wouldn’t ban steroid use. (He and his son, also a wrestler, became estranged because of that substance abuse, too.) Once the sport finally banned steroids in 2013, Bruno agreed to become a member.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDNZ3tRVlZc

Oh, his famous move? The Pendulum Backbreaker.

Now my grandpa can watch Bruno all the time.

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