“We can do this the easy way…or the hard way.” That is the quote credited to Bruno Sammartino and directed at Buddy Rogers, under a minute before Bruno forcefully wrested the WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) title away from Rogers.
WWE/WWWF Legend, Bruno Sammartino
It was May 17, 1963. The story goes that Buddy Rogers, the current champ, didn’t want to drop the belt to Bruno. Rogers was coaxed – or tricked – depending on who tells the story, into wrestling Sammartino. Once inside the ring, Bruno uttered the above quote and quickly brutalized Buddy in 48 seconds to become champ.
That is the old school way of handling things.
Bruno held the belt until January of 1971. The nearly eight-year reign makes him easily the longest reigning champion ever. It’s a mark that, given the current state of WWE, with big money Pay-Per-View events requiring title changes to keep storylines moving, will likely never be broken.
In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story titled, “Dapper Dan: Wrestling’s Bruno Sammartino honored for lifetime of achievement”, from January 10, 2010, Robert Dvorchak writes that Bruno not only headlined wrestling cards at Madison Square Garden more than 200 times, he sold out 45 of them!
Bruno held the WWWF title for another 3 ½ years from 1973 – 1977.
Sammartino’s charisma, legendary power and staunch anti-drug stance have helped to make pro wrestling’s “Living Legend” truly one of the greats in the history of athletics and entertainment.
WWE/WWWF Legend, Bobo Brazil
Bobo Brazil, whose real name was Houston Harris, was a large, imposing African-American man who was much loved throughout his career. Bobo broke into pro wrestling in 1951. He has always been seen as kind of a Jackie Robinson of wrestling, as he was the first man of color to elevate to the upper echelon of the business. Bobo’s “Coco-Butt”, his devastating head butt, felled many a top wrestler of the era.
Early in his career, Bobo would very often be matched primarily against other African-American wrestlers, as promoters feared possible fan repercussion if a man of color faced – and possibly defeated – a white wrestler.
On his Hall of Fame page at wwe.com, it is pointed out that Bobo was so likeable, however, that fans of all races took to him. Soon, Brazil was wrestling top men of the business, regardless of the color of their skin.
Bobo Brazil was the first African-American to win a major pro wrestling title, taking the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) strap away from Buddy Rogers on October 18, 1962.
Bobo will long be remembered for his gentle, kind nature away from the ring, as much as his bullishly strong performances inside the squared circle.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon – as an Announcer?
To young fans it might seem hard to believe that Vince McMahon was once an announcer for the WWWF/WWF/WWE, but it is true. In his younger days, Vince was the voice of the federation, with his perfectly coiffed hair, upright style and voice deep with bass.
Vince was a very good announcer in his ability to put a match “over”. (In wrestling terms, being “over” means getting a strong crowd reaction.) His match calling was very theatrical and over-the-top, perfect for an industry that was moving more towards soap opera and further away from “real” wrestling.
As years passed, Vince moved away from the announcing table and into the ring, becoming one of the WWE’s most hated and enduring heels.
As a new generation has learned of sports entertainment as it is today, and know Vince McMahon only as the egotistical, arrogant, master of the WWE, it might be fun to do a little Internet research and watch a much younger Vince as the capable, but campy, announcer for WWE programming.