10 Things You Didn't Know About Bruno Sammartino
4. Sammartino Refused To Take Pills For His Pain
He also told the Baltimore Sun that alcohol wasn't the only drug he'd knock back during his prime.
After years of defending his title in punishing matches, Sammartino told Vince McMahon Sr that he needed some time off to heal his body. McMahon, seeing the money to be made and Bruno's popularity, was hesitant to agree. That didn't matter to Bruno, because he wasn't willing to mask the pain in his bones and muscles with pills.
It was only when Sammartino realised he couldn't train properly and look after his body that he started thinking about a sabbatical to heal up. Before that, he was going one hundred miles per hour without thinking, and his dedication to playing hero meant he'd ignore the aches keeping him awake at night.
Eventually, things got too much and he had to confront McMahon (who had been stalling). Bruno gave Vince an ultimatum: either gift him some time off or he'd take a plane home without dropping the belt.