On December 10, 1973, Bruno Sammartino knocked off Stan Stasiak to become the first competitor to win the WWE Championship on more than one occasion. It marked a return to glory for the Living Legend some two-plus years after his shocking championship loss to Ivan Koloff. As he had years earlier, Sammartino would prove to be a tremendous draw for the promotion, continuing to build on his legacy as one of the greatest Superstars in WWE history. A performer with the ability to draw against any and all competition thanks to the connection he had with the New York fans, Sammartino worked the likes of Ken Patera, John Tolos, Ernie Ladd and Angelo Mosca while carrying the promotion on his back. A match against Stan "the Lariat" Hansen inside Madison Square Garden saw Sammartino suffer a broken neck. After a short two-month hiatus to heal up, he returned to the ring and continued to carry the torch for the McMahon-owned wrestling outfit. On June 25, 1976 at Shea Stadium, he met Hansen in a steel cage rematch. By all accounts, Sammartino was in no condition to compete. His neck was severely injured and a wrong move or bump could have paralyzed the proud competitor. His loyalty to McMahon (Vincent J.) was so strong, though, that he risked permanent injury to help the promoter out and provided a legitimate draw to the event. Sammartino, a champion both in and out of the ring, continued to put off semi-retirement, carrying the title for as long as necessary and receiving significant compensation for it. On April 30, 1977, it was decided that Sammartino would be allowed to ride off into the sunset, at least for the time being, as he dropped the title to "Superstar" Billy Graham and, unbeknownst to him, officially igniting the entertainment element of professional wrestling that would carry the business into the future and beyond. That Sammartino could hold the title for a second reign that totaled nearly four years is a testament to the level of star power he possessed and the level of love and support fans had for him.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
