10 Most Unthinkable Comebacks In Wrestling History
4. Bruno Sammartino Enters The WWE Hall Of Fame
Bruno Sammartino had a strict moral code.
He was born under profoundly arduous circumstances. Four of his siblings died, and, in nazi-occupied Italy, his mother stationed the remaining family in secret mountaintop hide-out from which, at night, she snuck into the nearest town for provisions. As a result, Bruno was a sickly child, which informed his immense drive to become a shoot strong man and professional wrestler. During his legendary career, he portrayed himself as a hero and lived the gimmick, even going as far as to refuse to drink wine in restaurants in which young, impressionable children were present. He - rightly - believed himself to be a good man worthy of representing the community.
When the WWF embroiled itself in scandal, he could not sanction what had become of the company he forged and was an outspoken critic of it, blasting the influx of anabolic steroids and its vulgarity. Ostensibly the founding father of Vince McMahon's empire, he declined several invitations into its Hall of Fame on that basis.
That was until he was persuaded to do so by Triple H after a long and complex negotiation period, only after observing from afar WWE's approach to wrestling in its PG Era/PR clean-up operation era.