10 Wrestlers Whose Most Memorable Moment Was In Defeat

8. Bruno Sammartino Loses World Title In 1971

The longest reign for any WWE (then known as WWWF) Champion belongs to Bruno Sammartino, who was the champion for 2,803 days from May 17, 1963 until January 18, 1971. That nearly eight year run will never be topped. While Sammartino was able to defeat all the top challengers, it's his loss to Ivan Koloff in New York City's Madison Square Garden that people remember more than anything else. The title change was shocking, in part, because Koloff wasn't even that big of a name. People didn't expect him to be the guy that ended the run, so when it happened it made people feel like they were 'at a funeral', according to wrestling historian Bill Apter. The day after the shocking title change, there were photos in the New York Daily News of fans crying after the loss because they loved Bruno so much.