Like certain others on this list, Bruno Sammartino is somebody who is synonymous with a certain period of wrestling. The achievements of Bruno are there for all to see. As well as having the longest ever World Championship reign in the history of the WWWF/WWF/WWE (at a huge 7 years, 8 months and 1 day!), this is a man whose popularity in wrestling was so huge that he actually had a private audience with The Pope (and no, that doesn't mean Elijah Burke). Sammartino drew massive, massive numbers for Vince McMahon Snr.'s WWWF, and his name on a card was the sole reason that many wrestling fans of the time would attend a show. In an unheard of move, there was even a time when the NWA began talks with the WWWF to merge the two companies' World Championships and for the gold to be put on Bruno, such was his drawing ability. A survivor of World War II and an Italian immigrant, Sammartino was a hero of his day, with his story mimicking that of those watching. A hard working, honourable, bull of a man who was legit tough, there's a strong debate that can be made to say that Bruno is the most popular and iconic wrestler of all time.
