8 Wrestlers Who Admitted To Cracking Under Pressure

4. David Sammartino

David Sammartino Bruno Sammartino
WWE

That David Sammartino's RF Video shoot interview is titled Life in the Shadow of the Living Legend should tell you all you need to know about the pressures he faced in the business.

The guy had a lot to live up to. His father, Bruno, was the rock around which the McMahon wrestling empire was built. If it even exists at all, the list of wrestlers who played a more important role in WWE's rise from a New York territory to a globe-conquering giant is short, and no man could ever live up to that - including Bruno's own flesh and blood.

David joined WWE in 1984, with Sammartino Sr. working as his manager. When that rub didn't stick, Bruno came out of retirement to team with his son, though David was out of the company after jumping to the AWA in 1986. This came not long after throwing a bout he was booked to win against an enhancement talent named Ron Shaw, giving up seconds into what would come to be dubbed the "Phantom Submission Match."

All second-generation wrestlers face same from of pressure to live up to what. David, a middling performer, had no hope of reaching his father's lofty levels.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.