8 Wrestlers Who Worked Through Ridiculous Injuries

3. Bruno Sammartino - Broken Neck

Vader Stan Hansen
WWE

Fourteen years prior to forcing Vader to temporarily consider subscribing to Monocle Wearers' Quarterly, Stan Hansen was buggering up another legend of the squared circle thanks a his style stiffer than a podophile in a shoe shop.

A botched bodyslam was all it took for Hansen to break Bruno Sammartino's neck during their April 1976 bout at Madison Square Garden. These were the olden days, when workers were tougher than slow-cooked leather boots, and despite being at real risk of internal decapitation, the Living Legend winced it out for another 15 minutes to finish the match.

Doctors advised Sammartino hang up his trunks after the injury. He did - but not for another 11 years. No doubt he was out working the very next night.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.