Ranking EVERY WWE Champion From Worst To Best
3. Bruno Sammartino
The WWE Championship being the recognised symbol of excellence within professional wrestling stems from the fact that, for the longest time, Bruno Sammartino was the man holding it.
A dignified figure - too dignified for what pro wrestling ultimately became - his lengthy tenures with the title consistently secured sellouts at Madison Square Garden when Vince McMahon Sr had domain over most of the North East. The formula rarely needed to be tweaked when it came to Sammartino. Fans bought into and believed his struggle, could accept him losing by disqualification or count-out as long as he vanquished his foe in a fairer rematch or steel cage showdown.
He kept up his end of the deal and so too did the customers, with 2,803-day run being the longest in the belt's history as a result. A 1,237-day reign kicked off 10 years after the first one, highlighting his longevity and the relationship he'd forged with the fanbase through Vince McMahon Sr's careful protection of his value. A history-maker before such a thing carried any weight, Sammartino's time with the title did as much for Vince McMahon Jr as it did for his father - by the time the Chairman had seized power, he had at his disposal arguably the most prestigious prize at the top of his cards.