Bruno Sammartino was the "Italian Strongboy" from Abruzzi, Italy.
He had numerous title bouts with Buddy Rogers, but never at Madison
Square Garden.
His time came in 1963. Sammartino put up $1,000 of his own money
to wrestle Buddy Rogers, on Washington, DC TV. The match never got started.
Rogers turned around to attack Bruno before the bell (Rogers later said
"I just wanted to shake the man's hand"), but Sammartino was ready. He quickly
demplished Rogers before the bell. The match was ruled a "no contest".
Announcer Ray Morgan, who had been holding the checks, gave them to Bruno.
The big title match was then set for Madison Square Garden, on May 17, 1963.
Sammartino won in less than a minute, in front of a packed house, and became
the new Worldwide Wrestling Federation Champion.
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