Greg Valentine - Why David Sammartino Didn't Last in WWF

Greg Valentine discusses why the son of Bruno Sammartino didn't work out in the World Wrestling Federation. Streaming now 📺 TitleMatchNetwork.com
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This is from Title Match Network's exclusive new series with the legendary Greg Valentine.
Hammer opens up about the first Wrestlemania where he and Junkyard Dog had a high-profile match for the IC Title. On that same WM, Brutus Beefcake and David Sammartino (with Bruno at rindside) were booked together.
Most fans remember Bruno's son David for his short run in the WWF during the mid 1980s. By November 1985, David Sammartino legitimately threw a match in favor of his opponent, Ron Shaw.
The move confused fans and announcer Gorilla Monsoon who tried his best to cover it up on live TV. This was the last time we would ever see the young Sammartino in a WWF ring.
David was fired after this. Bruno later did some announcing work for Vince McMahon but left the World Wrestling Federation, only to return decades later for his own WWE Hall of Fame induction.
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[@TitleMatchWrestling]

🔥Watch our Top 100 Greg Valentine Shoot Interview Clips ⬇ 📺kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmiooqqke5x-n5I

[@kevwmobile3238]

I used to work out with David in the 80’s. He was short, but incredibly strong, and was always very nice to me.

[@tommyrregina1227]

WWWF & BRUNO SAMMARTINO 🤗🤗 GREAT MEMORIES OF A THEN LIVING LEGEND. ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@joelbennett6672]

I enjoy Greg "The Hammer" Valentine interviews. His honesty and candor let you know, he's a Wrestler that loved/grew up in the business! He really stays positive and seeks to find and say the best about his colleagues and opponents...but, he does speak with candor. If he gets negative...the Wrestler likely deserved the criticism.

[@Jewish.Redneck.Hybrid]

Bruno was better than everyone.

[@elc1960]

Greg is in the Hall of Fame, but his dad should be also. The man was a beast in the ring. Incredible stamina, and it seemed like he was made to be a wrestling heel. Greg is basically a shorter version of his father. Both phenomenal performers.

[@alfonsecoppola5938]

johnny valentine was great

[@secef316]

Johnny Valentine IS in the hall of fame.. the real one in Texas, not the BS one invented by Vince McMahon

[@grawakendream8980]

johnny was the greatest at ring psychology they say

[@tommyrregina1227]

DIFFERENT ERA. BRUNO TO THIS DAY IS THE LONGEST REIGNING CHAMP, NEARLY 8 YEAR'S. BRUNO AS A HEADLINER SOLD OUT ARENAS ALL OVER THE WORLD , 🌍🌎 INCLUDING MSG IN NEW YORK A RECORD NUMBERS OF TIMES . FAN'S LOVED BRUNO.🙏🙏❤️❤️RIP BRUNO ❤️❤️🙏🙏RWG , AMEN.❤️❤️🙏🙏

[@Shin-Blade]

Valentine is shooting hard on this clip!

[@del7538]

Greg's WM6 ring entrance still cracks me up. Jessie Ventura was practically crying with laughter at the sight of Greg in an Elvis costume.

[@gregorylevi1826]

🤣😂

[@bb-gc2tx]

he looked like he wanted to cry lol

[@Robber30]

Gorilla: "Haaaa!!!!!! Look at Boxcar"

[@mkl62]

That ruined Greg, IMO.

[@gregorylevi1826]

@@bb-gc2tx welllll, at least he got A chance to make some extra change.

[@debbieclark7031]

Nice jacket Greg you look great in it.

[@leaonardland9001]

Truth.

[@don63]

Greg never badmouths anyone. He tells the stories and keeps it 100% all the time.

[@grawakendream8980]

so you know his word here is legit

[@jesseviv]

THE HAMMER !

[@crazyherorise]

Great underrated wrestler

[@matthewcollins8602]

When Greg started he was Johnny Fargo teaming with Don Fargo I believe. His dad Johnny Valentine was between the territories and a huge draw at the time in Florida, Texas, and the Mid Atlantic. The minds of the business back in those days were far superior when it came to understanding how the business worked psychology wise. It's nearly nonexistent nowadays unfortunately.

[@SubmitWrestlingCards]

Nice to see greg valentine looking well

[@gdownz1044]

Greg is SO Right... It's HELL gettin OLD! ✊

[@trentaccid2177]

Yes and Greg is getting very old to

[@tommyrregina1227]

​@@trentaccid2177ANCIENT , ACTUALLY

[@jimscarnivorekitchen4731]

Great video Hammer 🔨

[@Philipe0849]

Greg Valentine's dad was an asshole, very cruel to some wrestler in the locker room.. Of course Greg will tell you how great his dad is and take his side. Because it's his dad.. As far as Bruno.. You can't deny the fans. People blame "Oh Bruno was in N.Y." "Oh he was over because he was Italian" Bruno was money. He made the company a lot of money, plain and simple..

[@mkl62]

Mike York. He put butane gas in his asthma inhaler. Mike was about to die and Johnny was sitting there laughing up a storm. When Flair came to Charlotte, he rode with Johnny and said that he would play classical music in the car. Ric didn't like it, but he knew not to complain because he heard about the ribs that Johnny would pull on the other wrestlers.

[@tommyrregina1227]

GV ANOTHER EGO MANIAC 🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@grawakendream8980]

johnny was better than bruno imo. bruno was good but also damn lucky

[@grawakendream8980]

@@mkl62 jay york

[@souperstar7050]

They should have put David Sammartino in a tag team the same way the AWA put Greg Gagne in a tag team. Then all the focus wouldn't be all on him.

[@catyear75]

I always thought David Sammartino would have been better off if he had wrestled in one of the ( respectively ) smaller territories . That would have helped him avoid direct comparisons with his father. Memphis was known as a smaller mans territory, he may have done well there. Florida and the Pacific Northwest were also places that smaller guys ( occasionally) could get a push . He wasn’t a bad worker, he was trying to fill some really big shoes .

[@MrXiphoid1]

I believe he did wrestle for a time in the smaller territories, Georgia for instance, as Bruno Sammartino Jr.

[@southie3177]

Makes sense to me. ☘️👍☘️

[@mkl62]

@@MrXiphoid1 And the Mid-Atlantic.

[@toma.4808]

He wrestled smaller territories after his wwf run. He worked for herb abrams and Bill watts

[@jabbahursty]

and bruno was the righteous avenging angel, which i think is the most important aspect to him

[@grawakendream8980]

well said

[@Holden308]

His size apart, David Sammartino's biggest problem in the wrestling business was simply that he was Bruno's kid. Yes that would have opened some doors, but it put more pressure on him to live up to Bruno which was unfair. He never truly got the chance to be his own man in the business., I did see an interview David did and he admitted that back in the 80s he was an impatient kid. He wanted that push to the top, and when he didn't get it, it frustrated him which is why he acted like he did. It also didn't help that he had Vince McMahon manipulating things basically just to get Bruno in the ring to draw money.

[@grawakendream8980]

i sort of have a twist on that perspective. i think being bruno's son was tough, but i think he could have developed into a name, as a heel. and considering he did clash with his dad a bunch and from what he's eluded to, had a difficult (abusive?) upbringing, imagine if he went around the territories as a chicken s heel a la buddy rogers. he could have even adopted roger's as his idol, going against his dad. but buddy would probably have wanted a big cut of the money so that was out. the business wasn't ready to think like that. but i think had they played off his acrimony with bruno it could have helped him make a mark, but alas not to be

[@Ricardo-go7yu]

Wrestling has changed drastically since Bruno. The agile guys of Bruno's era did not have the moves of today's wrestlers. And most matches of that era were brawls, classic holds, and dirty tricks. The pace was way different. Bruno's mere presence ignited a crowd. I was there. It was berserk. I can't explain it.

[@tommyrregina1227]

WE ALSO WITNESSED THE LIVING LEGEND LIVE IN ACTION. NO STEROIDS ,JUST RAW BODY BUILDING STRENGTH. ONLY 5'10" 260 LBS. HOGAN SLAMMED ANDRE WITH ANDRE'S HELP . BRUNO , SMALL IN STATURE , LIFTED & HELD OVER HIS HEAD , THEN 601 LB. HAYSTACKS CALHOUN. NO HELP FROM HAYSTACKS & NO STEROIDS IN BRUNO'S BODY. BRUNO LOATHED SEX TRAFFICKER MCMAHON JR. & HIS SEX DRUG'S, ROCK N ROLL SCRIPTED INCINERATOR DESERVING WWE. 🙏🙏❤️❤️RIP BRUNO ❤️❤️🙏🙏 RWG, AMEN ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@tommyrregina1227]

WE WERE THERE TOO . BACK TO THE EARLY 1960'S .... AIN'T NONE BETTER THAN BRUNO ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@grawakendream8980]

he was charismatic no question

[@charlesbadrock]

Bruno was the GOAT

[@jabbahursty]

david is ripped to shreds in more recent times, not an ounce of fat on that guy

[@grawakendream8980]

that was when he was on the gas

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

nice

[@chevyyyyyyy]

I went back to your matches with george the animal steele and another one with mr. perfect to learn what you meant by making the other guy look good which you did.

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

It's hard to live up to a legend. Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Leonel Messi, etc. There's only one of them. Even if you are really good, how can you reach their level? So it was tough for David. Plus he was short in an era where size mattered. Many wrestlers towered over Mean Gene back then while David stood eye to eye. I heard he had a bad attitude but obviously I wouldn't know. If he did that also hurt him.

[@tommyrregina1227]

NOT PRESENT FOR BRUNO'S FUNERAL WILL NEVER MAKE DAVID A CANDIDATE FOR MOST LOVED WRESTLER 😓😓😓

[@wabankik]

...Greg's stories seem truthful and honest! , There are many veteran's that stretch it, Always a great showman and worker, '83 Dog Collar match with Piper still one of the most memorable matches!...

[@rdogg222]

Bruno had great charisma and possessed bear-like strength. But his incredible power didn't come with a lot of speed or agility. His matches consisted of a series of endless punches and boot stomps. What guys like Bret Hart, Ricky Steamboat and Shawn Michaels were doing in the ring later on looked like a different sport/form of entertainment.

[@toma.4808]

Bruno was also booked to fight big men, stiff guys that could mostly. brawl. Diffrent styles different generation. Wasn't too many technical guys back then.

[@tommyrregina1227]

NOT ONE OF THE STEROID'S JUNKIE'S MODERN WRESTLER'S WILL HOLD THE WWWF TITLE 4,000+ DAYS AS BRUNO SAMMARTINO DID. WWE ? ENTERTAINMENT ? ACTUALLY PURE SMUT & FILTH..... WITNESS VINCENT K MCMAHON JR 🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@southie3177]

David Sammartino should’ve went to Memphis. He wouldn’t even have been the smallest guy there. NY??? No way

[@grawakendream8980]

that's a good idea. i could actually see him feuding with lawler

[@raymondtipton7243]

I love Greg Valentine....he's got great interviews

[@Realest636]

Bruno caught lightning in a bottle. I often think Bruno himself would have not been successful in the era his son grew up in.

[@IsaacSilverman-gh3oh]

Agree but he really caught lightning in a barrel

[@Realest636]

@@IsaacSilverman-gh3oh I see what you did there. Pretty clever.

[@charlesharsha5973]

Bruno paved the way for a lot of wrestlers. It’s funny how Valentine says Bruno thought he was better then everyone else. Bruno would tell the promoters you need to pay these guys more money they deserve to make a living because they are working hard so you can earn so pay them. A lot of wrestlers would tell stories how Bruno would go to bat for other wrestlers. Sounds like Valentine just had a dislike for Bruno.

[@toma.4808]

​​@charlesharsha5973 I'm glad you said this because it's true the boys respect bruno and Bruno respected them. He did help wrestlers and Almost nobody has a nasty thing to say about bruno.it wasn't his idea to be champ for as long as he was the wwwf couldn't draw well with anyone else, until pedro came along .bruno has also praised many other wrestlers claiming them to.be more talented than his own in ring skills. Men like Harley race, ray Stevens, Pedro morales and Argentino rocca

[@tommyrregina1227]

BRUNO WAS BORN &WRESTLED IN THE ERA HE WRESTLED IN. 4,000+ DAY'S ♥️ WWWF CHAMPION ♥️ A RECORD THAT WILL NEVER BE ECLIPSED ...... CASE CLOSED..... RIP BRUNO ♥️♥️🙏🙏 RWG, 🙏🙏♥️♥️ AMEN🙏🙏🙏AND THANK YOU BRUNO ♥️ SAMMARTINO ❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Ultradude604]

David didn't last because there already was a guy like him, his father. Worse mistake he could've made was try to be like his father. He copied it to the tee. Powerlifter build, except David looks fatter. Same haircut. Same type of attire. Why would the fans want a dollar store Bruno Sammartino. Unfortunately, he realized this too late. In the 90s, he slimmed down, and look leaner with a different look in WCW.

[@MrNatural73]

👍👍

[@Coodeville]

Just wasn't meant to be for David in wrestling

[@mkl62]

Others too, like Brad Anderson, Bryant Anderson, David Flair, Erik Watts, Mike Von Erich.

[@ricktorres1319]

Your awesome Greg!!

[@brodocbetty4856]

David Samartino had a big ego and wanted to start at the top instead of working his way up.

[@traleid3755]

This is the first time I’ve heard of Greg not liking someone, in all the interviews I’ve seen with him, he spoke positive of everyone…….that says something about Bruno………also his son is just like Dominik Mysterio, all fame he got is due to his father, but not good enough to deserve it.

[@tommyrregina1227]

ACTUALLY IT SAY'S MORE ABOUT THE ENVIOUS EGO MANIAC WHICH IS GREG " THE BUMMER" VALENTINE 🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@BOBBYSOX86]

Bruno did come off high and mighty

[@MeMe-td1ye]

David would've been a good cruiserweight

[@gregorylevi1826]

Greg tells it like it is.

[@leifskjoldal8042]

Mr Greg valentine i love your interviews but disagree with one thing you got the same thing with Bruno? But no sorry when Rick flair wrestled it was the same match over and over again the chops falling down on his face flipping over the top rope landing on his rite side after a back drop i even herd that when he faced Bob Backlund he told Backlund please don't hurt me is that true? But I will tell you this when you dropped an elbow on your opponents i felt it threw the TV have a good nite sir

[@DJReyzor357]

Greg "The 🔨 🛠 ⚒️ 🔨 " Valentine with the greatest genetics especially when it comes to hairline.....

[@screamingbaboon664]

How is having the skin of a walrus "the greatest genetics"? 🤔

[@DJReyzor357]

@@screamingbaboon664 It help conquer your moms... #FOH 🤡

[@battlestarmarc]

Valentine was a good, no nonsense heel. Always wondered why David never made it in the wwf.

[@Millwall77]

How much/how long have you wondered?

[@leaonardland9001]

Always. Since he was a little baby.

[@hoopsheavenpa]

The Hammer was a true pro!

[@garykass114]

I was really surprised to hear Greg talk about Bruno like that. I have never heard anybody badmouth the Living Legend.

[@tommyrregina1227]

SAY'S MUCH ABOUT VALENTINE'S JEALOUSY

[@ericdravenX00X]

Hearing Greg talk about when he faced Bruno and Bruno held him down and wouldnt let him up.. I know Greg said Bruno didnt like his Dad Johnny, maybe Bruno wanted too Humiliate Greg by Holding him Down because of the Dislike for his father.. But i think it had something too do with Bruno Not liking Greg's Wrestling Style.. So Bruno thought i'll just hold him down so he cant get Over On Me and "Hammer" Me to Death with those Clubbing Forearms and those Chops to the Chest making me Look Bad.. This is my opinion of course..

[@jameskelly5672]

David was a jobber at best,he is a total failure at wrestling.

[@suicidality2744]

The business is extremely political. In the WWF/E you are performing for an audience of one. David wasn't willing to play the political game.

[@glenngarofano4793]

Prof. Eliot always told me, YOU CAN TRUST GREG!

[@IsaacSilverman-gh3oh]

He couldn’t wrestle or talk?

[@tonystracener9078]

Greg never talks bad about anyone. So if he says Bruno was an ass then he was am ass.

[@tommyrregina1227]

ACTUALLY VALENTINE WAS LOOKING IN A MIRROR AND SAW A REAL JACKASS 🤮🤮🤮

[@DrummingTmate]

The worst guys were over in the WWWF, Bruno, Chief Jay Strongbow and Ivan Putski. The McMahons (Senior and Junior) really hated wrestling.

[@99somerville]

He just never really got over with fans. He wasn’t tall but he was strong and could work. He didn’t have “It”.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

David Sammartino, David Flair both flopped must be the name David.........

[@AngelEyes-bt6qp]

Yeah, the Hammer doesn't at all himself sound bitter here calling Bruno a bitter old man. But what he is saying about Bruno is the way Bruno would speak about Flair. Same match etc..

[@DCMcNeilJr]

Bruno's matches were all the same. Some punches, a couple of kicks, a 20 minute armbar, repeat. Meh.

[@joegausch]

Agreed. Stomp,stomp,rest hold,rest hold,punch ,punch, bear hug, win. Wake me up when its over...

[@Mikey_Heels]

call it like it is! its rare to see anyone speak bad about bruno because he sold buildings out but it doesnt mean his matches were any good. even his striking was meh

[@mkl62]

And Ole Anderson complains that Flair wrestled the same type of match for years.

[@tommyrregina1227]

AND LONGEST REIGNING CHAMP IN HISTORY

[@TheEvolver311]

I always find the criticism of Bruno that "well he was Italian and thats why he got over" ...yeah as if being a towhead white guy wasn't ever a factor in his or his fathers success. Its like complaining that the Kota Ibushi was only IWGP champion because hes japanese and there is a lot of japanese people in Japan.

[@raymondphillips7107]

I’ve always said that Bruno was overrated.

[@PeteR-or5kj]

I'm not liking Greg in this interview.

[@sabinocorona2524]

YOU SIR, HAVE CLASS. A FACT THAT NO ONE CAN EVER DISPUTE.

[@brutusb8004]

Bruno did suck. I was BLOWN away at how unentertaining it was when I finally saw footage. Cerazy.

[@capacola262743]

bruno didn't like anybody.

[@tommyrregina1227]

AND EVERYBODY LOVED BRUNO , WORLD 🌍🌎 WIDE ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@capacola262743]

@@tommyrregina1227 shows how fucking stupid people are. he SUCKED.

[@tommyrregina1227]

WWWF & BRUNO SAMMARTINO 🤗🤗 GREAT MEMORIES OF A THEN LIVING LEGEND. ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏