Jim Cornette on Bruno Sammartino

From Episode 147 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@jesse2214]

I have friends in their mid to late 50's that remember running into him jogging as kids. He told them to study, mind their mothers, and work hard while jogging in place the whole time. A round of high fives and he ran off. He was a class act and a reminder of a time when our athletes didn't put themselves so far above us.

[@bustersales6921]

Lmao @ “our” athletes 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@jesse2214]

@@bustersales6921 don't know what's so funny. They wouldn't be employed if not for "us".

[@bustersales6921]

@@jesse2214 ....weird

[@rubenarriaga3029]

A true role model

[@cirenosnor5768]

Buster Sales - So what’s the problem with “our” athletes

[@brisiplays3899]

Bruno Sammartino will always be “The Living Legend!” He is still so beloved, and missed dearly. It’s a shame that most young wrestling fans today don’t really know of him. I enjoy watching his matches when I can find a video of one. Rest In Peace Bruno. Thank you for the memories. Until we meet again.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

He’ll always be the greatest WWF WWE champion of ALL TIME! 🖤

[@roundpaddy]

Bruno was and still is a LEGEND

[@gammasmash1924]

I didn't get to see Bruno in his prime, but when I was a kid I was lucky enough to see Bruno come out of retirement, in Pittsburgh, to fight Piper. The pop was amazing. Corny mentions the immigrants in the northeast, when I went to the matches as a kid, the crowd had tons of immigrant grandmothers(mostly Polish and Italian)throughout(mine being one of them, except she was Ukrainian) In fact, that's who got me into wrestling, my Ukrainian grandmother. It was hilarious to go to the matches with her because she was so emotionally invested......and the language😂🤣 I heard things coming from my grandmother's mouth(as well as the other grandmothers at ringside)that I'd never heard before. Nothing too foul. In those days, hearing an old lady call someone a sonofabitch was pretty much unheard of. Good memories.

[@lemankurtz8950]

I remember sitting next to my Gram (my dad's mom, so didnt get to see her as much) in Church, and hearing her say, "All he does is nods off and farts every Sunday" when talking about an old man sitting in front of us.....Turns out she was right.

[@bigbaba1491]

@Metropcs Metropcs what you mean all natural? Like no steroids? I dont think so. He did steroids, they were even legal back then

[@richiehunt5097]

I grew up in the Syracuse, NY area. Bruno was beloved so much that when he retired, I knew a lot of people...my father included...who stopped watching altogether. Remember, after Bruno retired wrestling really took off in the 80's and these people refused to watch because Bruno was no longer involved. Bruno represented the American dream for immigrant families and unlike Hogan, Bruno had a legitimately clean image.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

I never got to see him in his prime either. Probably my most favorite memory of him was when he was backstage reporting on Ricky Steamboat's condition after Savage had "crushed" his throat on guardrail. Savage showed up gloating and Bruno lost his shit and tried choke the live out of Savage.

[@bigbaba1491]

@Metropcs Metropcs i dont think sp

[@AbhishekSMishraASM]

Haha love ya guys man. I popped when Jim said that's where monks are, someone give him the UN peacekeeping award. Thank you for taking my question I'll write soon again. Wooooo it's 3 AM and I woke up my wife to hear this. She will be divorcing me shortly.

[@AmirA-de5zr]

That's really cool. Cheers.

[@Mukuljain19]

She should

[@spikebehrens3648]

@ASM I have a question for you. You mentioned that Kayfabe existed in Nepal until 2000. What was the reason that it went away? Possibly the worked shoots in wcw? Greetings from Germany

[@bibeksharma4398]

Hey dude, I am from Kathmandu as well. Didnt know people listened to cornette in this part of the country! Cheers

[@AbhishekSMishraASM]

@@spikebehrens3648 I dunno man we just grew up I guess. But the most important thing was our cable service providers stopped showing wwf and switched to wcw. So ye that gnarly Vince Russo shit definitely helped break kayfabe haha

[@steve3602]

I was a fan who remembers Bruno when he started in the business. I'll say this - true he had a large following in Italian neighborhoods. But he was also admired in all neighborhoods in New York - Jewish, Polish. Hispanic and Black! You have to remember in those days there were only 3 TV networks and around 8 channels. Wrestling was on at least 3 times a week. To really appreciate how great Bruno was it would've helped if you saw him in his prime when he still lifted the heavy weights. He had a great charisma that everyday working people loved. And his feats of strength were totally legitimate. Besides being called the living legend, he was also known in the early days as the Italian Superman. He was the greatest! RIP Bruno.

[@johnmorrissey5105]

I used to see Bruno at the Garden in NYC every month during my high school years 75-79. It was always awesome. I also saw the cage match with Stan Hansen in Shea Stadium, the night Ali fought Inoki in that wrestler vs. boxer thing. Bruno was just the man . That was when the WWWF had so many memorable wrestlers: Haystacks Calhoun, Andre, Ernie Ladd, Koloff, Strongbow, and so many more. Good Times!!

[@bulldogbrower6732]

Good analysis Jim. What people aren’t realizing is McMahon Sr. built this baby face persona, who was Bruno Sammartino. Did you ever see his interviews ? No screaming or yelling. Bruno looked into the camera and said fans, I need you tonight in Baltimore, or Atlantic City. He would say Tanaka threw salt in my eyes, but that won’t happen tonight because I’m ready for him, and with your help I’ll pin him. That was the formula. Everybody in the northeast isn’t Italian, but we are human, and he had the ability to captivate an audience. A gentleman and a mans man. He commanded the box office single handedly. People flocked to the arenas to see him. Unfortunately you don’t have that today. I was at many of Bruno’s sellouts, including the1977 match at the Philadelphia Spectrum when he returned against Billy Graham and kicked billy through the cage door. In all honesty we all knew Bruno was retiring. We just wanted to see him one more time. To answer the question, yes Bruno could have been just as successful in Charlotte or anywhere. All they had to do was build his character up on TV for a couple weeks. I hope we have someone to compare him against some day. The product called sports entertainment with everyone taking a turn being champion just doesn’t cut it.

[@henrikschmidt3964]

Like most, my knowledge of Bruno is limited to legend and interviews. Listening to him, I became such a fan, I totally get why he was so beloved. He really came across as a man you would want to be like. Thank you for preserving the legacy and history of pro-wrestling, Jim. If not for people like you, I would probably not be a fan still.

[@donaldsmith3926]

I was a really little kid watching him on TV and it was fun. At the end of a match the announcer would ask Bruno to say something to his Italian fans and he'd speak a few sentences in Italian from the middle of the ring. For a couple of years I watched religiously, and this was before steroids; he was relatively huge and not a fat hillbilly.

[@99somerville]

Bruno was bigger than Flair. Pure and simple.

[@davidnolan575]

@southerncajuncharm it is true. The south could never draw a crowd like the northeast.

[@bustersales6921]

@southerncajuncharm ....sarcasm? Irony?

[@MrChazT]

@@davidnolan575 The south didn’t wrestle in arenas as large as the ones in the northeast. Plus there was way more people in Bruno’s territory back then.

[@chumbimba83]

@@MrChazT Yeah, you just made his point for him. Flair didn't wrestle in front of crowd the size of Bruno.

[@MrChazT]

@@chumbimba83 I realized that a few minutes after posting it.

[@timf7413]

The northeast was always a different animal from most of the old wrestling territories. There simply wasn't (or isn't) any other region of the country that has so many major urban markets clustered together. That's a big part of why Vince was able to roll out the national expansion so well in the 80's.

[@dwade6322]

The WWE stars of the last 30 years get all the credit,but BRUNO was one tough son of a gun who could hold his own with ANYONE.

[@bustersales6921]

Lolwut. What in gods name are you talking about 🤦🏻‍♂️😂😆

[@stevenprimo8531]

Sammartinos from same part of Italy as my grandma,Abruzzi.🇮🇹🇺🇸

[@nowrestlingiq7317]

🇮🇹🇺🇸

[@tommymclaughlin3203]

Say what you want about Triple H ( I feel he's overrated and had to be carried most of the time but I digress) but he was influential in getting Bruno back and to the Hall of Fame.

[@user-uu8up6ki9u]

Correct, also in 2013 WWE was only having house shows in MSG. Triple H thought it would have been an insult not to have the event at the garden so they paid more money to have it there.

[@spectrumlocalb191]

BECAUSE THEY GAVE BRUNO A MILLION DOLLARS. NO YOUR FACTS.

[@fuscinula]

And...? That Hall of Fame is a joke.

[@rubenarriaga3029]

@Charming Billy yup best heel from his first title run in 1999 until Batista beat him 3 times in 2005

[@mitchellbaker9434]

Here's the difference between Bruno and almost every other great wrestler in history: he was a babyface who never had to do a heel turn (or vice versa) to re-energize his career. He was always so authentic and honorable as a person that he immediately got over and stayed over his whole career.

[@1991favre]

bruno was a good guy, from same part of pittsburgh

[@AllanAdamson]

Bruno is on my Mount Rushmore of wrestling.

[@MrFriesz]

Bruno looked the part, his rock solid jaw, busted nose, and cauliflower ears. He was no doubt strong, and did a decent promo. He was the man for those times,never a heel, always was the good guy. I imagine in a shoot he would be dangerous.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

A man's man and a gentleman.

[@MrFriesz]

@@signoresantinoburnett1169 One of the few wrestlers that you will never hear a bad word said about.

[@juanresto6756]

@@MrFriesz unless you asked Buddy Rogers.

[@michaelstagar4254]

In a shoot no doubt. Apparently Antonio inoki tried to double cross him and put him in a submission. Bruno powered out and whupped him six ways from Sunday.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Bruno was a beast. He was jacked! 💪

[@yoholmes273]

For over 20 years every Catholic Italian family in the Northeast had 3 items featured prominently in their homes. A crucifix, an artist rendering of the Blessed Virgin Mary, & a picture or newspaper clipping of The World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino !

[@oldschool9447]

Bruno did leave the WWWF. He was huge in San Francisco with Ray Stevens, Kowalski in L.A., Tanaka in other places

[@charlesharsha5973]

Canada and Japan as well

[@MilMaska]

"1972 they ran Shea Stadium for Bruno and Pedro" - Jim Cornette

[@keithbarbaro7590]

They did not fill the stadium and the real reason WWWF ran the show that year is childish wrestling paranoia at it's best.

[@madbrowniac7871]

The ongoing misery of the failure of The Flushing Mets to put a guy on third whether at bat or on defense over the years is true childish paranoia par excellence!⚾️😂B.W.

[@domamania]

Let me remind you that night it was pouring raining and shaea stadium has an open roof gor your information.

[@LT-qd9ts]

@More Faves I had heard that Bruno vs. Pedro was a borefest. Probably why the WWF didn't run another "face vs. face" match for decades after. I know the match went almost an hour long. Most WWWF title matches back then went 15-20 minutes. I bet there were plenty of rest holds like armlocks, headlocks and bearhugs.

[@jlmartinez8482]

The match at Shea was not full because of the weather. It was pouring rain ! Just like the Race vs Graham match at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

[@isaacbutler8828]

Bruno was very good in the ring especially with the big men like Ernie Ladd, Bill Watts, and Ivan Putski. The Billy Graham feud was classic. JC at the gun show (art work) is funny as hell

[@tommyrregina1227]

RECALL BRUNO LIFTING & HOLDING 601 POUNDS OF HAYSTACKS CALHOUN OVER HIS HEAD

[@GS-ki9ej]

Flair definitely has a point when he says Bruno was the champion of the North East only because the NWA championship was defended all over the world and was recognized as THE champion all over the world. Bruno Samartinos ovations when the people caught sight of him were out of this world, definitely the people's champ

[@bustersales6921]

NYC is the only city that really matters in murica though

[@charlesharsha5973]

Back when Bruno wrestled there was territories run by different promoters.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Ive been to more shows than I can count, but one of my most special memories was when I saw BRUNO on his 70th birthday at WrestleReuinion in PA. I took my Grandfather, so he could see his child hood hero LIVE one more time! The show was dedicated to Bruno & he worked an angle with DDP & Larry Zbysco. He kicked Larry’s ass one more time! It was a great & special show & everyone was there from Dusty Rhodes to Dory & Terry Funk to Greg Valentine to Bullet Bob Armstrong to Mick Foley, Harley Race, Bobby Heenan, Bret Hart & Jimmy Hart, just to name a few! Jim was also there! The Midnight Express, Bobby, Dennis & Stan (with Jim) took on Dusty, Terry & Dory Funk, (with the Brain) in 6 man tag! 🖤

[@IanSane]

Think of WWF in 1986. It's a national promotion, not just playing to the Northeast. Pedro Morales comes across like a jobber while Bruno Sammartino still comes across like a star. Bruno would have gotten over elsewhere because he has charisma and personality. It's not like they just picked some random Italian guy and he was huge with the Italian New Yorkers. That kind of logic is like the WWE thinking that having Jindal Mahal as champ was going to draw Indian fans simply because he is also Indian.

[@keithbarbaro7590]

Yes. 1986 Bruno is still a draw but by 1987 he's at some Nassau Coliseum and Meadowlands shows and they bomb. The comeback wore off. I went because my friends dad, who is also Italian, wanted to see Bruno without the hassle to going to MSG. So we went.

[@ElectricCool]

To be honest, Pedro probably should've hung em up after dropping the IC belt to Muraco....that hurt him more than anything.. Bruno being mostly retired still had the allure of his glory days.

[@subikshrestha2308]

Lol I was shocked to hear Kathmandu. Well Jim, Id say a lot of people would actually recognize you and your tennis racket here in Kathmandu and around Nepal because wwf was a big thing here in the 1990s. And no, there arent monks in kathmandu or in Nepal just like there arent people wearing suits made out of 100 dollar bills in the US (although the rest of the world like to think about us that way). I hope someoene delivers this message to Jim and also, lastly, that I am a big fan of yours. Cheers from Kathmandu, Nepal.

[@TheDman216]

Bruno calling savage slime still kills me to this day

[@hollywood21639]

Bruno was my dad's favorite wrestler. He's much more of real wrestling legend than Flair ever could be.

[@stonecoldflipper9503]

Bruno couldn’t lace up Ric Flair’s boots. Ric’s boots also probably cost more than Bruno’s entire wardrobe. Wooooo.

[@hollywood21639]

@@stonecoldflipper9503 drunk loser being pathetic at 73 for one last match, until he's broke next week.

[@davidmitchell6873]

Well, Bruno was a respectable class act and Flair is now an embarrassing drunken fool.

[@stonecoldflipper9503]

@@davidmitchell6873, Bruno was a decent man and a fair wrestler, but Ric is the GOAT of professional wrestling. Ric is not a preacher or a family counselor. Ric is not a drunken fool, but he is the dirtiest player in the game. He wears only the finest clothes, he on drives a Mercedes or a Rolls Royce and he only lets the prettiest ladies ride Space Mountain. Wooooo.

[@hollywood21639]

@@stonecoldflipper9503 he's flopping around at 73 bleeding in a ring for his son in law because he's broke and getting another divorce. He's pathetic

[@josephcostello695]

In New York City we had a few wrestling programs NWA from Florida and Los Angeles. Both were on the Spanish Stations IWA was on after WWWF channel 9. Yes we did get the wrestling magazines and was great reading about the Funks or AWA wrestlers. But unfortunately there were at least a month or two behind from the events. It was great when TBS came on and got to see more great wrestlers even a young man with the tennis racket. Thanks Jim you Rock

[@pleasequietdown8946]

While we're on the subject of geography I would like to note that Jim has twice made a reference to the time zone in Bolivia while failing to realize that Bolivia is in South America and therefore shares the same time zones as North America

[@madbrowniac7871]

Dylan, I appreciate You pointing that out. My Southern hometown and Chris Jericho's hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada are in the same Central Time Zone! While I'm on the subject Detroit, Michigan is actually geographically north of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Some things in this world are just downright cool.B.W.

[@bustersales6921]

@@madbrowniac7871 😳😳 😂😂🤣🤣😆wtf

[@AirBuddDwyer]

Most of South America is in one of 2 time zones ahead of EST. Only small portion on the Western part of the continent is even the same time as NYC Edit (addition): Boliva is one hour ahead of any part of the US and the vast majority of Canada

[@Djarra]

He was also a pretty good commentator, in spite of the accent.

[@ronfroehlich4697]

Gotta love the half Italian/half Pittsburgh accent

[@kevinpayton2664]

I never saw Bruno wrestle but he was a good commentator. He even commentated UWF wrestling which was run by Herb Abrams in the early 1990's.

[@Njbear7453]

If you guys haven’t had a chance you gotta watch the table for 3 with bruno, ric flair and Randy Orton, you’ll gain a whole new level of respect for Sammartino learning about him struggling as a young child growing up which led to him lifting weights.

[@SuperDevolution]

I believe Cornette did an interview with Bruno where Bruno talked about his childhood struggles.

[@____K_____989]

@Cosmic Radio And didnt the family hide in the mountains from the Nazis? Maybe Im wrong? Didnt his mother have to go up that mountain to bring him the medicine or after a supply run?

[@madbrowniac7871]

"What is Katmandu"? City in Nepal. And a classic Rock And Roll number by Bob Seger.B.W.

[@jessebowman161]

'capital' of nepal

[@madbrowniac7871]

Not to be confused with Kat LeRoux!😂B.W.

[@TheNepalesevideo]

Berry Waller catmandu eh

[@bigbaba1491]

I didnt pick it up at first, i heard "what does cat-man do?"

[@carpenter155]

Catmando is a bar in the Upper Peninsula Of Michigan

[@joyceseaver9350]

Bruno Samartino has an autobiography out on hi whole life. Available on E Bay . EXCELLENT ! Came to Wrestle in Worcester Massachusetts many Times in the 60 s and early 70s . Always put on a Great Show ! R I P CHAMP !

[@kienpaulspicer1173]

Was a real champ with class . My father watched him and seen him live . He also was legit as they came. He used to spar with Liston, Ali and Sugar Ray Robertson who tried to make him switch to Boxing because he was so good at it and could take a punch hit like a truck

[@josephcostello695]

was lucky enough too see Bruno a few times at MSG against Spiros Arion. and few others with my friend and his dad. good times to me Bruno and Pedro were some of the best of all time. thanks Jim love your podcasts. hope the WWE gets smart and puts you into their HOF you deserve it.

[@mfbinc]

Bruno Sammartino was such a huge draw in the 60's that the NWA negotiated a deal with the WWWF to use Bruno for two weeks out of the month as their champion. They wanted a part time Bruno over any of their stars full time. Bruno nixed the idea when he found out he would only get two days off a month.

[@oldschool9447]

Nixed it when would get 0 days off

[@VolumedMusicMan]

It was also Lou Thesz who nixed the idea because he did not trust WWWF promoter Toots Mond!

[@mfbinc]

@@VolumedMusicMan BRUNO was the main reason it was nixed. They wanted him and he said no.

[@bizzybezz]

That’s like saying hogan couldn’t draw in WCW

[@KingTone510]

Nepal is a buffer state in the Himalayas in between India and China.

[@nriab23]

don't lie

[@chrisconley8583]

Thank you, finally someone typed it.

[@michaelparish9645]

If it wasn’t for aBruno there be no WWWF Bruno sold out Houston and Southern Calf Vince Sr wouldn’t make it with nature boy Buddy Rogers No one pop MSG like Bruno period. RIP the living legend

[@MrSmitty1074]

Bruno had a great run! RIP

[@alexracco5975]

Bruno Sammartino wrestle in my city in TBAY, on a small indie canadian circuit, named (CWE) Canadian Wrestling Elite, few years back

[@alexracco5975]

As well other WWE & ECW legends (Tommy Dreamer & Gangrel) & Carlito

[@LOTR_BTTF]

Well I still think the greatest "dream match" that no one ever talks about would be, in their primes, Bruno Sammartino Vs. Brock Lesnar. Who else in history matches up with these two in terms of a combination of pure strength and amateur wrestling background?

[@madbrowniac7871]

Kurt Angle. This Guy in His Heel Prime vs. Bruno Sammartino in their mutual hometown of Pittsburgh would provide surreal Heat! And since it's a Dream confrontation Roberto Clemente or Fred Rogers as Special Referee.🤔B.W.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

Even a prime Steiner brother vs Bruno

[@jdspreest]

Bruno vs Lou Thesz

[@JFM1170]

Growing up in Philadelphia we really never knew about other territories because of TV, we only had the WWWF. It wasn't until we had access to TBS, I believe Phila was one of the last big city to get cable TV. Living in such a place with no cable until the early 80's we were very limited on what we saw, but that is Phila politics.

[@TheCatseyepub]

Bruno was total class and a mega star..unless you were around, you'll never understand..no one has ever approached his stardom

[@johnsawh8459]

I grew up idolizing Bruno Sammartino, He was a gentleman and very respected

[@karlschneider9479]

Saw him wrestle at the old Boston Gahden dozens of times and he was an absolute beast loved him. I have fond memories of him smashing Capt. Lou Albano with a typewriter!

[@handsolo1209]

Bruno was 100 times the draw and a thousand times the man that Flair ever was. Over 150 MSG sellouts says it all.

[@michaelplowman8674]

Over a quarter million people over 2 days going to see Flair versus Anoki in South Korea begs to differ.

[@MaxxCoyote]

@@michaelplowman8674 Small niggle there Michael. From Flair's own book, it was North Korea, and he heavily suspected that the people were ORDERED to be there.

[@spectrumlocalb191]

AND BRUNO WAS NOT A DRUNK AND ADDICT LIKE FLAIR. BY THE WAY BRUNO WAS MARRIED ONCE BECAUSE HE RESPECTED WOMEN AND COMPARE THAT TO FLAIR. FLAIR HAD 3 MOVES WHERE AS BRUNO ADJUSTED HIS STYLE TO WHO HE WAS AGAINST. IN WRESTLNG CIRCLES BRUNO WAS CONSIDERED A DIAMOND AND RIC WAS CONSIDERED BRONZE.

[@kennycamaro2361]

But he sucked as a wrestler, all he did was punch, kick and slam. Boring

[@handsolo1209]

@@kennycamaro2361 Yes, so boring that he sold out big arenas all over the world for 20+ years, whilst these "exciting" guys these days can't sell 500 tickets between them. You need to learn context. To those people at that time he was amazing. To people of 2021 a Ford Model T is a piece of crap, but to the people of the early 20th century it was a marvel.

[@DoctorLazers]

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. A small, mountainous country between India and Nepal. Yes, it is "like Tibet," they are both in the same mountain range and Tibet is right across the border, technically part of China now.

[@joyceseaver9350]

Read his autobiography about 10 years ago . Find it ! GREAT read ! Fantastic content …

[@MDW1101]

If Jim was Italian... Jim Cornetteo. That's an ice cream bar in Australia.

[@Scaramanga7]

It’s also a trilogy of Simon Pegg/Nick Frost movies.

[@gayrambo4529]

@@VladikaRade1813 Seriously, I lol'ed

[@cookiemuncher7096]

We have a Cornette ice-cream as well.

[@MDW1101]

@@cookiemuncher7096 That's funny.

[@cookiemuncher7096]

@@MDW1101 It is, everytime is see one, I can only think of Corny swearing his eyeballs out and can't handle myself giggling.

[@matchavez8530]

Katmandu is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a very fortunate geographic location being the place where the silk road passed through the Himalayas. Which makes the Rockies look like Russos morning erection (meaning a gradual almost imperceptible rise). Nepal shares a border with India and its where you have to go if you want to climb Mt Everest. Ok, class dismissed 😊

[@mikebowermaster4250]

Bruno is the best ever.

[@CreightonChaney-io4xv]

What I like about Bruno is that he, too hated Mark Madden 👏😆

[@TheGahDamn]

Nathaniel Baxter best commentator in WCW history

[@CreightonChaney-io4xv]

Bobby Heenan was the best He left because him and Tony Schiavone stopped getting along

[@joshuakessler7706]

That is a long list lol.

[@kevinbrown-ge6sz]

When Paul Jones was the top baby face in the Mid Atlantic territory he was basically doing a Bruno imitation. Bruno probably could have been the top face in most territories but its not a certainty. Pedro Morales was a jobber in the Mid Atlantic territory. Bob Backlund couldn't get over outside the WWF. In fact, a lot of promotions over the years thought they could just bring in a former WWE wrestler and it would automatically translate to ratings or tickets sold at house shows but it has rarely worked out that way.

[@charleslegoff1586]

Backland way over won the Missouri tittle...florida and a star in awa

[@Kfowlkes09]

Bruno was the only WWE champions pre-Hogan that the NWA wanted to be their champion. That's speaks to his appeal over the likes of Morales/Backlund/Graham.

[@thillwl]

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. If you choose to climb Mount Everest, it is the major airport in which you would fly to start an expedition.

[@domamania]

Hey Jim I guess you forgot everywhere Bruno and flair were in the same card bruno was always the main eventer or any Flair was always the mid Carder let me remind you Bernal some martino with a champion in Canada would he revived their territory he sold out in Florida he sold out in California he sold out in Australia he sold out in Japan 20 plus times whereas flair was always under him in the cards even up to the 1980s.

[@seanpyne1236]

Mt Everest is in Nepal

[@domamania]

Half in Nepal and half in china

[@carpenter155]

Catmando’s is a bar in the Upper Peninsula Of Michigan

[@MariusRiley]

: Excellent analysis, as usual, sir. 💯

[@TherealHazlett]

Bruno was the man.

[@maxfrost5016]

Back in the day Nepal was known for it's unique hashish.

[@acesolta4045]

Max Frost Back in 60s and early 70s

[@TheBigjohn527]

"Black Nepalese, got you weak in the knees ......" ------------- A Humble ditty

[@beachaddict7653]

Nepal is on the border of northeast India and the birthplace of Buddha. . So yes, cornnete was spot on when he said it sounds like where monks come from.

[@philtll]

Nepal is indeed somewhere around Tibet, as in, stuck to several hundred miles of its southern border.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Bruno did defend the title all over the world tho. Maybe not as often as Flair or the NWA champ, but he traveled all over the world to different territories. Billed as the WWWF World Champ….not to mention any contender worth anything at that time would have come to WWF/New York to challenge Bruno, so he took on and beat the best from all over the world, and he did it on the biggest stage possible.

[@jpmcpheemcphee2695]

I can picture a bunch of monks in the mountains, laughing dropping F-bombs listening to you guys

[@chrism7461]

Bruno was in a city with 12M people. 20K people in NYC is different than 15K in Greensboro. No disrespect to Bruno

[@Rjensen2]

He was over everywhere he went.

[@mjstory1976]

The true GOAT of wrestling

[@Blackhawk211]

In terms of most over face? Yes In terms of actual in ring ability? Hell no

[@swfcocs1]

@J H so by that definition the GOAT has to be Hogan or Austin? They're the two biggest draws in history

[@dimedraweriv258]

@Shadowangel if you could sell out New York , Boston , Philadelphia , and Pittsburgh once a month for 12-15 years it didn't really matter if he wasn't over in other places. Those are the places the company sunk or swim in.

[@swfcocs1]

@Joe Greene true, nobody could deny how much Bruno drew, but pay per view is the real deciding issue throughout wrestling history on drawing money,way more than filling MSG 50 times or whatever, if as an example you think of the money earned by Rock Vs Austin via PPV how many stadiums would you need to fill to beat that?

[@swfcocs1]

@@dimedraweriv258 all true,though surely that earning power is dwarfed by PPV buyrates during the height of the PPV era?

[@streetsofsouthphilly]

It's nice listening to this because Jim doesn't come off like the neighborhood grouch yelling at kids to get off his lawn.

[@jtsmithabc]

I appreciate Mr. Cornette's candor concerning the Bruno Sammartino, "The REAL Legitimate Living Legend" of Professional Wrestling. There is no question, that the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) champion, was THE WORLD Wrestling Champion "above" in terms of recognition of both the WWWF stationed at that time in the Northeast Triangle & the renowned AWA, in the upper Midwest. I mean, let's face it prior to the formation and succession of the WWWF, which was, I might add, adjoined to the NWA initially; the NWA World title was on the waists of some of wrestling's true pioneers i.e. Gotch, Hakenschmit, Lewis, Thez (the purest of the hooking wrestlers), O'Connor, and Yes, even Rodgers. Nevertheless, in as much as I respect the wrestling careers of varied holders of the NWA title; careers, I might add like Flair's Kenenki's, Briscoe, Baba, Race, and even Dusty Rhodes The American Dream- who in his hey day was perhaps more popular than any of the aforementioned, everybody with good sense knows, that beyond the fact that New York's Madison Square Garden arena was headlined by Bruno nearly 200 times, Bruno Sammartino, perhaps with exception of Andre the Giant, out shined most professional Wrestlers! Andre's popularity, for that matter, unfortunately went down due primarily to ailing health, and the advent of Hulkamania. Besides all the wrestling history I just unleashed, I really wish that the Ric Flair takes the same approach to his and Bruno's career the same way he wishes wrestling fans would take his and Hogan's careers (a comparison of oranges to apples). There's no question that Flair was great as a wrestling champion, and his legitimacy is cemented in history for he held and defended the title most recognized as the World title, the NWA. But isn't it crazy, a regional/international champion, Bruno was, and yet, without holding the NWA title, which I should say, (that there are some school's of thought, that Bruno did in fact win the NWA championship, depending upon which version you're talking about, but was just not recognized by main hitting promoters, who foresaw the wrestling demographic changing)- still OUT SHINED just about everybody's career for the exception of a few. Bruno's career was ON TOP of the WOLRD of Wrestling in terms of popularity and fan-based engagement, out shined almost ALL of the NWA champions- many of which contended with Bruno and NEVER beat him! And yes, I will acknowledge that Thez did defeat Bruno, but only after that 20 minute beat-down that he received by Bruno; who by the way, was NOT an A+ aemature professional wrestler, but he sure held his own against the very best NWA had to threw at him. Moreover, Flair and his fan base must recognize that Bruno's career was catapulted into stardom much earlier than Flair's, and during Flair's rise in the NWA, Bruno's momentum did in no wise diminish. Bruno was begging the promoters in WWF to let him retire, as the fans just kept wanting him to stay- and no, not just in NEW YORK, but also Texas, Chicago, Canada, Detroit, Indianapolis, need I go further? Ric Flair on the other hand, literally had to be asked to leave, because he just wouldn't go. All in all, Bruno Sammartino's wrestling career in terms of popularity, legitimacy, and longevity, out-shined most wrestler both among his contemporaries, definitely all the ones prior to him, and even many who succeeded him. The WWWF regional title, which eventually became the WORLD TITLE in wrestling, did not make Bruno's career take off in my opinion. I think Bruno's life, legacy, and legitimacy as a wrestling professional, brought popularity to the WWF Title. And then those after him who wore it, Ric Flair being one of them, was able to bask within the title's popularity garnered and procured by Bruno Sammartino and subsequently Hulk Hogan!

[@charlesharsha5973]

While that is one of the best articles I have ever read about Bruno wwwf and other wrestlers. You really put a lot of things into light. Bruno was blackballed by Vince Sr in the late 50’s or early 60’s and Bruno had to go to Canada to wrestle where he took on all comers. Vince Sr was losing his ass with Rogers and wanted Bruno to wrestle for him and Bruno said I’m happy where I’m at . Vince did everything to get Bruno but Bruno refused then said I will only wrestle for you under two conditions Vince said name it. Bruno said one is I will wrestle in Canada for the promoter that gave me my chance once a month and the other is I wrestle for the title and become champion. Vince Sr said Rogers will never give you the title. Bruno said fine and left. Vince Sr later called Bruno and said ok but the only way you can become champion is you have beat Rogers legit he won’t do a work. Bruno agreed when they met in the ring told Rogers this is not a work we are going for real and I’m here for your title. Bruno beat Rogers down and lifted him up on his back in a back breaker and told Rogers either quit or I’ll break your back. Rogers quit. Flair idolized Rogers he held a dislike towards Bruno for beating Rogers really bad. Bruno never liked Rogers and explains why in a interview. I saw Bruno wrestle many times in Baltimore and met him at Bill Stevens gym who was the way weightlifting director on the east coast. I was ringside when Graham pinned Bruno in Baltimore. I will say this Bruno was a class act and very well respected by people that knew him. He got bitter about the business because Vince Sr screwed Bruno out of a percentage of the business and later Vince Jr tried to sew Bruno for his name and also screwed Bruno out of a percentage. Vince Jr finally did the right thing and paid Bruno a lot of money so Bruno left a lot of money to his family.

[@luckygnome]

I heard of that place because I watched the movie Golden Child

[@johnu2117]

Ratt n roll

[@luckygnome]

@@johnu2117 its true plus I was a kid when I watched that movie

[@Baastilein31]

The cat man does what cat men do

[@AllanAdamson]

That's why Bruno didn't like the people who used steroids, unnatural strength he didn't feel they earned,, he was very vocal about that.

[@kevinhawley8724]

People in every state and country have searched You Tube for Bruno matches.

[@chadk890]

Kathmandu was a girl on Happy Days. She was Richie's friend.

[@madbrowniac7871]

Played by Deborah Pratt. The late great Kathy O'Dare played Richie's date in the very first 1974 episode after the 1971 pilot. This legendary 1974 episode was cowritten by this guy named Rob Reiner, who had a huge sitcom gig himself at the time.B.W.

[@420Horseman]

Kathmandu? Fonz can do...ayyyy!

[@madbrowniac7871]

Horseman420: Kathmandu was a Friend to both Richie and The Fonz. The plot centered around some intrigue with Fonzie and The Merchant Marines and various seafaring Heels.B.W.

[@jamesk8147]

That thumbnail looks so much like Brian Zane...

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

The two Champions that really made the public want to look up to them was Bruno Sammartino and Bret Hart.

[@thomasmulhall4873]

What about Harley Race?

[@sumobowler3790]

NWA did have a larger geographical reach than WWWF, but to be fair Bruno and Bob Backlund were world champions. besides the northeast, when they were WWWF champions they wrestled in Canada, Japan, Europe, Australia, etc... one of the reasons the Intercontinental championship was created so there could be a title match, albeit a secondary title, when the WWWF champion was working away from the territory

[@spetterman2916]

Bob Backlund was never a world champion LOL He was a regional champion. His whole title reign was under the NWA banner. Making the NWA Champion the world champion. Yes he would leave the territory because he could go to many of these places because of the affiliation with the NWA.

[@coachoconnor1]

great insight Jim

[@azlanhussain6116]

Didn't Bruno start in Canada? Wasn't he already a star there before the buddy rogers fued.

[@JCsunfire]

Bruno started in the New York area. He got "banned", so Bruno went to Toronto Canada. He ended up reviving the Toronto wrestling scene. Some time later, Vince McMahon senior persuaded him to come back to New York.

[@Travlr013]

@@JCsunfire He didn't quite "revitilize" Toronto, but he certainly did pop the gate, but in that period, Toronto was in a downturn, and couldn't get a 10,000 gate, but you could see the difference from when he WAS on the card, and when he wasn't; it was like an extra 5,000 people. That's how bad the scene was in T.O. then. It wouldn't improve until about 1968 when The Sheik started showing up regularly. But those bumps in attendance caught Vince Sr.'s attention, and since Tunney and McMahon were friendly -- the families apparently even vacationed together a couple of times -- Vince was convinced to bring Bruno back. Now, even after Bruno won the WWWF title, he still came back to Toronto every month or two and defended his title in this VERY strong NWA city. I think there was even a couple of cards that had both the WWWF and NWA titles on the card! Unheard of in those days! But even as the WWWF Champion, it was a very rare thing to see a 10K gate. And Maple Leaf Gardens in those days was a 12,000 seat venue for wrestling (bumped to 14,500 after the 1969-70 renovations).

[@JCsunfire]

Thank you for response. That was something I did not know too well.

[@Travlr013]

@@JCsunfire That's okay; I just realized that I had my numbers were off a wee bit: MLG had a 14,500 gate up until the late 60s renos, when it popped to about 18,000. Still, that gives you an idea of who down the town was in the very early 60s.

[@retro_jubilee8187]

I wish wrestling was still more like it was in Bruno’s day. Sports entertainment killed pro-wrestling.

[@sofian9502]

Nobody would watch. It’s not the 60s and everybody knows it’s fake.

[@moxon80]

They have soldiers named the Gurkhas that are also British soldiers. They’re small but hard as fuck

[@thepunditspundit1776]

Bruno worked because he was in a huge Italian area. He fought like an Italian, he ate like an Italian, he was proud to be an Italian. NWA fans preferred the chase. 8 years of a face champ would not have flown

[@louis3141]

Same reason why JYD was huge in Mid-South

[@madbrowniac7871]

"Ate like an Italian." Could there be higher praise? I say this as a lifelong nonItalian Southerner who dearly loves Food!😎B.W.

[@thepunditspundit1776]

Thesz was more of a tweener/heel with subtle heel tendencies. I don’t think he was a full fledged face

[@madbrowniac7871]

I am not so sure if Dusty Rhodes was a Heel when he held The Big Gold. He had heelish tendencies which worked quite well in getting revenge against Ric Flair and his crew of heavies. Tommy Rich was never champ long enough for anyone to find out. And there is no way that Kerry Von Erich and Rick Steamboat were any sort of Heels. Ron Garvin, definitely though popular just someone who would knock the kayfabe out of a guy. And Sting too popular always to be a Heel. Mysteriously Harley Race never regained the championship after Thanksgiving Night 1983 although he could be a superb Heel for a number of reasons. Jack Brisco yes and Jerry was the perfect bigmouth instigator. Dory and Terry Funk were their Archnemeses and worked so well with The Briscos on a number of levels including Heel Psychology. Pat O'Connor all anyone seems to know about him is this trademark roll finisher. Buddy Rogers was vanquished in JCP in 1979 by the guy who supplanted him as the Heel par excellence. Anyone have a theory on Jack Veneno?😏B.W.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

Bruno was the original " Unfuckwithable "

[@erikjohansson2300]

Catmandu has a annual party. That's why there was a song about it.

[@johneaston918]

Bruno responded to this in an interview. He sold out venues across the globe. Bruno put more butts in seats than Flair and Hogan combined.

[@davidcyr5327]

Never had a 7 star match like Jazz Hands Kenny Olivier

[@stonecoldflipper9503]

That’s a good joke.

[@dylusional419]

"Ohhhhh nepal Where the fuck is nepal"

[@Holden308]

Nepal, located in the Himalayan Mountains which includes Mt. Everest, is the highest country on earth. The China-Nepal border runs across the northern summit of the world's tallest mountain.

[@frankiebflat5728]

Miss Bruno

[@DarthMeteos]

2:02 for the actual question.

[@johnliberty3647]

Next Corny won’t know that Timbuktu is in Mali

[@tobiasfarragut292]

“Nah ive been to Jersey City..that’s certainly the outhouse”

[@Coodeville]

Yet.....how many guys wanted into NY in order to get a pay day from working with Bruno Sammartino ? It wasn't about Bruno going to other territories. It was about guys from other territories wanting to come to Bruno.

[@toomuch9762]

Jezus Jim shining a light on the American education system

[@YD-uq5fi]

I lost respect for Cornette that he didn't even know what Kathmandu is, or what Nepal is.

[@edwinaramirez6063]

And now the so called Northeast (WWE Championship) is more recognized than the minor league NWA belt.

[@allamaraine8066]

Brian sounds defeated sometimes, and I love Cornette, but you just gotta talk over him sometimes, dart through that shit. He gets right back to the point, but Brian still has that "Why does he always do this?"-tone in his voice early on. 😆

[@robertescher3082]

Nepal is a Himalayan country sandwitched between India and China. It is actually the country from which most attempts to climb Mt. Everest originate. Mt. Everest itself lies on the border between Nepal and China. :)

[@keithpasculli7465]

Bruno could not draw in NC and Flair, Harley Race, Jack Brisco, Dory Funk could not fill the garden month after month

[@CatsClaw44]

Except he did draw in North Carolina.

[@ikill4klondikebars]

@@CatsClaw44 As a special attraction. Which is what Andre was. Week after week, no. Fans would have tired of both of them. The reason folks like Andre and Sammartino could go to other territories and be big draws is because they weren't around all the time. So when they came around, it was a big deal. It felt important.

[@madbrowniac7871]

Ole Anderson said that the reason he booked Ric Flair as a territorial tour guy was Flair would destroy The NWA MidAtlantic due to his lack of variety in presentation. So he probably would've clashed with Bruno Sammartino based on that. Or a zillion other reasons due to Ole being Ole.😂B.W.

[@ashmadison9238]

Being from jersey city I can agree..

[@AllanAdamson]

My mount Rushmore of wrestling changes I did have flair on there but now I've taken him off even considering replacing him with Backlund but for sure Bruno and Andre are on there, the other two are up in the air still now..