Show: Wrestling Epicenter at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com  Guest: David Sammartino
Date: 4/8/06
Your Hosts: James Walsh, Ben Benya, Brendon Brooks, & Francine

I think it is safe to say based on the guests we've had of late that I have been trying to tap some untapped interview gold. I feel with Gary Michael Cappetta and David Sammartino, I've succeeded.

David hasn't spoken to his father in years. So, this interview will clear up why and give you much more. What more? Well, why he wants to beat Ric Flair's brains in for one!

David also did a shoot interview DVD recently. You can buy that DVD at http://kandshoots.com/  

Also, check out Francine's official pay site at http://www.MissyHyattandFrancineTV.com . There are some new photos of Francine in a blue string bikini... If your heart can handle it, give it a look... It's quite nice!

Go to http://www.wrestlingepicenter.com  to listen to this interview for free!

DAVID SAMMARTINO INTERVIEW
Conducted by James Walsh and Patrick Kelley

David Sammartino's entrance at Wrestlemania 1 brings us into the interview with a "Son of Royalty," David Sammartino.

What has David been doing up to lately? While David doesn't like to think he career has "ended," he's only taken whatever indy gigs he could get his hands on and hasn't been in the ring in a couple of years. However, he's currently a fitness trainer and has been for the past 10 years.

Any interest in getting back into the ring? David says that, although he's 46 years old, he has one match left in him.

David had an "evil thought" which led to a dream match between he and Bruno against Vince and Shane McMahon. Would Bruno agree to the match? David doesn't know.

Knowing who his father was, did David want to be a wrestler growing up? Yes

Did Larry Zybysko steal David's thunder? No, but David wishes he had some of the breaks Larry had.

What was it like for David to wrestle with Bruno? It was a dream for David to wrestle with his father, but not as a childhood dream, which was to be a star like Bruno was.

David thought the first "WrestleMania" was more of a glorified MSG show, but it evolved.

Bruno did most of the negotiating for David's WWF career and David was not happy about it. That led to David quitting the WWF a couple of times, the last time in 1988.

David did a couple of shows for the AWA the first time he quit, including a job to Stan Hansen in a televised Las Vegas show. David didn't know the show would be televised!

David was on an episode of WCW Nitro and wrestled Dean Malenko. Eric Bischoff promised to send David a contract, but didn't.

David did a shoot interview, basically because he was flattered to have been asked, but doesn't get residuals from the tape. He tried to make the video more of a documentary of his life, as he's never writing a book.

Mick Foley had a comment about David in his first book, basically saying it's not a good idea for a young trainee to listen to David Sammartino. David seems to agree with it.

James brings up how David's father, Bruno Sammartino, thinks the current product is too adult and many consider him "bitter." David mentions that Bruno is more blunt than bitter and will tell the truth, much like himself. David also says that it's easy to rely on sex rather than build something substantial.

David thinks the WWE Hall of Fame is ridiculous, as you can't determine any real criteria for entry. David then puts over his father as deserving to be in the MSG Hall of Fame because he sold out that arena.

David hasn't seen or talked to his father in 15 years, claiming that both guys were stubborn.

Ric Flair is the next topic, and how he tried to diminish the impact of Bruno. David says he once challenged Flair and would like to beat his brains in, but that Vince is gutless and wouldn't allow it. They then go into how Flair tried to shake Bruno's hand recently and Bruno turned him away.

David doesn't know how he feels about the end of the "kayfabe" era of wrestling, but he puts over how today's wrestlers are not as lazy as the ones in his day. He also doesn't know how they'll top the current product, with all the insane things the current wrestlers have to do to get over.

"Superstar" Billy Graham was one of the biggest influences in David's life, and he puts over Graham's struggle over his donated liver as well as Graham keeping his personal demons private.

Despite not seeing in in 15 years, David still loves his father.

While David thankful with what he's done in his career, including lots of traveling and meeting his wife on the road, he wishes he could have done better, and have been a world champion somewhere.

NOTES FROM GEORGIE:

Superstar Billy Graham recently did an interview in which he said that Bruno Sammartino was a bitter man, and proof of that was that he hasn’t spoken to his son David in more than 17 years.  Bruno was very hurt that Billy would bring up something personal like that.  Bruno wanted me to tell Billy, that he hopes Billy is half as content in his life, as Bruno is in his.  And to also tell Billy he left out the most important part of the David Sammartino story.  Billy Graham was the one who supplied David Sammartino with the steroids.  And besides that is not the reason Bruno and David don’t speak.  Bruno said he is not bitter, but hurt that the wrestling business has become such an Entertainment business.  

Also to clear up another error in the above interview with David.  When Bruno had a meeting with the WWE in Pittsburgh last year.  A RUMOR got out that Flair tried to shake Bruno's hand and Bruno walked away.  That is the farthest from the TRUTH.  Flair was standing in the back and when Bruno walked that way to speak to someone else, Flair turned and left.  

Reminder:  Go to: www.BrunoBrunoBruno.com  the DVD’s are finished now and available for shipping.  I highly recommend these DVD's if your a Bruno fan.  Behind the Championship belt brought me to tears more than once.