- 07/13/2005 (2:20:36 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
Bruno Sammartino is alive and well and living in Pittsburgh….
Old-school smackdown Wrestling giant Bruno Sammartino is alive and well and living in Pittsburgh. And if things go a certain way, Sammartino will end up in the ring again. At age 69. Before Hulk Hogan, before Stone Cold Steve Austin, before the Rock, Sammartino was the force in pro wrestling, regularly selling out arenas such as the Spectrum. He held world titles from 1963 to 1971 and 1973 to 1977. Sammartino, who still works out six days a week (nearly a quarter-century since his official retirement), says he stayed away from wrestling for years. Just didn't like what it had become. But after appearing at a trade show called WrestleReunion, and seeing his fellow old-timers, he became nostalgic. Sammartino will be honored during WrestleReunion 2, scheduled for Aug. 26-28 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia (www.WrestleReunion.com). The Saturday night festivities include a 10-match card, complete with old-time grudge. Sammartino's former protege (and later antagonist), Larry Zbyszko, will take on Diamond Dallas Page. Years ago, Zbyszko put out a challenge to Sammartino, and the "feud" still simmers. If Zbyszko beats Page, he'll get five minutes in the ring with Sammartino, who has had hip replacements and knee replacements in the last few years. "I don't think it'll happen," Sammartino says. "But I'm ready. You'll see I haven't been sitting in my living room, sitting there drinking a beer." | |
