BRUNO'S life story is truly amazing.

Thank you for sharing this ! Your love for Bruno is to be appreciated. He'll always be my favorite !

My uncle's favorite wrestler... even though he didn't live on East coast... where Bruno was wwwf champion...he remembers when he came to L.A. and won the battle royal in Los Angeles Olympic auditorium back then... like your collection...I have a few same magazines that you have... keep collecting and the videos

Awesome collection. Thanks for sharing

BRUNO IS ALL-TIME GREATEST!!

Amazing collection. Priceless stuff. Bruno was my all-time favorite. I saw him only once in person. February 18, 1978 against Billy Graham in a cage match at the Spectrum.

@prowrestlingmags

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much!! I appreciate it. Your one time seeing Bruno wrestle was a great one. Rare for him and Graham in a cage! No magazine coverage of that. Thanks for commenting.

@eagleeye604

Жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags my pleasure

My all time favorite, always went to see him when he came to Boston Garden

I contend that, were he still alive, if he was advertised as the "Guest Popcorn Vendor" it would be a sell out. What an incredible man

I really enjoyed that, and am incredibly jealous of that pic of Graham and Bruno in the test of strength! Brought back great memories of my teen years in the 70s. Starting watching in 72 as a 10 year old kid , Bruno was the champ at the time, seen a couple matches at the Spectrum, to this day I never heard or felt excitement as when Bruno made his way into the ring in those days, it truly was electric!

@prowrestlingmags

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for commenting. I’m glad you liked it and I brought back memories. I made a vid for Superstar Graham as well that you may like. It truly was the best times in Wrestling.

What an incredible collection. I have some comments and questions so please bare with me. I never had the chance to see Bruno wrestle in his prime. I really only knew of him through the magazines up until the early 80s when cable tv exploded. And, by then, Bruno wrestled very sporadically. What I did like and respect about Bruno was the fact he was an honorable man. I have never heard someone speak ill of Bruno. On the contrary, men like Superstar Graham and Larry Zbyszko credit Bruno so much to what Bruno did for their careers. Also, Bruno was beyond strong and if I am not mistaken, he never took a drug in his life to build his physique. And, he kept in shape his entire life. Like you, fitness is a huge part of my life at 55. The April 1976 issue of The Wrestler is one of my all time favorite wrestling magazine covers. I need to get a copy of that issue. What I also like about that particular mag is it covers a major title change with Terry Funk winning the NWA World Title. Regarding the Pedro - Bruno match, do you know how good the match was and who was cheered more? I am assuming Bruno. And, speaking of matches, from what I have read, when Ivan Koloff one the WWWF Championship in 1971, the fans in the building were silent. Stunned. Also, maybe you can verify this for me. I heard Superstar Graham won the title in 1977 it was in Baltimore not New York because they were afraid the fans would riot. Is this true? Lastly, you mention Bruno as your favorite. It makes me think who my favorite wrestler was. I can't say I have a favorite. It depends on how I feel that day...lol. Harley, Ted DiBiase (pre Million Dollar Man), Dusty and Superstar Graham (especially from their work in the 1970s), Brody, Butch Reed and Barry Windham all rank right up there. Want to add that I like Bill Apter. I am glad he did right with Bruno. Yes, the Japanese magazines were better but as you have said before, pro wrestling was more respected in Japan. Again, great video of a great man, inside and more importantly, outside of the ring.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks my friend. I appreciate it! I’m not a pc, phone or video guy at all. I’m almost 53 yrs old and stuck in my ways. I never in a million years thought I’d make a KZread vid! That’s just not me! But I’ve watch some of the vids on magazines and was shocked at the false info being spread and the “collections” that are being shown and praised. One vid said the Wrestler mag is the oldest magazine and started in 1969!! In the comments ppl were thanking him for all the helpful info. I was like WTF!! They are dead wrong. I should make a vid with the correct info about these issues to help ppl. I came close when Bruno died to make vid for him! But put it off. Finally after watching another vid of someone’s collection I said I can’t take it anymore. I have to show every issue every year etc with the correct info. To answer your question from what I know only second hand, One of the reasons they needed to take the belt off of Pedro because the Puerto Rican fans were maniacs if Pedro got beat up or lost. They caused riots several ppl and wrestlers were stabbed, piss thrown on them, and hit with heavy objects that were thrown over the years. Bruno was happy not being champ with the easy booking schedule, and he did his own thing. McMahon Senior asked him to come back for just one year till they made a new champion. As a matter of fact when Stasiak won the title he didn’t even receive the belt in the ring after he won, he left quickly and they presented him the belt on the following TV taping in fear he would’ve been killed leaving the ring with the belt. They say the pin happened so quickly no one really noticed at first. When Ivan won it was a complete shock to the state of NY! Ppl cried lol. And yes they say The Garden was in complete silence. Same goes for Superstar winning in Baltimore. Baltimore was the Mason Dixon line for wrestling from the WWF to the NWA so it was the safest bet. Very True about Bruno being all natural. He claims he’s never even taken an aspirin. His son David was a steroid user, he got very shredded after his WWF run. Bruno found out about it and disowned him they didn’t speak for many years. I believe and I hope I’m wrong but they never made up before he passed away. If they did I never heard about it and I’m pretty up on the scoop, I have a lotta old timer friends connected to the biz who I trust with good info! But Dave it doesn’t talk about it. I hope Bruno let it go! I never wanted him in the bullshit fake joke of a HOF and he swore he’d never do it! But he did! After hearing the price he got (I promised to never say the amount) I was VERY happy he did it just to suck the money outta McMahons pocket and set his family up for life. But anyway he went to the joke of fame so hopefully they made up in the end. If you like Bill Apter can I recommend his audiobook to you?!?! It’s excellent. Great stories about Stanley Weston. How he started with Stanley etc. I say get the audiobook because it’s in Bills own voice and he’s an excellent funny story teller. I never bought an audiobook book before, Bill was my first. I listen in the car all the time. I love it. It’s extremely educational.

@erikk.5202

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags Thank you for answering those questions. I have been eyeing Bill's book for a while. It is on my want list. Speaking of Bill, in a recent interview he was asked "whose death in wrestling hurt you the most and still think about today?" He said, first, Johnny Walker better known as Mr. Wrestling II. Second, Bruno. I do have one more question that maybe you can shed some light on for me. In the Shea Stadium steel cage match against Larry Zybszko, as Bruno leaves the cage Larry follows him out calling him, Bruno slugs him and then Larry raises Bruno's hand. That was it. I don't recall Larry sticking around much longer in the WWF after that. Was there an idea to turn him back to a face?

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Well from what I know about that feud Bruno booked the entire thing between him and Larry from start to finish, the TV exhibition the three sold out garden shows and then finally the shea show. Bruno never pinned Larry and that was by design to help Larry’s career. Bruno won all 4 matches (they wrestled more then 4, I mean those 4 big shows) but Bruno never pinned him so Larry could say Bruno never “beat me”! Larry was a huge heel that was supposed to work a program with Pedro next and then battle out with Backlund. But I heard Larry started complaining and didn’t want to do certain things etc so he ended up going down south to the Georgia area. I know he loved Bruno! Bruno got him his start so maybe he was just saying thank you to him at the end of the feud because he got 5% of that gate of 42k ppl lol? I don’t know that’s a good question.

@erikk.5202

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags Didn't Larry win one of the matches at MSG when Bruno refused to break his chokehold on Larry as Larry's leg was tied up in the ropes? I did not know Bruno booked the entire feud. Yes, Larry loved Bruno, no doubt about that. Larry owes so much to Bruno.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Hmmm could be? I know Bruno never pinned him! Larry won a few matches one at the Spectrum in Philly when Bruno was disqualified, he was disqualified several times during there run in the smaller towns. But I’ll have to check to see if Larry won one in the Garden. I may be remembering wrong, but thought Bruno won all 4 NY matches

This video tribute was Comprehensive, Historical, and most of all... PASSIONATE. There was so much more to Bruno than his work in the ring. His story is famous, and still resonates after hearing it so many times. Bruno brought his ideology about life to the ring with him...every night ! His beliefs and convictions were never more prevalent than when he stopped wrestling. A hero to the people, a champion to many, a True Living Legend. I am honored to say that I saw him wrestle in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden. You are a historian of the Highest order ! Be well sir....Salute. JB

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Hey thanks very much for that!!! Very much appreciate the kind positive words. I loved Bruno very much! Even in his passing he still inspires me today!!

That back cover photo of Bruno vs Koloff was from the only chain match that was ever held at MSG, in 1975. It was billed as a Russian Chain Match, and they never held another at MSG.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! And I’m sorry I wasn’t clear on that. It’s not the back cover. That’s an 8-1/2x11 photo that I put in the plastic bag! I ran outta wall space!

@elc1960

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags No problem man. Just cool to see all the Bruno memorabilia, and especially all the vintage wrestling mags. You and I apparently started watching wrestling at about the same time, but I was in Massachusetts while you were in New York.

@stephengennarelli1808

2 жыл бұрын

The famous "Chain Match" was actually at Boston Garden. They never did a Chain match at MSG, probably for fear of a potential riot.

I’ve watched all your videos, you have the most incredible collection I’ve ever seen! I’d love to see more of the Japanese issues you have! I never knew about those until I watched your vids. This Bruno video is incredible! Wow great info! Thank you for sharing this! I never knew about all those different belts! No one talks about that!

Thank you for sharing your impressive knowledge of all the variations of WWWF title belts Bruno Sammartino wore during his reign as champion. I am a big fan of the history of the championship belts, and Bruno's belts during his first reign had not been well documented. I plan to share this with the belt fan community and wrestling history buffs online. I will credit this page and direct people to it. As a matter of fact, your page was shared by the "Stick to Wrestling" podcast group on Facebook and that's how I found it. Your work is truly a treasure and much appreciated.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words. It’s my pleasure to share the info on the mags to collectors. I got my first mag in 1977 and never stopped! Having every issue from every publication, every year was a challenge. Not every month had a issue released over the decades. It drove me nuts trying to find an issue only to find out years later there was no issue. that month. So I decided to make a series of videos of every publication to help collectors complete their collections.

Cool to see Wrestling Monthly magazine after all these years. It was published by the same company that published Wrestling Revue. Wrestling Monthly was the magazine that published Jerry Lawler's wrestling comic strip "The Patriot," a Captain America-like wrestler who was trying to avenge the death of his wrestler father at the hands of a masked heel wrestler named "Dr. Devil." It's likely that that Patriot was the inspiration for Del Wilkes' later Patriot character, right down to the same finishing maneuver, the "Uncle Slam."

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that info. I Never knew about Lawyers comic. I did a video on all the Wrestling Monthly issues not sure if you watched it. kzread.info/dash/bejne/g6p5pdeSerOnms4.html

This is the finest wrestling channel on KZread. Could you share some stories about how you obtained some of those amazing autographs?

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Very much, i’m not sure I deserve that kind of compliment seeing a lot of peoples fantastic production and well-planned produced shows. I just wanted to make a video that was fast to the point, without all the other filler, it’s just me and an iPhone but I appreciate that. Thanks for watching. I wish I had some really great stories to tell about how I got most of these. Living on the northeast coast I have access to a lot of conventions. I am a big horror movie fan. For 20+ years I have been attending horror movie and science-fiction movie conventions. At those shows they would often have wrestlers appear as guests, the road warriors, slaughter, steamboat, Valentine, Piper, the list goes on and on. No one was really there to see wrestlers. So their line was always small. So I would always bring some wrestling magazines to get signed along with my movie memorabilia. If I couldn’t get the autographs personally myself, I would only go to one person and that is Bud Carson from wrestling world in Allentown PA. Bud has the greatest collection of wrestling autographs and baseball cards I’ve ever seen, he had a store for a number of years. I’ve known bud close to 30 years. He is the only person I’ve ever bought an autograph magazine from. He would host sometimes two signing shows a year at his store in Allentown Pennsylvania. Bud is very close with superstar Billy Graham, he was extremely close with Bruno Sammartino, Bill Apter, the list goes on. I would recommend anybody who wishes to own some great legitimate autographed collectibles to visit bud Carson. A simple google search can find him m, also on all social media outlets

It was mentioned the Buddy Rogers NWA US belt that Bruno won, took a few photo ops with and gave back was stolen from Rogers at a house party of his. There was an article after Johnny Barend died in 2011 that his widow found 2 belts in their attic wrapped in towels, one a US tag title belt with 1962 on it and the NWA US title belt reportedly used in the Sammartino-Rogers WWWF title change. There are pictures of Dave Millican and Annie Barend posing with the belts. Barend never told his wife about the belts so could it be that it was he who swiped the prize belt at that infamous house party? It was mentioned by Millican the name plate said World's Champion but if it was removed it said United States Champion underneath.

@prowrestlingmags

Жыл бұрын

I know of the article, but I don’t recall hearing she found two belts. That’s very interesting, one could have been used as a US tag team belt. I do know this tho- The belt used for/as the WWWF belt first appeared was in West Virginia in the early 1950's as a local championship belt. It pops up again in November, 1953 when Nature Boy Buddy Rogers and The Great Scott (John Schweigert) won the "American Tag Team Championship" in Al Haft's Columbus, Ohio territory. In 1960 the original Nature Boy was awarded the Chicago version of the NWA United States Championship by promoter Fred Kohler who presented him with the belt. After Rogers defeated Pat O'Connor for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship the belt went into retirement in Buddy's possession since he never lost his U.S. title. After the NWA disputed title switch in Toronto on January 24, 1963 the CWC and Fred Kohler's Chicago promotion seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance. Rogers was recognized as champion and his old U.S. Championship belt came back out. In April, 1963 the creation of the WWWF was finalized and its first president, Willie Gilzenberg, presented Buddy with the belt on the regular Thursday night broadcast of Capitol Wrestling From Washington, DC with Ray Morgan. (Keep in mind that Rogers had been wearing the belt for 2 1/2 months prior to the actual creation of the WWWF.) On May 17, 1963 the emergency title switch was made in MSG and Bruno Sammartino took temporary possession of the belt. Shortly after the WWWF made up a new belt for Sammartino and Rogers got his belt back. Buddy made a present of the belt to his old friend Johnny Barend. After Barend's death his widow found it in their attic and sold it to to belt maker Dave Millican. There could have been two of those belts if used for a tag team championship as stated above. One half of the tag team belts could have been the stolen belt from the house party. Who knows! Thanks for the comment.

@RepriseFan

Жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags What you just said at the end of the comment makes more sense. I was basing my reply off your account that the first Bruno belt that went back to Rogers was stolen but that was quite generous of Rogers to gift it to Barend.

Great video bruno is my favourite wrestler of all time. Im trying to complete the inside wrestling and the wrestler do you happen to have any spare duplicate copies of any of the magazines i can pay of course. Need i believe 2 of each. Hard to get them as im in the UK.

@prowrestlingmags

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for comment. I’m sorry I don’t have any doubles with Bruno. Rarely do I end up with doubles and if I do I give them away rather quickly. I know eBay can be expensive when combined with shipping to the UK but that’s probably your best bet. I am goin through a few old boxes this weekend. I’ll check if I have any. If I do you can have them. I don’t want any money for them. Just pay for shipping ok? But I’m pretty sure I don’t have any. If I do I’ll comment back to this post on Sunday.

@ZAChampion

Жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags hi thank you for your message I'll absolutely cover shipping if you have any doubles I really appreciate your help. Thank you.

I just wanted to add, I'm also a huge Bruno fan and I would particularly like you to do a follow up You Tube tribute but using photos from the 80's. I'd like to see any photos from his final match teaming with Hogan or any candid photos from when he was announcing with Vince and or Jesse.

Very interesting, you have some really beautiful souvenirs man. Are those autographs genuine? I too collected wrestling magazines as a kid, I wonder if Bruno and Dino Bravo ever met. It would be intereting to see which one would win in a weight lifting competition, I guess a draw since both could bench press well over 500 lbs.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Oh yes! They are personally signed by Bruno, my last box of stuff I mailed to Bruno to have signed! Same with Superstar Graham, Graham can’t travel anymore due to poor health. So we sent a dozen mags off to him last summer. Thanks for watching.

@wrestlingcollector1438

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags really? That is cool. I have a letter written for the superstar that I really want to send to him. Does he have a current address or PO box to send it to? I have sent it and it was to his old address by mistake

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

I think your better off reaching out to his handler on Facebook about getting his address. He runs the superstars Facebook page

I guess Bruno vs Mill was back then version of Austin vs Goldberg. 2 matches that fans wanted but never happened.

where are the mags covering bruno breaking his neck.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

In the 1976 section, also check the same year on the Inside Wrestling video kzread.info/dash/bejne/a52tzpmHgJypaaQ.html

Not to split hairs, but when Bruno best Stasiak for the strap, one of his first defenses was against the Shiek in Pittsburgh. Rudy Miller let me take photos of the belt, which clearly had 'Pedro Morales' painted on it. New strap was being made and when it was, the morales belt was returned.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

None of what you just said makes any sense, the new belt was already made worn by Stan there would be no other belt made after stan lost it. Let’s see your picture

@davidcreedon880

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags I'll track it down...I'm not BS ing you. Stasiak didn't get a new belt. It passed from Pedro to Stan to Bruno, then new belt.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

No, I know your not BS me. Your just wrong. Did you even watch the video??? If you did you’ll clearly see Bruno is already wearing the New belt in the ring. Stan wore the spread winged eagle into the ring, Bruno’s hand is raised wearing it!! Pedro had the red eagle with wing tips down. Your not gonna show me a picture of Bruno with the winged eagle tip down cause he never held it! So let me make sure I understand you, Pedro wore the winged eagle tip down belt, Stan wins the belt, Stan received the New belt on Tv, with the spread winged eagle. Bruno wins the title, he received the red spread winged eagle and is pictured with it on the cover of 4 magazines and my 16x20 photo that Bruno signed! And your telling me you have pictures of Bruno with the red winged eagle tip down? And is waiting for the new belt to me made??? NO! “Stan didn’t get the New belt” Jesus. A simple google images search will clearly show you 200 pictures of Stan with the new spread eagle belt.

@davidcreedon880

2 жыл бұрын

@@prowrestlingmags my friend, it took awhile, but I found the photo. Now then, it was taken January 1974 when Bruno defended the belt against the winner of a battle royal, which was Killer Kowalski. It was taken with a Kodak instamatic, and in truth, didn't age well, but that's not to confuse you into thinking I'm conning you, I'm not. What can be made out is upraised lettering above the words wrestling champion. On the left was the words Pedro, on the right was morales. Now, this is hard to see, but, count the letters, far too short for Sammartino. Reason I remember this so we'll, as a young man, I was so excited to get a close up of the new belt...and deflated to see morales name on it. Now, I'm not real techy, so not sure how to send this pic to the you tube site, but,get in touch with me and I'll get the photo to you, or find someone who can do it for me. I was a huge Bruno fan and was lucky to get to know him.

@prowrestlingmags

2 жыл бұрын

Look it’s so very easy to discredit what you said. Theres 100 photos of Stan with the new belt! Double that amount of Bruno with it. You making this claim is like saying water isn’t clear. Its obvious to hundreds of thousands of people with a simple Google images search. It’s almost comical. But to be clear you have a pic of Bruno holding Pedro’s red leather eagle “tip down” belt! with a photo you took of Bruno holding it and your going to send this to me correct?