Bruno Sammartino: Overrated or Underrated?

[It's...Baylariat!]

This could draw the ire of many. Bruno is the longest reigning WWE Champion in history. He sold out Madison Square Garden numerous times, fought such wrestlers as Bob Backlund, Ivan Koloff, Superstar Billy Graham, Stan Hansen, Larry Zbyszko, and many others. His longevity during his time is legendary, but many consider him to be a 'hack' and vastly overrated due to his move set and mic work.

So let the debating begin... is Bruno Sammartino overrated... or underrated?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

This is a tough one to decide on. His style of wrestling would never work in this era but for his era he was considered one of the best. I would say that he was slightly underrated because he was Hogan before Hogan became big. He was a huge draw at that time and was revered. When he lost the title to Koloff after an eight year reign, the crowd was silent. Bring that present day and how would we react if a wrestler held the title for two or three years and then lost. It wouldn't be the reaction Sammartino received. His criticisms of WWE may make him overrated in some people's eyes and that is working against him but he is slightly underrated to me.

 

[D-Man]

I think Lariat said it himself...

Bruno is the longest reigning WWE Champion in history. He sold out Madison Square Garden numerous times

Let's face it, in most cases, the key to being a successful professional wrestler is the ability to "put butts in the seats." There are very few exceptions to this rule, but everyone needs to realize that pro-wrestling is a scripted sporting program with predetermined outcomes. Essentially, it is a business that makes money off the notoriety of different men, when these men have done nothing more than put on exhibitions of athletic prowess.

We, as smarks, can knock a wrestler's in-ring ability until we're blue in the face. But if they have the draw-factor, they must be doing SOMETHING right. Case in point - Hulk Hogan. The man couldn't wrestle worth a damn. But he entertained fans, told the in-ring story, and sold millions of tickets to wrestling shows. So, to say that Bruno Sammartino is overrated basically means that Hulk Hogan is overrated.

So my answer is that Bruno Sammartino is 100% UNDERRATED.

 

[waylonmercy]

Bruno Sammartino is definitely not overrated. A wrestler who gains the trust of the promoter to the point of being the top dog for 8 years be overrated. The Undertaker for years didn't even talk and he was their biggest star. He wasn't the greatest mat wrestler either yet 20 years later he's still on top. Bruno was smart enough to know how to get the crowd behind him. He related to the WWE territory of the 70's. He was a blue collar wrestler who played the role very well and brought people to the arenas to see him.

 

[X]

Absolutely 110% overrated. Maybe not by the current WWE's standards, because Vince McMahon wants to pretend that Bruno never even existed and you'll never see him in the Hall of Fame because of his disputes with Vince, but in terms of stacking him up next to his peers at the time? He was fucking atrocious. The man has to be one of the single worst in-ring performers of all time, and I'm not just saying that. Seriously, watch a match of his during his heyday, he makes Hulk Hogan and John Cena look like Chris Benoit and Bret Hart. Sloppy execution, frequent botches, and a moveset of about 3-4 moves. You will not find a single more boring wrestler on the face of the planet than Bruno Sammartino, I assure you.

Sure he sold out MSG. Sure he had a title reign of several years. Sure he's a legend. But I wouldn't rank him anywhere NEAR a top ten or top twenty of all time in the WWF or any other promotion, which is what he is often considered. I seriously challenge any of you to go and try to watch a Bruno Sammartino match without yawning and/or falling asleep. I'm fairly certain it's impossible.

 

[Brady12]

In his time, he was not overrated or underrated. He was honored as the superstar that he was. If he entered this generation as a wrestler, I don't think he'd fit the mold of what we consider a wrestling superstar. So it's tough to say really.

But if I am forced to pick. I guess I'd have say underrated because he is not in the WWE Hall of Fame. I mean, if Pete Rose can make it.... so should Burno due to his contributions.

 

[NecroFox]

But if I am forced to pick. I guess I'd have say underrated because he is not in the WWE Hall of Fame. I mean, if Pete Rose can make it.... so should Burno due to his contributions.

Question though, how could Vince put him in the HOF when he wouldn't show up to get it? I mean its not like he is dead so how would that work?

 

[Sully]

Hey dude, don't talk crap about that man. I go to school with his grand son, and i've met him before. He has the longest wwe title reign ever of 11 years.

He hates Vince Mcmahaon and hates what he's done to the company. And he's had a tough childhood in Italy. This man has brought prestige to the wwe.

Don't expect him to be a guest host on raw anytime soon.

 

[Haxan]

He's rated properly. He won't be appreciated by the younger fans that love today's style of wrestling, but in his day, he was one of the better wrestlers out there, imo.

I heard Bruno in an interview years ago and he said the WWF/WWE has invited him to be inducted into their HOF on a number of occasions, but he wants nothing to do with them since he doesn't like or agree with today's product. He mentioned how he didn't like the bad language and scantily clad women in particular. He doesn't seem to like Vince much either.

 

[King Douche]

He's rated properly. He won't be appreciated by the younger fans that love today's style of wrestling, but in his day, he was one of the better wrestlers out there, imo.

I heard Bruno in an interview years ago and he said the WWF/WWE has invited him to be inducted into their HOF on a number of occasions, but he wants nothing to do with them since he doesn't like or agree with today's product. He mentioned how he didn't like the bad language and scantily clad women in particular. He doesn't seem to like Vince much either.

Can you blame him for that comment i mean Vince turned wrestling into a reject/ripoff hollywood. With his stripper/hookers for divas, doing dumb stuff like last night on RAW wrestling in a dress. He does not have to be asscoiated with Vince if he does not want to. Another wrestling legend in Sting feels the exact same way. Language however is fine now and not bad like it was during the attitude era.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Hmmmm, it depends upon how you want to look at things. Sammartino's style would probably never be able to get the job done today. But, you have to remember that pro wrestling as a pretty different animal 45 years ago. Back in those days, you didn't have guys usually going to the top rope, you didn't have guys doing springboard dropkicks, superplexes, powerbombs, suicide dives, chokeslams, moonsaults, ladder matches, and so on and so forth. Most wrestlers didn't walk around with Herculean physiques, perfect tans, most didn't get their body hair waxed. Basically, the biggest wrestling stars didn't have to look like a cross between a Hollywood dreamboat and a Greek god.

Sammartino brought what he had to the ring, which was a legitimate physical toughness and freakish physical strength. The fans of the WWWF went wild for the guy because he was a tough, no frills Italian-American that kept their attention. Sammartino was offered the NWA World Heavyweight Championship during his first run as WWWF Champion and turned it down. Not only because of the intense schedule, but because of the money he was making doing exactly what he was doing. He was making more money as the WWWF Champion than he would have made as NWA Champion and was working only a fraction of the schedule. Sammartino drew big money, people wanted to see him do his thing.

So, was he overrated or underrated? Hmmm...well, I probably have to say underrated overall. For his era, Sammartino was a pretty good wrestler. If you try to measure him by using today's standards, he's not all that hot at all. But, comparing wrestling today to wrestling 45 years ago is like comparing Vin Diesel to Lawrence Olivier.

 

[wrestling fan 666]

I always thought of Bruno as the guy Sly Stallone used as a model for Rocky. Bruno not only put butts in the seats WITHOUT nationalized television, he had that "it" quality that truly related to the fans. He was like a working man's champion. He would be the type that you'd run into at the market, worked construction with; the everyday man.

Is it any wonder why he despises the WWE product. He was popular without gimmicks. He is the longest reining champion in history. Let's see Hulk Hogan be as popular without the t-shirts, dolls, vitamins, etc. and without worldwide press. Bruno did it the hard way...which is why he's so respected in the business. Just like the immigrant he was brought up as, he scraped; worked hard; and proved to be the success story he is.

In my opinion, he is so underrated.