I barely survived. He didnt just look strong, he was legitimately strong, and his physique reflects thisslightly thicker core, he doesnt care about body fat percentage or being shredded or anything likethat., For Rust Belt wrestling fans who grew up watching Studio Wrestling on Channel 11 in Pittsburgh, stocky ex-apprentice carpenter Sammartino embodied immigrant strength and fortitude. My family, living in Italy during World War 2, suffered greatly. Dubbed The Living Legend during his lifetime. That sounded interesting. . 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Bruno Sammartino was an Italian-born American Professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation(WWWF). He had some amateur wrestling training, and allegedly had a partial wrestling scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh on the table, but it was as a powerlifter that Sammartino truly excelled. Karl and I trained together over that time, and I did my best bench press ever, 565 pounds. I feel you have to set up a routine that suits you personally and what you want from your weight training, not follow every new exercise or routine that comes out. I do 10 sets of 10 reps with 135 to 175 pounds. Answer: Far from it! Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. If you keep getting redirected to this page, please enable cookies. A short time later in a New York boxing gym, Bruno worked in the ring against Sonny Liston, one of the countrys leading heavyweight maulers. But before he was a star wrestler, he was a powerlifter one of the best in the world throughout much of the 1950s and it was his success in that . The coach there offered him a scholarship, but Bruno turned it down in order an apprecntice carpenter for a number of years. Bruno published a book about training and wrestling. Inside of this gym, Bruno would place a bar upon his shoulders and load it with as many plates as possible. And then after I did a few touch-and-go reps, he did twenty-four and he was two decades older thanme.. Like many of you, on Wednesday April 18, 2018, we learned about the death of the living legend, Bruno Sammartino. But Rusev, however much he might resemble Sammartino physically, no longer has what we might think of as the prototypical wrestling body. Bruno's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 brought Sammartino's sell-outs at the Garden to a staggering total of 188 times. A: Not at all. BADDEST MOFOS EVER LIVED- ALEXANDER KARELIN. Because of these elbow problems I gravitated more towards power training than Olympic lifting. Hindu Squats 2 x 1004. I was a victim of malnutrition, and even after we moved to this country I continued to be sickly and run down. To that end, before Sammartino, most of the top champions (Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge and Pat OConnor) had to have legitimate competitive wrestling chops to defend their belts. The time and energy he devoted to his workouts didnt allow too much time for other activities, but the agile strongman practiced a great deal of wrestling while in high school and frequently worked out with the wrestling squad at the Univerity of Pittsburgh. His story resonates with many of us who dealt with or deal with being skinny, thin or out of shape and have to deal with being bullied. He did not smoke. My mother, a first-generation Southwestern Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly how Sammartino reminded her of her swarthy Slovak grandfather. The men who didnt, such as lumbering 1920s footballer Wayne Munn and tan, ripped 1950s heel Nature Boy Buddy Rogers, were always in danger of being quickly pinned by an unscrupulous foe who wouldnt follow the script (in the case of Munn, this actually happened). I enjoyed training with them just because of the fact that they were the elite bodybuilders at the time. Whats your exercise regimen like today at 77 years old? Earth, receive an honored guest: Legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong man Bruno Sammartino has been laid to reset. Watch the Trailer. Question: First of all, Bruno, have you always been rugged and powerful? what do you do for a routine now? . While bonafide superstars like Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers are fondly remembered, their contemporaries have somewhat fallen to the wayside in the history books. While the "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino of Pittsburgh, PA., used many training methods, this is from his training course sold in the back of magazines and comic books in the 1960's. He had a gym in Wexford, Pennsylvania, just down the road from where I grew up. I would work out in the morning because I wanted to be very rested up for the wrestling matches at night. Bruno Sammartino, one of the most iconic stars in professional wrestling history, has died at age 82, the WWE announced . Unlike too many of the present day strongmen who specialize in the so-called odd lifts, Bruno is not afraid to show what he can do in public in open competition. And so, while in uneasy retirement, Sammartino railed against steroid use and other workplace safety issues in Vince McMahon Jr.s federation, stating in one especially heated 1991 interview that the WWE was infested with drug abuse and running sham steroidtests. Bruno was known for some unorthodox methods. Actually Bulldog Brower slammed Haystacks as well. WWF House Show - House Show @ Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. 1. Bruno weighed around 250 and I was 167. Also, I would occasionally do cheat curls with 225. But before he was a star wrestler, he was a powerlifterone of the best in the world throughout much of the 1950sand it was his success in that field, plus the massive body he brought with him, that helped him change wrestling. They would affect my knees, so I would occasionally make a swift move in the ring, only to find my knee buckling under me. Stuffing himself with as much pasta and homemade Italian bread as his mom could cook, Sammartino quickly bulked up and narrowly missed making the 1956 US Olympic weightlifting team. The details of his passing were minimal at the time, but we now know the 82-year old's cause of death. (See exercise photos above). There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of . In private conversation, a well-established member of the Greek community in Pittsburgh told us that he trained alongside Bruno in a basement gym. Curl 3 x 65. Skip to main content . So two weeks out of the month Id be wrestling seven days a week, and the other two weeks Id do six nights a week. Sammartino is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Q: This isn't the routine you used for developing all your power, of course. Q: Could you explain more about your remark about Anderson? Curiously, he was edged out by the legendary Paul Anderson, who outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds. He believed in many sets of the basic exercises are shown in the photos. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. Here is a chart of his comparative measurements. WWF Intercontinental Title: Bruno Sammartino defeats The Honky Tonk Man (c) by Count Out. The first time I competed was in the 123-pound class. Back . Sammartino continued in his physical culture training. You'll note that I said "was" in my routine. A: True. In spite of his irregular hours he tried to get all the sleep he can. Mind you, he wrestled the night before in Philadelphia and that morning drove into Manhattan. Before I turned pro as a wrestler I competed in both Olympic lifting and powerlifting. A: I pressed 365 . tell us about this amazing oldster. I use bench presses as the cornerstone of my training, doing 10-12 sets. For example, on bench press, I dont go higher than maybe 215 for reps. For shoulder work I do 35-pound dumbbells for side laterals. Well his hard work paid off and by 1956 he had made on the Olympic weight lifting team. . If you disable cookies, this site will not work properly. Since I first started my weight training in 1944 there was one movement that I love to do more than any other.the wide grip bench press. Old-School Ass Kicker Bruno Sammartino Extended Interview This legendary professional wrestler held the world title for a record 11+ years straight in the 1960s and '70s. Now, do I lift heavy weights anymore? NaturalStrength.com is an online think-tank, dedicated to truthful drug-free strength training information, (weight training, weightlifting, olympic lifting, powerlifting, strongman (competitive), bodybuilding, physical culture & iron game). Due to this he was bullied in school which drove him to weightlifting to build his body up. Inno Supps Complete Gut Health Stack: Doctor Approved 3-Step Process for UFC and Project Rock Team Up For BSR 3 Shoe Collaboration. Bruno Sammartino is one of the defining legends from WWE history. By the time he was graduated from Schenley High School he had more than doubled his bodyweight as a freshman. bodybuilding training will not give you the strength you need for the mat . Later, he would workout regularly with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and Dave Draper. No, Im 77, and my weight is not 275 anymore. The final exercise in my power routine is the curl. He held the record for 21 straight sell-outs in Australia and the largest crowd in Japan 190,000 peope setted the all time record of 125.000 in India- He was the only pro wrestler to sell out the Bull Fight Arenia in Caracas, Venezuela. For many years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was a professional wrestler. I was a human skeleton when I came to the United States. He was 82. He has entered and won a number of power lift contests. Good articles about weight training, strength research, the harmful effects of steroids, the mental aspects of training, and iron game - physical culture history are always wanted. Q: What were your bests in Olympic lifting? For added back and shoulder power, I next do high pulls. He used to work genererally a six-day week on construction projects. Exit thoughts of the prize ring! Although he did not drink strong alcoholic beverages, he admitted to liking an occasional glass of beer or two, particularly in summer. Big Bruno Sammartino, the amicable Pittsburgh giant, was born in Italy. . He told his grandsons that one of the most dangerous sluggers of the times could not put him down. A: Yes, Paul was actually a very poor wrestler. What were those workouts like?I loved working out with those guys because not only did they have great bodies, but they used fairly good weights too. Most of his training, then as in the future, was done in the well-equipped weight room at the East Liberty Y.M.H.A. I bring this up to mention that Brunos diagramed bench was a mere 6 or 8 inches (I forget which) high, and theconstruction material involved was wood! Then, do 2 sets of 15 reps for behind the neck pull ups, before finishing with calf and neck isometrics. Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino [1] (October 6, 1935 - April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). Brunos best one rep was 565, if he wasnt wrestling I know he would have been the first to do 600lbs(NO DRUGS, EVER) This all took place at the Mid- City Gym in 1968. Im 215 now, maybe 220 with my clothes on. I start around 300, and work up doing sets of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum poundage. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Old-School Ass Kicker Bruno Sammartino Extended Interview, Healthy (and Tasty) Tips for Your Super Bowl Party, 4 Proteins You Should be Eating, But Probably Arent. Sammartino could certainly handle himself, but not in the way pro wrestling was accustomed to. Bruno Sammartino had been wrestling professionally since 1959, and the Italian immigrant - who had left to the US with his family from Italy in 1950 after hiding from the Nazis during World War II - captivated a rising influx of immigrants into the US during and post-war. Chin Up (Behind Neck) 2 x 152. You see, I cannot lock my elbows . You finish with sit ups. WWF House Show - House Show @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Your email address will not be published. Does modern bodybuilding make you sick? After World War II, the Sammartinos moved to Pittsburgh. Upright Row 3 x 67. You did 3 sets of 6 repetitions on all of your exercises. First in that routine is bench presses. He wanted to keep his strength up but also most important to him was his endurance in the ring. I believe this was caused by wartime malnutrition . You made progress by gradually adding weight to the bar. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. . Ever since he was a little kid, he's been really good at exercising. Workout A done M/W/F . Then he reached 30..he looked and sounded like a locomotive..34.35.36.37.38- THIRTY-EIGHT repetitions with 330 pounds. I do between four and five miles. But whats interesting to me is that because he arrives later to the U.S., in the 1950s, bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting were already being separated, and Sammartino clearly went down the weightlifting and powerlifting route. His chest, shoulder and arm muscles bulge under his workout clothes, a sweat suit with "Built in Bloomfield" printed . . Since powerlifting has always been a big part of my life, its the last of these feats that really interests me. Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans on May 17, 1963, at the old Madison Square Garden. TRAINING WITH A LEGEND Bruno Sammartino, Posted on NaturalStrength.com on November 29, 1999. Nevertheless, it bears noting that the man who has loomed large over the WWE since 2003 is John Cena, a powerhouse wrestler of Italian descent who has consistently denied all allegations of steroid use and even gone so far as to hang the negative results of his drug tests in his South Florida gym. Is there one achievement that stands out from the rest?I had a pretty tough childhood, being in Europe during the war and all that stuff. Editors note: Do you want to read more about Bruno or his role model John Grimek? Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). I had heard so much about guys who trained there [at Joe Golds gym in Venice] and the lifts they did, I wondered if I was up to par with them. by Joe Wuebben Born: October 6, 1935 Height: 5'10" Weight: 275 pounds (when he was a pro wrestler) Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA that in the past he used to drink large quantities of milk in an attempt to bulk up and gain weight rapidly, but he had cutted milk out completely because of the many article he has read denouncing the exccess cholersterol caused by consumption of animal fats. Although naturally big and strong, hed be surpassed by the next generation of steroid-enhanced superstars, losing his WWE title for good to Superstar Billy Graham and then temporarily losing his place in WWE history as a Hulk Hogan-led wave of bodybuilder bodies deluged the industry in the1980s. . To be fortunate enough to survive that, and then to later be recognized as the champion, that had to be as big a deal as anything. Squat 3 x 62. But the war erupted, and it was not until 1949 that the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land. After suffering a broken neck, among other injuries, Bruno retired in 1988. Hes routinely mentioned as having been edged out by Anderson for a slot on the 1956 Olympic weightlifting team (then still coached by York Barbell magnate Bob Hoffman), and most articles from that era note that he was a prominent rival of Andersonsa true Pittsburgh Hercules, as this vintage Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story callshim. He walked a great deal, which he believed improved his endurance. There was plenty of truth to what Sammartino was saying, but also an element of sour grapes: He had once been the top dog, the man with the unbreakable bear hug, but his top spot (and legend) had been passed to juiced-up behemoths Graham and Hogan, then to ever-tauter performers in the mold of Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and todays many other CrossFit-looking (and doing) superstars. Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and I did with Bruno was the press! Very poor wrestler Franco Columbo, and I trained together over that time, and up. Widely regarded as one of the fact that they were the elite bodybuilders at the East Y.M.H.A! That one of the times could not put him down which was also his movement. The well-equipped weight room at the time he was bullied in school which drove him to weightlifting to his... John Grimek believed improved his endurance in the morning because I wanted be! 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