Bruno Sammartino vs Freddie Blassie

[AsuncionIsabella]

Bruno mars dad/peters dad

[KaneRobot]

"Blaze-ee"

[beatlejim64]

2 LEGENDS!!!

[VillaTragedia]

God bless you Bruno, a truly italian hero, santino marella is just a shitty asshole.

[SuperFerndale]

Loved Bruno's hairy belly

[mrjbartek]

CENA IS ALL ROIDED UP,,,,BRUNO WAS THE BEST....



[japanpro1]

blassie was a young face, when i first saw pro wrestling on tv at eight years old in southern ca.

[Slicric13]

Bruno could of cleaned Cena's clock in his prime! There's no way Cena could go a 80 min match!

[JonLambert89]

Sammartino was WAY WORSE than Cena. It seems fitness wasn't introduced to wrestling until the 70's because every wrestler before seems to be balding with a beer gut and bitch tits. Respect people for what they did and not when they did it.

[Thisistheman91]

@JonLambert89  Well that beer gut with bitch tits would bear hug that punk Cena till his spine snapped in two...

[JonLambert89]

@Thisistheman91 You know the bear hug won't work in a real fight right? Your opponent has a clear shot at your head. Sammartino was only a bit bigger than Cena, what makes it a bear hug is that the one doing it is significantly larger. But you could use the FU, seen it done. That aside, WATCH his matches, ignore the picture quality, nostalgia and myth. Criticise him by modern standards. He wasn't a grappler, a flyer or a striker. He was the biggest title hog. He's everything Cena is hated for.

[MrNYCman530]

@JonLambert89 The bearhug wasn't Sammartino's only submission move. He also used the backbreaker

[JKTube]

@JonLambert89: Bruno held the title for 8 years because he drew money, as opposed to being a worthless cancer such as HHH.

[JonLambert89]

@JKTube Bruno drew money because he held the belt (fans not knowing wrestling was staged at the time) and Vince Sr wanted to exploit the Italian American population of New York by giving them an unstoppable champion to cheer for. I doubt you have a valid reason for your little jab at HHH other than to be one of those guys who rips on HHH. So I'll ignore that.

[johnnykov]

Read Superstar Billy Graham's book it tells all about Bruno, how he always looked out for the other wrestlers, always concerned that they were able to make a good living no matter how preliminary or new they were.

[CombatSportFan]

I hate this announcer. I've heard some smart ass sports announcers "call" wrestling matches in that obnoxious tongue in cheek "I'm better than this" tone before, but this one is just off the charts.

[princesstamika]

@CombatSportFan lol really? this just sounds like standard vintage reeltalk to me. This tone was used for everything.

[CombatSportFan]

@princesstamika I don't know it just seems like he has that "I'm better than this" thing in his voice. You can hear it in some announcers back then, and some took it dead serious as a boxing match or baseball game. It might have just been the time and he might have called everything like that. Still irks me though =P

[princesstamika]

@CombatSportFan It just strikes me as more of an informative reel type thing.

[MadisonCutlass44057]

Classy Freddie Blassie. RIP

Sammartino held the belt for one of the longest stints in pro wrestling. It was over 8 years I belive. It was a sad night in wrestling too when he finally lost the belt to a RUSSIAN. Ivan Koloff.

[starboybillysynth]

Why just part of the match? Thats ok, the announcer was very poor!

[Dynamite913]

John Cena vs Randy Orton in the 60's

[elc1960]

The announcer on this is doing commentary for newsreel footage. All newsreel footage of pro wrestling was handled that way, like it was all a big joke, so the announcer attempts to turn the proceedings into a comedy monologue. He probably never heard of Blassie before he was asked to do the commentary on this. The arena looks like the old Boston Garden, but I could be wrong.

[beowulf20062006]

The announcer keeps referring to Freddie as "Blazie."

[musicalrich1]

Larry Zbyszko took the last name of legit. champ Stanislaus who was great in the 1908-35 era. "Stan" died in 1967, about 89 or 90 years old. Shows what good clean living & exercise can do for a person! His name meant "boxcar", and he was as tough & strong as one! LOL. Weighed about 230#, was only 5'8". Stan, ugly as sin, but extremely intelligent, was a law student, concert pianist, spoke a dozen languages or so, became an Allied interpreter during WWII. May be the brightest athlete ever...

[musicalrich1]

Not ALL "shoot" matches in Bruno 's day, not even in Frank Gotch 's day!  (Gotch retired in 1913, record 154-6!) He was alleged to have the ref. "in his corner" often, and although a tough wrestler, according to the late, great Lou Thesz was also a dirty one. LOL. Gotch only weighed 204#, Bruno was 260-70#.

The style changed greatly after the 1920's. Today's pro wrestlers couldn't hold a candle to the extremely fierce champ's of the early 20th Century, like Gotch, Hackenschmidt, Zbysco.

[ritter89]

@musicalrich1 When did professional wrestling officially begin? I'm almost 40, so I grew up watching Sammartino et al during the late 70s. I kept an eye on some of the superstars of the early 80s but quickly lost interest after the entire industry transformed into the billion dollar business that it is today. I do remember being confused (as a kid) by all the old timers. Since I thought the sport was relatively new, I couldn't understand why so many managers were "retired" wrestlers

[elc1960]

@ritter89 Pro wrestling has been around since the late 1800s, and has its roots in the old carnival shows where they would announce "Last 5 minutes with the "Champ" and win 5 bucks" (which was enough back then to feed a family of 4 for a week). Pro wrestling was a legit sport until about 100 years ago, when promoters figured out that the wrestlers could "fake it" and save their bodies a lot of wear and tear (and also wrestle more often as well).

[elc1960]

@ritter89 In carnivals, the "champs" would take on a few "plants" from the crowd, who were supposed to represent just your average shlubs from the crowd and perhaps plant a bit of "well, if that guy can do it maybe I've got a chance" into the heads of a few suckers by wrestling a fake match. Then the suckers would get in the ring and the "champ" would put legit holds on them to make them submit and you very seldom (if ever) saw any of the "suckers" actually win any money.

[JKTube]

@elc1960: In Blassie's book, he talks about how Andy Kaufman's challenging women to wrestle him was in the spirit of the original carnies.

[elc1960]

@JKTube Yes indeed. I read that book (excellent book, btw - almost as funny as Heenan's book). My grand uncle Harold was a carnival wrestler in the '20s & '30s (under the name "The Great Kalzer") and he worked the New England circuit. He wasn't on the pro circuit, but my grandmother told me a bit about his past after she found out I watched wrestling on TV (Harold had died by then; since 12/25/65 - "Nana" died 8 years later).

[frelvis77]

Who the hell is Blazeie? the referee?

[elc1960]

@frelvis77 The announcer was reading from a script for newsreel footage and probably never heard of Blassie before. They may have even misspelled Blassie's name in the script.

[Sneezlebob]

Could the announcer sound anymore bored

[maineguitarman]

That was absolutely the worse commentary I've ever heard.

[raven100403]

what year is this match???

[bumblebeemoi]

Bruno wins 2nd fall by default? What? Because he couldn't continue? What a joke.

[elc1960]

@bumblebeemoi At that time (1964) WWWF championship matches were all one fall, 1 hour time limit and never 2 out of 3 falls. The scriptwriter very likely got it wrong and the announcer was obligated to read it as it was because it was newsreel footage. Blassie actually won the match because Bruno was unable to continue, but didn't get the belt because Blassie didn't pin him or make him submit. This would set up a rematch on the next card which would be won convincingly by Bruno.

[bumblebeemoi]

@elc1960 I realize the lame newsreel commentary. Perhaps about that 1 fall only. (although around that time Bruno lost out of 3 to Ray Stevens in S.F.). I see you like the Red Rose tea commercial. I've loved that since I was a kid. You from MA? Me originally, but now living in Pittsburgh (Still, go Pats and Sox).

[elc1960]

@bumblebeemoi Originally from MA (born in Brockton) but now live in RI. I used to see that Red Rose Tea ad on Channel 7 in the mid-'60s at the end of the Major Mudd show, between the end of that show and the beginning of (I believe) the Virginia Graham show. That Ray Stevens match was probably for the NWA (San Fran was an NWA affiliate until the mid-'70s when it became an AWA affiliate).

[bumblebeemoi]

@elc1960 That match was for the WWWF title since I had the wrestling magazine MANY years ago and read the story a ton of times. Bruno in the first fall by bear hug. The famous "Bombs away" knee drop won the second for the "Crippler." Bruno was counted out for the third fall and Stevens was given the belt. Of course, he couldn't lose the belt that way, but it looked great for his "home" crowd. I believe it was at the Cow Palace. Me, originally from Holyoke.

[elc1960]

@bumblebeemoi You are right. San Fran was one of the few places at that time where Bruno did guest appearances as champ (Hawaii and Cincy were others). Ordinarily, in the normal WWWF venues, a world title match was 1 fall. They were in an NWA venue so they had to work under NWA rules, which was usually 2 out of 3 falls. And before I forget, I knew Holyoke well. That was supposedly the hometown of "Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred" from Captain Kangaroo (shows how friggin' old I am - LOL).

[yardlet6]

@elc1960 Roy Shire ran Frisco after forcing out Joe Malcawicz. When hire closed down,Verne took over and had Leo Nomalini run it.

[elc1960]

@yardlet6 Correct. Most people don't realize that, in the early days of the AWA, Boston was one of their towns. (It's not even mentioned in WWE's "History of the AWA" DVD.) When Vince's dad formed WWWF in 1963, the Ford bros. (the Boston promoters at the old Garden) joined up with them and it remained exclusively WWWF/WWF until Vince the younger took WWF national in the mid-'80s.

[Danimal77]

@elc1960

WRONG - Pittsburgh, PA – August 24, 1964

Freddie Blassie defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino via TKO in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match after the challenger ran into Sammartinos groin as the champion attempted a leapfrog during the 2nd fall; Sammartino won the 1st fall

[PeeboTyson]

The commentary consisted of the announcer making lame jokes.

[Derby14]

Was Blassie ever young or was he just born with a 70 year olds face?

[ritter89]

@Derby14 lol! Yeah, he looked ancient. The guy was probably finished with puberty before his 5th birthday.

[jonathanhudgins]

This was better than 95% of the matches on Raw in a given year.

[hcjc57]

Keep in mind Blassie more often than not bounced back and forth between the WWWF and the NWA promotion in LA. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hadn't Mike LeBell already took over the LA territory by then?

[elc1960]

@hcjc57 No, this match is from 1964. Very likely the LA promoter was Mike LeBell's stepfather Cal Eaton and the booker was former wrestler Jules Strongbow (not the same guy who was WWF tag champs with Chief Jay Strongbow; that guy's name was Frank Hill). Mike took over the LA promotion around 1971, I believe, when Cal Eaton died. Mike himself passed away a couple of years ago. I believe his older brother, "Judo" Gene LeBell is still alive.

[JKTube]

@hcjc57: Blassie ended his in-ring career in the WWWF in the early 1970s and became a manager.

@Braianrko: Yes. It really makes JBL's nine-month reign, which was reportedly one of the poorest drawing reigns since Diesel's, seem like the pointless load of crap that it was.

[barclaybass]

Why the hell couldn't the announcer pronounce Blassies' last name correctly?

[Braianrko]

1963-1971

the most longest championship regin in wwe

[chriskoob]

christ, how old was blassie? he looked old even back in the 60s

[A3T3Z9E2]

he was 46

[maesre2004]

The best rasslin at that time was in the south. period.

[gpuppy1234]

Did people back then know that wrestling was fake?

[seka1986]

@gpuppy1234 It wasn't fake back then. It turned fake when Hulk Hogan arrived on the scene.

[gpuppy1234]

@seka1986 No foreal I want to know

[RangerRob2009]

@gpuppy1234 Wrestling has been fake even well before this match. Wrestling was fake because people would not pay to see the real thing. You probably do not remember the great Strangler Ed Lewis. He would put a strangle hold on someone and hold it there for 30 minutes or longer. It got boring.

[RangerRob2009]

@seka1986 Come on now, you should know better than that. Wrestling was fake even back then. Wrestling had to be fake because people would not pay to see real wrestlers following the rules.

[seka1986]

@RangerRob2009 maybe so but after around 1985 it became more theatrical than ever before.

[JKTube]

@seka1986: No. Pro wrestling was ALWAYS a work.

[TheBarney97]

@brotherray85 Bruno Sammartino wasnt just the best wrestler in 60's, hes the best wrestler of all time.

[readytorock865]

Blassie looks like a old man even back in the 60's..lol

[BottomBoosh]

Blazzie ?

[dorothysue1]

Thanks for posting this. It brings back a lot of childhood memories for me.

[Y2JROCKFAN]

lol did he mention Sammartino's balls at the end? Considering that it is pretty taboo.

[thanhbites]

why does he keep on calling Blassie Blazzie! ?

[BaronTurco]

Because the announcer is a moron.

[xxxquentintinoxxx]

Cause Blazzie sounds more jazzy!

[thanhbites]

(LOL)

[brotherray85]

Bruno Sammartino was the greatest wrestler back in the 60's

[atsandman]

Would've liked to see this one go hardcore...

[josegr21]

because he hate what vince mcmahon's done with wrestling. he hates the whole sports entertainment bit.

[bigpoopie69]

@josegr21

Because Sammartino is a dumb wop who thinks that people still believe 'rasslin in the 60's and 70's was a sport.

[meekrob]

@josegr21 Yeah, because it was all a shoot in Bruno's day! *rolling my eyes*

[terracottapie]

@josegr21 Does Bruno hate sports entertainment because of the "entertainment" part? I can understand that, because there was nothing "entertaining" about his shitty 60 minute matches full of restholds.

[teto1957]

Dick "Bulldog" Brower & Jerry Lawler would have made a good tag team

[Gogetassj4716]

dude why did the announcer say wat was goin to happen b4 it did?

[josegr21]

Bruno Doesn't Want To Be In The WWE HOF.

[atsandman]

Why?

[beeteep60]

@josegr21

why?

[TalkingPixiesHeads]

bloody hell its hardly changed in all this time

[1414rg]

Because the WWF Hall of fame is fake!

[mrfilmnoir68]

''Classy'' Fred Blassie was one of the best.

[Sanguiluna]

Why isn't Sammartino in the WWE Hall of Fame, considering he is arguably one of, if not THE greatest WWE Champion of all time?

[calav3r4]

because Vince doesn't like him

[rhealg123]

Bruno has said many times he doesn't want to be in the HOF.

[madmetal]

Because he doesn't want to be in the Hall of Fame. The WWE reached out to him but he rejected because he can't accept the way pro wrestling changed throughout time.

[grahamusic]

pissing match with vince. a man who held the title for EIGHT years and then again for FOUR is not in the HOF????....ya right, vince.

[BHoz77]

Wow, even back then Blassie looked old.

[pllott2009]

I remember Blassie on Live Atlanta Wrestling when he would scream" You Pencil Necked Southerners!!" Even saw him wrestle Haystack Calhoon

[CapTashman]

I like that the guy announcing was calling Blassie as if it was Blaysee

[TAH6969]

Samartino iz still tha man!!!He should come back& take Taker's streak@WRESTLEMANIA!!!YEAH!!!

[Suckmypivot]

That would be all fine and good if it was not for the fact that he is 73.

[bc575757]

Bruno always wore his trunks high and took alot of shots to the pills over the years.

[fortyfivish]

I grew up in ELA. As a kid we always heard the phrases about ,"The Man". I always thought that the evel white man they spoke of was Blassie. I think that was part of a pro wrestling gimmic to get fans to come out and BOO him. .. It worked!

[A10thunderbolt]

Blassie owned LA.

[woonsocketrocket]

I lived in L.A. in the 60's when Blassie was the top heel in the area. His matches at the Olympic Auditorium will always be in my memory

[BIGCHILL3993]

Who is Fred "Blayzie"???

[CharlieMagnante]

I guess old Bruno did not jump high enough and took a shot to the balls. That would put anyone on the mat for a while. They gave it to him anyway. He probably had to go home to the ice pack. Great match anyway.

[tez12345678910z]

The ring looks massive.

[poofermartin]

doesn't this guy know how to pronounce Blassie?

[1975tooto]

It looked like Bruno muffed up the move at 2.01.I wonder what really happened?

[TonySpargo]

he totally muffed it up and got nailed in the groin.

[AntonioRepiso]

Nice video

[MrK623]

The Neck Pinch pre Star Trek.

he keeps calling him Blazie.

[SandyKrebs]

It was a hit to the groin and there was a riot after they gave Blassie the belt. The following week they declared the title vacant, and a rematch for MSG and made a rule that titles could only chainge hands via pinfall or submission.

[js949]

I was there! It was in Jersey City and my parents took me there for my 12th birthday. I was high up in the stands so I didn't see why the match ended so suddenly. Looking at the film, it appears to be either a botched move or a deliberate low blow by Blassie. I remember Bobo Brazil and Killer Kowalski were also on the card.

[dutedo]

do you have any more 1960's matchs involving

brunno