Bruno Sammartino was the grandfather of sports entertainment. Before Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan, there was Bruno Sammartino. WWE would not be what it is today without the star power that Sammartino brought with him every time he performed. Fans across the country would gather to watch him defend his prestigious WWWF Championship, and he did so in front of a sold-out crowd on nearly every occasion.

After a hiatus from the company that lasted the better part of two decades, Sammartino was welcomed back with open arms and took his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. The legend passed away in 2018 at the age of 82 in his American hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.