I've been to many wrestling matches from the 60s through the 80s. You cannot compare the explosion you would hear from the crowd when Bruno entered MSG in the late 60s. There was just no one like him and he actually did look like the champion.
Bruno made a 565 bench press in the late 1950s. In a 1972 edition of Strenght and Health magazine there us a picture of him doing it with just a cut off sweat shirt. No wraps of any kind done in an exhibition in San Francusco. I am 71 years old and a former Olympic style lifter.
I agree! I saw Bruno back in the day at the old Boston Garden against Kowalski, Von Erich, Tanaka, Koloff, Ladd, and a few others and you are correct, that place would shake and it was so loud. I tell people that and a few look at me like I have two heads. But we lived it my friend and it was a great time. Such great memories.
I was with Larry Zybysko in Boston years ago. He took me to a hotel room and I met Kevin Sullivan and his buddy Mark Lewin. Kevin's wife at the time was Nancy,she was beautiful and she was there too. Kevin introduced me to a woman they called Slippers. All the boys know her. Needless to say it was one heck of a night. Thanks Kevin for the memories.
Kevin Sullivan is a well of information and history on professional wrestling. He'll quote people, dates, times and results with stunning accuracy. He rarely embellishes his stories. When I listen to his interviews, I'm SURE that I'm getting the unfiltered truth.
When I was a wee lad in Pittsburgh, we had a Saturday night rasslin show on one of the local stations (I watched with my Grandma and she hated the heels). Now we had your usual suspects, this was the 60's. We also had Bruno. He would make time to come and wrestle in his hometown because that was Bruno. He brought in guys like Haystack Calhoun and other top heels. I loved him then and never stopped. GOAT for me.
and that 565 pound bench press by Bruno was with a 2 second pause and drug free. and he only weighed 260 pounds when he did it.also he did it with no wraps or shirt.
Hello non believers. These bench press records weren’t held in a WWWF ring. These records were accomplished in sanctioned weight lifting competitions sponsored by York Barbell, of York Pennsylvania. These records had nothing to do with the scripted wrestling business. Bob Hoffman personally judged Bruno Sammartino and the great Paul Anderson in the grueling competition. All of this happened in the late 1950’s before Bruno entered the WWWF. As a matter of fact wrestling interrupted Sammartino’s weightlifting career and probably prevented him from going to the Olympics. By the way Bruno weighed 285 lbs. in 1960. Bruno also was doing a 700 lb deadlift at the time. As far as steroids are concerned, I believe the man when he said he never touched them. If you don’t believe him, all of the other wrestlers like Graham, and Volkoff tell stories of Bruno warning them about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Don’t take my word for it. The whole story is chronicled in the legitimate press. Search for the records of The Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, or just google: Bruno Sammartino York Bar Bell World Record.
I can believe it. I have seen people smaller than Bruno deadlift 500lb. If he was north of 250, and strength training/amateur wrestling since he was a youth, it's believable without steroids. That said, all we have are people's words. It wasn't like any of us were there in the lonely, quiet times when a man has to make certain choices that will determine the course of his future, his profession, etc.
@rmccay88 several can do it drug free mark Henry Bruno bill Kaz did it and many others. He was about 285 pounds at the time, I think that was his heaviest
I can listen to these stories all day and night . From some of the best in the business ! Ric Flair Rowdy Roddy Piper Kevin Sullivan . Bobby The Brain Heenan . Billy Graham !
Bruno was the best professional wrestling Champion since motion pictures. Certainly there were a few others in the conversation. He was the best because he could do everything in the ring and he sold out where ever he went and that included the North East, Canada, the Mid-West, the Pacific Coast and Japan.
Hello non believers. These bench press records weren’t held in a WWWF ring. These records were accomplished in sanctioned weight lifting competitions sponsored by York Barbell, of York Pennsylvania. These records had nothing to do with the scripted wrestling business. Bob Hoffman personally judged Bruno Sammartino and the great Paul Anderson in the grueling competition. All of this happened in the late 1950’s before Bruno entered the WWWF. As a matter of fact wrestling interrupted Sammartino’s weightlifting career and probably prevented him from going to the Olympics. By the way Bruno weighed 285 lbs. in 1960. Bruno also was doing a 700 lb deadlift at the time. As far as steroids are concerned, I believe the man when he said he never touched them. If you don’t believe him, all of the other wrestlers like Graham, and Volkoff tell stories of Bruno warning them about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Don’t take my word for it. The whole story is chronicled in the legitimate press. Search for the records of The Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, or just google: Bruno Sammartino York Bar Bell World Record
😲 Bruno Sammartino! My favorite wrestler! No drugs and my other favorite wrestler Dr David Schultz! Both drug free and my favorite wrestlers! RIP Bruno Sammartino 🙏
I would love to sit down and have dinner with Kevin Sullivan, Jim Cornette, Tony Atlass, and Ron Fuller. The knowledhe shared at that table would be awesome.
filthiestfish No, maybe this is harder than i thought. Okay here goes First name begin's with the letter "E" follwed by 3 more letter's ending in "c". ps he has been accused of running WCW into the ground.
The suit was originally developed to keep weightlifters from suffering from hernias. Found to increase lifting ability 22%. Keeps your diaphragm from allowing muscles to ripping and popping out. The gloves and wrist straps allows your wrists to become very rigid like an exoskeleton on a ant, vey tough exterior. With these gloves you can lift without spraining or tearing tendons in your wrists. Nobody lifts in competition without these protections today. They were illegal in the early days.
I ask myself that question too. So many talented people never got a chance in wrestling and this roided up midget charisma vacuum not only got broken in, but got the Heavyweight belt too whilst never drawing a dime? Why indeed. Why indeed.
So he could b sacraficed like his mexican buddy ....both a yr apart in the WWE game got buried by taker ....wake up .veils open ...an truth is everywhere....wether u like it or not ..ur dense....Sully was a say ten nist an held rank in wrestling as a high priestess ......it's a Free Mzn thing . ...Jesus Murphy do research or educate yourselves plz
“Jersey Joe” Walcott as a wrestling ref?! Didn’t they see him ref the Muhammad Ali/Sonny Liston rematch?! Then again, maybe that’s WHY they picked him.
Kevin Sullivan astutely perceives the anatomy and idiosyncratic nature of a professional wrestler. Alas, in the modern world, the male chromosome is becoming extinct and feminist ideologies are prevalent, so that what we get in the ensuing aftermath is mountainous heaps of corporate porn product for mass appeal.
The Road Warriors, the Barbarian and other bench pressed close to 600 lbs +, with no wraps & no bench press suit. Bruno's wrestling was the same every match. Collar & elbow lockup, punch, kick, punch, kick, kick, kick, kick. Bruno got over in the NYC area, as he was Italian. Bruno was was basically a stiff worker and didn't like to sell.
J Justice you look at Chris Benoit just look at photos of him and you can't see a man that had mental issues? I don't how much of a great worker Benoit was in the ring. That guy went home one weekend in July and killed his family. People like to talk about Kevin Sullivan. Why would Kevin Sullivan wait so long to do something like that if he were to do it at all?
I've been to many wrestling matches from the 60s through the 80s. You cannot compare the explosion you would hear from the crowd when Bruno entered MSG in the late 60s. There was just no one like him and he actually did look like the champion.
Bruno made a 565 bench press in the late 1950s. In a 1972 edition of Strenght and Health magazine there us a picture of him doing it with just a cut off sweat shirt. No wraps of any kind done in an exhibition in San Francusco. I am 71 years old and a former Olympic style lifter.
Was lucky enough to see bruno a few times back in the 70S at the old Boston garden .....NOBODY made that place shake like bruno did!!!!
I agree! I saw Bruno back in the day at the old Boston Garden against Kowalski, Von Erich, Tanaka, Koloff, Ladd, and a few others and you are correct, that place would shake and it was so loud. I tell people that and a few look at me like I have two heads. But we lived it my friend and it was a great time. Such great memories.
I agree with Sullivan's take on Bruno. An amazing athlete who only comes around once in a generation.
Kevin Sullivan was related to my best friend when I was but a Lad. It was a huge Thrill to meet him. Real nice guy
I was with Larry Zybysko in Boston years ago. He took me to a hotel room and I met Kevin Sullivan and his buddy Mark Lewin. Kevin's wife at the time was Nancy,she was beautiful and she was there too. Kevin introduced me to a woman they called Slippers. All the boys know her. Needless to say it was one heck of a night. Thanks Kevin for the memories.
kevin Sullivan has a wealth of knowledge so very smart a real genius
I lived in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida when Blackjack Mulligan put him over big time. He was great
Good job Hannibal, another very informative interview. I had no idea Bruno had an important link to getting All Japan off the ground.
Kevin Sullivan is a well of information and history on professional wrestling. He'll quote people, dates, times and results with stunning accuracy. He rarely embellishes his stories. When I listen to his interviews, I'm SURE that I'm getting the unfiltered truth.
Kevin Sullivan and Greg Valentine telling stories and reminding new generations of the great former champions
When I was a wee lad in Pittsburgh, we had a Saturday night rasslin show on one of the local stations (I watched with my Grandma and she hated the heels). Now we had your usual suspects, this was the 60's. We also had Bruno. He would make time to come and wrestle in his hometown because that was Bruno. He brought in guys like Haystack Calhoun and other top heels. I loved him then and never stopped. GOAT for me.
and that 565 pound bench press by Bruno was with a 2 second pause and drug free. and he only weighed 260 pounds when he did it.also he did it with no wraps or shirt.
That was his billed weight he prolly was like 240
Hello non believers. These bench press records weren’t held in a WWWF ring. These records were accomplished in sanctioned weight lifting competitions sponsored by York Barbell, of York Pennsylvania. These records had nothing to do with the scripted wrestling business. Bob Hoffman personally judged Bruno Sammartino and the great Paul Anderson in the grueling competition. All of this happened in the late 1950’s before Bruno entered the WWWF. As a matter of fact wrestling interrupted Sammartino’s weightlifting career and probably prevented him from going to the Olympics. By the way Bruno weighed 285 lbs. in 1960. Bruno also was doing a 700 lb deadlift at the time. As far as steroids are concerned, I believe the man when he said he never touched them. If you don’t believe him, all of the other wrestlers like Graham, and Volkoff tell stories of Bruno warning them about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Don’t take my word for it. The whole story is chronicled in the legitimate press. Search for the records of The Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, or just google: Bruno Sammartino York Bar Bell World Record.
Drug free...... bahahahahaha what an idiot you are.
I can believe it. I have seen people smaller than Bruno deadlift 500lb. If he was north of 250, and strength training/amateur wrestling since he was a youth, it's believable without steroids. That said, all we have are people's words. It wasn't like any of us were there in the lonely, quiet times when a man has to make certain choices that will determine the course of his future, his profession, etc.
@rmccay88 several can do it drug free
mark Henry
Bruno
bill Kaz did it
and many others. He was about 285 pounds at the time, I think that was his heaviest
Kevin has just passed away. RIP
Love that Kevin keeps repping The Olde Town Team!
Kevin Sullivan one of the most underrated men in pro wrestling history
Greatest heel ever and a damn good wrestler.
@@lanenordgren7641 greatest heel is Mr Mchmahon or Hollywood Hogan
Bruno also made 2 tours of Australia in 1966. He was an incredible draw.
Second in history only to Jim Londos.
Kevin Sullivan is such a great wrestling mind. I cannot help but think that the WWE dropped the ball by never hiring this guy for creative
I can listen to these stories all day and night . From some of the best in the business ! Ric Flair Rowdy Roddy Piper Kevin Sullivan . Bobby The Brain Heenan . Billy Graham !
Such a classy recollection bravo
Bruno was the best professional wrestling Champion since motion pictures. Certainly there were a few others in the conversation. He was the best because he could do everything in the ring and he sold out where ever he went and that included the North East, Canada, the Mid-West, the Pacific Coast and Japan.
I like his home decoration. Its unique.
Nice interview Kevin!
Hello non believers. These bench press records weren’t held in a WWWF ring. These records were accomplished in sanctioned weight lifting competitions sponsored by York Barbell, of York Pennsylvania. These records had nothing to do with the scripted wrestling business. Bob Hoffman personally judged Bruno Sammartino and the great Paul Anderson in the grueling competition. All of this happened in the late 1950’s before Bruno entered the WWWF. As a matter of fact wrestling interrupted Sammartino’s weightlifting career and probably prevented him from going to the Olympics. By the way Bruno weighed 285 lbs. in 1960. Bruno also was doing a 700 lb deadlift at the time. As far as steroids are concerned, I believe the man when he said he never touched them. If you don’t believe him, all of the other wrestlers like Graham, and Volkoff tell stories of Bruno warning them about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Don’t take my word for it. The whole story is chronicled in the legitimate press. Search for the records of The Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, or just google: Bruno Sammartino York Bar Bell World Record
😲 Bruno Sammartino!
My favorite wrestler! No drugs and my other favorite wrestler Dr David Schultz! Both drug free and my favorite wrestlers!
RIP Bruno Sammartino 🙏
I would love to sit down and have dinner with Kevin Sullivan, Jim Cornette, Tony Atlass, and Ron Fuller. The knowledhe shared at that table would be awesome.
Kevin Sullivan was florida heel personified in the mid 80s
Years ago the announcers were talking about how he was bench pressing 400 pounds with over 20 reps working out.
Someone was bashing Kevin;s character recently , cough last name end in "hoff" missing the 4k cam.
No, Last name start;s with the letter B
Booker t
Nice Try...Next hint.. B___hoff.
filthiestfish
No, maybe this is harder than i thought. Okay here goes First name begin's with the letter "E" follwed by 3 more letter's ending in "c". ps he has been accused of running WCW into the ground.
Epic Bakerjhoff! The scourge of Woman Crush Wednesday.
187 times, to be exact.
Nobody Comes Close To Bruno Sammartino Not Even Ric Flair
Baba was in his 20s when they wrestled in JWA in the 60s
What does “a suit and wraps” mean?
The suit was originally developed to keep weightlifters from suffering from hernias. Found to increase lifting ability 22%. Keeps your diaphragm from allowing muscles to ripping and popping out. The gloves and wrist straps allows your wrists to become very rigid like an exoskeleton on a ant, vey tough exterior. With these gloves you can lift without spraining or tearing tendons in your wrists. Nobody lifts in competition without these protections today. They were illegal in the early days.
Why Benoit?
I ask myself that question too. So many talented people never got a chance in wrestling and this roided up midget charisma vacuum not only got broken in, but got the Heavyweight belt too whilst never drawing a dime? Why indeed. Why indeed.
So he could b sacraficed like his mexican buddy ....both a yr apart in the WWE game got buried by taker ....wake up
.veils open ...an truth is everywhere....wether u like it or not ..ur dense....Sully was a say ten nist an held rank in wrestling as a high priestess ......it's a Free Mzn thing . ...Jesus Murphy do research or educate yourselves plz
“Jersey Joe” Walcott as a wrestling ref?! Didn’t they see him ref the Muhammad Ali/Sonny Liston rematch?! Then again, maybe that’s WHY they picked him.
Broooono Samammahtino
Kevin Sullivan astutely perceives the anatomy and idiosyncratic nature of a professional wrestler. Alas, in the modern world, the male chromosome is becoming extinct and feminist ideologies are prevalent, so that what we get in the ensuing aftermath is mountainous heaps of corporate porn product for mass appeal.
I’ve predicted that in 300,000 years men will be having the babies
The Road Warriors, the Barbarian and other bench pressed close to 600 lbs +, with no wraps & no bench press suit. Bruno's wrestling was the same every match. Collar & elbow lockup, punch, kick, punch, kick, kick, kick, kick. Bruno got over in the NYC area, as he was Italian. Bruno was was basically a stiff worker and didn't like to sell.
So wait ,now Kevin is done living in the wilderness, bartering with reality show characters ??? Um ok 👍🏻
Scariest wrestler of all time when he was in Florida.
He was boring as hell, no moves, slow...utter bollocks
There's the rabid wolverines family killer
Time to put the crack pipe down
J Justice you look at Chris Benoit just look at photos of him and you can't see a man that had mental issues? I don't how much of a great worker Benoit was in the ring. That guy went home one weekend in July and killed his family.
People like to talk about Kevin Sullivan. Why would Kevin Sullivan wait so long to do something like that if he were to do it at all?
@@GlorifiedTruth there is documentary on that as well.