The Truthiness

no, that would have been Andre. and being a big star has zero to do with working ability which Sammartino lacked compared most other "greats" (you know when Ric Flair calls you out on your work, you're highly overrated) I never said shit about Bruno's work, somebody said Harley, Dusty, and The Funks were more popular then him at the time, that was simply not true. Andre might've been, but even that is debatable. Unless people actually believe Hogan's lie about Hogan/Andre sold out Shea, when in fact Bruno/Zybysko was the draw.

Not that I've seen.

That was a great ending the heat was insane.

So Kane comes chases Orton away, JBL demands HBK lay down, HBK hits SCM on JBL..Cena/Michaels 3?

Jimmy Garvin Jr? Umaga's evil little brother.

Manu is getting repackaged.

WHOA~!

Regal, Kane, and Miz/Morrison?

Deuce has improved.

Mickie/Beth

No, he delivers it pretty good. The material is just horrible.

Cena doesn't write the shit that is given to him, the chick he was talking too does.

No, I just know that until Hogan came along, Bruno was pretty much the biggest star in wrestling.

I'm not really debating why he never left the territory. I was just saying it wasn't really smart for him to leave, seeing as he was in a sweet spot. The thing I took issue with is saying Harley Race and The Funks in their prime were bigger stars nationally then Sammartino, this simply isn't true. The only reason I didn't lump Dusty in with the Funks and Race, because of his run in 80's. I wouldn't say Lawler was ever a bigger draw then Bruno either. I know he probably filled up 10,000 seats every Monday in Memphis, However I think that probably is about 2 MSG shows Bruno headlined in a month. I seriously doubt his peak was anywhere on the level of Sammartino's peak, until Hogan came around I don't think anybody was touching Sammartino's popularity. Edit: I agree Bruno sucks, Jingus. I'm simply saying there weren't many guys more popular and drew bigger houses.

uhhh...you're forgetting Harley Race. and as it's been said before...Sammartino hardly ever drew anywhere other than his home territory, hardly the definition of a big national name I know I opened the can of worms, but that can be countered by saying Sammartino's home territory was the biggest territory, population-wise, in the country. Being the top dog in New York did mean something nationally, however, he didn't have a track record of being able to branch out and be a draw. To me, it speaks much more about a guy if he can draw in Dallas one week, sell out St. Louis the next, fill the house in Orlando that weekend, Charlotte the next wednesday, Minneapolis the following friday, etc. than being able to consistently draw in only one area and never really leaving it. Had he not been in a territory FULL of Italian fans...he probably wouldn't have even seen the success he did see, IMO. It doesn't matter what kind of fans he drew, he was in a bigger market, and had a bigger presence nationally than anybody else at the time. Plus, the guys selling out them places you named all the time, was hardly the case. They had their main markets just like Bruno. Harley biggest draw might've been St. Louis and Kansas City territories, however that market died with him as the top guy, can't really say that about Bruno. He was a huge draw in NYC, PA, NJ, Canada, and when he traveled to Los Angeles he was a huge success also. It wasn't that Bruno couldn't draw in places like Alabama, he didn't have too. He was in the best territory in the world. Why leave it?

He stayed in his territory which was pretty much a bigger market then going down south or going to Japan. I rather be selling out The Garden 2 times a month, then touring the chitling circuit. Bruno might have been the 1st NWA Champion, but he didn't want to do the traveling and work weekends which was a smart business move, seeing as he made a ton of cash.

I'm doubt any of those guys named but Andre and maybe Dusty, were a bigger name nationally then Sammartino.

Although including Douglas wasnt in the spirit of the thread title, I invoked his name because at one point fans, and himself, hyped him up as one of the better wrestlers in the business, when in fact he has always pretty sorry. If he wasnt considered good, why would there be this incessant whining over his "misuse" by the WWF? As far as Dibiase, I concede that he is technically good and sound. He's talented, but where are all his great matches? This is a guy that people have called the best worker in his era. He didnt do anything great in the WWF, and I have yet to see what was so special about him in mid-south. Youtube me something from him. There isn't many as one would think, he was a very talented guy, he just doesn't have a huge body of great work.

Well ain't this some shit. Awesome.

When was RVD outed as Willie The Worker?

About time, I just want to see this guy go away.

Trish looked hot, but not hot as she use to be.

This isn't good news in the least, but on the high note we might get Cena/Orton or Cena /Austin, or hell maybe Punks will win the Rumble.

I wonder Wassup?