Sammartino pinned George"The Animal" Steele in his match.
Sammartino also challenged NWA World Heavyweight
Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden
Sammartino would retain the title for seven years,
Sammartino then finished up his full-time career by touring Japan.
Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17,
Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper,
Sammartino's highest-profile feud during this run was with"Macho Man" Randy Savage.
It was during this time Sammartino found out through Angelo Savoldi,
After his second reign ended, Sammartino leisurely toured the U.S. and the world.
In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania
Sammartino also challenged NWA World Heavyweight
Champion Lou Thesz twice for the championship in Canada.
Later in 1972, Sammartino was asked back by McMahon Sr. to regain the title.
After two months, Sammartino returned and faced Hansen in a rematch on June 25,
On March 25, 2010, Sammartino was honored at the 74th annual Dapper Dan Dinner,
On January 18, 1971, Sammartino lost the championship at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff.
Sammartino made his professional debut in Pittsburgh on December 17,
1959, pinning Dmitri Grabowski in 19 seconds.
In the late 1960s, Sammartino was involved in a fight with former Pennsylvania
Athletic Commissioner Joe Cimino.
As the main event of 1980's Showdown at Shea, Sammartino defeated Zbyszko inside a steel cage.
During this time, on April 26, 1976, Sammartino suffered a legitimate neck fracture in a match
Sammartino teamed with Paul Orndorff in his matches against Piper, while Piper would tag with his"bodyguard", Ace"Cowboy" Bob Orton.
After refusing McMahon Sr. 's initial offer, Sammartino was offered a percentage of all the gates when he wrestled
Sammartino retired from North American wrestling full-time in 1981,
in a match that opened the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Sammartino's first match in Madison Square Garden
in New York City was on January 2, 1960, defeating Bull Curry in five minutes.
the other with Thesz scoring a fluke pin after a collision, despite Sammartino controlling the 20 minute match from the beginning.
Sammartino would retain the title for seven years,
eight months and one day(2,803 days), making his the longest continuous world championship reign in men's wrestling history.
Eventually, promoters Toots Mondt and McMahon Sr. cleared up Sammartino's suspension by paying his $500 fine,
allowing him to return to wrestling in the United States.
Two weeks later,
all syndicated wrestling shows in the WWWF showed a clip of Sammartino and Morales signing a contract for a title match at Shea Stadium.
After refusing McMahon Sr. 's initial offer, Sammartino was offered a percentage of all the gates when he wrestled
and a decreased work schedule that only included major arenas.
In his autobiography, Sammartino states that he believed McMahon set him up,
by double-booking him and not informing him of his match in Baltimore, as a way of punishment.