WWE History Vol. 2: The magnificent career of Bruno Sammartino

Second title reign

Bruno Sammartino locks Pedro Morales into an armbar.

In 1973, facing flagging ratings and low attendance rates, Vince McMahon Sr. implored Sammartino to return to his promotion for another world title run.

Sammartino's deal was innovative and unique at the time, because he actually commanded a percentage of the gate, meaning he was paid based upon attendance. The only problem was that the current WWWF champion was Pedro Morales, another baby face.

In order to set up the match, a brilliant storyline was concocted. Pedro and Sammartino teamed up a number of times, much like Hogan and Savage would decades later. When heel Professor Toru Tanaka blinded both men with salt, they wound up brawling with each other. Even after they were no longer blinded, they kept up the hostilities. Their rage would boil over into a world title match, which Bruno won.

His second reign would last four years, racking up a total of eleven years for both of his reigns, a feat which is unlikely to be repeated.