David Sammartino

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1980–1984) Bruno was against David going into professional wrestling, as he did not want him to experience the various horrors he went through when he started. He wanted David to get a college education and pursue a different career. Going against his father's advice, David headed south and began training and wrestling with a few smaller independent wrestling companies, making his debut as a 20-year-old in 1980. In 1981, Sammartino wrestled for Georgia Championship Wrestling. Throughout 1981, Sammartino picked up where his father left off the year before, feuding with Bruno's former protégé, Larry Zbyszko.

World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)

Sammartino joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in September 1984, with his father as his manager. He received a big push while teaming with his father, he was also pushed in singles matches. He appeared at the inaugural WrestleMania event at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1985. Accompanied by Bruno, Sammartino wrestled Brutus Beefcake as part of the undercard. The match ended in a double disqualification after Sammartino was thrown out of the ring by Beefcake and slammed by Beefcake's manager Johnny Valiant, prompting Bruno Sammartino to assault Valiant.

Various promotions (1986–1991) In 1986, Sammartino left the WWF and joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He had three championship matches against AWA World Champion Stan Hansen. On February 4, 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sammartino unsuccessfully challenged Hansen for the championship.

Sammartino left the AWA after just a few months and returned to the WWF, where he was once again used as a preliminary wrestler. before leaving the company in 1990. Sammartino occasionally teamed with Joe Malenko in AJPW. He retired in 1991.

NWA Jersey (1995) Sammartino returned to wrestling in 1995 and competed for NWA New Jersey, where he unsuccessfully challenged Tommy Cairo for the NWA North American Championship twice. Sammartino left the promotion shortly thereafter.

World Championship Wrestling (1996) Sammartino re-emerged in 1996 in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), competing in the promotion's cruiserweight division. Sammartino was only used in two matches in WCW. In June 2010, Sammartino teamed with Zbyzsko against Frank Stalletto and Lou Marconi at Deaf Wrestlefest 2010 in a winning effort. Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Rookie of the Year (1981) PWI ranked him No. 480 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 Southern Championship Wrestling SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)