It was reported today that Bruno Sammartino passed away today at age 82. While the cause is not yet known it was disclosed that the professional wrestling legend had been battling serious illness over that past few months.

From Abruzzo, Italy, Sammartino’s family hid from Nazi soldiers during the latter part of World War II and the family would move to the United States in 1950. A natural athlete, Sammartino got into bodybuilding and weightlifting and was before long a barrel chested toughman who got into amateur wrestling and was a natural fit for the rank of the pros.

Beginning his career in his adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, Sammartino was an instant hit, as not only did he appeal as an ethnic babyface to the Italian-American community he physically looked the part of a wrestling superstar.

Pittsburgh loved Bruno but working for Vince McMahon Sr.’s Capital Sports Promotion in New York City was an even greater fit. With a large Italian community, Sammartino was made for New York City and before long he was a top of the card act there as well as Toronto, where he sold the house in bouts against Lou Thesz. Capital Sports would break away from the National Wrestling Alliance and have “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers as their champion but he was a little long in the tooth and was not the draw that McMahon Sr. needed. Sammartino had previously left McMahon Sr. earlier feeling jilted on previous payoffs but as they say in the WWE (then named the WWWF) “never say never” and he returned to New York.

On May 17, 1963 Sammartino defeated Rogers to win the World Wide Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship in less than a minute and Bruno was established as the biggest star in the Northeast. He would hold the championship for what is still a record seven years, eight months and one day and successfully defended his belt and sold out Madison Square Gardens against what seemed to be every major heel in the 60’s.

That list included:

Spiros Arion

Giant Baba

Freddie Blassie

The Crusher

Dr. Jerry Graham

Curtis Iaukea

Gene Kiniski

Killer Kowalski

Ernie “The Big Cat” Ladd

Bill Miller

Gorilla Monsoon

The Sheik

George “The Animal” Steele

Professor Toru Tanaka

Johnny Valentine

Waldo Von Erich

Bill Watts

The title run could have easily reached a decade but Bruno himself decided that he needed a break and he lost the belt in 1971 to Ivan Koloff (who would be beaten shortly after by Pedro Morales). With all due respect to Morales, he wasn’t the draw that Bruno was and McMahon Sr. offered Samamrtino a reduced schedule and higher gate percentage to get him to be the champion again. He would defeat transitional champion Stan “The Man” Stasiak on December 10, 1973 to begin his second reign as WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.

Sammartino would enjoy another long reign (three years, four months, twenty days) and would have notable title defences against many of the previous challengers (Steele, Ladd, Arion, Blassie, Koloff and Von Erich) and new challengers such as Baron Von Raschke, John Tolos, Ken Patera, Don Leo Jonathan and Nikolai Volkoff).   While all of those were big names the highest profile challenger he has was a young Texan named Stan Hansen who in a botched move legitimately fractured Sammartino’s neck but they worked that injury into storyline and Sammartio would defend the belt against Hansen in a high profile match at Shea Stadium. Sammartino would again tire and he would drop the championship to “Superstar” Billy Graham in 1977.

Over the next three years Sammartino had a reduced schedule in the WWWF but would embark on more national and international tours. Still, the WWWF was where he was always going to be best known and in 1980 his protégé, Larry Zbyszko turned on him leading to a major feud, which headlined Shea Stadium resulting in Sammartino defeating Zbyszko in a Steel Cage Match. Bruno would retire from wrestling in 1981 but shortly after the relationship between Sammartino and McMahon would sour again.

Bruno would learn that the deal he made during his second title run did not see him make the percentage of the gates that he was promised. Following the death of Vince McMahon Sr., Vince McMahon Jr. brokered a deal with Sammartino (he had sued the WWWF) that would not only give Bruno back pay but would see him return as an analyst. Part of the arrangement saw Bruno’s son, David compete in the now named in WWF, which segued Bruno into coming back on occasion to team with his son. David Sammartino was pushed but wasn’t ready and his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation was not a good one and the younger Sammartino and younger McMahon were constantly at odds. David would quit out of frustration but Bruno would be used more often in main events in the east competing against the likes of Roddy Piper and Randy Savage. David Sammartino would be brought back in 1988 but would be fired when he struck a fan. Feeling that the fan was a plant by Vince Jr., the elder Sammartino left also (though his contract was expiring anyway).

To call the breakup between Vince McMahon Jr. and Bruno Sammartino acrimonious would be an understatement. If asked in interviews, Sammartino would openly trash Vince McMahon Jr., the WWF product and the rampant drug use of the performers. His criticism received national attention, especially when he appeared on the Phil Donahue show on a panel where Vince Jr. himself was on. In later years when the WWE Hall of Fame was re-established and when asked if he would be open to be inducted his standard answer was always “Give me a break.”

It was largely believed that Sammartino would never set foot in anything WWE related but after years of olive branches by COO Jean Levesque, Sammartino did return to the fold and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. For many, including us at Notinhalloffame.com (we had him ranked #1 until he was inducted) the WWE Hall of Fame lacked a certain credibility without Bruno in it and Triple H deserves every honor possible in mending this fence.

The Hall of Fame would not be a one off appearance as Sammartino would also appear at other WWE events and do interviews for WWE Network events. He would return to the WWE Hall of Fame as an inductor in 2015 for Larry Zbyszko.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, family and fans of Bruno Sammartino. You will always be a legend to us and we know we are not alone in that sentiment.

We have another major update here at Notinhalloffame.com as our Football list of those who should be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has gone through a major revision.

Last February, 6 of our top 10 were selected (Ray Lewis #1, Jerry Kramer #2, Randy Moss #3, Brian Dawkins #7, Terrell Owens #8 and Brian Urlacher #9) as was another top 15 (Robert Brazile #15). This has brought as expected a major overhaul in our top 10 list but with the addition of three strong first ballot entries none of the returning entries will crack the top three.

Our Notinhalloffame.com Football Top Ten is:

Former Tight End Tony Gonzalez debuts at number one. Gonzalez is without question the greatest Tight End ever and if you don’t agree with that, you can’t argue that he is not the best in terms of pure offensive skill. The former dual sport star from UCLA is second all-time in Receptions and is a 14 time Pro Bowl Selection. If anyone on this list has a speech ready to go it should be Tony Gonzalez!

Champ Bailey makes his inaugural appearance on our list at #2. The Cornerback dominated his position for years and went to twelve Pro Bowls as well as being chosen for three First Team All-Pro rosters.

Former Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed arrives at #3. Like Gonzalez and Bailey, Reed has the credentials of a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Safety is a nine time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection and is a Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens. He is also the all-time leader in Interception Return Yards.

Alan Faneca returns at #4 and is the highest ranked returnee from our list. The Offensive Lineman has been a Finalist the last two years and is a nine time Pro Bowl and six time First Team All-Pro Selection. He won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chuck Howley is the highest rated former player who would need to get in via the Senior Committee. Howley, the MVP of Super Bowl V and six time Pro Bowler remains at #5.

Four time Super Bowl Champion L.C. Greenwood also holds the same rank as last year as he holds at #6. The former Pittsburgh Steeler was a six time Finalist and like Howley would need the Senior Committee to get inducted.

Johnny Robinson jumped from #10 to #7. The longtime Kansas City Chief is a former Super Bowl winner and was a Finalist six times. He too needs to enter via the Senior Committee.

From the Denver Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush”, Randy Gradishar jumped from #12 to #8. The former Linebacker was a two time Finalist was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 and was a seven time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection.

Three time Super Bowl Champion Running Back Roger Craig moves up to #9. Craig was a Finalist in 2009.

Rounding out to the new top ten is Wide Receiver Torry Holt. Holt went to twelve Pro Bowls and helped the St. Louis Rams win the Super Bowl.

Gonzalez, Bailey and Reed are not the only new entries.

Four time Pro Bowl Selection London Fletcher enters our list at #66. Fletcher was a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams and is one of four players to have participated in 250 straight games.

Regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com know that we eventually plan to grow our core sports lists to 150 and as such we are allowing new entries to push our Football list beyond 100. We have two new entries in the lower end of the list with Asante Samuel at #97 and Brian Waters at #102.

You know what we want you to do!

Take a look at our new list (which can be found here) and let us know who you think should be in the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

Another day, another retirement in professional football.

Nick Mangold, who arguably is one of the most successful Offensive Linemen in New York Jet history has officially retired from the NFL after signing a one day contract so that he could retire in the green and white.

Mangold was the 29th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and the former Ohio State Buckeye would take over immediately as the Jets Center.

Not only would Nick Mangold prove to be good at his position he would excel, as seven times (2008-11 & 2013-15) he would be named to the Pro Bowl and he would be named a First Team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. He would also be a Second Team All Pro in 2011.

Mangold played 164 Games in the NFL (all with the Jets) and started every single one of them. He will likely receive consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame of which he will be eligible in 2022. We will be adding his name to the 2022 section later.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Nick Mangold for the memories and we wish him the best in his post-playing career.

It feels like we have written about this before.

For the second time, Linebacker James Harrison has announced his retirement via an Instagram post from professional football though we think this time it is going to stick.

Undrafted out of Kent State in 2002, James Harrison would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harrison would struggle in his early professional years, as he was deemed too short to be an effective NFL Linebacker and was deemed by some of his teammates as a bit of a head case. The former Golden Flash would bounce off and on the practice roster and would see brief action on the main roster in Special Teams but he would be cut by the end of the year. He would sign with Baltimore in 2003 was cut again after a brief stint with Rhein in NFL Europe but was cut again. Harrison signed again with the Steelers in 2004 but this time he would stick.

From 2004 to 2006 Harrison (or “Deebo” as he was more commonly known) would play on Special Teams and Outside Linebacker showing much improvement from what they saw in his rookie year. In what had to be considered a surprise by many Harrison took over the starting Right Outside Linebacker position from Joey Porter who had been released due to salary cap issues. Harrison would prove Pittsburgh’s new Head Coach Mike Tomlin right as he emerged as one of the most feared defensive players in the National Football League.

In 2007 James Harrison would be chosen for the Pro Bowl, which would be the first of five consecutive. He was also named the Steelers MVP for the year. The next year would be the best season of Harrison’s career as he would record a career high 16 Sacks while earning First Team All Pro Honors. The Linebacker would also lead the league in Approximate Value and would be named the Defensive Player of the Year. Capping the season Harrrison would be the defensive force in the Steelers Super Bowl Win over Arizona. During the game he returned an Interception 100 Yards for a Touchdown, which is still the longest pick in Super Bowl History. This would be Harrison’s second Super Bowl as he played a minor role in their win three years previous.

In 2010 Harrison would be named a First Team All-Pro for the second time and he would compete (albeit in a losing effort) in his third Super Bowl. He would however like Porter find himself the victim of the salary cap and he would be released by Pittsburgh. “Deebo” would sign with division rival Cincinnati where he would play in 2013. The Bengals would cut him after the season and he would retire as a Steeler…but that retirement was short lived as injuries decimated the Pittsburgh D and Harrison would be called back into duty. Harrison was still an effective player in 2015 and 2016 but in 2017 he saw limited action and would be cut by the team in December only to be picked up by the New England Patriots who would go to (again) to the Super Bowl.

James Harrison retires from the NFL with 193 Games Played with 84.5 career Sacks. He has to be considered an outside candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame but the new Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Honor has his name written all over it despite the fact that his final year in Pittsburgh was not exactly the most teammate and fan friendly.

Harrison will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank James Harrison for the on-field memories and we wish him the best in his post-playing career.