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HISTORY: Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (6 October 1935 – 18 April 2018) was an Italian-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship[a] (now known as the WWE Championship) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of which is the longest single reign in the promotion's history at 2,803 days. He is overall a two-time world champion in professional wrestling. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Dubbed "The Italian Strongman” and "The Strongest Man in the World" early in his career, Sammartino later earned the title "The Living Legend". Known for his powerful bearhug finishing move, Sammartino became a vocal critic of the drug use and raunchier storylines that became prevalent in the professional wrestling industry after his retirement but he reconciled with WWE in 2013 and headlined their Hall of Fame ceremony that year. Terry Funk commented that Sammartino "was bigger than wrestling itself".
Wladek Kowalski (born Edward Władysław Spulnik; October 13, 1926 – August 30, 2008), known professionally as Killer Kowalski, was a Polish-Canadian professional wrestler.
Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE), and was a known villain professional wrestler. He held numerous championships including the WWWF World Tag Team Championship with Big John Studd billed as The Executioners and managed by Lou Albano.
After retiring in 1977, Kowalski started a professional wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts and trained many professional wrestlers, including Studd, Triple H, Chyna, Eddie Edwards, Kofi Kingston, Damien Sandow, Fandango, Brittany Brown, April Hunter, John Kronus, Perry Saturn, and Tommaso Ciampa.
In the 1960s, Kowalski claimed to be the only vegetarian professional wrestler.
Offered here is a large format, action photoraph of Bruno Sammartino and Killer Kowalski from their match in Boston on June 29, 1969 which has been signed by both.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is a large format, color, action photoraph of Bruno Sammartino and Killer Kowalski from their match in Boston on June 29, 1969 which has been signed by both. Boldly signed by both in gold pen. Clean front and back. Not creased or torn. Bold color and clear image. 16" x 20."
