12 WWE Wrestlers Who Worked Through Chronic Injury

12. Bruno Sammartino

One of the biggest legends in WWE, Sammartino was WWF Champion for over eleven years across two reigns. Vince McMahon Snr depended on him heavily to draw the crowds in the north east regional market. His Italian heritage was the big sell for the hot New York crowds.

As a result, going out injured really wasn’t an option. He was making too much money and was too valuable as champion. But his reign from 1963 to 1971 was plagued by physical pain from performing, leading to him eventually walking away from the business.

“It was time for me to take a break,” Sammartino told WWE 50, “I approached Vince McMahon Snr and told him ‘My body cannot do what’s it supposed to do’

“After eight years I wanted to give it up, because my body demanded that I give it up so I could recuperate.”

However, in typical wrestling fashion, Bruno came back. He was champion again from 1973 – 1977. But the chronic injuries were still bothering him, including his back, knees and shoulders.

Then came the big one, a broken neck in April 1976 while wrestling Stan Hansen at Madison Square Garden. It happened after Hansen botched a slam, landing Bruno on his head. Yet the Italian legend toughed it out, wrestling another fifteen minutes and working Hansen again in June.

He worked another year as champion, before dropping the belt and taking a reduced schedule from 1977 onwards. He’d spent well over a decade working through the chronic pain of injuries and was glad to get away from the title commitment.