Author: Today In Pro Wrestling History: Pedro Morales’ victory over Ivan Koloff for the WWWF Heavyweight Title on February 8th, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, was a pivotal moment in wrestling history. Capturing the title before a sold-out crowd of 21,812, Morales solidified his status as a leading babyface and the rightful successor to Bruno Sammartino, the immensely popular former champion. This win marked the beginning of Morales’ reign as WWWF champion, which would last for 1,027 days, making it the fourth longest title reign in WWE history.
Today In Pro Wrestling History 8th February: Pedro Morales Wins Over Ivan Koloff for the WWWF Heavyweight Title
Morales’ career was significant not only for his championship reigns but also for his ability to draw large crowds to Madison Square Garden, underscoring his popularity and the high regard in which fans held him. For example, on January 31st, 1972, he successfully defended his title against Professor Toru Tanaka in front of 22,076 attendees. His matches consistently attracted large audiences, even drawing better than Bruno Sammartino in some instances, such as against Ernie Ladd on September 2nd, 1972, with an attendance of 21,819.
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