Author: Today in Pro Wrestling History: On January 18, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, Ivan Koloff achieved a historic victory by defeating Bruno Sammartino to win the WWWF Championship.
Today In Pro Wrestling History (Jan 18): Ivan Koloff Defeats Bruno Sammartino
Before this match, Sammartino had held the title for an extraordinary 2,803 days, starting from May 17, 1963, when he won it from “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers. This reign is still the longest in WWE history and reflects Sammartino’s unparalleled popularity and draw as a champion.
His loss to Koloff was met with an overwhelming silence from the audience, a reaction that has since become part of wrestling lore. Due to concerns over a potential riot, the announcement of Koloff as the new WWWF Champion was never made over the venue’s PA system.
Before this match, Sammartino had held the title for an extraordinary 2,803 days, starting from May 17, 1963, when he won it from “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers. This reign is still the longest in WWE history and reflects Sammartino’s unparalleled popularity and draw as a champion.
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"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
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