Bone-Crushing Facts About the WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment occupies a strange but immovable place in popular culture. It’s competitive, it’s theatrical, it can be completely ridiculous and it can be unexpectedly thrilling. And it’s still a ratings juggernaut.
Although the story lines are planned, there's no way to fake a back flip off the top turnbuckle or a choke-slam through a table. Let’s all indulge in the pomp, the extravagance, the drama, and the spandex of WWE with these awesome facts.
Can I get a “WOOOO”?
WWE Facts
42. Champ Among Champs
The competitor with the single longest reign as WWE Champion is Bruno Sammartino, who held the title for a total of 2,803 days. He won the belt on May 17th, 1963 and lost it on January 18th, 1971.
And that record isn’t likely to be broken any time soon: just try to imagine any contemporary superstar holding on to the championship for almost eight years in a row without riots breaking out.
41. The Russian Bear
Ivan Koloff, “The Russian Bear,” was the man who brought an end to Bruno Sammartino’s titanic reign in 1971. When he pinned the champ, the Madison Square Garden crowd fell silent, and many grown-ass men were reduced to tears.
40. Mid-Life Crisis Averted
The oldest WWE Champion in the brand’s history is none other than the boss himself, Vince McMahon, who won the title when he was 54.
