1971

1971 was the most active year in the history of the WWWF as the heavyweight championship changed 3 times.

Bruno Sammartino started the year as champion but in a tag match in Pittsburgh Bruno was injured by George Steele. Three days later Bruno loses the title to Ivan Koloff in Madison Square Garden.

Prior to losing the title Bruno had succesful title defenses against Bepo Mongol & Bulldog Brower.

Ivan Koloff had succesful title defenses against Chief Jay Strongbow, Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Dubois, Manuel Soto & Tony Marino

Koloff's run as champ is very short as Pedro Morales defeats Ivan Koloff the following month.

Pedro Morales was a very active WWWF Champ as he defended the title against Luke Graham, Tarzan Tyler, Stan Stasiak, Bulldog Brower & Blackjack Mulligan

Tag Teams

The year started with The Mongols as the Tag Team Champions in the WWWF.

The Mongols were defeated by Luke Graham & Tarzan Tyler in Pittsburgh. At this same time Graham & Tyler were awarded the WWWF Tag Titles.

Graham & Tyler defeated some top teams such as Gorilla Monsoon & Haystacks Calhoun,

Also in Pittsburgh Bruno Sammartino & Dom Denucci beat the Mongols for the titles, this was never really recognized.

Late in the year Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet beat Tyler & Graham for the WWWF Tag Titles.

Some other top tag teams that competed in 1971.

Pedro Morales & Gorilla Monsoon, Bruno Sammartino & Chief Jay Strongbow, George Steele & Baron Scicluna, & the Rugged Russians

Top 10 WWWF Wrestlers of 1971

1. Pedro Morales
2. Ivan Koloff
3. Bruno Sammartino
4. Blackjack Mulligan
5. Chief Jay Strongbow
6. Bobo Brazil
7. Fred Blassie
8. Stan Stasiak
9. Victor Rivera
10. Gorilla Monsoon

WWWF Fantasy card from 1971

(All matches did take place but not in the same evening)

Wolfman vs Manuel Soto

Sonny King vs Killer Brooks

Chief Jay Strongbow vs Tony Marino

Waldo Von Erich vs Tony Parisi

Jimmy Valiant vs Victor Rivera

Fred Blassie vs Beautiful Bobby

Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet vs Rugged Russians

Gorilla Monsoon vs Luke Graham

Blackjack Mulligan & Bulldog Brower vs Bobo Brazil & Pedro Morales

Bruno Sammartino vs Ivan Koloff

Misc 1971 WWWF

Bruno Sammartino & Dom Denucci defeated George Steele & Baron Scicluna in January of 1971 in Pittsburgh. During this match George Steele injured Bruno Sammartino's shoulder and Bruno lost the belt just a few days later.

Some newcomers to the WWWF included Blackjack Mulligan, Stan Stasiak, Jimmy Valiant, Karl Gotch, Rene Goulet & Sonny King.

Geeto Mongol turned on Lou Albano on TV in Pittsburgh after losing a match against Bruno Sammartino.