1976

 

1976 saw Bruno Sammartino as the WWWF Champion, this was Bruno's third full year as champion on his second run.

The main challengers for Bruno's belt were Superstar Billy Graham, Stan Hansen, Ivan Koloff, Bruiser Brody & Ernie Ladd.

In a match with Stan Hansen Bruno Sammartino had his neck broken as the result of a body slam. With Sammartino out Haystacks Calhoun, Gorilla Monsoon, and Ivan putski substitued for Bruno.

 

Tag Teams

The year started with Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan as WWWF Tag Team Champs.

Parisi & Cerdan took on many different teams including Arion & Koloff, Bugsy McGraw & Koloff, Superstar Graham & Ernie Ladd and others.

In the summer of 1976 The Executioners (Kowalski & Studd) defeated Parisi & Cerdan.

Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf won the Tag Titles after The Executioners were stripped of the belts when a third Executioner showed up.

 

Top 10 WWWF Wrestlers of 1976

1. Bruno Sammartino

2. Superstar Billy Graham

3. Ivan Koloff

4. Stan Hansen

5. Andre The Giant

6. Bruiser Brody

7. Bobo Brazil

8. Ivan Putski

9. Ernie Ladd

10. Dom DeNucci

 

WWWF Fantasy card from 1976

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

Dr. Bill Miller vs Jose Gonzales

Tony Parisi vs Bugsy McGraw

Victor Rivera vs Baron Scicluna

Chief Jay Strongbow vs Nicolai Volkoff

Ernie Ladd vs Dom DeNucci

Gorilla Monsoon vs Bruiser Brody

Ivan Koloff vs Billy White Wolf

Bobo Brazil vs Crusher Blackwell

Ivan Putski vs Superstar Billy Graham

Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen

 

Misc 1976 WWWF

Former WWWF promoter Toots Mondt at the age of 82.

Dr. Bill Miller has his final match in Pittsburgh against Dom DeNucci. Miller loses the match and retires.

Muhammad Ali shows up on WWWF TV and challenges Gorilla Monsoon. Monsoon easily defeats Muhammad Ali with an airplane spin.