Bruno Sammartino Speaks Out - Triple H, HOF, Vince McMahon

There is no question, that its going to be something for me and I hope I can handle it emotionally because I appeared in that building over 200 times. 50 years ago I took the belt from Buddy Rogers. That's the place I picked up Haystacks Calhoun, when no one was able to budge him. It's a place where I also broke my neck. It's the place where I lost the title. It's a place where I regained the title. To be there as many times as I did, and the thing that I never forgotten and it still touches me and gives me goosebumps is that when I used to make my entrance from my dressing room towards the ring, that whole audience would explode and start chanting my name.

"Even though I was a fanatic about my training, but when I got in that ring I was even more energized. I wanted to give everything I had to give, to those fans because they treated me so great. You know in this business you're a headliner if given the opportunity. But if those fans don't come out for you, you're not a headliner for long. I was a headliner for twenty something years because the fans came out and supported me. For the fans who wanted me to do this, I wanted to please them as well. Yes I have thought about what its going to be like when I appear there one more time because I never thought I would step into Madison Square Garden again. I'm sure everything is going to be flashing back to all the stuff that happened there. I hope I'm man enough to handle it without getting too emotional."
 
On the reaction from fans when he was announced on Raw to be in the Hall of Fame: "That was a big shock to me, because when I heard that they were going to make the announcement in Atlanta, I'll be very honest with you guys, I didn't know what to expect. But I certainly didn't expect any kind of big reaction. I thought it might get a polite yay or okay. (Laughs). So when I was watching it and I saw the piece that was put together, and I saw the reaction of the people, I couldn't believe it to be honest with you. I was in shock. I thought, my gosh this isn't Madison Square Garden, this is Atlanta. I wrestled in Atlanta, but not like the Garden or some of the other arenas around here. To see that reaction from fans who probably weren't around when I was wrestling. That just blew me away."

Who he wants to present his induction: "Paul said to me that they usually let the persons being inducted choose who they want. However he asked me if I would allow them to think about it for a while. They want to bring someone who they think would be fitting for the occasion. Someone who is worldly known. I don't know who they have in mind. But if it were me, there would be a number of people I would suggest. My good buddy, Dominic Denucci. Guys like Ivan Koloff who took the title from me and who I had some of the greatest matches with. There is Bill Watts who I have a history with. Look at the history I had with Larry Zbyszko. I always wanted to go out on top, that was my dream. The last thing I did in this business was with Zbyszko. Look what we did at Shea Stadium. We sold out Shea Stadium and turned them away from every arena that we went into. What a way to go out. He would be pretty darn good at that as well. I'll leave it up to them because they have their own idea."

Does he consider the WWE Hall of Fame legitimate now: "Now I do! (Laughs) The other thing I asked and they are planning on doing it down the road is a building. A building that people can visit. It's down the road like I said but it's in the works."