The longest reigning WWE Champion of all time Bruno Sammartino passed away this week, and tributes for him have been flooding in on social media.

Bruno Sammartino will forever be remembered as one of the most iconic professional wrestlers of all time. The Living Legend dominated WWE during an era before Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels, and his record as the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time will be one that lives forever. This week though, the wrestling world said goodbye to Sammartino as the Hall Of Famer passed away at the age of 82.

Naturally, just minutes after the news broke that Sammartino passed away, tributes to the Italian wrestler from those in the business started flooding in on Twitter. One of the first people to pay their respects was Triple H who described him as a true friend and one of the toughest people he's ever met. The Game was also the man who helped rebuild the bridge between WWE and Sammartino so that he could be inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2013.

RELATED: BRUNO SAMMARTINO DIES AT AGE 82

Although the bulk of his career took place before much of the main roster was even born, there's no doubt that he will have influenced a great many of their careers. That was demonstrated by a tweet from Mojo Rawley who recalled meeting Sammartino backstage at WrestleMania XXX. The Raw Superstar described the former WWE Champion as the most vibrant person he met during that WrestleMania week and that the wisdom he imparted on him was invaluable.

Former WWE and ECW star Tommy Dreamer was also very quick to take to social media and pay his respects to Sammartino, urging fans to celebrate his life by watching one of his matches today. Dreamer's close friend and fellow ECW alum Taz also paid tribute and has often cited Sammartino as being one of his favorite wrestlers of all time. The former ECW Champion reiterated how big an influence The Living Legend was on him as a child.

No doubt the tributes will continue to pour in on social media to a man who defined professional wrestling for more than 20 years throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Thankfully, Sammartino mended fences with WWE before his passing and took up his rightful place among the elite in the Hall Of Fame. There are very few more deserving of that honor than him and his career, presence, and influence on the business will never be forgotten.