Mars Was Named After Chubby Wrestler

R&B star BRUNO MARS was named after a famous Italian wrestler because he was overweight as a child.

The singer was born Peter Hernandez, but was nicknamed Bruno from a young age by his wrestling fanatic dad - because he resembled burly Italian grappler Bruno Sammartino.

Mars explains, “I was called Peter at school but at home I was never called that. I was Bruno. My dad was a fan of the wrestler Bruno Sammartino, who was heavyset. When I was a kid I was a little pudgy. I reminded him of a wrestler.”