thegame
July 7th, 2003, 4:35:49 PM
Lucky number 5. Hope to see some feedback!
"You Screwed Bret!"
I'm sure we've all heard this chant whenever WWE goes north of the border into Canada for a live event. The main recipients of such chants are Shawn Michaels, Earl Hebner and Vince McMahon, all of whom were principally involved in one of the most infamous nights in wrestling history... Survivor Series 1997 from Montreal. In this event, for those who aren't aware, Bret "Hitman" Hart defended his WWE Title against Shawn Michaels in the main event. The scheduled finish was a DQ, allowing Bret to go out as champ from WWE, as this match was to be his last before his contract ended and he accepted an amicable departure from WWE in order to wrestle for WCW. The ending was changed by McMahon and Michaels shortly before the match, and referee Earl Hebner was let in on it only just before he was scheduled to come out. The new ending, the one that went down, was for Michaels to get a submission win as he turned Hart over in the "Sharpshooter", Bret's own finishing move. Of course Bret didn't know this, and did not "give up" at the time that Hebner rang the bell. In the aftermath of the match, Hart spit on McMahon, as he knew that a screwjob had been done on him. Hart made a WCW sign to the crowd, then accepted their cheers as he left. Later that night, Hart approached Michaels and asked if Shawn was in on the job, Michaels lied and said "no". Hart then proceeded to punch out Vince McMahon, and swore to never work for him again.
This story, one of the most controversial in WWE history, comes up again every time WWE visits Montreal, as they do tonight for RAW. If Hebner or Michaels are there, both will be booed, threatened and accoasted. Canada, particularly Montreal and Calgary, is Bret Hart country. He is the nation's biggest non hockey sports hero, and has a loyal following of fans. I myself name Bret Hart as my all time favorite wrestler, even over Triple H. Hart was the main reason I watched wrestling from 1993 - 1998. He is the finest ring performer I ever watched, even in his later years in WCW, he continued to impress. Hart always sold a storyline well, his mic skills were exceptional, always able to inject raw emotion and realness to any work. His moves in the ring earned him the nickname "The Excellence of Excecution". No one did better in the squared circle than the Hitman. Hated and loved at the same time by different demographics of fans, Hart deserved his place in the WWE Hall of Fame, and a fitting exit from the company he worked hard to maintain and help grow. McMahon acted cowardly, not allowing for what the fans wanted in this instance. Michaels too was at fault, but only for lying to Hart, he should have come clean.
Many now ask for the issue to be "let go". I, for one, have moved on and do not boo Vince or Shawn when I am at live events. Hart, though, deserves a proper sendoff by WWE at some point in the future, and although McMahon and Hart have mended some of their fences, a reunion still seems years away, if ever.
Whatever your view on this issue, its clear that many are never going to let it go. Hart is still revered in Canada, even now that his days in the ring are over. Hart is 46, and had a stroke last year. He has aged visably, his family has lost Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, but it doesn't matter. To a large majority of the wrestling fans of the world, especially the hardcore ones, Bret Hart will forever be "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."
I am thegame
"You Screwed Bret!"
I'm sure we've all heard this chant whenever WWE goes north of the border into Canada for a live event. The main recipients of such chants are Shawn Michaels, Earl Hebner and Vince McMahon, all of whom were principally involved in one of the most infamous nights in wrestling history... Survivor Series 1997 from Montreal. In this event, for those who aren't aware, Bret "Hitman" Hart defended his WWE Title against Shawn Michaels in the main event. The scheduled finish was a DQ, allowing Bret to go out as champ from WWE, as this match was to be his last before his contract ended and he accepted an amicable departure from WWE in order to wrestle for WCW. The ending was changed by McMahon and Michaels shortly before the match, and referee Earl Hebner was let in on it only just before he was scheduled to come out. The new ending, the one that went down, was for Michaels to get a submission win as he turned Hart over in the "Sharpshooter", Bret's own finishing move. Of course Bret didn't know this, and did not "give up" at the time that Hebner rang the bell. In the aftermath of the match, Hart spit on McMahon, as he knew that a screwjob had been done on him. Hart made a WCW sign to the crowd, then accepted their cheers as he left. Later that night, Hart approached Michaels and asked if Shawn was in on the job, Michaels lied and said "no". Hart then proceeded to punch out Vince McMahon, and swore to never work for him again.
This story, one of the most controversial in WWE history, comes up again every time WWE visits Montreal, as they do tonight for RAW. If Hebner or Michaels are there, both will be booed, threatened and accoasted. Canada, particularly Montreal and Calgary, is Bret Hart country. He is the nation's biggest non hockey sports hero, and has a loyal following of fans. I myself name Bret Hart as my all time favorite wrestler, even over Triple H. Hart was the main reason I watched wrestling from 1993 - 1998. He is the finest ring performer I ever watched, even in his later years in WCW, he continued to impress. Hart always sold a storyline well, his mic skills were exceptional, always able to inject raw emotion and realness to any work. His moves in the ring earned him the nickname "The Excellence of Excecution". No one did better in the squared circle than the Hitman. Hated and loved at the same time by different demographics of fans, Hart deserved his place in the WWE Hall of Fame, and a fitting exit from the company he worked hard to maintain and help grow. McMahon acted cowardly, not allowing for what the fans wanted in this instance. Michaels too was at fault, but only for lying to Hart, he should have come clean.
Many now ask for the issue to be "let go". I, for one, have moved on and do not boo Vince or Shawn when I am at live events. Hart, though, deserves a proper sendoff by WWE at some point in the future, and although McMahon and Hart have mended some of their fences, a reunion still seems years away, if ever.
Whatever your view on this issue, its clear that many are never going to let it go. Hart is still revered in Canada, even now that his days in the ring are over. Hart is 46, and had a stroke last year. He has aged visably, his family has lost Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, but it doesn't matter. To a large majority of the wrestling fans of the world, especially the hardcore ones, Bret Hart will forever be "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."
I am thegame