10 Great Wrestlers Whose Careers Were Cut Short

10. Bret Hart

Bret Hart was a 21 year veteran of the ring by 1999. Despite his long run, the then-42 year old Hitman was in excellent physical condition and had managed to sidestep any major wear and tear on his body. While his WCW run was marred by horrendous booking, his work rate remained sharp and it was clear he had a lot left in the tank.

Despite few signs of slowing down, Hart's career came to a screeching halt at Starrcade '99 when a stiff superkick from Goldberg rattled his skull. It was the first of two concussions he sustained during their main event bout.

Hart briefly attempted a return to the ring in 2000 but it was clear the extent of his injuries were just too much to overcome. Cashing in his Lloyds of London policy, Hart retired from the ring (bar a couple of WWE bouts in 2010 where he didn't take a single bump).

The Excellence of Execution never injured anyone during his storied career. The hard luck of someone so renowned for their in-ring safety falling to the polar opposite had a cruel kind of irony to it. Hart's health in the years since has been cause for concern as the former WWE and WCW champ has suffered several life-threatening setbacks.