10 Times WWE Got Buyer's Remorse

10. Bret Hart

Working an angle after re-securing Bret Hart's signature in 1996, Vince McMahon cut a relieved figure at the commentary desk as the 'Hitman' pledged to be with WWE "forever" during his 21st October Raw return.

McMahon was acting then, just as he was a year later when he agreed to a "schmoz" in Montreal.

In his incredible autobiography, Hart theorised that McMahon regretted the unprecedented 20-year contract almost immediately after he'd agreed to it. Only really audible to trained ears - and Bret's were more trained than most - McMahon and Jim Ross subtly reduce Hart's typical excellence in his return match against Stone Cold Steve Austin at that year's Survivor Series, despite his execution being as on-point as ever.

'The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be' wasn't just believable ballyhoo by that point - it had never been truer. Keen to earn his money and retain industry-wide respect in contrast to bitter rival Shawn Michaels, Hart was as masterful as he'd ever been in his iconic, earth-shifting feud with 'The Rattlesnake'.

1997 was arguably his best ever year, but the ruthless and shrewd McMahon had already started imagining it as his last.