The Montreal Screwjob needs no introduction. The final moments of the match have been dissected to the point of exhaustion, its motives, consequences and fine details debated endlessly. But what of the actual bout itself? The last few seconds (and aftermath) aside, the rest of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels' final encounter has been lost in a sea of controversy. It's easy to forget, for example, the fact that both men were champions heading into the bout, or their incredibly long pre-match brawl. History seems to recall an incredibly partisan Montreal crowd, all roaring on Bret - but Shawn Michaels had is fair share of supporters smattered throughout the arena, evident in the number of pro-HBK signs. There were even one or two "you sold out" chants directed at Hart, for his impending big-money move to WCW. The Montreal Screwjob is largely remembered as the most controversial moment in WWE history, but the match's infamous ending isn't the only reason it stands out as a bizarre encounter.
22. The Hype Video Gets Personal
The real-life hatred between Bret and Shawn has gone down in history, and even in 1997, a lot of that legitimate emotion seeps through into the pre-match video package. It's fair to assume that a lot of the following insults aren't strictly worked... Bret refers to Shaw as a "phony little s***" and says he has no concept of pride, dignity or poise. We even get a short clip of him spitting at the Heartbreak Kid during an in-ring standoff, an angle that Hart probably had no qualms carrying out. Shawn takes a less foul-mouthed approach, defending his brash, arrogant attitude as "living a free lifestyle". He also states "I do this because I like it. You do it because you think this is all yours."