Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels Complete History | Wrestling Timelines
November 24, 1993 - We Meet Again
Almost a year to the day later, Bret and Shawn meet again at the annual Survivor Series pay-per-view - to considerably less critical acclaim.
Much has changed across 365 days. Bret has won, and lost, the WWF Heavyweight title; when it becomes clear that the fans don’t buy into Lex Luger doing Hulk Hogan, he’ll get it back. Shawn is the current Intercontinental champion - which, in 1993, is often code for future Heavyweight champion. Nobody under Vince’s employ can look like they’re on the juice, for obvious optics reasons. Bret and Hawn best represent a purer, athletic - and enforced - future. Bret isn’t remotely close to Hogan, in terms of star power and box office, but his in-ring catalogue, already, is the best in Federation history. It’s taking longer for Shawn to get there, although he’s more than capable of entering some sublime performances on occasion. His 1993 PPV record - Vs. Marty Jannetty, Tatanka, Mr. Perfect - underwhelms.
Bret teams with his brothers Owen, Bruce and Keith to defeat Shawn and “his” “Knights”: Black (Jeff Gaylord), Blue (Greg Valentine) and Red (Barry Horowitz).
This poor eight-man tag is not the originally scheduled match. Bret’s excellent feud with Jerry Lawler is meant to segue into an incredibly textured war against Owen, but Lawler misses the show after he is indicted on charges of sodomy and statutory rape.
It might have been better, since Terry Funk is meant to be involved but pulls out at the last minute, but it’s bad. Weirdly, the WWF plays it as if Michaels had been tormenting and insulting the Hart Family all along. This isn’t the case, and the fans, who know it, cannot bring themselves to care - especially since this goes for 30 tedious minutes. The Bret and Owen interaction is compelling, but that’s about it.
This is excusably bad, and while Shawn’s bumping is great towards the finish, he really could do with a breakthrough performance, if Bret’s on-again, off-again top guy role is to be challenged over the long-term.