10 Biggest Turning Points For WWE In 1997
2. Vince Screws Bret At Survivor Series
EFFECT: Vince becomes the biggest heel in professional wrestling
Ironically, McMahon thought he'd be viewed as morally upstanding for taking the title forcibly off of Hart in Montreal. He thought that fans would understand his predicament, that he didn't want Eric Bischoff to be able to announce on Nitro that he'd signed away the WWE Champion for the damage such an announcement would cause his company.
His attempt at a spin-doctoring anti-mea culpa, the "Bret Screwed Bret" interview, failed to persuade anyone into seeing his point of view, especially with so many lies therein.
But it all worked out: McMahon was the perfect foil for eventual-champion Austin, and their feud of everyman-vs-corporation ultimately swung millions of eyeballs WWE's way, giving them the lead in the Monday Night Wars