10 Compensations Wrestlers Accepted As Payback
8. Bret Hart - Faith, And The WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Not since Hulk Hogan was doused in champagne by Andre The Giant over ten years earlier had the company played host to such an on-the-nose celebration and coronation of a star, but this was the least Vince McMahon could do for Bret Hart after what he did to him the prior year.
'The Hitman' had spent a year in flux after McMahon had made the wrong choice in going with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania IX, but this 'Show Of Shows' conclusion served as an earnest attempt by the company to finally anoint Hart as the locker room leader and an apology from promoter to performer.
Toasted by the babyface side of the locker room, cheered on by Gorilla Monsoon, Vince McMahon himself and a glut of celebrities from inside the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden, Hart was finally acknowledged in a manner that tidied up last year's mess. Former champion Yokozuna was conclusively vanquished, and all as Owen Hart stood with a victory over the new titleholder to set up the summer series ahead. All was, for now, right with the world.
And just over a decade later, McMahon was made to make the same concession again...