Bret The Hitman Harts life went to hell at the end of 1997, when the lucrative new contract hed signed with the WWF was suddenly withdrawn. Vince McMahon had had to tell him that the company couldnt afford it after all, and that he should find out if WCWs previous offer was still on the table. It was a crushing blow to the Hitmans colossal pride, after being at the centre of a bidding war, being told that the company whose offer hed accepted had thought better of it. But the WCW offer was still open, and Hart headed for the door. The only question was going to be when, where and how to drop the WWF Championship? Theres a lot of he said/she said surrounding the reasons for the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series in November 1997, and Im not going to waste your time by going into them here. McMahon didnt trust that Hart wouldnt suddenly appear on WCW Nitro with the WWFs top title in his hands and do something outrageous, and took matters into his own hands, calling for the bell and awarding the win to Harts opponent and nemesis Shawn Michaels when no submission had been made. Hart was livid and remained livid for several years afterwards, because no one holds a grudge like Bret Hart. Fast forward through Owen Harts tragic death in May 1999 Brets lacklustre WCW career and forced early retirement in late 2000 due to a career-ending concussion his 2002 stroke and rehabilitation. Hart couldnt do much of anything during this time, as his health fluctuated so alarmingly. He first heard that WWE intended to put together a hatchet job DVD collection on The Hitman when they contacted him asking him if he wanted to be involved. The choice was simple: get on board, or get run over. If Hart didnt return to help put together the DVD, theyd use negative recorded interviews and footage to paint a terrible picture of his career, the same as they had that year with the Self-Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior DVD. Some might consider that he had no choice, but Harts legacy in the business was far too important to him to continue to hold onto his anger over the way hed been treated in 1997. One thing led to another, and he finally accepted WWEs invitation to be inducted into their Hall Of Fame in April 2006: one of the WWFs greatest ever performers, returning home to be honoured by the company after nearly a decade at loggerheads.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
