10 Greatest WWE Champions Ever
3. Bret Hart
There was a certain defiance lingering within Bret Hart's spread fingers as he arrogantly celebrated his fifth WWE Title win at SummerSlam 1997. As an anti-American heel, he was pie-facing the New Jersey crowd, but beyond the bluster there was a significant message being sent down south.
Hulk Hogan, up to that point, had been the only man to reach such a lofty number of reigns, and had sone so very undeservingly so at the 'Hitman's expense in 1993. Now living his 'Hollywood' second life in WCW, Hogan was out of Bret's way even if Shawn Michaels was constantly in his rear-view mirror.
It all meant so much to Hart. It's why he meant so much to his fans. Bret Hart was real. In his hands, wrestling looked real. His hurt - both physical and emotional - hurt everybody else watching. His joy was equally joyous. He was often a Champion Vince McMahon needed rather than wanted, but there were hardly many as deserving to the core audience that still stuck around during the industry's nadir. The struggle was real.