10 Horribly Cruel WWE Moments WORSE When You Know The Truth
1. $5000 Is Deemed Too Expensive To Safeguard Owen Hart's Life
The hauntingly-named Over The Edge PPV where Owen Hart lost his life made 416,000 buys. At the then-rate of $29.95 a buy, that's a good chunk of change for the WWE to make use of. Unfortunately, none of that money went towards ensuring Owen Hart's safety as he was lowered from the roof to the ring.
As detailed by John Pollock, WWE got into an argument with rigger Joe Branam about the cost of the stunt. Due to WWE's insistence in allowing a quick-release function - so Owen could take a comedy pratfall immediately after landing in the ring - Branam quoted them at $5000. WWE responded by firing Branam and doing the stunt on the cheap, leading to the fateful events of May 23, 1999.
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$5000.
$5000 was seen as too much to safeguard an employee's life - in the middle of the greatest boom period in wrestling history.
$5000 was seen as too much to protect Owen Hart - one of the greatest, most-loved wrestlers to ever enter the business.
$5000 was seen as too much to ensure Owen's wife would be able to grow old with her husband, and their children would grow up with their father.
The death of Owen Hart is the greatest tragedy to ever occur in a WWE ring. The fact that it was also the most easily avoidable makes it all the more devastating.