10 Shocking Wrestler Ages That Will Blow Your Mind

5. Bret Hart

Earthquake Hulk Hogan
WWE

Bret Hart was the best North American professional wrestler of the 20th century.

He lived up to every nickname, but he particularly embodied 'The Excellence of Execution'. Everything he did looked gorgeous. His Russian leg sweep was so f*cking clean yet struck with such snap and velocity that it looked like he'd concussed somebody, not that he ever did. Not sure if you are aware of this or not, but unlike that sloppy amateur Goldberg, Bret never hurt anybody. His style was never too pretty. He strategised to build his stories, even chewed a forehead when the opponent was too big to take down, and his work looked so legit that he could generate a pop just by aiming a headbutt at a bread basket to set up a sunset flip.

He was entrusted by Vince McMahon to carry the infamously sawft Tom Magee and gauge his potential on a 1986 house show. In a genius display, a fear-stricken Hart did everything to avoid Magee's offence, thereby putting it over as a huge threat in the theatre of the mind - and, of course, not allowing the audience to see how piss-weak it looked.

The located Holy Grail was a beautiful karmic postscript to Hart's career, and he was just 29 - several years removed from the wrestler's prime - when his ring generalship worked Vince McMahon.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!