10 Things Learned From Bruce Prichard's Something To Wrestle With Podcast On Owen Hart
3. Of All Hart Foundation Member, Vince McMahon Wanted To Keep Owen The Most In 1997
After being the focal point of the WWF from '93 through '95, the Hart family feud took a back seat for a little while. The Hart family returned to the forefront of the promotion in 1997, but this time as a collective, rehabilitated unit. United we stand; divided we fall.
As great of a run as the Hart Foundation faction had, culminating at In Your House: Canadian Stampede, tragedy soon followed the Calgary family and lingered for years.
Brian Pillman passed away suddenly in October and Bret was forced out of the WWF by November, made to sign with WCW and devastated by the Montreal Screwjob. After Survivor Series '97, Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart soon followed Bret to WCW as Vince McMahon granted their releases. But Owen Hart was a different story; Vince wasn't giving up on him.
According to Prichard, Owen was the only one that Vince wanted to keep. Bret was persona non grata, Bulldog and Anvil's values were made clear with their release, but Vince still saw Owen as a potential star. Instead, Vince offered Owen a new deal and a lucrative contract to stay with the WWF; Owen eventually accepted but passed away tragically less than two years later.