10 Things We Learned From Eric Bischoff's Starrcade 1997 Podcast

3. Bret Hart Wasn’t Involved In The Main Event Until The Day Of

That's when Eric claims plans changed and he decided to add some spice to the main event.

Bret Hart, who had only been booked as a special guest referee for Bischoff vs. Zbyszko on the show, was suddenly asked to be part of the headliner's finish. The booking now called for Bret to grab the time keeper's hammer, stop him from ringing the bell and say (on camera) that the Montreal Screwjob wouldn't happen again.

He didn't use that exact wording, but the insinuation was that Hart couldn't stomach another hero being screwed over so soon after the 1997 Survivor Series. After Bret's interjection, Sting hammered Hogan and forced him to submit in the Scorpion Death Lock.

Something doesn't add up about all this. Conrad particularly got hot about the idea that Bischoff was willing to change things 'cause Sting didn't have a tan, and he didn't believe Bret was only drafted in the day of the show.