10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE In 1992
3. Local TV Spoiled Bret Hart’s Title Win
This is a bit mad.
Ric Flair was disqualified when he pushed the referee whilst locked in the Sharpshooter on a 10 October house show in LA. So, Bret Hart won, but only via DQ. For some reason, a local TV outlet ignored the rules and declared Bret the brand new WWF Champion. That wasn't true.
The WWF were probs a bit annoyed by this, because they planned to have Hart win the big belt from Flair on another non-televised live event in Saskatoon just two days later. That transpired, but several TV stations had picked up on the LA outlet's story and reported Bret as champ in advance anyway.
In effect, albeit completely by accident, these producers had spoiled Hart's biggest moment and arguably the biggest WWF title change of the entire year. Someone needed to get them a rule book. Titles can't change hands on a DQ in pro wrestling!
All's well that ends well.