10 Times Wrestlers Refused To Accept Certain Finishes

Don’t feel too sorry for Bret Hart, mind. Later that same year, he and Shawn Michaels once again found themselves on a collision course, though this time it was the Hitman who wouldn’t play ball.

It’s another of the more famous controversies in the history of professional wrestling, and a story that often gets twisted and turned from one interpretation to another. All we know for sure is that Hart lost to Michaels at Survivor Series 1997 after the finish was reversed mid-match without the knowledge of Hart.

Though there were a number of factors at play here, it seems the plans were changed after Vince McMahon didn’t take kindly to Hart’s reluctance to drop the championship in Canada. Instead, he wanted to retain against Michaels at the pay-per-view, before losing the belt at a later date at a show based outside of his home country.

Critics say Hart was taking himself too seriously, sympathizers say he had a fair point. Irrespective, McMahon was so upset he took the unprecedented step of shortchanging Hart out of the Championship in a Screwjob finish that had all kinds of repercussions for the industry—none of which were of benefit to Hart.