10 Uplifting Wrestling Moments To Cure Your 'Mania Hangover

4. The Reconciliation Of Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels

hart michaels
wwe

The events of November 9, 1997 haunted Bret Hart for the brief remainder of his celebrated career.

Vince McMahon famously screwed him out of the WWF Championship, which Hart was perceived to have held hostage. Hart left under incredibly acrimonious circumstances, and his career unravelled completely under the catastrophic stewardship of everybody entrusted with the poisoned chalice that was WCW's booking pencil. The karmic balance was restored, in Hart's mind, when Screwjob conspirator and corrosive irritant Shawn Michaels suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury at Royal Rumble '98.

But then, four years later, Shawn found God and was blessed with an incredible career renaissance, finding the sweet spot between his famed acrobatic bumping and now-peerless selling. His second run was even more critically salivated over than his first.

The business had ravaged Hart and rewarded his antagonist. He had become irredeemably bitter, but in a beautiful moment on the January 4, 2010 RAW, he returned.

The elephant in the back was dragged into the room; Michaels, after a classic bait and switch, professed his admiration for the Hitman. Hart in return absolved himself of the burden and extended his hand is a gesture of friendship.

It was loaded with mixed emotions - Hart's hug was robotic, almost reticent - but the pervading feeling was one of harmony.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!