10 Wildest Wrestling Hoaxes Fans Actually Fell For

6. Montreal Was A Work

WCW Sting Thumb
WWE.com

Right. 

No it wasn’t. 

It wasn’t a work because it so obviously wasn’t a work. Beyond the incontrovertible evidence, as anybody who has seen Lonesome Dove: The Series and The Resurrection of Gavin Stone can attest, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels aren’t that good at acting. 

Bret Hart, who had to be in on this for the conspiracy to make sense, gained nothing. He wasn’t to know how badly his WCW run would go - the white-hot promotion was on the cusp of its biggest-ever night ahead of his imminent arrival - but even if it went well, the theory doesn’t hold up. He might have enjoyed it so much that he didn’t fancy leaving! 

The conspiracy posits that Bret’s exit “allowed” the WWF to embrace Attitude after first engineering a shocking headline that diverted attention away from their winning rival. Then, with Mr. McMahon cast as a monster heel, the WWF - saving money in the meantime by shredding Hart’s 20 year deal - would reap the rewards when a returning Hart feuded with him. 

If the theory sounds too stupid to even begin to entertain, that hardly reflects well on Kevin Nash, who - before claiming he was joking - said it was a work in an old shoot interview. He wondered aloud why Vince, who no-sold everything, publicly “sold” Bret’s punch. 

Maybe because he got his face blasted and had no choice?! 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential 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 former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current 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!