10 Worst Times WWE Wrestlers Refused To Lose
1. Bret Hart Refused To Lose To Shawn Michaels - Survivor Series 1997
Of course it has to be the most infamous case of a wrestler refusing to lose. In this occasion though, he was given no choice. You all know the story by now, but just in case you don't:
In 1997, Vince McMahon told Bret Hart that he couldn't honor the big money contract he'd promised and was given the go-ahead to jump ship to WCW. Being the reigning WWF Champion, McMahon instructed him drop the belt to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series. Hart, who had nuclear heat with Michaels for years at that point, was fine with dropping the championship. But he would under no circumstances drop it to Shawn Michaels, at Survivor Series, in front of fans from his home country.
The plan was allegedly set for Hart to retain at the show and drop it to Michaels when back in the States, at which point Hart's contract would be up. McMahon, panicking at the prospect that he might take the WWF title belt onto WCW TV, decided to take action.
So the plan was in place. Shawn Michaels had Bret Hart locked in the Hitman's signature Sharpshooter, but before Hart could reverse the move, Vince McMahon rushed to the ring and urged referee Earl Hebner to call for the bell. Hart knew immediately what had happened and needless to say, he was pissed. Almost everyone involved in the Screwjob left as fast as they could, with the exception of Vince, who took the brunt of Bret's fury.
This single act of forcing a loss caused a seismic shift in the landscape of, not just WWF, but professional wrestling as a whole. The business was about to experience it's hottest period in history, and all because "Bret screwed Bret".