10 Wrestlers Who Saved Promotions From Ruin
1. Bret Hart
If you know, you know.
Bret Hart was not, measurably, a draw. He was very much as beloved outside of the United States as he insisted, but Hart was not a major attraction stateside. His era on top coincided with dismal gates at the civic centres the WWF was forced to run as the glamour of Hulkamania faded. The WWF was unfashionable, but Bret Hart wore that designation with a resolute honour. He was a performer who told uplifting, dramatic stories of skill and perseverance when that sort of thing was old hat.
But if you know, you know.
Bret Hart wasn't a major draw. Even his most zealous fans (hello) can't dispute this. But that's the wrong way of looking at it.
Bret Hart was a hook.
Bret Hart turned followers of a fad into lifelong wrestling fans. Look at the median age of the WWE viewer in 2021. They watch because Bret Hart pricked their finger as insidiously as he slashed his own forehead.
Think not of the crowds Hart drew; think of what they'd look like if he wasn't around.