10 Wrestlers Who Saved Their Careers By Turning Down Gimmicks
5. Bret Hart - Cowboy
Before becoming arguably the greatest in-ring performer of his generation and one of best to ever do it, Bret Hart was a star looking to make an impact in the WWF back in 1984.
Seeing potential in the Hart family member, Vince McMahon had just the gimmick for the eventual-WWE Champion; that of the WWF's resident 'Cowboy'. Not content with that, the boss also wanted Hart to ride his way down to the ring on the back of an actual horse, dressed and acting every bit like a dude from the Wild West.
Hart wasn't feeling it, though. He felt that he was about as far away from a genuine 'Cowboy' as you could humanly get. So, it made next to no sense for him to pretend to be one on such a big stage. Though, with that said, he would go on to play the part in the 1994 Lonesome Dove series.
Countering McMahon's less than desirable pitch, Hart suggested throwing him into a unit with Jim Neidhart instead, with Jimmy Hart acting as The Hart Foundation's manager. After donning the 'Cowboy' guise on the house circuit a few times, Bret finally got his wish and the rest was history...