10 Wrestlers Who Were HUGE Marks For Themselves

4. Bruce Hart

Shane McMahon Thumb II
WWE

The infinite monkey theorem posits that, given an infinite amount of time, a monkey smashing random keys on a typewriter would reproduce the full works of William Shakespeare. 

The theory is not merely accurate but inevitable, but it can’t be correct, because Bruce Hart could live forever and never get over in pro wrestling. 

And yet, he thought he was Antonio Inoki. 

A parody of a megalomaniac, Bruce booked his father Stu’s Stampede into ruin in the mid-1980s. A lunatic who once promoted a space-hopping character named Zodiak, his creative style was a spectacularly poor fit for Stampede’s base of grizzled drinkers and their desired legitimacy, violence and technique - a literal intergalactic disaster. 

Bruce booked himself so strongly on top that the heels could only get near him if they wielded weapons capable of murdering lesser men. 

Bruce was such a fame-hungry mega-mark that he, unable to sanction the idea that the WWF didn’t care to use him after buying Stampede out, promoted shows under the Stampede banner himself, reneging on the deal and screwing his own father out of the payday.

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!