10 Wrestlers You Didn’t Realise Were Vitally Important To Their Promotions

8. Bret Hart

Dustin Rhodes
WWE.com

There are only longtime, hardcore fans left, and as funny and cathartic as it is to take the piss out of NXT's octogenarian fanbase, jolted awake from an early bedtime by the super-intense sound of Slipknot and Mauro Ranallo, this extends across the entire U.S. industry. The median age of that 18-49 demo skews closer to the latter than the former.

It is no exaggeration to state that Bret Hart is significant to all of this, and it's no exaggeration to state that the wrestling industry in North America was on its dying ar*e in the early-to-mid 1990s.

The fad died, as fads do, and a hailstorm of crises destroyed its public image. Photos of house shows promoted around this time are incredibly stark; sometimes, only the absence of face masks and plexiglass create a meaningful difference between the enforced scenes we see today.

Look at what is valued by those that remain: technical ability, long-term storytelling, lengthy, artful matches: though not a strong draw by any objective standard, Bret Hart's reimagining of pro wrestling appealed to those who loved it beyond the spectacle. Hart is a sentimental favourite, and the love his fans hold for him is enduring.

Without Hart retaining and retraining the WWF ultras, what does the company look like today?

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!