10 Wrestling Legends Whose WWE Returns Hurt Their Legacy
2. Bret Hart
WWE simply had to bring Bret Hart back. Tensions had simmered between WWE and The Hitman for far too long, and he deserved an opportunity to finally lay the issue to rest and gain some closure from the Montreal Screwjob.
12 years removed from the most infamous incident in WWE history, Bret’s initial return was electrifying. Hearing that iconic entrance theme for the first time in over a decade sent the wrestling world into raptures, and after shaking hands with Shawn Michaels and seemingly burying the hatchet with Vince McMahon, it looked like the ill will was over.
It wasn’t. McMahon attacked Hart later in the show to reignite their blood feud and effectively set up a WrestleMania match between the two. The contest was predictably atrocious, and while Hart had his hand raised in the end, nobody walked out a winner.
Hart continued to appearing for the company. He became United States Champion, and later one of the most ineffective General Managers of all-time, but watching him became a truly depressing experience. Once one of the best wrestlers on the planet, Hart’s post-concussion syndrome and 2002 stroke had reduced him to a shadow of his former self.
The return was a mess, and WWE handled it incredibly poorly.