10 WWE Midcarders Who Broke The Glass Ceiling

Bret Hart probably felt like he never had a hope in hell's chance of being WWE Champion in the 1980s. He was a tag team wrestler, considered 'small' for the era. This was a WWE that was populate by larger-than-life guys like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior.

The Hitman eventually moved away from the Hart Foundation and Jim Neidhart to become a singles star, capturing the Intercontinental Title, then seen as the 'workers belt' because it was usually given to those capable of consistently putting on great matches.

And that was Bret's role, for a while, before a steroid trial and (a rather hypocritical) change in emphasis on the 'New Generation' meant that the Excellence of Execution was placed in a top spot. Just a few months after dropping the IC strap to brother-in-law The British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992, Bret unseated Ric Flair at a Superstars taping in Saskatchewan, Canada on October 12th.

Although he didn't quite solidify himself as a tippy toppy guy until a little while later, Bret proved he could hold the belt and do it proud, growing immensely popular and contesting some sterling matches. All told, he left WWE in 1997 as a 5-time WWE Champion and his main event superstar status allowed him to negotiate a big money deal with rival WCW.

Although they misused Hart from the off, Eric Bischoff's promotion knew they were getting a huge star, someone who had long since broken through the glass ceiling placed above him.