November 9, 1997. It was a night that will forever live in infamy in the professional wrestling industry. World Wrestling Entertainment produced its Survivor Series pay-per-view event and for three-quarters of the show, things had gone as planned. Kane pummeled Mankind, Ken Shamrock made The Rock tap out, Steve Austin regained the Intercontinental Championship from Owen Hart and the Disciples of Apocalypse and the Truth Commission had another crappy match. Then Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels took to the ring for the night's main event, a much-anticipated WWE Championship bout. Prior to the contest, it was common knowledge that Hart was on his way out the door after signing a monster deal with Eric Bischoff and World Championship Wrestling. It was also known that Hart and Michaels had a great deal of animosity between them. Refusing to drop the title to Michaels in his own home country of Canada, Hart took to the ring with an uneasy feeling that something may go down to forcibly remove the title from him. It was against that backdrop that the most infamous match in wrestling history occurred. As interesting for the backstage drama surrounding it as anything that went on between the ropes that night the contest, dubbed the "Montreal Screwjob," has gone on to spawn books, documentaries and numerous DVD productions. Conspiracy theorists have picked apart every element of the story. Some take it at face value while others believe Hart benefited in that he became a hero for all eternity and thus, it was really just an angle. Whatever the case may be, fans remain interested, intrigued and engrossed in all things Montreal some 17 years after it occurred. Now, thanks to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com and his comprehensive timeline of events, as well as various other resources such as Michaels and Hart's own autobiographies, here are 12 key pieces in that formed the puzzle that is the Montreal Screwjob.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
