Acquiring Bret Hart in November 1997 should have been the biggest move of Eric Bischoff's career as the President of WCW. Instead, it ranks as one of his biggest blunders, a kill shot that backfired tremendously. Bischoff never knew how to utilize a star like Hart, something the Hitman has repeatedly admitted was a fear of his before he ever signed on the dotted line to join Ted Turner's company. That fear was validated when he arrived on WCW and was immediately booked as a referee. Not as a wrestler. A referee. From there, he flip-flopped from heel to babyface and back, never really sure of what his character was or who he was aligned with. That the behind the scenes situation in WCW at the time was tumultuous, to say the least, only made matters worse. Still, despite all the negativity surrounding his stint in the company, Hart still managed to accomplish a great deal. He was respected by the fans, something that never changed. He was still treated like a main eventer, mixing it up with the likes of Sting, Lex Luger and Diamond Dallas Page. He even enjoyed a run with the heavyweight title, which he won in a huge tournament at Mayhem 1999, in front of fellow countrymen. But there was still something missing. It was not effort from Hart but more accurately, a lack of passion. It was clear that his heart was not in his work the same way that it was in WWE. By the time Hart suffered a debilitating concussion and was forced to retire, fans were left to wonder if he would not have been better off retiring rather than signing with WCW.
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.
