20 Days That Changed WWE Forever

Many fans consider Bret Hart's heel run in 1997 as one of the high points of his legendary career, but unfortunately, it didn't last long. The WWF's finances were so bad by later in the year that Vince McMahon could no longer afford to pay his most loyal employee. He urged Hart to see if WCW had an opening for him, and a deal was signed.

Hart was still WWF Champion and had no intention of leaving with the title, but he had one demand - he would not lose the belt to real-life enemy Shawn Michaels in his home country of Canada. With a creative control clause in his contract, Hart was justified in putting his foot down, and McMahon said that wouldn't be a problem. As 9 November 1997 approached - where Hart would be wrestling Michaels in Montreal - the champion made many offers to put over other stars, but McMahon told him it wasn't necessary. He would win by disqualification at the show, then leave as champion weeks before his contract ended.

It was all a double-cross. During the match, McMahon came down to ringside and demanded that the referee ring the bell and say that Hart had submitted, even though he hadn't. Hart was cheated on his way out of the company, and WWF superstars up and down the roster realized how expendable they were. In the days that followed, much was written about what happened and what was supposed to happen - killing what remained of McMahon's kayfabe and giving the WWF a huge new villain in the form of the chairman.