20 WWE WrestleMania Matches We Almost Got (And Why We Didn't)
6. Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - WrestleMania II
In 1986, Bret Hart and Ricky Steamboat were two of the most talented smaller wrestlers lost in a sea of giants that was the WWF in the 80s. Steamboat was a multi-time champion in Jim Crockett Promotions who had left a year prior due to creative headbutts with Dusty Rhodes. Bret Hart was part of the acclaimed Hart Foundation tag team who were still finding their feet.
The feud began early in the year and the plan was for the two men to go against each other at the second WrestleMania at one of the three venues booked for that day. With two technical masters going one-on-one, it would easily have been match of the night, especially considering the competition it had.
Why didn't it happen?
Shortly before the two had a match at the Boston Garden, they were told that their WrestleMania bout was off. According to Hart in his DVD, they believed Hercules would be the bigger star so wanted Steamboat to put him over instead, rather than giving the Hitman a platform to expose his skills in the ring which the Dragon wanted.
Nevertheless, Hercules fought Steamboat at the event, while Hart was stuffed into the WWF/NFL battle royale, though he did last until the final two before being eliminated by Andre the Giant.