A Beginner's Guide To WWE's Netflix Era

Even though it's the presentation of written storylines that are designed to keep wrestling fans talking there are some occasions when the backstage elements seeps through and becomes the main focus. There's no better example of this being the case than Survivor Series 1997 or 'The Montreal Screwjob' as it has become known. 

At this time the WWF was losing the war with main rival WCW. Bret Hart, the WWF Champion, was leaving and had to drop the title. Being a proud Canadian he refused to lose it in his home country. The other reason was that he had a real life personality clash with his opponent Shawn Michaels with reports of fighting between the two backstage being a regular occurrence. 

As the main event between the two reached a boiling point Shawn locks Bret in a Sharpshooter and the referee calls instantly for the bell. Bret had no idea this was the ending, Vince looks terrified, Shawn heads for the hills with the title over his shoulder and an entire building full of people suddenly turn very angry indeed. In an age when wrestling still kept some pretense of being a real sporting contest this sudden glimpse behind the curtain was a revelation.  It's a moment that called something of the beginning of the end of Bret's career and would be a constant source of bitterness between the two until they reconciled on an episode of Monday Night Raw in 2010. 

The undercard is still quite fun even though it leans heavily on 'America versus Canada' to shift tickets. The main other highlight is Steve Austin taking on Owen Hart in a match that's all too brief.