Bret Hart: "I Wished I’d Never Left WWE...I Probably Wouldn’t Have Had To Wrestle Goldberg"

Bret Hart has offered some fresh thoughts on Shawn Michaels, Montreal Screwjob and his WWE departure in a new article profiling the night.

Speaking to The Ringer (h/t PostWrestling), he said;

"We had our issues over the years. But I watched Undertaker and Shawn Michaels wrestle at one of the WrestleManias. Even then, I had such a bitterness towards Shawn, but I had to admit it was one of the greatest matches I ever watched. That’s where I ended up deciding to make friends with Shawn and bury the hatchet and all that. It was very truthful, that little storyline with me and Vince and Shawn. Me and Shawn making up in the ring (in 2010) and shaking hands and all that, that was all very real and very moving for me. And was not something that was orchestrated. Shawn wanted that off his back and I was in a position to take it off his back and that was the best resolution for both of us. We’ve been friends ever since. And I’m grateful that he’s in a better place today. I wish that none of the bad history that we had ever happened. I wished I’d never left for WCW because I probably wouldn’t have had a stroke and I probably wouldn’t have had to wrestle Bill Goldberg...I was always a WWE guy, always. And I almost resent when someone talks about me like I wasn’t. They’re surprised I’m even around today. But I gave everything I had to that company and I’m proud of everything I did in the ring and I’m proud of what I represented."

After a nine year total absence from the company, Hart returned in 2006 to accept a place in the WWE Hall Of Fame, and help put together a DVD boxset on his career. He appeared back in front of live crowds in 2010 for the aforementioned series with Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon, and has been an occasional special guest for the organisation ever since. He maintains an existing merchandising deal with the company too.