Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels Complete History | Wrestling Timelines
August 29, 1984 - Bret Debuts
Bret makes his first appearance for the World Wrestling Federation. Vince McMahon takes a look at him as part of the deal with which he buys the Stampede territory from Bret’s father Stu. Basically, to sweeten the offer, Vince assures Stu that Bret, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and eventually Jim Neidhart, will receive steady work.
There’s one bit of good news on what is a terrible night for Bret: the understated, precocious craftsman goes simply by ‘Bret Hart’, and not ‘Buddy the Heartthrob' - a compromise of a gimmick he thinks is the way “in” to New York’s broad theatre.
Bret’s knee is shot, but he can’t not do the gig. He knows the WWF is taking over; he’s one of the most savvy minds to ever enter the business. He spends the day in a state of anxiety. He’s slighter than most and passable at best cutting promos, and listens on as the polished, gargantuan pros hype up upcoming events to the TV cameras backstage.
Bret, injured, messes up virtually everything when he makes it to the ring, to the annoyance of Dynamite, his tag partner and brother-in-law, in a quick squash win over Iron Mike Sharpe and Troy Alexander.
He meets Vince for the first time. Vince says little about the match, complimenting only Dynamite’s performance and thick, muscular look. A cold Vince turns to Bret, and advises him that he likes his wrestlers to spend a lot of time in the gym. Bret knows what Vince is getting at with this hardly complex code, but it’s very ironic; years later, Bret’s modest physique is what will, in part, catapult him to the top. But not before a more glittering tag run with a different partner.
It’s not the best first impression - but it’s better than Shawn’s.