WWE: 5 Best Moments Of The Attitude Era

2. The Montreal Screwjob

http://youtu.be/u74i7IkMcSw While some people will point to Steve Austin's speech after winning the King of the Ring in 1996 as the unofficial beginning of the Attitude Era, I always go to this event as when things really kicked into gear. Everyone should pretty much know what this is at this point but if not I'll keep it as brief as I can. Bret Hart was headed to WCW, for whatever reason you want to believe he wasn't going to be staying in WCW. Despite this though he wanted to hold onto the belt and not drop it to Shawn Michaels, which as far as Bret knew, was the plan for the night. Vince McMahon was worried that Bret Hart would take the WWF Title with him over to WCW and didn't want that to happen. Who actually knew about what happened next is up for debate but its ramifications have taken years to mend. At the end of the match, Shawn Michaels put the Hitman in the Hitman's own finishing move, the Sharpshooter. Even though Hart wasn't tapping out, Vince McMahon signaled for the bell to be rung and Michaels named the winner and new champion. There is kind of an awkward moment after the bell rings as those who are in on it act like they don't know what's going on while simultaneously there are actually people who have no idea what is going on. Hart was enraged following the match, going so far as to spit in McMahon's face and later on punch him in the eye. The following night on Raw McMahon deliver the famous "Bret Screwed Bret" line, which gave birth to the character of Mr. McMahon. The bully leader of the company who became an integral part of the Attitude Era.