WWE In 1997 | Wrestling Timelines

18. May 19, 1997 | Receipt

Sunny Days
WWE

Exactly one week later, Shawn Michaels gives Bret Hart a receipt. It is possibly the most disproportionate response in wrestling history. 

Bret challenges Shawn to a match at King Of The Ring with a very interesting stipulation; should he fail to beat Shawn within 10 minutes, he would never again wrestle on U.S. soil. Shawn cuts a response on the Tron as Bret stands awkwardly in the ring. Shawn says “Even though lately you have had some ‘Sunny days’, my friend, you still can’t get the job done”. 

Shawn is implying that Bret is having an extramarital affair with valet and personality Sunny, which, in addition to being the height of irony, is a transgressive accusation. Bret did not approve the comment, and only becomes aware of its gravity when his father Stu - and, having heard the rumours in the schoolyard, his children - question the status of his marriage. 

Bret and Shawn do not wrestle at King Of The Ring - in quite the irony, a knee injury suffered by Bret Hart leads to its cancellation - but they will soon have a fight…

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!