1997 Surviver series screw job

Hobart column

1997 “Survival screw job”

October 22nd 2005

“High station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling
Experiences are survived with grace”-Tennessee Williams

There it was, the day that Bret could never wrestle again.
Bret Hart is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be,
In 14 years of wrestling for the WWF he missed only 2
schedules in 14 years and never said “no” to Vince never.
He always had respect for everyone, and he earned his
respect. He was loyal very loyal. Hitman stands for to believe in
yourself and to never quit ,the one thing the Hitman won’t do is lie to his fans.
He always tries his absolute best in every match in every
City whether he thinks this city is crap or doesn’t like it.
He believes that the best chance you have to rise to the
top involves giving yourself up to loneliness, fearing
nothing and working hard. That’s what he did for 14 years.
Ever since Bret first met Vince McMahon, owner, promoter
of the wwf, he was told by many who new him that he was a
dishonest, unsavoury, lying, double-crossing, dirty, rotten
scoundrel. Bret gave him the benefit of a doubt, but year after
year, wrestler after wrestler, they have left with such bitter hatred.
Despite those Early warning Bret put his heart and soul into
everything he did and through Vince McMahon he became a
hero beyond his wildest dreams.
In March 1996, after 7 title reigns, he left the wwf for a movie/TV
career not sure if he would ever go back, 8 months later he decided
to return. Wrestling was his calling and it felt it was screaming for
him to come back and it was.
When he was gone Shawn Michaels took his place and in the
direction Bret would have taken himself but in a primadonna
way, Bret was approached by the wcw about working for them,
and was offered double the money, but his heart had always been
with the wwf and Bret was not greedy for money, but greedy for
respect. Unlike most people Bret thanked wcw and turned them
down. Instead he signed a 20-year deal with the wwf for a lot less
money. The Hitman stayed loyal.
Again in 14 years of wrestling for the wwf Bret missed 2 shows and
out of no were on sep 21 into his 5th title reign, he was informed by
McMahon that he was in financial dire straits and was going to be
forced to break his contract. McMahon urged Bret to go back and see
if he could get his old deal back with the wcw and allowing him to get
out of their 20-year contract. McMahon said he would be doing him a
favour. Crushed, he understood he was a friend to Bret so he did what
he asked and started talks with the wcw. Sadden by this and ever more
so by the overall direction of the wwf in recent years.
Vince said you have creative control in your last 30 days of your contract
in other words you can leave how ever you want, unfortunately Bret was
holding the title in those last 30 days so they had to figure a way to loose
the belt it was going to be held in brets home town and vince said he had to
loose the belt there Bret said “you said I could leave anyway I wanted and now
your throwing this at me” Vince’s excuse was he couldn’t risk Bret turning up
on wcw with Vince’s belt Bret said he would never do that.
So they talked it through and the way the match was going to go was Bret
would knock the ref down as well as Shawn Michaels and Shawn would get
up and apply the sharpshooter on Bret (ref was suppose to stay down) Bret
would reverse it and shawns mates would interfere and it would be a
disqualification and Bret would forfeit the title the next night on raw.
That’s the way it was suppose to happen at least that way Bret could
leave with his head up. They screwed him they really screwed him the
lousy basterds. The ref got up way to early and called for the bell and
said that Bret tapped out. As soon as the bell rang the ref earl hebner
ran straight out of the building into an awaiting car out the back. Bret
talked to earl and Vince to double check that the match was still ok and
nothing was going to happen earl sware on his kids that nothing was going
to happen, Bret got up and spit right in Vince’s face. After Bret smashed
20 thousand dollars worth of cameras he went backstage to have a shower
Vince came to apologise. Bret told him to get out and said if your not out by
the time I take a shower im going to punch you in the face Bret got out and
he was still there Bret punched him right in the face and nearly broke his hand.
Shortly after Bret was with the wcw. He was there for 2 years until bill
Goldberg kicked him by accident in the face in a match, which ended
Brets wrestling career for good.
In 2002 Bret suffered a major stroke (I will talk about that in another column).