Bret Hart, to many, is one of the greatest pro wrestlers to ever exist – and rightfully so. The Hitman made inroads into North American wrestling after years of enduring “punishment” in the notorious Hart Dungeon. Bret’s early success in WWE came as a tag team specialist alongside the late Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.
It was only in the early nineties that Bret’s talents as a solo competitor started to grow on the fans, who’d been somewhat tired of saying their prayers and taking their vitamins. Stu Hart son’s ascent to main event status coincided with the equally impressive rise of fellow New Generation performers such as Shawn Michaels and Bret’s own brother, Owen Hart.
The matches that these two men, and others, had with Bret helped usher in a new era of professional wrestling; one that parlayed in-ring psychology and storytelling into one of the defining components of the business.
With that said, let’s take a look at five of Bret Hart’s greatest feuds and opponents.
Shawn Michaels
Shaw Michaels and Bret Hart were polar opposites when it came to their character work and presentation. Bret was about the intricate details and crisp execution that could add realism to his body of work. Shawn was the boisterous showman with a knack for flashy movies and moments that could defy expectations. Together, they were able to create one of the greatest rivalries in the business.
Both men were on the midcard when they had their earliest matches against each other. Their incredible in-ring skills, however, meant that they were bound to steal whatever show they were to be put on, be it weekly television or pay-per-view event. WWE played into their real-life heat to cost Bret Hart the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 1997.
The infamous incident came to be known as the “Montreal Screwjob.” One can only fantasy book all the matches and storylines that might’ve been had Bret Hart stayed in WWE after the controversial match.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin
The story of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret Hart is as fascinating as the buildup to their epic confrontation at WrestleMania 13. Austin was still a newbie in 1996 WWE when Hart expressed his interest in working with him. The Hitman claimed he was “the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be.” And he had every skill at his disposal to back it up.
Austin insisted he was the best pro wrestler (you rarely hear this word on WWE programming these days) in the world. He openly started mocking Bret Hart after his iconic King of the Ring 1996 win. The two embarked on a collision course following Bret’s return to WWE on October 21.
The first singles pay-per-view meeting between the two took place at Survivor Series, and it left fans craving for more. The two men would meet again, this time under a No Holds Barred Submission stipulation, at WrestleMania 13. The match is famous for the double turn that pretty much put Austin on the path to superstardom.
Owen Hart
No matter how many times Vince McMahon put a Hart versus Hart on the card, fans were bound to get a five-star classic. Bret and Owen’s iconic rivalry stemmed from the younger sibling’s bitterness and jealousy of his older brother’s accomplishments. It would be safe to say that this feud carried Vince McMahon’s promotion from 1993 to 1995.
Bret versus Owen had everything. It was intense. It was personal. The promos from two men, especially Owen, were raw. The King of Harts had grown tired of living under his more successful brother’s shadow. He wanted out and there was only way to settle it, a match at WrestleMania. The Hart versus Hart match at WrestleMania X is widely considered to be one of the greatest Mania openers of all time.
Although he pinned his flesh and blood, Owen’s misery only grew as he watched Bret clinch the WWE Championship for the second time in the show’s main event. The younger Hart made matters worse for his older brother by colluding with Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. The rematch to settle the sibling rivalry took place at SummerSlam 1994 inside a steel cage.
Bret evened the score and after he escaped the cage as a helpless Owen looked on in disbelief. He also got to keep his title. This match had the rare honor of receiving five stars from Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig)
They say good friends make better enemies. This statement aptly sums up the Bret Hart versus “Mr. Perfect” Curt Henning feud during the early nineties. Moreover, it helped the Hitman showcase his talents as a solo competitor and pay-per-view main eventer. The feud, in hindsight, got overshadowed by the storyline between Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior.
Looking back, however, one can only appreciate the genius Bret and Curt brought to the ring together. The two WWE pay-per-view matches they had against each other, at SummerSlam 1991 and then at King of the Ring 1993, have stood the test of time. If you haven’t watched them, we recommend you go out of your way to check those epic masterclasses.
Yokozuna
Few men were able to make Yokozuna a legitimate threat in a WWE ring. Bret Hart was one of them. Bret sold the super heavyweight’s every move like his life depended on it. He was such a pro. From taking powerslams to getting thrown into turnbuckles, Bret made Yoko look like a million bucks.
Despite their sheer size difference, fans had every bit of faith in the Excellence of Execution to topple the “gaijin” after the failed Luger experiment. Credit goes to Yokozuna as well for playing the unstoppable heel to Bret’s gritty and determined babyface. The legendary member of the Anoa’i family passed the torch to the Hitman in the main event of WrestleMania X.
You thought we’d mention the disastrous conclusion to the WrestleMania IX main event? Oh poor brother!
The current generation of pro wrestling fans and workers is forever indebted to Bret Hart. The Hitman made wrestling believable. He put a veil on the scripted aspect of the business through his incredible in-ring performances.
They don’t make them like that anymore.
Who do you think among these five wrestlers is Bret Hart’s greatest opponent? Let us know in the comments section below!
