Bret Hart's Turbulent Relationship With Vince McMahon, Explored
Highlights
- Bret Hart was the top wrestler in WWE during the '90s, excelling in technical wrestling.
- McMahon offered Hart a lifetime contract due to his success but ultimately betrayed him.
- Despite reconciliation, Hart lost respect for McMahon over allegations of sexual misconduct.
If you were a wrestling fan who grew up watching the sport in the '90s, the chances are Bret Hart was your favorite wrestler. Even today, people consider him the GOAT in wrestling, and there’s a reason for that. When it came to technical wrestling, nobody came close to Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Hart got into WWE after Vince McMahon bought his father’s promotion in 1984. Bret went on to become one of the top guys in WWE, someone who can be relied on. And because he made WWE a lot of money, he naturally had a close relationship with Vince. That was a different time, when Hart actually considered him a father figure. Today, their relationship looks quite different.
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Bret Hart Was A WWE, Intercontinental, And Tag Team Champion
- Bret Hart is a 2-time WWE Hall of Famer
- Bret Hart retired shortly after a match against Goldberg in 1999
- Bret Hart won the World Championship 5-times in WWE
When Bret Hart first joined WWE, he worked as a tag team wrestler, teaming up with Jim Neidhart as part of The Hart Foundation. It took him a few years to transition into a singles wrestler, and in 1991, he won the Intercontinental Championship, his first singles title in the company.
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The Hart Foundation has put on some classic matches, whether it was Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart as a tag team, or as a stable in the '90s!By the next year, Bret was the World Heavyweight Champion. From 1992 to 1997, Bret Hart was the World Champion at some point during each one of those years. He had proved his worth to WWE, and that’s why they had him main event SummerSlam 1992 against The British Bulldog for the Intercontinental Championship.
During these times, McMahon and Bret worked closely behind the scenes. Hart was the face of WWE, and people loved him. He brought something different to the table than all the superhero-esque flashy characters everyone had gotten used to seeing all the time on television. Even when the business turned bad, and Hart received a whopping $9 million contract offer from WCW in 1996, he stuck by Vince’s side, and in return, McMahon offered him a 20-year-long lifetime contract with WWE. He signed that contract in October 1996, but only a few months later, Vince McMahon backed out from his commitment to Bret and told him to sign with WCW instead.
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Bret Hart Defended His WWE Championship Against Shawn Michaels At Survivor Series
1997 was a huge turning point for Bret’s career. He turned heel and delivered incredible promos as he feuded with Americans. He won the WWE Championship from The Undertaker at SummerSlam 1997, after receiving some unintended help from Shawn Michaels, who was the special guest referee in this match and also Hart’s rival.
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Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had one of the greatest rivalries both in and out of the ring in wrestling history.Their rivalry led to a Survivor Series match where Hart was defending his WWE Championship. He had already told Vince McMahon that he would not lose in Montreal, but behind the scenes, McMahon, Triple H, and Michaels had decided they weren’t going to do things Hart’s way. He lost the match due to a screwjob, and that was the last WWE fans saw of Hart before he debuted in WCW.
This controversial decision put a huge dent in Hart and Vince’s relationship, and it showed when both met each other at Owen Hart’s funeral. Vince claimed that amidst all the grief, Hart didn’t mention his younger brother at all and only talked about himself and his hatred for Vince.
Bret Hart Has No Respect For Vince McMahon After Learning About The Allegations Against Him
Vince McMahon Was Accused Of Sex Trafficking By Janel Grant
Hart and Vince McMahon were able to reconcile a few years later when The Hitman suffered a stroke due to a bike accident and Vince called to check up on him. That’s when they mended their relationship. A few years later, WWE brought him back for a Hall of Fame induction, and Hart even feuded with McMahon on television and defeated him as well at WrestleMania 26.
During an interview with Inside the Ropes in October 2019, Bret Hart talked about this and said that despite all the anger in him, he still appreciated Vince reaching out. Hart said:
“Once upon a time, I had a pretty good relationship with Vince. In a lot of ways, Vince was a very much like a father figure to me. We had a lot of… A lot of trust and a lot of we were, I think, close friends for a long time, and I appreciate all the things Vince did do, including give me that first chance to be the champion for him.”
Despite all the bad blood between them, deep down, The Hitman still respected Vince. But during a chat with Abraham Josephine Riesman recently, after he had learned of the allegations made against Vince, Hart said:
“I always had a respect for him. Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”
He also apologized to Rita Chatterton, who had previously accused Vince of sexual assault. Initially, he didn’t believe her claims, but his stance changed later.
“I think, despite all of the issues I ever had with Vince, I know, deep down, I always respected him; but now, knowing what kind of a weirdo he became, I have absolutely zero respect for him. I do not think I could ever shake his hand if he extended it. Too creepy.”
