WRESTLING

Subject: [REPOST] The Meltzer Bret Hart story

From: skeith@mindless.com (Scott Keith)

Date: Fri, Jun 26, 1998 09:28 EDT

Message-id: <35943966.44760003@news.planet.eon.net>

Okay, since this subject has gotten dragged up again, I'd like to take this opportunity to repost the Dave Meltzer piece on the TRUTH about the Bret Hart story. I condensed this for the FAQ.

Reprinted without permission from the Observer Wrestling Newsletter. All grammatical and spelling errors are Dave's not mine.

The following is a full transcript of a recent issue of the Wrestling Observer, detailing (and mean DETAILing) the whole Bret Hart fiasco. An unbelievable read, and one that will change the way you think about Bret, Vince and everyone involved, I guarantee. All spelling and grammar errors are Dave Meltzer's, and this is reprinted without permission from him.

*******************************************************

It will go down in history as the single most famous finish of a pro wrestling match in the modern era. Twenty or thirty years from now this story, more than any famous wrestler jumping promotions, more than and prominent death, and more than any record setting house, will be remembered vividly by all who watched it live, and remembered as legendary from all who hear about it later. Through the magic of video tape, the last minute of this match will live forever and be replayed literally millions of times by tens of thousands of people all looking for the most minute pieces of detail to this strange puzzle. But the story of what led to those few seconds starts more than one year ago. It is far more reminiscent of the dirty con man past of the industry than the current attempted facade of a multi-million dollar corporate above board image those in the industry like to portray outwardly that it has evolved into.

****************************************************************************

October 20, 1996 -- Bret Hart was in a hotel room in San Jose, Ca, hours from making the biggest decision of his life - who would win the biggest bidding war in the history of pro wrestling. He had pretty well leaned toward staying with the World Wrestling Federation despite a much larger offer from World Championship Wrestling, but had changed his mind a few times over the previous two weeks as each side presented new offers. In the waining hours, Eric Bishoff and Kevin Nash were trying to convince him to change his mind

and how great life was with an easier schedule. Bischoff was offering big money and a shot at becoming a movie star, a goal Hart had been pursuing while on semince McMahon was offering him, in the now immortal words of Arn Anderson, not just a spot but the top spot in the company, and almost literally to be WWF 4 life. Many close advisers of Hart's tried to tell him going to WCW was the best move for his present, and more importantly his future after wrestling. But largely out of loyalty, and that obviously

wasn't the only factor involved, he declined the offer. McMahon, not to lose a very public fight, offered him the famous 20-year contract where he'd, after retirement in about three years, become almost a first lieutenant when it came to the booking process. Hart would earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 million per year as an active wrestler, and a healthy but far lesser figure working in the front office for the 17 years after retirement as an active wrestler. As part of McMahon's offer, he also was going to allow Hart to explain live on television his decision making process, should he sign with WCW. Hart flew to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the WWF was holding it's live Raw taping after having already verbally agreed to the deal, signed the contract, and gave the interview saying basically that he would be in the WWF forever, figuring to be positioned as the top babyface and perennial champion until he finished his active career riding off into the sunset in a blaze of glory, like Hogan and Savage and the rest of the Superstars before him didn't. As is the case in wrestling, not all the promised scenarios that everyone believed were going to happen transpire as originally planned. And just over one year later, the feelings between McMahon and Bret Hart had taken a 180 degree turn, to the degree nobody

would

have ever believed.

****************************************************************************

March 10, 1996 - Top babyface didn't last long as McMahon asked him to turn

heel. At first Hart balked at the idea but after three days, McMahon

presented him with two lists. One list was his prospective opponents as a

babyface - Vader, Mankind, and Steve Austin. the other list was his

prospective opponents as a heel, Undertaker, Michaels, and Austin. Hart

agreed for drawing money. His opponents as a heel made up a better list and

he and McMahon agreed that he would turn back babyface over the last few

months of his contract and end his career on a positive note. He and Steve

Austin did the double-turn at Wrestlemania. Hart himself then came up with

the Anti-American angle, where he would remain a babyface in Canada and

Europe and do interviews that would for the most part speak the truth, so

he

could, when the time came to turn back in the U.S., have a reasonable

explanation.

*****************************************************************************

September 8, 1997 - Vince McMahon and Bret Hart had their first meeting

where

McMahon seriously approached Hart about his contract. About three months

earlier, McMahon had told Hart that the company was in bad financial

straights and that they might have to defer some of the money until later

in

the contract. This time his approach was more than point blank. He wanted

to cut Hart's regular salary, around $30,000 per week, more than in half

and

defer the rest of the money until later in the contract period when

hopefully

the company would be in better shape financially. Hart declined the

suggestion, because he didn't want to risk not getting the money in the

future after he was through taking all the bumps.

*****************************************************************************

September 20, 1997 - About one hour before the beginning of the PPV show in

Birmingham, England, McMahon approached Davey Boy Smith and asked him to

put

over Shawn Michaels that night for the European title. Smith was

apparently

shocked, having been told all along in the build-up of the show, that

Michaels was going to do a job for him, since Europe was promised to be

"his

territory". the explanation, which made and still makes logical business

sense, is that they wanted to build for a bigger show - a second PPV show

from Manchester, England, Smith's former home town, where Smith would

regain

the title - the same scenario the WWF did to draw 60,000 fans in San

Antonio

with Michaels in the other role working a program with Sycho Sid. So while

it all made sense, it was rather strange he wasn't approached with this

idea

until just before the start of the show. At around this same time period,

McMahon approached Hart about working with Michaels. Hart said that he had

a

problem with that since Michaels had still never really apologized to him

for

the Sunny days comment, and said it would be hard to trust somebody like

that

in the ring and due to their past, and told McMahon that he would figure

that

Michaels would have the same concerns, since a few weeks earlier after

first

making it clear he would never work with anyone in the Hart Foundation,

Michaels had finally agreed to work with only Smith, saying he still

couldn't

trust Bret or Owen.

****************************************************************************

September 22, 1997 - On the day of the Raw taping at Madison Square Garden,

McMahon told Bret Hart flat out that they were going to intentionally

breach

his contract because they couldn't afford the deal. He told a shocked Hart

that he should go to World Championship Wrestling and make whatever deal he

could with that group. "I didn't feel comfortable doing it, "Hart said of

the suggestion. "I feel like an old prisoner in a prison where I know all

the guards and all the inmates and i have the best cell. Why would I want

to

move to a new prison where I don't know the guards and the inmates and I no

longer have the best cell? I felt really bad after all the years of

working

for the WCW." Hart had an escape clause in his contract since he had so

much

negotiating leverage when making his WWF deal 11 months earlier, in that he

could leave the company giving 30 days notice and that he would have what

the

contract called "reasonable creative control" of his character during that

lame duck period so that he couldn't be unreasonably buried on the way out.

There was a window period for giving that notice and negotiating elsewhere

that hadn't begun yet, so McMahon, showing he was serious, gave Hart

written

permission to begin negotiating with WCW and Hart contacted Eric Bischoff.

the same day, during a meeting with Hart,Michaels and McMahon - Michaels

told both of them point blank that he wouldn't do any jobs for anyone in

the

territory, word that when it got out made most of the other top wrestlers

feel even more warmly than usual toward Michaels. Michaels later

reiterated

that statement to Hart on 10/4 in St. Paul when the two agreed that for the

good of the business that they'd work together. At a meeting, McMahon

proposed a scenario where the two would have their first singles match in

Montreal, where Undertaker would interfere causing a non-finish. This

would

lead to Hart wrestling Undertaker on the 12/7 PPV in Springfield, Ma.,

where

Michaels would interfere causing Bret to win the title, which was poetic

justice since it was his interference that caused Bret to win the title in

the first place, and that Royal Rumble on 1/8, in San Jose, would be

headlined by Undertaker vs. Michaels. During the meeting, Hart told

Michaels

that he'd be happy to put him over at the end of the run, but Michaels told

Hart flat out that he wouldn't return the favor to him. Michaels and Hart

spoke again on the subject on 10/12 in San Jose, when once again Michaels

told Hart that he wasn't going to do a job for him.

*****************************************************************************

October 21, 1997 - McMahon approached Hart wit the idea of losing the title

to Michaels in Montreal but promised that he would win it back on 12/7.

Hart, remembering his conversations where Michaels was adamant about not

doing any more jobs in the territory, was reluctant, saying after the way

the

angle had been done with him representing Canada and it becoming a big

patriotic deal, that he didn't want to lose the title in Canada. He was

then

asked to lose to Michaels on 12/7 in Springfield, Ma. Hart told McMahon

that

since Michaels had told both of them that he wasn't doing any more jobs in

the territory, that he had a problem doing a job for somebody who wouldn't

do

a job back. He told McMahon that he didn't want to drop the title in

Montreal. Later, McMahon, Pat Patterson, Michaels, and Hart had another

meeting where Michaels, teary eyes, sad that he was looking forward to

returning the favor to Bret an and once again talked about his mouth saying

the stupidest things. Hart still refused to lose the title in Montreal.

the

night before, he had been asked to put Hunter Heart Helmseley over in

Oklahoma City via pin fall due to Michaels' interference, but changed the

finish to a count out. On this night he was asked to tap out to Ken

Shamrock, before the DQ ending involving Michaels, which he had no problem

doing because he liked and respected Shamrock and wanted to help elevate

him.

The personal problems with himself and Michaels, which had become legendary

in the business, resurfaced once again when the two and McMahon made an

agreement to work together but to leave their respective families out of

their interviews. It took just one week before Michaels did the interview

talking about Stu Hart being dead but walking around Calgary because his

body

and brain hadn't figured it out yet. By this point, Hart had already

stopped

watching Raw because he had problems wit the content of the show because he

has four children that were wrestling fans that he didn't want seeing the

direction it was going, so he was reacting to the remark based on the fact

that his father and brother Owen heard the remarks and were upset about

them.

****************************************************************************

October 24, 1997 - McMahon, before the show at Nassau Coliseum, told Hart

that the money situation in the company had changed and they would have no

problems paying him everything promised in his contract. Hart told McMahon

that WCW really hadn't made him a serious offer and that he really didn't

want to leave but that he was still uncomfortable doing the job for

Michaels

in that situation. He left the country for the tour of Oman with the idea

that he was staying with the WWF, but knowing due to his window in his

contract, he had to make the decision to give notice by midnight on 11/1.

*****************************************************************************

October 31, 1997 - Never one to work without a flair for the dramatics,

Bischoff finally caught up with Hart who was basically incommunicado in a

foreign land most of the week. Just one day before Hart had to either give

notice or stay for another year, Bischoff made a huge concrete offer. We

don't know the exact terms of the offer, only that Hart said of the $3

million per year figure that both Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talked about on

the 11/10 Raw, that "they don't have any idea what I was offered", but

other

close to the situation say that figure is "close enough that you couldn't

call it wrong". Hart neither agreed nor turned down the deal, but gave the

impression to WCW that they had a great shot at getting him.

*****************************************************************************

November 1, 1997 - Hart had until midnight to make up his mind. he called

McMahon and told him about the WCW offer and said that he wasn't asking for

anymore money to stay, but that he wanted to know what his future in the

WWF

would be over the next two years as an active wrestler and that at this

point

he was leaning toward accepting the WCW offer. McMahon said he'd think

about

it and call him back in an hour with some scenarios. Before McMahon called

back, Bischoff called again trying to solidify the deal. McMahon ended up

calling back four hours later from his barber shop and told Hart he didn't

know what he was going to do with him but that he should trust his judgment

because of their past relationship. That he had made him into a superstar

and

he wanted him to stay and that he should trust him and asked Hart to give

him

idea of where he wanted to go. During the conversation, McMahon still

brought up the scenario of wanting Hart to drop the title in Montreal, but

promised that he would get it back in Springfield. "I realized he ha given

the top heel spot to Shawn, but to turn back babyface it was too soon,"

Hart

said. Like in the negotiations one year earlier, it was going down to the

wire and he had until midnight t make up his mind. When he was talking to

McMahon, McMahon told him he could extend the deadline for giving notice.,

Hart asked for the permission in writing but McMahon told him that he was

going out to a movie that night wit his wife and said he was verbally

giving

permission to extend it and get written permission from the chief financial

officer of the company. When Hart called to get the written notice he

wasn't

given it because he was told he couldn't get it in writing in such short

notice. AT 7pm Bischoff called again and presented a deal that, according

to

Hart, " would have been insane not to be taken". at that point Hart was

really having mixed emotions. He somehow felt bad about leaving the WCW

and

was hoping McMahon would lay out a good set of sceneries for him and

convince

him to stay, At 9pm, McMahon called and, reversing fields once again,

urged

him to take the WCW offer. Hart told him that his heart was with the

company

ad it would break his heart to leave, and that he appreciated everything

McMahon and the company had done for him. McMahon told Hart that he wanted

him back as a babyface, and had been wanting him to turn babyface for two

or

three months but just hadn't brought it up until this point. he then

presented a scenario to Hart, presenting it as a way to get Hart to stay,

but

obviously designed to get Hart to take the WCW offer. He wanted Michaels

to

win the title in Montreal. For Springfield, they would do a final four

match

with he, Michaels, Undertaker, and Ken Shamrock, that Michaels would again

win. At the Royal Rumble, the two would have a ladder match, which

Michaels

would win. On Raw, on 1/19 in Fresno, Ca., Hart would open the show and

say

that if he couldn't beat Michaels and win the title that night. that he

would

retire from wrestling, and in that match he would regain the title. And

then

in Boston at Wrestlemania he'd drop the strap to Austin. Hart looked at

the

scenario of four major losses with only one win and before his midnight

deadline, gave official notice to the WWF and signed the contract WCW had

sent over, with the agreement from all parties that the word wouldn't leak

out until 11/10 to protect the Survivor Series PPV. Hart went so far as

to

have his few confidants sign written confidentiality letters to make sure

word of his negotiations and signing with WCW didn't get out until 11/10.

*****************************************************************************

November 2, 1997 - Hart and McMahon started a very amicable conversation

wit

the pressure finally off and the decision for Hart to leave having been

made.

he again suggested that Michaels win the title in Montreal and in what will

go down as perhaps the ultimate irony, said they could do s screw job

ending

to steal the title from him, and that the next night, on Raw, McMahon

suggested the two get into a mock argument where Hart would punch him,

blaming him for the screw job. McMahon< even suggested to hardway him to

make it look legit. Hart again refused to do the job in Montreal, saying

that he had never refused to do a job but he wasn't going to lose on Sunday

or Monday (at Raw in Ottawa). He agreed to put Michaels over in Madison

Square Garden on 11/15, Springfield or anywhere else and said he'd put over

Vader,Shamrock, Mankind, Undertaker or even Steve Lombardi. McMahon< then

made legal threats to Hart if he wouldn't lose in Montreal. Hart talked

about the clause in his contract giving him "reasonable creative control"

but

McMahon claimed that refusing to drop the strap in Montreal wasn't

"reasonable". The two argued about the finish in Montreal and the

legalities

of their respective positions all day Sunday and well into the night before

finally agreeing to do a DQ finish in Montreal. then in Springfield, in

the

final four match, Michaels would win the title. Bret would then go out on

Raw

on 12/8 in Portland, Me. and give a farewell interview as a babyface to the

WWF fans and put the company and McMahon over as big as possible. He

would

apologize to the American fans and try to reasonably explain his actions in

a

way to end his 14-year assocaiton with the WWF on the highest note

possible,

something largely unheard of in pro wrestling, so that all parties and the

fans could come out if it and his legacy with the company with a good

feeling, Technically there was a problem, in that his WCW contract began on

12/1 so Hart called Bishoff, who when presented the scenario, agreed to

allow him to work through 12/8 with Titan. Hart asked an associate who

monitors news for him if he thought it was possible to keep the secret from

the public until 11/10. Hart specifically asked about being able to keep it

secret from one person until after the show and the associated laughed and

said they would be a million dollars that person already knew.

******************************************************************************

************************

November 4, 1997-McMahon called Hart and said that he had changed

his mind. He suggested now that Michaels should lose clean in Montreal,

then

he'd "steal" the title with a controversial finish in Springfield and Hart

would get to do his farewell speech in Portland. He said he was going to

call

Michaels and present the scenario to him. By this point word that Hart had

signed with WCW had actually been reported the previous night on the

Observer

and Torch hotlines and it was only about one hour later before the fokes

who

call those hotlines for much of their news started breaking the latest

"biggest story in the history of wrestling" as their "exclusives". In

response, WWF Canada released a press statement originally totally denying

the story, claiming it was simply propaganda being spread by WCW. However,

as

the word got out Titan Sports in Connecticut a few hours later

contradicting

that story saying simply that Bret Hart was exploring all his options but

not

going any further, with the feeling that they wanted to protect the PPV

show.

Hart wouldn't publicly talk to anyone.

******************************************************************************

******************************

November 5, 1997-The internet had paved the way for stories in

the

Calgary Sun, the Toronto Sun and one line in the Montreal Gazette in a PPV

preview story about Steve Austin a line which resulted in the paper

getting

an incredible switchboard-blowing response of phone calls. McMahon called

Hart and said that Michaels had agreed to the previous day's scenario, but

that now he had changed his mind. He said the news was out everywhere and

that Bret had to drop the belt before Monday because he couldn't have

Bishoff

go on television on 11/10 and announce the signing of his world champion

while he still had the belt. Hart said that he would get Bishoff to

postpone

the announcement, but with Bishoff on a hunting trip all week in Wyoming.

Hart couldn't get a hold of him. McMahon then asked Hart to drop the title

on

11/8 at the house show in Detroit. Hart again refused, feeling the way

everything had been built up, he wanted the match with Michaels, which in

the

wake of all the insider publicity was building up a life of its own like

no

match in the recent history of wrestling, to not come off as anti-climatic

and for that to happen he needed to go into Montreal as champion. He said

that he would drop the title any time after 11/12 suggesting he'd do it at

the house shows in Youngstown, OH, on 11/13, Pittsburgh on 11/14, or in

Madison Square Garden if they wanted it that soon rather than waiting for

12/7. Jim Ross on the company's 900 line acknowledged the statement that

Hart

was exploring other options said that nobody knows the real story, and in

hyping the big match tossed in the phrase they'd be pushing in the final

days

leading up to the match--it will be their first meeting in 18 months, and

most likely the final match between the two ever.

****************************************************************

November 6,1997-In a story in the Toronto Sun, Tiger Ali Singh,

at

a press conference promoting the WWF house show the next night in Toronto

said of Hart's leaving. "It's very disheartening. He's not only been a

mentor, but I've been a great admirer of him since I was a kid, and if he

leaves you're going to see a whole bunch of other people leaving. And I'm

not

going to mention any names but WCW has been approaching a lot of people>"

******************************************************************************

******************************

November 7, 1997-There is no question that the power of on-line

services when it comes to influence of pro wrestling was established this

past week. It was generally portrayed that it was a power struggle between

Hart and Michaels, that Michaels had won out, and to a lesser extent Hart

was

leaving over the direction of the product. While there was some truth to

all

of this, probably the greatest truth of all is it was simply a manipulation

by McMahon to get out of a contract that in hindsight he wished he'd never

offered. Whether Michaels who the wrestlers feel has McMahon's ear right

now

and has convinced him that what turned around WCW is Kevin Nash and Scott

Hall and not Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper, and that he should and the company

should do what they do to get WCW over. There is also a feeling amongst WWF

wrestlers that Michaels pushed McMahon in the direction to rid the company

of

his hated rival who had apparently one-upped him when signing the new deal

that made him so much higher paid. Maybe it was simply economics because

the

company is in financial straights. Hart did have a lot of problems over the

direction of the company and his own decision was partially made based on

that, but it's clear in hindsight that McMahon had a strong hand in

manipulating Hart decision to get out of the contract. In the vast majority

opinion on-line from people who really had no clue as to what was really

going on, Titan, McMahon and Michaels were coming off as major heels. The

WWF's own on-line site said to be the domain of young kids with no clue

about

wrestling was besieged with reports about Hart leaving and the so-called

marks were reacting very negatively toward Titan to the point Titan pulled

all it folders by the early afternoon which caused another outcry of

censorship of opinions from wrestling fans. Finally McMahon responded

publicly on-line with a letter of his own stating-"Over the past few days I

have read certain comments on the internet concerning Bret Hart and his

"alleged" reasons for wanting to pursue other avenues than the World

Wrestling Federation to earn his livelihood. while I respect the "opinions"

of others, as owner of the World Wrestling Federation I felt that it was

time

to set the record straight. As it has been reported recently on line, part

of

Bret Hart's decision of pursue other options is "allegedly due to his

concerns with the "direction of the World Wrestling Federation. Whereby

each

and every individual is entitled to his, or her opinion I take great

offense

when the issue of the direction of the World Wrestling Federation is

raised.

In the age of sports entertainment, the World Wrestling Federation REFUSES

to

insult it audience in terms of "Baby Faces" and "Heels". In 1997, how many

people do you truly know that are strictly "good" guys or "bad" guys? World

Wrestling Federation programming reflects more of a reality based product

in

which life, as well as World Wrestling Federation superstars are portrayed

as

they truly are--in shades of gray...not black or white. From what I am

reading it has been reported that Bret may be concerned about the morality

issues in the World Wrestling Federation. questionable language,

Questionable

gestures, Questionable sexuality, Questionable racial issues. Questionable?

All of the issues mentioned above are issues that every human being must

deal

with every day of their lives. Also, with that in mind, please be aware

that

Bret Hart has been cautioned--on "numerous" occasions--to alter his

language

by not using expletives or God's name in vain. He was alto told--on

numerous

occasions--not to use certain hand gestures some might find offensive. My

point is:regardless of what some are reporting, Bret's decision to pursue

other career options IS NOT genuinely a Shawn Michaels direction issue, as

they would like you to believe! In the personification of DeGeneration X,

Shawn Michaels character is EXPECTED to be living on the edge--which I

might

add Mr. Michaels portrays extremely well. The issue here is that the

"direction" of the World Wrestling Federation is not determined by Shawn

Michaels, OR Bret Hart for that matter. It is determined by you--the fans

of

the World Wrestling Federation. You DEMAND a more sophisticated approach!

You

DEMAND to be intellectually challenged! You demand a product with ATTITUDE

and as owner of this company--it is my responsibility to give you exactly

what you want! Personally, I regret the animosity that has built up between

Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, but in the end, it is the World Wrestling

Federation that is solely responsible for the content of this product--NOT

Bret Hart --NOT Shawn Michaels--NOT Vince McMahon for that matter. May the

best man win at the Survivor Series!...This only made the situation worse

in

regard to how fans were viewing McMahon and the company even worse. "You

demand to be intellectually challenged?" By doing racial angles. The fans

chose that direction? The asked to see Michaels pull his pants down and

jump

up and down on television? Hart was booked for his first public appearance

before the house show that night at the Sky Dome in Toronto. It was on a

half

hour TSN (The Sports Network, the Canadian version of ESPN) talk show

called

"Off the Record" Host Michael Landsberg opened the show saying the show had

received more than 1000 calls to ask Hart if he was leaving for WCW.

Despite

the word being out everywhere by this point Hart would only go so far as to

say that he had given his 30 day notice to the WWF, that he's reviewing

offers from both groups and is strongly leaning going one way. "I'd like to

really come more clean on this as I can, you know, that I have, but I have

to

do this thing by the book kind of thing'. Hart categorized the split as not

being a money issue but said that he and the WWF had "reached" kind of a

crisis or we've reached professional differences as to what direction that

the wrestling shows are taking. You know, I'm not saying I'm always right,

but I feel that some of the content of the shows goes against my belief in

what wrestling should be and can be. Later in the show he criticized

Michaels

and then stated that "wrestling is often scoffed at as a form of

entertainment sometimes. or it used to be. I believe it came way up and I

was

very proud in the direction which has a lot to do with where I am right now

today-Wrestling was cleaned up and it became something families could

watch.

He talked about inner workings of the business having to trust the guy you

are working with because you give them your body and said the real

animosities and hatred that exists have to be set aside. He said that

everything he has said about Shawn Michaels is about the Shawn Michaels

character, but said that Michaels has said things that have hit a raw nerve

with him to the point it unprofessional. The show aired the footage of the

Shawn Michaels interview where he blamed the Hart Foundation for trashing

the

NOD dressing room and insinuating that Hart was a racist. Hart said that he

doesn't blame Michaels for that, That's obviously a promotional direction

and

that's a poor concept. I think that racial tension is something to be very

very careful with. When you start messing around with racial things that I

don't like. Hart said that he stopped watching Raw about five weeks earlier

because he didn't like the direction and agreed when the host brought up

Michaels calling him the Grand Wizard (a KKK reference, not a reference to

a

famous wrestling manager of the 70s) and then brought up what Michaels said

about his father that he didn't see. You know I don't mind if anyone pokes

fun at my dad. Jerry Lawler's made a living the last two or three years

saying comments about my mom and dad but he's always fairly humorous about

it. Actually I used to get offended at some of the things he used to say

about my mother--until I realized that my mother thought they were humorous

and this it was kind of OK with me. He then spoke at length about Brian

Pillman. By this point in certain circles and particularly within the

industry, interest in he match on Sunday due to all the uncertainty some of

which was known and most of which actually wasn't had reached a level not

seen in years. For all of Hart and McMahon's wanting to keep the story

quiet,

word getting out was the greatest thing for the buy rate. There were 14,374

fans paying $496,674 at the Sky Dome one night before the show. To credit

the

huge house to the interest in Canada since Hart leaving had been reported

in

the local newspapers would be incorrect as WWF officials a week before the

event had figured on a crowd of 15,000. Obviously some fans knew and there

were chants of "you sold out" directed at Hart. Although this should have

been expected and Hart had been a pro wrestler for 21 years and been around

the business a lot longer than that, the chants in his home country knowing

what he was going through did get to him. The main event was a six-man tag

with Undertaker & Mankind & Austin vs. Bret & Smith & Neidhart, subbing for

brother Owen who was supposed to start back but wasn't ready to return

after

a severe concussion from a few weeks earlier. Bret was asked to do the job

for the stone cold stunner, debated the question for a while then refused

figuring he was the only Canadian in the main event in the U.S. vs Canada

type match with the big nationalistic angle and Austin ended up using the

stunner on Neidhart instead.

******************************************************

November 8, 1997-The WWF ran a house show in Detroit at Cobo

Arena

for what would turn out to be Bret Hart's final match in the United States

as

a wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation. Tensions were really high

and

the prospect of a double-cross were looming by this time in many of the

more

paranoid types. By really this was 1997 and this was the World Wrestling

Federation. That's stuff from the 20's where the real bad guy low-lifes

were

running the business. The days of making Lou Thesz world champion because

you

needed someone who could handle himself in the case of a double-cross had

been over for more than three decades. That day Hart went to the one member

of the front office he knew he could trust, Earl Hebner. While there are

what

you call a lot of good acquaintances in this business Hart and Hebner were

genuine close friends for years. Hart said he'd use his influence to get

Hebner to referee the match because he wanted someone in the ring that he

could trust. Hebner said he understood the situation and told Hart "I swear

on my kids lives that I'd quit my job before double-crossing you" On a

personal basis a little more than 24 hours later, remembrance of that

conversation crushed him more than anything. At about the same time the WWF

braintrust was in Montreal one day early. Vince McMahon held a meeting at

the

hotel with Jim Ross, Jim Cornette, Pat Patterson and Michaels. Reports are

that at least two of the aforementioned names looked extremely

uncomfortable

leaving the meeting. Ross on the WWF 900 line filed a report saying due to

the tension between Hart and Michaels that there would be armed security

backstage and the two would dress as far apart from each other as possible.

That was a total work since Michaels and Hart actually dressed together and

were on professional terms the next afternoon. He also said that McMahon

was

not going to announce the show and instead would be handling any last

minute

problems backstage. Ross also hinted that it could be Harts final match in

the world Wrestling Federation something Hart at that point wasn't aware

of.

November 9, 1997-The Prelude-Imagine giving into the most

anticipated match on the inside of pro wrestling in years and on the day of

the show not having any semblance of a finish? McMahon and Hart met that

afternoon and McMahon said something to the effect of "What do you want

me

to do,You've got me by the balls" Hart said that he just wants to leave the

building with his head up. Hart said to McMahon "let me hand you the belt

on

Raw (the next night in Ottawa). Everyone knows I'm leaving I'd like to tell

the truth on Raw Monday. At this point the "truth" wouldn't include

talking

about finances, contract breaches, arguments about finishes, or anything

that

would make McMahon or the company look bad publicly. McMahon said he

agreed.,

that it was the right thing to do and the two shook hands on it. Hart and

Michaels were dressing together putting together a match. both were

professional with one another and talking about putting on the best match

possible in Harts last hurrah. agreeing to a DQ finish in about 17:00 after

a

lengthy brawl before the bell would even sound to start the match. As they

were putting their spots together Patterson came in. He had a suggestion

for

a high spot in the match as a false finish. There would be a referee bump.

Michaels would put Hart in his own sharpshooter. Hart would reverse the

hold

. Hebner would still be down at this point and not see Michaels tap out,

Hart

would release the hold to revive Hebner. Michaels would hit him when he

turned around with the sweet chin music. A second ref. Mike Ciota would

haul

ass to the ring and begin the count. A few paces behind Owen Hart and Smith

and possibly Neidhart as well would run down to the ring. Ciora would

count

1-2, and whomever got to the ring first likely Owen would drag Ciota out of

the ring. While they think they've saved the day on the pin on Bret

suddenly

Hebner would recover 1,2 and Bret would kick out. That would set the pace

for

about five more minutes of near falls before it would end up in a

disqualification ending. Before the show started both Vader with his

Japanese

experiences and Smith told Hart to watch himself. He was warned not to lay

down and not to allow himself to be put in a compromising position. He was

told to kick out at one, not two and not to allow himself into any

submission

holds. Hart recognized the possibility of the situation but his thoughts

regarding a double-cross were more along the lines of always protecting

himself in case Michaels tried to hit him with a sucker punch when he left

himself open. The idea that being put in a submission or one of the near

falls while working spots would be dangerous for him would be something to

worry about normally, but he put it out of his mind because he had Hebner

in

the ring as the referee.

***************************************************************

The Match:People on the inside were watching this as close as on

the outside. Would Bret do the job? Would Shawn do the job? Would Bret give

Shawn a real beating before putting him over? The Molson Center was packed

with more than 20,000 rabid fans, who up to that point had seen a largely

lackluster undercard. While the fear going in about the word getting out of

Hart leaving hurting the PPV most likely turned out to be just the

opposite,

the sellout was not indicative of that either or it was well known by the

advance that the show was going to sellout one or two days early. It

appeared

that about 10 to 20 percent of the crowd knew Hart was leaving and there

were

negative signs regarding his decision and negative signs toward the

promotion

for picking Michaels above him or the direction that seemingly forced him

to

leave. Some things were also strange and not just the absence of McMahon

from

the broadcast. Hart the champion in the main event wasn't scheduled for an

interview building up the match. When his name was announced early in the

show there were many boos from fans who knew he signed with the

opposition.

Once he got in the ring for the introduction, Michaels wiped his but, blew

his nose and then picked his nose with the Canadian flag. He then put the

flag on the ground and began humping it. Hart was immediately established

as

a babyface. The two began the match as a brawl all around ringside and into

the stands. The crowd was so rabid that it appeared there was genuine

danger

they'd attack Michaels. As one point they were brawling near the entrance

knocking down refs as planned, knocking down Patterson as planned and as

planned Hart and McMahon had an argument almost teasing the idea of a spot

later in the match where Hart would deck McMahon. Yet it was also clear

that

everything going on was 100% professional and the only curiosity left at

that

point was how good the match was going to be (it appeared to be very good)

and how would they get "out" of the match (with something nobody will ever

forget) But one thing was strange. Why were so many agents circling the

ring

and why was McMahon right there and acting so intense? About eight minutes

before the show was "suppose" to end, Bruce Prichard in the "Gorilla"

position (kind of the on-deck circle for the wrestlers) was screaming into

his headset that we need more security at the ring, Why? The had already

done

the brawl in the crowd. The finish was going to be a DQ and it was still

several minutes away.

******************************************************************************

*****************************

The Double-Cross:Hart climbed the top rope for a double sledge on

Michaels. Michaels pulled Hebner in the way and Hart crashed on him. Just

as

planned. Michaels for a split second looked at McMahon and put Hart in the

sharpshooter, just as planned. The next split seconds were the story. Ciota

listening to his headpiece for his que to run in heard the backstage

director

scream to Hebner it was time to get up. Hebner, listening himself,

immediately

got up. Ciota started screaming that he wasn't supposed to get up. Owen

Hart

and Smith readying their run in were equally perplexed seeing him get up.

Prichard was freaking out backstage saying that wasn't supposed to happen.

Bret still not realizing anything was wrong laid in the hold for only a few

seconds to build up some heat before the reversal. Michaels cinched down

hard

on the hold and glanced at Hebner and then looked away which more than one

wrestler in the promotion upon viewing the tape saw as proof he was in on

it,

but than fed Bret his leg for the reversal. Hebner quickly looked at the

timekeeper and screamed "ring the bell." At the same moment McMahon sitting

next to the timekeeper elbowed him hard and screamed "ring the fucking

bell".

The bell rang at about the same moment Bret grabbed the leg for the

reversal

and Michaels fell down on his face on the mat. Michaels music played

immediately and was immediately announced as the winner and new champion.

Hebner sprinted out of the ring on the other side, into the dressing room

through the dressing room and into an awaiting car in the parking lot that

already had the motor running and was going to take him to the hotel where

he'd be rushed out of town with his ticket home instead of staying to work

the two Raw tapings. Michaels and Hart both leaped to their feet looking

equally mad, cursing in McMahon's direction and glaring at him. Hart spit

right in McMahon's face. The cameras immediately pulled away from Hart and

to

Michaels. Vince screamed at Michaels to pick the fucking belt up and get

the

fuck out of there. Michaels still looking mad was ordered to the back by

Jerry Brisco who told him to hold the belt up high and get to the back. The

show abruptly went off the air about four minutes early.

****************************************************************

The Aftermath: The officials left the ring immediatley, McMahon

went into his private office in the building with Patterson and a few

others

and locked the door behind him. Hart in the ring flipped out on the

realization of what happened and began smashing the television monitors

left

behind until Owen, Smith and Neidhart hit the ring to calm him down. The

four

had an annimated discussion in the ring all looking perturbed. Finally Hart

thanked his fans who for the most part left with the air let out of their

sails, gave the I love you sign to the fans and finger painted "WCW" to all

four corners of the ring, which got a surprisingly big pop, and went back

to

the dressing room. He first confronted Michaels who swore that he had

nothing

to do with it. Michaels obviously afraid Hart would punch him out right

there

told Hart that he gets heat for everything that happened but this time it

wasn't his fault and he was as mad as Hart about the finish. He said he

didn't want to win the belt that way, was disgusted by what happened and to

prove it would refuse to bring the belt out or say anything bad about Hart

on Raw the next night. Hart said that Michaels could prove whether he was

in

on it or not by his actions on television the next night. The entire

dressing

room was furious at McMahon by this point. The feeling was that if Hart

having worked for the company for 14 years and not missing shots due to

injuries the entire time and having made McMahon millions of dollars

throughout the years could get double-crossed this bad, then how could any

of

them trust anything he would say or do? People were saying that how could

anyone trust anyone ever again and that it was an unsafe working

environment.

******************************************************************************

****************************

For three years after the steroid trial and all the bad publicity

McMahon had worked feverably to change his legacy in the industry as not

the

man who ran all the other promoters out of business not the man who

marketed

pro wreslllting to young children while pushing steroid freaks and the man

who tried to destroy wrestling history and create his own, not his worked

Harvard MBA, worked billion dollar company, a man who was so vain as to

give

himself a Hugh award in Madison Square Garden as "the genius who created

Wrestlemania" not the man who at one time tried to monopolize every aspect

of

the business for himself but instead as the working man's hero, coming from

humble beginnings, fighting those ruthless rich regional promotors and

through nothing but guts,gusto and vision became the dominant force in this

industry and taking it to a new level. And now against all odds the

generous

friend trying to keep all the mall regional promoters acknowledging the

past

history of the business, fighting against Billionaires Ted, the man who was

selling all his self-made creations while wasting his stockholders money

because of some alleged petty vendetta because the WWF would never be for

sale, stealing his patented ideas of Monday night wrestling, was banging to

there and would outlast his enemy again and outshow in the end coming out

on

top. Three years of a facade that was largely working to a new generation

wrestling fans who saw him as their underdog hero. The man who to a

generation that didn't know better created pro wrestling. Hulk Hogan and

localized interviews and rose this grimy little industry from carnival

tents

to major non-smoking arenas and who was the friendly face in the Father

Flanagan collar who every Monday night epitomized the world of pro

wrestling

was flushed down the commode. Even though he was so good at hiding who the

old Vince McMahon was to the point only those who had deal with him for

many

years remembered about not letting your guard down when the pressure was on

the old Vince returned. Only this time it was in a situation where those

who

didn't "know" him were truly "introduced" to him for the first time.

******************************************************************************

*****************************

Undertaker was furious, pounding on this locked door and when he

cam out to talk with him Undertaker told him in no uncertain terms that he

needed to apologize to Hart. he went to Hart's dressing room where Hart had

just come out of the shower. Smith answered the door and Hart said he

didn't

want to see him. Vince and son Shane McMahon came in with Sg. Slaughter and

Brisco anyway. Vince started to apologize saying that he had to do it

because

he couldn't take the chance of Hart going to WCW without giving back the

belt

and he couldn't let Bishoff go on television the next night and announce

Hart

was coming while he was still his champion and said how it would kill his

business. Hart shot back that he had no problem losing the belt and told

McMahon that he was going to dry off and get his clothes on and told

McMahon

"If you're still here I'm going to punch you out." Hart called McMahon a

liar

and an piece of shit and talked about having worked for him for 14 years

only missing 2 shots the entire time and being a role model for the company

and the industry and this was his payback, McMahon tried to say that in 14

years this was the first time he'd ever lied to him and Hart rattled off 15

lies over the last year alone without even thinking about it. Those in the

dressing room watching were stunned listening to Hart rattle those off and

McMahon not offering a comeback. Hart got dressed and twice told McMahon to

get out. Hart got up and a scuffle started with them locking up like in a

wrestling match, Hart breaking free and throwing a punch to the jaw that

would have knocked down a rhino. One punch Ko in 40 seconds. McMahon

growled

like he was going to get up but he had no legs. Shane McMahon jumped on

Harts

back and Smith jumped on Shane's back pulling him off. Not realizing there

would be trouble Smith had already taken off his knee brace and

hyperextened

his knee in the process of pulling Shane off. Hart nearly broke his hand

from

the punch. McMahon's jaw was thought to be fractured or broken. Hart asked

Vince if he was now going to screw him on all the money he owed him and a

groggy Vince said "No". He told Shane and Brisco to get that "piece of

shit"

out of here and glaring at both of them told them if they tried anything

they'd suffer the same results. In dragging McMahon out someone

accidentally

stepped on his ankle injuring it as well.

****************************************************************

And later: Hebner, at the hotel and on his way out of town was

confronted by one of the wrestlers who asked how he could do that to one of

his best friends. Hebner claimed ignorance and swore that he knew nothing

about it and was so mad about it he was going to quit. Jack Lanza likely as

part of another facade was begging him not to. Patterson, Michaels and

Prichard all denied any knowledge to the boys. Everyone denied it, but it

was

clear everyone had to know from the production truck to go of the air

several minutes early, to the director to get the shot perfect of the

sharpshooter where you couldn't see Bret's face not quit, to Hebner in

particular to the ring announcer to get the announcement so quickly to the

man handling the music to have Michaels music all cued up to the agents

who

were surrounding the ring knowing the possibility of something

unpredictable

happening. when Hart got back to his hotel room in a total daze he was

furious at McMahon because he knew he was screaming at the timekeeper to

ring

the bell but almost recognizing it as a reality of the business that he

should have known better than anyone. But when he had a tape of the finish

played to him he clearly heard that it was Hebners voice screaming "ring

the

bell" and at that point was personally crushed. Phone lines were ringing

off

the hook around wrestling land that night. People closest to the inside of

the business were thinking double-cross, althought the big question was

whether Michaels, since he looked so pissed at the finish, was in on it.

Some

more skeptical types, remembering Brian Pillman and Kevin Sullivan, thought

it because of the prominence of the match and the interest, that it had to

be

a very well acted work. Virtually all the wrestlers back stage thought it

was

a double-cross, but a few not wanting to be marks were weary of fully

committing to the idea. Some people who were close to inside thought it was

the greatest worked finish in the history of wrestling because it got

everyone talking. Others particularly people who had casual fans watching

with them or those attending the show live saw how the finish to a casual

fan

came off looking so badly thought it was either a poorly conceived angle

that

was well acted by a company trying to hard to fool smart fans or maybe a

double-cross. But by the morning the true story had become obvious.

****************************************************************

November 10,1997-When the wrestlers fully realized what had

happened, Hart turned into almost a cult hero and McMahon's image took an

incredible tumble. Hart himself remarked that while he had his problems

with

McMahon in the late 80's that when Phil Mushnick wrote all those scathing

articles about him during the 90's he defended McMahon even thought he deep

do

wn knew most of what was written about him to be true. According to two WWF

wrestlers roughly 95% of the wrestlers on the company were planning on

boycotting the Raw taping that night over what happened. But as the day

went

on the talk simmered down, Hart told those who asked him that since they

had

children and mortgages that they shouldn't risk breaching their contract

and

should go. However Owen Hart, Smith, Neidhart and Mick Foley were so upset

that all flew home, missing the tapings both this night and also in

Cornwall

Ont. the next night. Many were saying they could no longer work for someone

who would do something like that. While rumors abound about Hart, Smith and

Foley all quitting at press time it appeared none of the three truly knew

their future but that hey all had a bitter taste in their mouth for the

company. They weren't the only ones. Most of the wrestlers were there and

with none of the Hart family around McMahon gave his side of the story. He

portrayed it as if Hart had agreed to drop the title in Montreal but when

he

got to the building he said he was a Canadian hero and an ICON and refused

to drop the title and said hart said he would give the belt to McMahon Raw

the next night and refused to ever drop it. Reports were that by this time

few if anyone in the dressing room believed a word of it. Most of the

wrestlers by this time knew Hart was more forced out than voluntary leaving

over money, although knowing he had signed a great money deal. Most of the

heat was on Michaels with the belief that Michaels was younger and more in

Vince's ear and there was a lot of bitterness because it wasn't a secret by

this point that Michaels had told people on several occasions that he would

never do a job in the territory. The show went on in Ottawa but not before

Bishoff had already announced on Nitro one hour earlier in what was the

same

angle he's done so many times to tease and deliver the opposite that Bret

hart had signed with the NWO. Bishoff opened the show with the entire NWO

holding Canadian flags and badly mockingly singing "Oh Canada". WCW

announcers Tony Schavone,Mike Tenay and Larry Zbyazko talked for most of

the

first hour about the announcement, with Schiavonne and Teneay, likely on

orders from Bishoff acting stunned describing Hart as a second generation

wrestler who stands for tradition. In other words positioning him as

another

Curt Henning or Jeff Jarrett, rather than the level of a Hulk Hogan to

justify a nearly $3 million per year salary. Zybysko was the one who acted

as

if he didn't believe it. In the first commercial break Gene Okerlund did a

900 line tease saying how Bret Hart punched out a prominent official and

he'd

have the story on his hotline, which did huge business. During the hotline

because of fear of legal repercussions the story wasn't told until late in

the report only a sketchy version told. and McMahon's name was never

mentioned. With more curiosity than anything in recent memory the WWF drew

its strongest Raw rating since the early days of the Monday Night War- a

3.39

rating and 5.16 share-largely due to curiosity stemming from the publicity,

the match, and from the announcement about Hart earlier in the event on WCW

and amidst all the chaos and confusion presented one of its all time worst

show. Nitro did a phenominal 4.33 rating and 6.39 share. Michaels opened

the

show Yes, he was carrying the belt. And what did he say about Hart? He said

he beat the man in his own country with his own hold and that he ran him

out

of the WWF to be with all the other dinosaurs down South. And said that

the

few down there who weren't dinosaurs are his good friends and some day

they'd

kick his ass too. Those who were on the fence on the Michaels issue

waiting

for his interview to prove himself were give there final answer. McMahon

never showed his face on camera. The fight with Hart was never acknowledged

in the commentary although Michaels couldn't resist in his interview saying

how hart beat up a 52-year-old man after the show. In the commentary nobody

tried to bury Hart but Ross who had never used this figure before on both

Sunday and Monday used the phrase 21-year veteran perhaps as subtle

acknowledgement of Harts age and Lawler did bring up the $3 million per

year

figure as a way to encourage the mindless "You sold out: chants. It was

acknowledged that it was Harts final match in the WWF although the reasons

for it being the case were never even hinted at. The replay was pushed

harder

than ever and why not as it was the most bizarre finish in modern wrestling

history complete with a commercial clearing showing Hart spitting in

McMahon's face and destroying the monitors which took place after the show

itself had gone off the air. The show dragged on and the efforts to push

the

new stars, Merro as a heel, Goldust back as a heel,Interrogator, Blackjack

Bradshaw and Road Dog & Billy Gunn all came off lame. You could almost hear

the crowd groan. when it was Rocky Maivia positioned as the next challenger

for Steve Austin's IC title. With all the special effects the Kane gimmick

still came across as a sure winner. And Ken Shamrock was thrust into the

spotlight as Michael's first challenger on 12/7 after all. However there

was

another screw up. Shamrock's main event with Helmsley was suppose to end

with

Michaels interfering and then Shamrock pinning him and the ref counting to

three, perhaps to take heat off Michaels rep for not doing jobs and perhaps

as a way to convince Shamrock to return the favor for such an unpopular

wrester on PPV. However the show went off the air with Shamrock down

apparently being pinned after Michaels nailed him with the briefcase,

however

he kicked out just as the show went off the air. The crowd in Ottawa

largely

pro-Hart finally figured out about 15 minutes before the show was going off

the air that none of the Hart Foundation was there and that Bret Hart

situation was no angle. The Shamrock-Helmsley main event heat was

non-consistant drowned out by adamant changes of "We Want Bret". Ross went

on

his hotline and did nothing but praise Hart for all his work even to the

point of saying that he himself being right there never heard a submission

but that the referee claimed that he heard it.

****************************************************************

November 11, 1997-The Calgary Sun ran an article about the

double-cross reporting that Hart's leaving for WCW was actually requested

by

the WWF due to the WWF claiming financial hardship.

****************************************************************

And Where Does It Go From Here:Its hard to make sense out of all

that happened. While Harts contract with the WWF was much higher than

anyone

else's to dismiss him as being paid above marked value is raising a

potential

valuable point. What is the Canadian wrestling market worth? Far more than

$1.5 million per year. At the Calgary Stampede PPV show alone the marked

was

worth about $400,000 on PPV and another $200,000 in live gate, granted

those

are Canadian money and he was being paid in American money but you get the

drift. While WWF has lost its foothold in the United States to WCW it owned

Canada. WCW with TBS getting moved from premium cable to basic cable

nationwide and with TSN picking up Nitro every week was how the tired time

getting strong television exposure in the country. NO matter what be did or

didn't mean elsewhere and there is no denying he was a major draw in the

United States and probably more so in Europe, Germany in particular, he was

the wrestling star in Canada. Beating him to the opportunities will mean

from

a Canadian standpoint every bit as much as Hulk Hogan joining with WCW and

we've all seen what the long term effects of that turned out to be. It's

hard

to reclaim fan reaction. Fans are more loyal these days to brand names than

ever before more than to wrestlers themselves. When in a similar situation

only he didn't get into the ring and was fired before "not" doing the job,

Ric Flair came out of a situation with Jim Herd in 1991 recognized by more

fans as the real world champion the WCW belt became largely meaningless,

Flair went to WWF and did big business in what was never called unification

matches but many thought of them as such against Hulk Hogan. For nearly two

years before Flair retired as the cult hero the small crowds attending WCW

matches never stopped the "We Want Flair" chants There are multitude here

and

if anything times being different mean more people than ever will be aware

of

it. making similar chants perhaps more likely. But a lot of the newer fans

also for the most park have less respect for the wrestlers as people and

more

as animals to perform stunts to mesmerize them. Like in other sports have

more loyalties to the "home team" than its players who come and go for the

bigger buck. And while everyone will put their different spin on what

happened and like with Hogan and Bruno and nearly every other wrestler of

the

WWF beforehand, Bret Hart failed one of the things he wanted most out of

his

career and that was to walk away from the company without the bitterness

and

with many good memories. Both Bret Hart and Vince McMahon wanted their

legacies to be tied together and represented all that can be good about pro

wrestling. But the fact it is no matter how great the match with Smith at

Wembley Stadium or at at the In Your House in Hershey were or the

Wrestlemania match and SummerSlam matches with Owen were or the SummerSlam

match with Hennig or the Survivor Series match with Michaels or any of the

rest his legacy and Vince McMahon legacy will forever be tied together in

wrestling history. The defining moment of both a Hall of Fame wrestler and

the man who for a decade was the prominent promoter in the industry will be

the moment that the world realized right in front of their eyes with no

apologies and with no turning back to rewrite history just how truly

deceitful to the core this business can be and just how much 14 years of

being one of the great performers in the history of the industry truly

meant

on the inside to the company that benefited from it. Only the future can

determine whether this was a definite moment in the hallmark of business

when

it comes to pro wrestling. Did McMahon really hand over the keys to Canada

to

WCW? Will fans really hate McMahon four weeks later when Michaels headlines

a

PPV show with a four star match? Will Hart be a huge success keeping WCW at

it current level or even taking them to a higher level by having main

events

on PPV shows that can live up to the quality or the preliminary matches? Or

are his best years really behind him and McMahon will have the last laugh

as

how much Bishoff paid for him? How long will Hart remail a cult hero to

wrestlers for doing what none of them had the guts to do? Will McMahon file

criminal charges for assault and will someday and stranger things have

happened although in this case it would be hard today to believe it is

possible will the two get back together in a few years for a final

triumphant

run??