Who Really Ended Bret Hart's Wrestling Career? A Deep Dive
For many who follow the world of professional wrestling, the name Bret "The Hitman" Hart brings up feelings of admiration for a true craftsman in the ring. He was, to many, the very best at what he did, a master of holds and storytelling. Yet, his incredible journey in the squared circle seemed to reach a conclusion under a cloud of controversy and later, a serious health setback. People often wonder about the specific moment his time as an active wrestler truly stopped. It's a story with layers, you know, not just one simple answer.
The question of who ended Bret Hart's wrestling career isn't as straightforward as it might seem. There isn't just one person or one event that brought his active time in the ring to a complete stop. Instead, it was a sequence of moments, each playing a part in shaping the final state of his time as a competitor. Understanding this requires looking at a couple of very distinct, yet connected, periods in his professional life.
This article will explore the key events that led to the conclusion of Bret Hart's full-time wrestling career. We will consider the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" and then, later, the severe injury he sustained, both of which contributed to his eventual departure from regular competition. It's a complex tale, really, and one that has fascinated fans for years.
Table of Contents
- Bret "The Hitman" Hart: A Life in the Ring
- The Infamous Montreal Screwjob: A Controversial Stop
- The WCW Years: A Different Path
- Who Really "Ended" It? Multiple Perspectives
- The Lasting Impact and Legacy
- Frequently Asked Questions
Bret "The Hitman" Hart: A Life in the Ring
Before we talk about the end, it helps to know a bit about the beginning, or at least the prime, of Bret Hart's time as a wrestler. He came from a family deeply rooted in the wrestling business, the famous Hart Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His father, Stu Hart, trained many, many wrestlers, and Bret learned the ropes there. He started out in Stampede Wrestling, the family promotion, where he really honed his craft. He was, in fact, known for his technical skill, which was pretty unusual for that era of wrestling, too.
Bret eventually made his way to the then-World Wrestling Federation, or WWF, in the mid-1980s. He started in a tag team with his brother-in-law, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, and they became very popular. As a singles competitor, he rose through the ranks, capturing championships and becoming a top attraction. He was seen as a dependable, strong performer who consistently put on entertaining matches, you know. His fan base grew immensely during these years, establishing him as a true star.
His time at the top of the WWF was a period of great success, and he was, basically, the face of the company for a while. He had a reputation for being a very professional performer, always looking out for the safety of his opponents. This background is important because it sets the stage for the dramatic events that would later shape the conclusion of his career, as a matter of fact. He was at the peak of his powers when things started to go sideways.
Personal Details and Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bret Sergeant Hart |
| Born | July 2, 1957 |
| Birthplace | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Professional Debut | 1978 |
| Main Retirement (from full-time in-ring competition) | Early 2000s (due to injury) |
| Key Accomplishments | 5-time WWF Champion, 2-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, King of the Ring (1991, 1993), Royal Rumble (1994), WWE Hall of Fame (2006, 2019) |
The Infamous Montreal Screwjob: A Controversial Stop
The first major event that people often point to when discussing the end of Bret Hart's career is the "Montreal Screwjob." This incident, which happened on November 9, 1997, at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, didn't literally end his ability to wrestle. However, it absolutely brought his long, storied run with the WWF to a very sudden and, frankly, quite bitter conclusion. It was a termination of a working relationship, a contract, and in some respects, a certain era for him, too.
The Build-Up to Survivor Series 1997
By late 1997, Bret Hart was the reigning WWF Champion, but he had signed a very lucrative contract to join World Championship Wrestling, or WCW, a rival company. His contract with WWF was about to expire, and he was scheduled to leave. The problem, so, was that he was still the champion, and he was reluctant to lose the title in his home country, especially to Shawn Michaels, a long-time rival. Bret wanted to relinquish the title on a different night or perhaps not lose it at all at Survivor Series, feeling it would be a disrespectful way for his time there to end.
Vince McMahon, the owner of the WWF, was very worried about Bret showing up on WCW television with the WWF Championship. This was a real concern for him, you know, a matter of pride and business. There were intense discussions behind the scenes about how the match with Shawn Michaels would conclude. Bret, apparently, had agreed to a disqualification finish, which would allow him to retain the title, and then drop it on a later date. This was the plan he believed was in place, at least.
The situation was, in fact, very tense. Bret felt he had earned the right to leave on his own terms, given his loyalty and contributions to the company over many years. Vince, on the other hand, felt he needed to protect his company's top prize. This clash of intentions, this difference in what each party wanted to accomplish, set the stage for one of the most talked-about events in wrestling history. It was a clear disagreement on how his tenure would reach its final state, basically.
The Event Itself: What Went Down
During the actual match at Survivor Series, the referee, Earl Hebner, under orders from Vince McMahon, rang the bell and awarded the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels while Michaels had Bret in Bret's own submission move, the Sharpshooter. This happened even though Bret had not actually submitted. Bret was clearly caught off guard, and the crowd in Montreal immediately understood that something was very wrong. It was a shocking moment, to be honest.
This was a pre-planned, behind-the-scenes decision by Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels, and others, without Bret's knowledge or consent. It was a deliberate act to bring Bret's championship reign and his time with the company to a conclusion, right then and there. For Bret, it was a betrayal, a complete violation of trust. The way it ended was not at all what he had in mind to do, or what he believed was the design for that night.
The immediate reaction from Bret was one of pure rage and disbelief. He spat on Vince McMahon, destroyed equipment, and famously spelled out "WCW" with his fingers in the ring. This event, without a doubt, effectively terminated his relationship with the WWF. It was a very abrupt stop to a long chapter of his career, and it was certainly not how he intended to accomplish his departure from the company, you know.
The Immediate Aftermath for Bret
Following the Montreal Screwjob, Bret Hart immediately left the WWF and joined WCW. The incident became a defining moment in wrestling lore, sparking years of debate and animosity. For Bret, it meant a complete break from the company he had called home for so long. His WWF career was, in effect, over, brought to a conclusion by the actions of others, rather than his own choice of how to finish things.
While he was now in WCW, the way his time in WWF ended left a lasting mark on him. It affected his trust in the business and in the people running it. This controversial end to his WWF run was a significant turning point, a definitive stop to a major part of his professional life. It was, in a way, a very public and painful termination of an era for him.
The "Screwjob" didn't stop him from wrestling entirely, of course, but it certainly ended his tenure with a particular organization. It was a conclusion reached not by mutual agreement or a planned finish, but by a controversial decision from management. This, you know, set the stage for his next chapter, which would, unfortunately, bring about the true physical end to his full-time in-ring activity.
The WCW Years: A Different Path
After the dramatic exit from WWF, Bret Hart joined WCW in December 1997. Many fans, and Bret himself, had high hopes for this new beginning. He was, after all, one of the biggest names in wrestling, and his arrival was supposed to be a major boost for WCW. However, his time there did not quite reach the heights many expected, and it was during this period that his active wrestling career would truly come to a physical stop.
Life After WWE
Bret's run in WCW was, in some respects, a bit frustrating for him and for many fans. He didn't seem to find his footing in the same way he had in WWF. There were creative issues, and he wasn't always used in a way that showcased his strengths. He did win championships there, including the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but the overall feeling was that something was missing. It was a different environment, you know, and it just didn't quite click for him in the same way.
Despite the challenges, Bret continued to perform, but his schedule and the nature of his matches were, perhaps, not as consistent as before. He was still a very talented performer, but the spark from his WWF days seemed, arguably, a little diminished. This period was, in a way, leading him towards an eventual conclusion, though no one knew exactly how it would happen. He was still actively wrestling, but the path was, in fact, taking a different turn.
He was still a big draw, and his presence added star power to WCW, that's for sure. But the company itself was facing its own struggles, and Bret's individual performances sometimes got lost in the shuffle. It was a time of transition, not just for Bret, but for the entire wrestling landscape. His aim was to continue his career at a high level, but the design of his time there was, in some respects, becoming less clear.
The Concussion That Changed Everything
The true physical end to Bret Hart's full-time in-ring career came on December 20, 1999, during a match against Goldberg at WCW Starrcade. During this match, Goldberg delivered a kick to Bret's head that was, unfortunately, very stiff and caught him in a vulnerable spot. This single impact caused a severe concussion. Bret continued the match, but the damage was done, basically.
This injury was not just a minor bump. It was a significant brain trauma that had lasting effects. Bret tried to continue wrestling after this, but he experienced post-concussion syndrome, which included headaches, dizziness, and other debilitating symptoms. His ability to perform at the level he was known for, or even to perform safely, was severely compromised. This was the moment his active participation in wrestling, as a regular competitor, reached a very definite stop.
The concussion ultimately forced Bret to step away from the ring for good. He officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling in October 2000, less than a year after the incident with Goldberg. This was the conclusion of his active career, brought about by a physical injury that made it impossible for him to continue. It was a final state for his in-ring activity, a cessation of a process due to an unforeseen event. That would not have ended the way anyone thinks, really.
Who Really "Ended" It? Multiple Perspectives
So, when we ask "Who ended Bret Hart's wrestling career?", the answer is, in fact, not a single person or event, but a combination of factors, each contributing to a different kind of "end." The definitions of "ended" from my text help us here: it can mean a conclusion, a termination, a stop, or reaching a final state. Both the Montreal Screwjob and the Goldberg concussion fit these descriptions in their own ways, you know.
The WWE Perspective
From the perspective of his time with WWE, Vince McMahon and the "Montreal Screwjob" definitely brought Bret's tenure there to an abrupt and controversial conclusion. This was a deliberate act, a planned termination of his contract and championship reign, as a matter of fact. It was an intention to bring his chapter with the company to a very specific, and forced, end. The affair was, in that context, over, ended, finished by their actions.
The "Screwjob" was an event that actively "made something finish" for Bret in the WWF. It was a situation where something or someone "ends it," meaning it stops. His relationship with the company, and his role as a top star there, reached a conclusion that night. It wasn't about his physical ability to wrestle, but about the termination of his employment and status within that particular organization. This was, basically, a very public and dramatic end to that phase of his career.
So, in terms of his WWF career, one could argue that Vince McMahon and the execution of the "Screwjob" were the ones who brought that specific part of his professional life to a conclusion. It was a very clear and undeniable stop to his time there, a definite end to that chapter. This was, in a way, a battle that ended in a victory for McMahon, from a business standpoint, but a profound loss for Bret.
The WCW Accident
However, the physical conclusion of Bret Hart's active, full-time wrestling career was brought about by the concussion he sustained in WCW. This was not a planned termination or a controversial decision by management. Instead, it was an accidental injury that led to a severe medical condition. This injury truly "stopped" his ability to perform in the ring on a regular basis. He ended up with a condition that made it impossible to continue.
The kick from Goldberg was the catalyst for this final state. It was the event that caused his wrestling activity to cease due to physical limitations. His career, in terms of being an active competitor, reached a conclusion because his body could no longer handle the demands. This was the moment where his hopes of continuing a regular in-ring schedule effectively came to an end. It was, you know, a very unfortunate turn of events.
So, while the "Screwjob" ended his WWF run, the concussion from Goldberg was the reason his overall active in-ring career was brought to a halt. It was the point where his physical health dictated that the process of being a full-time wrestler had to reach a conclusion. This was the ultimate stop, the point of no return for his body in the ring, you know.
Bret's Own View
Bret Hart himself often speaks about both events as significant turning points. He views the Montreal Screwjob as a profound betrayal that ended his trust and his time with a company he loved. It was, arguably, the end of his innocence in the wrestling business, a conclusion to his belief in how things should be handled. That particular experience certainly changed his perspective on the industry, as a matter of fact.
However, he also openly discusses the devastating impact of the concussion. He has stated that the injury truly robbed him of his ability to continue wrestling, something he loved to do. He sees it as the ultimate factor that forced his physical retirement. He ended up, after that, unable to perform at the level he needed to, and that, basically, sealed his fate as an active wrestler.
In essence, one could say that the Montreal Screwjob ended Bret Hart's career with the WWF, while the concussion he sustained in WCW ended his career as a regular, active in-ring performer. Both events played a crucial part in bringing his time in professional wrestling to its various conclusions. It's a complex story, you know, with no single, simple answer to who or what truly "ended" it.
The Lasting Impact and Legacy
Despite the controversial and unfortunate circumstances surrounding the conclusion of his active career, Bret Hart's legacy as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time remains very strong. His technical skill, his ability to connect with fans, and his memorable matches are still talked about today. He truly made a lasting impact on the business, you know, influencing many who came after him.
The Montreal Screwjob, for all its bitterness, became a story that has been told and retold countless times, solidifying its place in wrestling history. It became a cultural touchstone, more or less, a cautionary tale about the business side of professional wrestling. It certainly brought a dramatic end to a major rivalry and a significant chapter in his career.
Bret Hart has, in fact, made peace with WWE in the years since, even returning for appearances and inductions into their Hall of Fame. His health, particularly concerning the concussion, has been a long-term struggle, but he has persevered.
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Who ended Bret Hart's wrestling career?
Goldberg and The Botched Kick That Ended The Career of Bret Hart
