The following are only my thoughts and opinions based on several FACTS. I accumulated several facts from reading Dave Meltzer's story, watching several appearances of Bret Hart on Off The Rercord, reading Bret's columns and listening to Bret on the Observer as well as other interviews. Yes, I admit, the following column is biased, but I am basing some of my opinions on given facts.

"Survivor Series 1997" is something wrestling fans will always be talking about. Sure, some people will say it's an old topic and they don't want to hear about it. You can ignore it all you want, the fact stands that it's the most talked about topic ever. In the next few paragraphs you will read what happened on November 9, 1997 (Survivor Series), and what lead to what happened with my opinions, facts and much more. For the people that don't really know the full story, after reading this, you will be educated about it.

Before I start, here is something that Dave Meltzer wrote regarding this topic. "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."

He's 100% right!

So let's start with what led to what happened.

1996 Bret "Hitman" Hart was the WWF champion and the WWF had planned to have him drop the belt to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 12. Bret Hart knew several months before WrestleMania that he was going to drop the belt to HBK, because HBK and his "Kliq" were always in Vince McMahon's ear and quite frankly, Bret was sick of it, but there was nothing he can do. The WWF made an Iron Man match as the main event for WrestleMania 12. It was a one-hour long match and who ever gets the most decisions within that hour walks out as WWF champion. Shawn Michaels was scripted to win and Bret couldn't say no about it. Bret had to put him over and he did. Here is what was planned and it happened exactly as planned. Less than a minute left in the match, HBK goes on the top rope and jumps, but Bret Hart catches him in the sharpshooter. After being in the sharpshooter for almost a minute, time runs out. WWF president at that time, the late great Gorilla Monsoon, ordered the match to continue under sudden death rules and less than two minutes, HBK did the super kick and got the win over Bret Hart (very clean win) and Bret Hart did his job by putting him over. This match was voted as the greatest WrestleMania match of all-time. After the loss, Bret Hart took six months off because his contract had expired and wanted to explore his options in a way, to see if he should stay, retired, etc...

During those six months, WCW contacted Bret Hart and offered him a 3-year, 9 million dollars contract. It was much more than what Hart was getting paid by the WWF. Vince McMahon went to Bret Hart's house and basically begged him to stay with the WWF and offered him a 20-year contract with the WWF, but with much less money. After puting lots of thoughts into it, Bret Hart said that loyalty is important and he declined WCW's offer and signed the 20-year deal with the WWF (Which later shows that Bret never sold out). Twenty-year contract, wow, now of course, Bret Hart would not be wrestling for 20 years, he would wrestle for a few years and then retire, but still stay a part of the WWF. Six months later, Bret Hart was back in the WWF. Bret Hart came back on RAW for an interview to tell the fans that he was back and to accept Steve Austin's challenge. Austin was challenging Bret during those six months that he took off (storyline) of course. This setup the return match for Bret Hart in Madison Square Garden against Steve Austin. Bret Hart defeated Austin. Speaking of Bret's return, Vince had the following to say: "When Bret The Hitman Hart entered Madison Square Garden for the 1996 Survivor Series, he was arguably the most celebrated superstar in WWF History." In other words, you can imagine the ovation he had.

Let's move on to the following year.

1997 Early 1997, the WWF had planned for Bret Hart to recapture his WWF title at WrestleMania 13, where he would beat Shawn Michaels. Where Michaels would return the favor to Bret Hart from last year's WrestleMania. But HBK's ego got the best of him. In February of 1997, Shawn Michaels goes out on a Thursday special edition of WWF RAW is WAR and forfeits the WWF title. He "claims" a knee injury and he said that he lost his smile. The real reason was the unwillingness to lose to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Now HBK had a real knee injury, but it was minor and doctors told him he can wrestle with that knee for months and months. This angered the Hitman Bret Hart. Bret Hart was furious and Shawn Michaels received a lot of heat from wrestlers backstage and a lot of them lost respect for him. For the record, HBK forfeited more than half of the titles he won during his career. Reason? If you ask me, it's EGO! But even after all these forfeits, HBK still had Vince McMahon in his back pocket. Vince would still put the WWF title on him.

Anyway, WWF president, Gorilla Monsoon makes a final four match between Vader, Bret Hart, Undertaker and Steve Austin, where the winner would be crowned WWF champion, and Bret Hart won this at the 1997 February In Your House PPV. Bret would be asked to drop the WWF title the next night against Sid and he did do exactly what he was told.

Not even a couple of months later, Shawn Michaels was back. That's when it was the real proof that he was a coward, and he's little knee injury wasn't that serious at all. In the summer of 1997, Bret Hart and HBK had a real life confrontation backstage. Bret Hart confronted Shawn Michaels backstage and they got into a fight. Nothing serious happened in the fight, Bret had a piece of Shawn's hair and reportedly took him down and applied this submission hold from what I am hearing. WWF officials broke them up and both men were sent home that night because of their actions.

Shawn said that Bret was having an affair with WWF divas, Sunny. What happened was, Sunny somehow pitched in an idea of her managing Bret Hart at one point, and I am assuming Shawn Michaels took this a little too far and "affair" was the first thing that came to his mind. What angered Bret more was the fact that Shawn mention it in his interview by saying something like "Bret Hart has some Sunny days ahead of him" or something like that.
At that time, Bret Hart had been playing heel character, where he had the role of bashing the American fans. In mid 1997, the WWF was losing TV ratings to Ted Turner's WCW. Mostly because of the nWo angle. The WWF came up with the D-Generation X stable to try to regain the ratings, but that didn't work until the following year. There was a small feud between DX/Hart Foundation/Nation of Domination. One night on RAW, in the Nation's locker room, there were a lot of racist comments written on the wall, of course it was all scripted. Bret Hart did not like the idea of having to be racist and hate black people, he expressed himself and felt it was crossing the line even if it's sports entertainment, and he was right, so the angle faded away. Bret Hart did not like the direction of the WWF and said "it's not fit for kids".

In September of 1997, Vince approached Bret Hart and told him that he wants to break his 20-year contract and asked him if he can call up WCW and try to get his old deal back from last year. This came as a shock to Bret and everyone around him. Bret didn't want to do that, he really wanted to stay with the WWF. This lead to November 1st, 1997 where Bret Hart had to make up his mind on what to do. On one hand, WCW really wanted Bret Hart, Vince McMahon wanted him to leave, and on the other hand, Bret really wanted to stay. Bret called up Vince and told him "talk to me into staying." Vince came up with ideas for Bret Hart, but it wasn't really ideas, it was storyline ideas to drive Bret out of the WWF. Bret would have to lose to Shawn like three or four times and then in early 1998, Bret Hart would come out on RAW and saw if he can't beat HBK that night he would retire and that's where Bret would beat him. Bret analyzed the storyline and saw it as four major losses, and Shawn told Bret Hart SEVERAL TIMES, that no matter what, he would never lose to Bret Hart. Bret also didn't like the direction of the WWF and Vince was basically pushing him out of the WWF, so Bret Hart signed the WCW deal on November 1st, 1997.

Now, just eight days later, it's Survivor Series, and it was promoted everywhere, Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels for the WWF title. Starting November 1st, Bret Hart had a month left in his contract with the WWF and had "reasonable creative control." Vince McMahon called up Bret and told him that he has to lose to Shawn Michaels in Montreal at the Survivor Series. Bret Hart objected to it and told Vince McMahon, losing to Shawn Michaels in perhaps his last match in the WWF would be like blowing his brains out. There was no way Bret Hart was going to stand for this anymore. Just a few months earlier, Shawn refused to put him over and forfeited the belt. After days of exchanging ideas and everything, just hours before the big match at the Survivor Series, they FINALLY agreed to a disqualification finish. The plan was, they would knock the referee out, Shawn puts Bret in the sharpshooter, then Bret Hart would reverse it and put it on HBK, and the other guys come out and cause it to be a disqualification. Bret Hart said that he would like to hand the belt the following night on RAW and do his farewell speech to the fans and leave. OR he can drop the belt later that week in the U.S. and the WWF can tape it/film it and play it over and over again, Bret could care less, but he just asked Vince to get through the weekend with his head up.


Bret Hart was warned by the British Bulldog, Vader and others about the match. They basically told him to kick out on the couint of one instead of two, in case the referee made a fast three count, and to avoid submission holds. Before the big match, Bret Hart went and talked to his close friend for years and years, WWF referee, Earl Hebner. Bret told Hebner about the match and Earl swore on his kids that he wouldn't let anything happen, and told Bret that he would quit his job before double crossing him.

Survivor Series Match They knock the referee out (as planned), Shawn goes for the sharpshooter and out of nowhere, Vince McMahon orders the time keeper to ring the bell and Earl Hebner calls for the bell too. This was done while Bret was still in the sharpshooter, and as soon as the bell rang, Bret had his hand on Michaels' ankle and was ready to follow the plans and reverse the sharpshooter, but then he realized he was screwed out of the WWF title. Now, most of the fans were confused, some thought Bret Hart gave up. Bret Hart stood in the ring in disbelief, but had realized what happened, he'd been screwed. He looked at Vince McMahon and spat in his face. Shawn Michaels acted like he was pissed off and unhappy. He just grabbed the belt and was cursing at Vince McMahon. He did that to make Bret Hart think that he had nothing to do with it. Now, as soon as the bell rang, Earl Hebner ran out of the ring and a cab was waiting for him outside so he can get the hell out of there.

After the PPV went off the air, Bret Hart destroyed some WWF equipment at ring side. He also wrote "WCW" in the air with his fingers to the crowd, which got a big pop. Owen Hart, Anvil, and Bulldog came out to calm him down.

BACKSTAGE

Vince McMahon locked himself in his office, with Gerald Brisco and his crew. Bret Hart asked Shawn if he was in on it and Shawn said he wasn't, which was pure bullshit. Bret Hart went to take a shower. In the meantime, the Undertaker went and got Vince McMahon out of his office and told him to go apologize to Bret Hart. Rick Rude told Bret Hart that Vince is in the dressing room. Bret Hart told Rick Rude to tell Vince McMahon that once Bret is done dressing up, if Vince is still in his locker room he will knock him out. Bret got out and Vince was still there. Vince was there with Gerald Brisco, Shanw McMahon, and SGT. Slaughter. Vince told Bret's boys to get out and that he wanted to talk to Bret. British Bulldog told everyone not to get out, he said they won't leave Bret alone in the locker room with Vince McMahon and 3 other guys. Remember what happened to Bruiser Brody? (that's a different story). Anyway, Bret Hart and Vince started arguing, Vince told Bret that it was the first time he lied to him. Bret Hart rattles off like twenty lies that Vince said in the past year. Bret told him to get out, and he didn't. They locked up and Bret swung a punch and knocked Vince McMahon down faster than a speed of light. Shane McMahon jumped on Bret's back, then the British Bulldog pulled him off. As a result of the punch, Vince had a black eye for a couple of weeks, and according to Vince, he also had a mild concussion and poor eye vision. Bret Hart on the other hand almost broke his wrist because of the punch.


December 1st, 1997, Bret Hart became an employee of Ted Turner's WCW. in early January 2000, Bret Hart wrestled his last wrestling match due to a concussion he suffered. Bret Hart has his pay cut in half by WCW, then a few months later released (October 2000). A week after his release, on October 26, 2000, Bret Hart announced his retirement from professional wrestling.

Two years later, in 1999, prior to Owen Hart's funeral, Vince McMahon begged Bret Hart to meet him. Bret Hart said no. Martha Hart had already filed a lawsuit against the WWF and Vince kept begging Hart over and over to meet him and Bret Hart finally agreed to meet him in a park in Calgary. Lawyers told Bret Hart, no matter what, NOT to talk about the lawsuit, because Vince can be wired, or whatever.

Bret Hart and Vince met at a park. Vince kept apologizing over and over for everything and told Bret that he wants him to finish his career in the WWF, etc. Bret Hart asked Vince for one thing. He asked him if he can have access of his WWF archives (pictures, videos, etc..) and Vince told Bret that he didn't even have to ask, he can have it. Strangely, Vince was acting really nice towards Bret. A few days later, when Bret asked for his WWF archives, Vince's lawyer said that Vince does not recall any part of that conversation and Bret cannot have access to anything. Vince's plan was to try to get Bret Hart on his side for the trial (The lawsuit filed by Martha). But that didn't work at all. This show's how much of a creep Vince really is.


Early 2002- The WWF came out with their new TV show called "WWF Confidential." Their first show was about the Survivor Series Screwjob. Shawn Michaels FINALLY confessed/admit that he knew the outcome of the 1997 Survivor Series. Everything about Survivor Series was revealed in the WWF Confidential show, with some bullshit along the way, which I will get to later. Gerald Brisco and Shawn Michaels had met in a hotel room the night before the PPV and went over a few things, in case Bret Hart would snap after the screwjob and attack Shawn. Brisco went over a few moves with Shawn, where he would defend himself in case Hart went after him. Earl Hebner said that he knew about the outcome of the match ten minutes before the match. Now in this first ever "confidential" show, they made Bret Hart seem like the bad guy. What else would you expect them to say? "Bret was right, we were wrong."? Of course not. Mene Gene Okerlund, the host of WWF Confidential, said that Bret Hart refused to relinquish the WWF to anyone under any circumstances. That was a lie. Bret Hart even offered to lose the belt to anyone, including the Brooklyn Brawler (Steve Lombardi), as long as he doesn't have lose it to Shawn. Anyway, what's done is done.

June 24, 2002 Bret Hart suffered a stroke, which caused the left part of his body to be paralyzed. Bret Hart is now recovering from the stroke and is several months away from recovering in full. Vince McMahon called Bret to wish him well. Vince and Bret spoke a couple of times since his stroke. As many of you know, Bret Hart is coming out with a huge book and he needs some photos from his WWF career, but they are all copyrighted by the WWF, now known as the WWE. Bret Hart finally got access/permission to his photos and he can include them in his book, although Bret is still working on having access to his videos. Apparently, Bret Hart was the one who came up with the "Anthology" name for the WWE's Anthology CD set.

The End (for now). I will update this as I get updates.

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

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