WrestleView Remembers Owen Hart
On May 23, 2002 at 10:29:42 WrestleView Remembers The Late Great, Owen Hart.
Angelo Mantzios - Reviewer
My first memory of Owen Hart was WM6. I was about 14 years old. My dad & I would always watch wrestling together and for PPVs, he would take me to a restaurant (that a friend of his owned) & we'd watch on the big screen. I remember some lady (perhaps in her mid-30s) giving me some background on some of the wrestlers on the undercard. For some reason, I remember her telling me that the Blue Blazer was Bret Hart's little brother Owen. She told me that this guy would be one of the top guys in wrestling because his in-ring ability was too good. I, of course, not knowing any better thought that Hulk Hogan was the best in the world. But what did I know then, right?
My second distinct memory of Owen Hart the night Bret won the WWF title. (I forget which WM that was) Owen Hart's feud with his older brother Bret was something very special to watch. The way these two would interact in and out of the ring is a constant reminder that storylines CAN be great and feuds CAN develop if you let the wrestlers tell the story in the ring.
My third memory of Owen was "Owen 3:16 - I just broke your neck". Poor Owen. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to almost end another person's life.
My last memory of Owen was the night of his death three years ago. I had forgotten that there was a PPV in KC & I was watching a sports update and they reported Owen's tragedy. I remember flipping to the PPV and seeing Owen lying in the ring (talk about up-to-date reporting eh?). I remember listening to JR talking about how this wasn't in the storylines. I remember thinking to myself: "I hope he's okay, and why is JR talking about storylines?"
Owen Hart brought something to the ring. He brought heart (no pun intended). I'll never forget when Bret Hart & Chris Benoit wrestled that tribute match in Owen's memory. The Hart family really helped Canadians make it in the world of professional wrestling & I'm glad for that. Owen, who's probably disgusted at the garbage we are forced to see now, is probably laughing in his own way. Owen was next in line and gawd knows that he would be one of the best right now.
Owen Hart - three years later, we still haven't forgotten you. Rest in peace.
Fade...
Justin Ballard - WrestleView Columnist
It's been three years, and I still can't believe it. On May 23, 1999 one of the brightest stars in the wrestling industry was taken away; his life and career cut short long before his time was up. I often wonder how the company he worked for and the industry he worked in would've been different had he not died tragically on that day. I wonder how his family would've been different; would they still be enduring such turmoil and hardship if he were still with them now? Most of all, I wish I could watch Owen Hart wrestle one more time.
Wherever you are, Owen, we still miss you.
-Justin Ballard
Random Chair Shots
Shawn Moniz - WrestleView Co-Webmaster
I remember watching that Pay Per View on that tragic night, I had went over to a friends house and it had just went to commercial and they announced that the Blue Blazer match was next, when it came back from the commercial, Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross was telling the fans that there has been an accident involving Owen Hart of how this was not part of any storyline and it is indeed very serious.
As a wrestling fan, I thought that it was all fake, but that all came crashing down as Jim Ross made that announcement that he had died. I felt absolutely horrible the rest of the night, especially for his family, even more now after the death of Davey Boy Smith. Even through tragedy, the Hart family has pulled through numerous amounts of time and I commend them for that.
Rest In Peace Owen
Scott Williams - WrestleView Reporter
When I think of Owen Hart, I think of a hard worker, a very good heel, and an all out accomplished wrestler. Owen was original, he was his own wrestler. The first time I watched Owen perform was at Wrestlemania 5 as the Blue Blazer, where he lost to Mr. Perfect. I started watching wrestling around Wrestlemania 5, which would have been around 1989, so I feel that I indeed got to watch Owen blossom in the WWF over the next ten years. Memories of Owen as the Blue Blazer, a tag team partner with Koko B. Ware, Davey Boy Smith, Jeff Jarrett and even Yokozuna will always be fond to me. But I remember Owen best as a singles competitor. Rather it be as the WWF European or Intercontinental champion, Owen was always at his best while being a singles competitor. It saddens me when I think about how he was never WWF champion. If any wrestler ever deserved it the most and never got it, it was Owen. I still laugh to this day when I think about one of Owen's last storylines in the WWF. When he retired and claimed that he was no longer on a WWF roster, then announced a few weeks later he was "coming out of retirement" just struck me as being halarious. I will never forget that dark evening, when Jim Ross announced during Over The Edge that Owen had left us. I went straight to my bedroom and played "Say Hello 2 Heaven" by Temple of the Dog after hearing of the news. My tears did not shed until the next night on Raw, during his tribute show. So many memories and stories shared about this great guy. And who can ever forget Stone Cold toasting his picture on the Titan Tron and Jim Ross crying out as Raw went off the air. Owen Hart was always my favorite Hart, the Black Hart. I am proud to say that I got to watch him perform for ten straight years. I couldnt imagine how the WWF would have been without him. I miss you Owen! You may be gone, but your not forgotten.
Ryan Droste - WrestleView Reporter
There are moments in time which stay etched in someone's mind for the rest of their life. People remember the moment so vividly that they remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news that came that day. For some, these moments include John F. Kennedy being assassinated, the death of Elvis Presley, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion and of course 9/11. For wrestling fans, though, another day stands out that they will never forget. That day was May 23, 1999. It is a day I will never forget. One of my favorite wrestlers, gone forever. I will never forget Owen Hart. I will never forget the way he used to make me laugh during his interview segments. I definately will never forget the way he entertained me throughout the years in many classic matches. Owen Hart will live on forever inside the hearts of the millions of people around the world whos lives he touched.
Ryan also wrote a column about Owen, which can be read by clicking here
Chris Varano - WrestleView Reporter
For the late, great, King of Hearts:
Owen Hart had been a part of wrestling for as long as I can remember watching. He was one of those guys who you just expected to be with the company until he was no longer physically able to perform. I watched the pay-per-view on the night of his death and was shocked to learn of what had happened. At that point I just couldn't imagine the World Wrestling
Federation without him. He was always one of my favorites to watch and could entertain like no other. He made his family proud, he made his country proud, and he made the WWF proud. We all miss him very much and trust that he is looking down on us all from a better place with a warm smile.
Robert Rodriguez - WrestleView Trivia
Owen Hart the wrestler, to me, represented hard work and dedication to your preferred craft. I think the best way I can explain my appreciation for Owen’s work is to say I think he had the gift of looking good in the ring against any opponent, at the same time making them look as good if not better than they usually do in the ring. His ability to be successful with many different partners in his career illustrated his flexibility as an athlete and performer. When I remember Owen Hart I think of 2 matches. The first was taped in Calgary against Chris Benoit early in his career. He was young and tough and showed his mastery of the sport of wrestling. Second was what I consider his coming out party at Wrestlimania 10 against his brother Bret. The fact that he won the match is less important to me than the fact that he showed that he was more than good enough to wrestle a well thought out, high profile match with the best in the world. It just doesn't get much better than that. He is sorely missed.
Kevin Lowery - WrestleView Columnist
It has been three years since the wrestling world lost a star and the world lost one a hell of a guy. Three years ago today, the wrestling world lost the greatest wrestler to never hold a heavyweight championship. Owen, you will be missed but you will never be forgotten.
Adam Martin - WrestleView Co-Webmaster
I will never forget that fateful night on May 23rd, 1999 in which the news broke of Owen Hart's death. I was celebrating my birthday earlier that night before ordering the "Over The Edge" pay per view. When Jim Ross came on the screen and told us that Owen Hart had died, I didn't know what to think. I felt shock and sadness all at the same time. In the following weeks, I still couldn't believe it happened. It just wasn't fair that Owen had to die. Up to that point in 1999, I never experienced a death in my family and Owen's death, even though I never met him, really shook me up and it took me weeks before I could come to the realization that he was gone. It has been three years since we lost one of the true greats in the world of professional wrestling and Owen's legacy will continue to live on as the years go by. I would also like to take this time to mention the recent and shocking death of the British Bulldog. It is almost scary to know that the Bulldog passed away a week prior the three year anniversary of Owen's death. The British Bulldog's legacy, as well as Owen's, will continue to shine in the rich history of professional wrestling and both men will never be forgotten.
Tyler Siloski - WrestleView Columnist
I remember watching Owen Hart week after week, the only heel I liked in the entire company. I still wonder why he stood out to me, he just did. To this day I can't believe what happened, even though it's been three years. I still think about it from time to time, where he'd be if it went as planned, if nothing went wrong, wondering if he'd finally get his dues by now. He was the kind that you knew was going to be a legend, you knew he was going to be the top of the hill some day, and I hate it that he never reached that day. To this day I know people that just remember chants of "Nugget" and endless heel gimmicks, and I still get mad at people for not looking passed all of that. I look back and I remember Owen Hart as one of the best in the ring and one of the best out of the ring, and I hope that's how I'll always remember him.
Dale Mills - WrestleView Columnist
We all still miss ya' Owen....
Bob Magee - WrestleView Reporter & Columnist
You can read Bob Magee's column, by clicking here.
Mark Stanley
Owen James Hart was born into the first family of wrestling. The last of twelve kids, Owen was the baby. Being the baby in the Hart family was not like being the baby in traditional family life. Owen and his brothers were trained by their father, Stu Hart, a legendary shoot fighter. However, Owen did not desire a life in the ring. Owen wanted to become a teacher, he had a love for children, one that would carry on in his life. He was pulled into the business after Bret Hart left his father's Stampede Wrestling Promotion for the WWF. Stu Hart was in need of another star and Owen was that star. Soon after Owen's start in the ring, Vince McMahon bought out Stu's Stampede Wrestling. Owen was suddenly in the WWF. Owen's rise to success was meteoric. His involvement with his brother in the Hart Foundation will live on in legend for all true WWF fans. Owen reached the pinnacle of his career when he beat his brother Bret at Wrestlemania X. When Bret left for the WCW a piece of Owen left with him. There was nothing that Owen could do about leaving the WWF, even though he just wanted to make enough money to buy a dream house for him and his wife. Owen was killed in a senseless accident at the Kemper Arena on May 23, 1999 at the Over The Edge Pay Per View. He was performing a stunt that he said he as apprehensive about doing. Owen Hart was 34. He left behind two children Oge and Athena, and his wife Martha. Owen will be sorely missed not only by his family but also his fans. No matter if he was heel or face, he always did his best to play to the fans. We will miss you Owen.
William Martinez - LoP Reporter
In a business where most live with a dark side, a side they are ashamed of, Owen Hart was one of the few who was never ashamed with any aspect of his life, nor should he have been. Hart was brought up in a loving family and eventually created a loving family with his wife and two kids. Unfortunately for Martha Hart, she will never be able to grow old with the love of her life and as for Oje and Athena, they will never be able to grow up with their father. But the legacy of Owen Hart, the husband and father, will always live on through his loved ones.
While Owen's death on May 23, 1999 hit hardest with his family, his millions of fans suffered a deep loss as well. For the old school fans, they miss the ability and talent Owen possessed, talent that only few others were ever blessed with. For the newer fans, they were never able to experience the sight of watching Owen doing what he did best, but more importantly what he loved doing, performing for fans. I often look through my tape collection for matches of Owen and they always brought a look of awe and happiness as I was always amazed with his ability and charisma.
Tragedy is something the wrestling business, and all of us, are accustomed to but when a prodigy and genuinely great person such as Owen Hart passes away, we are filled with sadness and wonder as to why he was taken from all of us so early. However, as we reflect on Owen Hart, we realize that his spirit and legacy could never be taken from us, and it never will be for the spirit of Owen Hart will always live through all who respected him.
Paul Nemer -WV Owner
I can't believe it's been three years already. I remember on May 23, 1999, I was doing play by play for the Over the Edge PPV in the WrestleView chat room and I had to tell the people in the chat room that he died, and I just stopped the play by play and glued my head to the TV. I was sitting here in disbelief. Owen was a phenomenal wrestler, I enjoyed watching him in every match. I enjoyed listening to each and every one of those wrestlers that said something about Owen on May 24, I got to learn that he was a great human being, in and out of the ring, and a legendary prankster. It's even sadder to know that the British Bulldog left this world just less than one week ago. I will always remember Owen and Bulldog as tag team champions, their days with the Hart foundation, and all of the old school storylines they were in, watching them wrestle was just priceless. They are both gone, but will NEVER be forgotten.... The memories will live on forever.