Brad Johnson sent this report in:
Wrestleview,
Last night at MSG saw the return to the the ring of Bret “The Hitman” Hart. If anyone had the true privelege to see Hart in action, and he was truly in action, then they know what I mean. Forget his “match” with Vince at WrestleMania, forget his “match” with the Miz for the U.S. Title. This was Bret’s true return. Yes, he wore the jean shorts and tank top, but although the tights might be gone forever (maybe not) The Hitman was definitely back. He tagged into the match twice and he performed ALL of his signature moves. He connected with his judo-style arm drag, he hit his patented standing elbow-drop, he did the reverse atomic drop, and he even leveled the Nexus with his over-the-knee side backbreaker.
As seen in a very poor quality video on my Facebook page, Bret actually climbed to the middle turnbuckle and dropped his infamous elbow perfectly. He threw punches, he ran the ropes, and the crowd was absolutely insane. This wasn’t the previous Bret outings where he only pops into the match to apply the Sharpshooter. This was a return to the ring more akin to what we saw from Ricky Steamboat last year. Bret wasn’t winded, his arms were buff, and the stiffness from the ring rust was almost nonexistent. This is a man who had a stroke and was in a wheelchair? If I wasn’t a true pro wrestling fan I would think that was just a storyline for his TV character.
The Garden sold special t-shirts that had “Bret Hart, 9-25-2010, I Was There!” printed on them. I wouldn’t be suprised if that was a little inside joke referring to the beginning of his true comeback. Maybe it was just the power of Madison Square Garden or maybe it was an indication of what the future holds, but we could be seeing not “one more match” but rather “one more run from Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
austin316 sent this report in:
Live Report from Smackdown house show at MSG
Missed the first match but heard that Kofi Kingston defeated Dolph Ziggler
Tag Team Championship match – Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre defeat Chris Masters and MVP after Crossroads on Masters
It was Bret Hart Appreciation Night and between matches they showed video highlights of the Hitman’s career introduced by Howard Finkel
Alberto Del Rio defeats Chavo with the armbar. It looked really cool the way Del Rio locked in the armbar with a spinning takedown. Also, no personal ring announcer or Bentley entrance for Del Rio. And Chavo was playing the face role and sporting biker-length tights
Melina and Kelly defeat Laycool with help from the Little Bastard Hornswoggle
Mark Henry defeats Jack Swagger with World’s Strongest Slam
Finkel introduces Jerry Lawler and Hart Dynasty and Bret Hart. They present him with 3 photo potraits – one of Bret eating his mother Helen’s cookies, the next of Bret and Owen, then of Bret with all his brothers. Then courtesy of MSG and the NY Rangers they give him a number 10 Rangers jersey for WM10 and the year of Bret’s return to WWE. Bret starts talking and the Nexus comes out to interrupt him. Hart Dynasty and Bret Hart defeat Nexus (Slater, Gabriel, and Tarver) with a sharpshooter by Bret Hart on Slater. Lawler was special guest referee. Nexus attempted an attack but were shut down and another sharpshooter from Bret to Heath. (Finkel and Chimmel were sharing ring announcing duties with Finkel mainly doing the Bret Hart segments)
Big Show defeats CM Punk with a Showstopper followed by a KO punch. Before the match CM was singing a song about Chicago to a chorus of boos
Kane defeats Undertaker in street fight with a chokeslam. After the match Kane attempted to attack Undertaker with a chair but Taker kicked it in his face. Then he Taker signaled for the Tombstone but Kane rolled out of the ring and left. Taker’s music hits, he poses and exits End of show
Biggest Pops:
1. Bret Hart
2. Undertaker
3. Kane/Hornswaggle
Most Heat:
1. CM Punk
2. Alberto Del Rio
3. Cody/Drew
Interesting Notes: They were selling T-shirts for one night only for BH appreciation night. Some random diva was throwing some into the crowd at one point. Also lots of fans with Nexus shirts, even the kids. Stone Cold got a nice pop when he was mentioned on the Bret Hart video for their Summerslam match at the garden years back. Owen got a small chant when he was mentioned as well. Even the Nexus had a decent ovation, but of course some boos too.