I apologize if this has already been posted. I got it from 411
Bret Hart was reportedly looking to make one last appearance with WWE, possibily at Wrestlemania XX, but the booking of Raw in Montreal has reportedly soured him on the idea.
Hart and Vince McMahon had tried to bury the hatchet several months back, and Bret was of the belief that McMahon was sincere in his desire to put things in the past.
Hart was set to meeting with McMahon at an upcoming Smackdown show in Calgary, and was also going to meet newer WWE wrestlers, specifically Brock Lesnar.
At this point, it is now less likely that Bret will appear at MSG at WMXX, however there are still many months between now and March 2004.
Honestly, I think that Bret will eventually have to accept that a return to WWE means that fans will expect him to address the Montreal Incident. It's left a lasting enough impression that anything short of a beat down on Vince will disappoint.
If he does the beat down, then he becomes a part of the whole angle and can no longer take the high moral ground on this issue. On that basis, I never see Bret coming back to WWE with the backdrop of Montreal.
Bret wants to go out there and thank the fan, I see no benefit for WWE if all he does is a small speech and then walk away.
Bret Hart has only one thing going for him these days; nostalgia.
The business has soared past the man. There's too much mark in him. Granted, every good worker needs to be a fan too, but Bret started to take himself too seriously. It's why he held a grudge over the "Montreal Incident", even though his credibility and drawing power did not suffer as a result, they only grew. WCW stopped his credibility and drawing power when they made him Hogan's lackey. Hell, he even caused the great screwjob ending at the main event at Starrcade. Why don't we ever hear about that?
If you'll bitch about Hart/Micheals's final match, why not the stupid blowoff to a year and a half's worth of angles at Starrcade '97, which was much more devestating to wrestling.
Eh. This rumor about Bret appearing at Mania comes up every single year. It might happen, it might not. I wouldn't take this thing too seriously, though.
For Bret, I could see him doing a quick speech, maybe, and a chance to soak in the Garden's cheers during what will be the biggest, overhyped PPV of the year, if not the decade. Not to mention, the Bret Hart fan in me wants to see the poor guy get closure, at least in his own mind.
For the WWE, it would be a chance to boost Mania buyrates on the basis of ``a special appearance by Bret Hart'' without saying exactly what he'll do or say (I can almost feel the message boards gearing up for it right now). Plus, it gives them the perfect chance to market a Bret Hart DVD, magazine, Confidential interview or whatever...
I would have to think, for Bret to agree to it, they'd have to give him the same treatment as what Mick Foley got a few weeks ago (minus, of course, being tossed down the stairs afterwards). The fact that he was already in talks to be there at WMX8 just shows me he's ready to make that final `special' appearance and move on with his life...
I have to agree that I don't think Bret will appear at Wrestlemania, and we have Vince to blame. It's not because he offended Bret by bringing up Montreal again, but because he's painted himself into a corner by constantly bringing it up. If he'd just let it die then I'm sure Bret could show up, thank the fans, and call it a carreer. However, due to WWE's constant rehashing, this has become the biggest "angle" in wrestling history. If Bret Hart shows up and doesn't close this "angle," his appearance will be viewed as a total waste by the average fan.
I also think that Vince sees the payoff in all of this, and has actually been intentionally doing this in hopes that Bret would return one day and play along.
Originally posted by LexusBret Hart has only one thing going for him these days; nostalgia.
The business has soared past the man. There's too much mark in him. Granted, every good worker needs to be a fan too, but Bret started to take himself too seriously. It's why he held a grudge over the "Montreal Incident", even though his credibility and drawing power did not suffer as a result, they only grew. WCW stopped his credibility and drawing power when they made him Hogan's lackey. Hell, he even caused the great screwjob ending at the main event at Starrcade. Why don't we ever hear about that?
If you'll bitch about Hart/Micheals's final match, why not the stupid blowoff to a year and a half's worth of angles at Starrcade '97, which was much more devestating to wrestling.
Okay, refresh my memory. What happened at Starrcade '97? I remember seeing it, as it was it was my reintroduction to wrestling since watching it as a child, but obviously at that point, my "smarky-senses" weren't very strong back then...
"So you're Ben Affleck. You're sitting next to Jennifer Lopez, who's your fiancee, you're eating a eight-foot high sundae, and members of the Boston Red Sox are coming up to you and asking for autographs. If that's not heaven, what is?" - Tony Kornheiser, PTI
Originally posted by BattlezoneOkay, refresh my memory. What happened at Starrcade '97? I remember seeing it, as it was it was my reintroduction to wrestling since watching it as a child, but obviously at that point, my "smarky-senses" weren't very strong back then...
Starrcade '97 was Hogan v. Sting, in the match Sting HAD to win, where he HAD to destroy Hogan, bring the WCW World title back to WCW, and kill the nWo.
It didn't happen.
First off, Hogan dominated the match. Sting got barely any offense in himself, when the match should've lasted about three minutes, with Sting dominating all three.
Second off, Hogan actually PINNED Sting, in a spot where biased ref Nick Patrick was supposed to fast-count Sting. However, in typical WCW fashion, the count was actually SLOW, which made it look completely ridiculous when Bret Hart came out (suddenly having power in WCW, apparently) and ordered the match restarted. Sting went on to beat Hogan to win the title, where all was good..
..except for the fact that less than a month later, the title was declared vacant because of the match's finish, and even though Sting won the rematch and the title, two months later, the title was back in nWo hands, with Sting losing to Randy Savage, who then lost it less than 24 hours later to...Hogan.
As a result, the biggest buyrate in WCW history went to total waste, as almost every heel (except Sting and DDP, who won the US title from Curt Hennig) won their matches, and the biggest match in WCW history had a bullshit finish that made Hogan look strong and almost completely killed the enormous popularity Sting had built up. It took a year and a half to build Sting up to that point, making him the most popular wrestler in the sport at that point (since Austin had yet to ascend to his peak yet). It took them scarcely three months to throw it away and knock Sting back down to being just another guy.
Again, as I have stated for myself many times before, I want to see Bret back quite a bit, but only if he can present himself well. I don't want to see a tarnished Bret Hart... I know it's reality and I know it's selfish, but I was a big fan, and want to remember him the way I do. Having said that, he needs to show up, clock Vince, and put an end to this ridiculous Evil Mr. McMahon character, once and for all.
Originally posted by CripBret wants to go out there and thank the fans, I see no benefit for WWE if all he does is a small speech and then walk away.
I think it all comes down to Bret just wanting to come back for one night, say "thank-you" to the fans, and then "BYE"......he's gone.
Vince wants him to comeback to be in some sort of storyline. Vince only wants Bret back if he can make some money and pop ratings for a series of nights, not just one single night.
"This just got a hell of a lot better." - Stifler, American Pie
If Bret had any brains or balls he'd just agree with WHATEVER Vince wants him to to, then screw him on PPV and beat the holy godamn shit out of him on live TV. Yeah, he's not in great shape but it couln't be that difficult to smuggle a steel pipe into the ring with him. Maybe he'd spend a night or two behind bars, but it would really be worth it, and Vince would have to thank him for it after the bloody incident triggers a massive upturn in business.
Originally posted by AbortionCandyMachineIf Bret had any brains or balls he'd just agree with WHATEVER Vince wants him to to, then screw him on PPV and beat the holy godamn shit out of him on live TV. Yeah, he's not in great shape but it couln't be that difficult to smuggle a steel pipe into the ring with him. Maybe he'd spend a night or two behind bars, but it would really be worth it, and Vince would have to thank him for it after the bloody incident triggers a massive upturn in business.
.... or, what's to stop Vince from doing the same thing?
The REAL Trish Stratus interview? A Scott Keith fan club? Plus the latest in hair care products in the newest Inside The Ropes!
Originally posted by Mike SweetserSecond off, Hogan actually PINNED Sting, in a spot where biased ref Nick Patrick was supposed to fast-count Sting. However, in typical WCW fashion, the count was actually SLOW, which made it look completely ridiculous when Bret Hart came out (suddenly having power in WCW, apparently) and ordered the match restarted.
It is heavily rumored that Nick Patrick was told to count slowly by Hogan.
So next time you see Earl Hebner, don't chant "You screwed Bret". Because at least that didn't do anything negative for business (some may even argue that it HELPED business).
But next time you see Nick Patrick (or Hulk Hogan, for that matter), inform him that, not only did he screw Sting, but he screwed the whole WCW company right out of business.
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