Bret Hart remains one of the most illustrious performers in the history of pro wrestling. The Hitman took the industry by storm with his work rate in the eighties. His stocks would only rise in the nineties.
Hart’s eye for all the nuances, coupled with his flawless and smooth execution, made him very best in the business. The Excellence of Execution had some great matches against a variety of opponents at WrestleMania.
Let’s explore these all time-classics.
The Hart Foundation vs. The Nasty Boys (WrestleMania VII)
One of the better matches on an otherwise overwhelming undercard at WrestleMania VII!
Bret Hart did most of the work in this match. You could say he was the workhorse and WWE had bigger things for the Hitman. The Nasty Boys may not be in-ring technicians but they knew how to work the crowd as heels.
The title change would plant seeds for a solo run for the Hitman.
Video Credit: YouTube
Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII)
This match pretty much set the standard for future Iron Man outings in pro wrestling. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had great chemistry prior to this outing. They had met countless times under different circumstances.
Michaels got the first 30 minutes of the Iron Man Match to this outing. The Heartbreak Kid looked superb with his agility and flashy moves. Hart gained momentum for the next 30 minutes.
The final 5 minutes featured some great near falls after the match went into overtime. Michaels was finally able to subdue Hart with his patented Sweet Chin Music to claim the WWE title.
Video Credit: YouTube
vs. Roddy Piper (WrestleMania VIII)
Few men in this business have been able to captivate the crowd like Roddy Piper. Hotrod was one of the greatest minds to ever step foot inside the squared circle. His promo work was only complemented by his ability to tell a great story through his wrestling skills.
Piper was the reigning Intercontinental Champion heading into WrestleMania VIII. His opponent was the Hitman Bret Hart himself. The blood and the fiery crowd added so much to the match.
Piper’s hesitation to hit Bret with the ring bell added to the emotion and drama. Hot Rod kept hitting the Hitman with hard strikes. Hart kept coming back until he was finally able to defeat the legendary Piper to claim the Intercontinental Championship.
Video Credit: YouTube
Vs. Owen Hart (WrestleMania X)
Hart versus Hart is up there with the greatest opening matches at WrestleMania. The story behind one of wrestling’s greatest feuds was simple at its core. Jealousy brought the worst out of Owen as he watched his brother outgrow the Hart name.
After months of teasing a feud, Owens finally snapped and attacked his brother. The two men would meet in the opening match of WrestleMania X. This was pure wrestling brilliance from both men who practically grew up wrestling each other.
Several crisp exchanges, some flawless submission work, and a great in-ring psychology made Bret Hart versus Owen Hart one of the greatest matches, not in just both men’s career, but in the history of WrestleMania.
Video Credit: YouTube
Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)
Arguably the greatest match in Bret Hart and Steve Austin’s career came at WrestleMania 13. This is the match that established Austin as a main event player and one of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. Both men had a compelling feud in 1996.
The animosity would reach fever peach by the time WrestleMania 13 opened its doors to the fans. Hart and Austin delivered a pro wrestling masterclass that also featured one of the greatest double turns of all time.
The iconic spot where Austin is bleeding buckets but refusing to tap to the sharpshooter remains one of the greatest visuals in the history of this business.
Also read: 5 Best Heel Turns In WWE History
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