I can remember it very vividly, an October night round my next door neighbours house (where I watched all my WWF at the time), and an episode of Superstars opening with Mean Gene and a interview segment. He opened with the line "Ladies and gentleman I give to you your new World Wrestling Foundation Heavyweight Champion" Now at this stage I was a bit confused, as the last title change I knew of Ric Flair winning it back from The Macho Man, so at first I thought Oakland was going to bring the nature boy out, so I got a real suprise when The Hitman's music hit, and "Bret the Hitman Hart!"
With the title change having happened on a houseshow in Saskatoon, Saskatchwan on October 12th 1992 I had no idea. But being a big Hart fan who was heartbroken when he lost the Intercontintel title to the British Bulldog at Summerslam, I was really thrilled, but also totally amazed that he was the WWF Champion.
Really his raise to the top happened very quickly, but IMO was justified. It was a bold decission from Mcmahon and WWF at the time, and one which paid off. Even if the numbers didn't always support it, the fact is wrestling as a whole was in a bit of a recission in the early-mid 90's. And I think Bret Hart who is one of my all time favoruite wrestlers did an excellent chance of carriring the company for long spells. Having world class matches, and maybe more importantly putting lesser talents over with ease. Also while he was never the star of someone like Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold, the Hittman had a special connection with the fans, and they believed in him on an every day human level.
During his first world title reign he carried a then green Shawn Michaels to a superb match, with great heat at Survivorseries 92, and produced a very sound effect with Razor Roman two months later at the Royal Rumble. It might have seen an ant-climax than he would lose the title to fast raising monster Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX, but it was once again the excellence of excellcution that WWF turned to when Zuna bombed, and the greedy Hogan didn't stay around for long.
In the meantime Bret was given top billing at the first King of the Ring to be staged on Pay Per View in June 93. Once again showing his versituity Hart went through three of WWF's finest(Ramon, Mr Perfect and Bam Bam Bigelow) in three very gruilling, but different matches, all in one night to be crowned king. And who can forget the post-final angle with Jerry Lawler, which so beautifully set up his feud, and maybe the feud of that year.
Taken in four more WWF Title reigns from 94-97, and classic feuds and matches with the likes of Owen Hart, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker. And he even made a convincing heel in the compelling USA VS. Canada riverely. This is how I choose to remember him, and not his disater run in WCW. This was one of my favouite times ever as a wrestling fan.
With the title change having happened on a houseshow in Saskatoon, Saskatchwan on October 12th 1992 I had no idea. But being a big Hart fan who was heartbroken when he lost the Intercontintel title to the British Bulldog at Summerslam, I was really thrilled, but also totally amazed that he was the WWF Champion.
Really his raise to the top happened very quickly, but IMO was justified. It was a bold decission from Mcmahon and WWF at the time, and one which paid off. Even if the numbers didn't always support it, the fact is wrestling as a whole was in a bit of a recission in the early-mid 90's. And I think Bret Hart who is one of my all time favoruite wrestlers did an excellent chance of carriring the company for long spells. Having world class matches, and maybe more importantly putting lesser talents over with ease. Also while he was never the star of someone like Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold, the Hittman had a special connection with the fans, and they believed in him on an every day human level.
During his first world title reign he carried a then green Shawn Michaels to a superb match, with great heat at Survivorseries 92, and produced a very sound effect with Razor Roman two months later at the Royal Rumble. It might have seen an ant-climax than he would lose the title to fast raising monster Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX, but it was once again the excellence of excellcution that WWF turned to when Zuna bombed, and the greedy Hogan didn't stay around for long.
In the meantime Bret was given top billing at the first King of the Ring to be staged on Pay Per View in June 93. Once again showing his versituity Hart went through three of WWF's finest(Ramon, Mr Perfect and Bam Bam Bigelow) in three very gruilling, but different matches, all in one night to be crowned king. And who can forget the post-final angle with Jerry Lawler, which so beautifully set up his feud, and maybe the feud of that year.
Taken in four more WWF Title reigns from 94-97, and classic feuds and matches with the likes of Owen Hart, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker. And he even made a convincing heel in the compelling USA VS. Canada riverely. This is how I choose to remember him, and not his disater run in WCW. This was one of my favouite times ever as a wrestling fan.
