The Animal calls the Montréal Screwjob "a joke"

[We Are Legion]

WWE Hall of Famer George "The Animal" Steele joinedInside The Ropes radio this past Thursday. Here are the highlights:

On his character becoming nonsensical in his promos: "I did my own interviews and I was very articulate in the WWF when I got there but once theycalled me The Animal, and I was doing an interview with Vince and he said I was making too much sense for an animal so I turned into the ooh ooh aah guy and became the comedy character and it was a great run."

On working WrestleMania 2 with Randy Savage: "I had a great time. It was not as stressful as when I wrestled Bruno because Bruno and I were hardcore. I was a cartoon character with Randy so it was easier. Randy was in all honesty, a very jealous guy about Elizabeth and what you saw was sort of real. So then the further I went on TV to make him jealous and the further I got, the angrier he was."

Memories of WrestleMania 3: "It was about twelve miles from home. The Savage/Steamboat thing was Not my kinda match. I heard them talk that match for three weeks, I was sick of hearing about it. They called the spots, it was a great match but there was no psychology. Andre was a very good friend, Vince and Hogan did not know what Andre would do when he got to the ring if he’d lay down. He sort of kayfabed them. I’m sitting watching, laughing my tail off because I knew what Andre would do. When Hogan slammed Andre, that made him."

Why he left WWF in 1989: "I was deathly ill with Crohns disease. I was in hospital for a month, and I knew it was all over, I couldn’t keep wrestling. I didn’t know I’d have to retire, but once I got to hospital, I knew it was over."

On being inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995 and founding the PWHOF: "It was fine. they brought my family in. After my induction they didn’t do any inductions for years. I talked to this guy Tony Mollano who’s responsible for the boxing hall of fame and I told him there wasn’t a physical building, and so we set up the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Amsterdam, New York. It’s a good thing. We’re not in competition with Vince. But we have a building people can come along and take a look at history."

Thoughts on Montreal Screwjob: "To me that’s one of the biggest jokes in wrestling of all time. Lets be honest, who did Bret Hart beat to win the belt? They give him the belt and then he can’t drop the belt in his own country? Give me a frickin break. By Vince doing the double cross Vince became the hottest thing in the business when all he did was take his belt back. He outdid everyone who walked away like Hulk and Bret."

The thoughts on Steamboat/Savage caught my attention more than anything. No psychology? Oh, George.... give me a break.

 

[Chris]

Once he talked bad about Steamboat/Savage the rest of the interview became irrelevant.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

I'm not exactly sure what he's talking about to be honest. He doesn't make much sense. The screwjob was a dirty thing to do, regardless of whether he was willing to drop it or not. But oh well, things had to be done right?

 

[PHX]

Yeah that statement about Savage/Steamboat is downright dumb and I don't think he could even explain what he means by that without sounding stupid.

As far as the screwjob I always have thought it was silly for Bret to not want to drop the belt in his hometown so he kind of has a point on that one.

 

[Tapout]

I've always been a beiliever that Bret Screwed Bret. 100 percent. I saw nothing wrong with the Screw Job. Vince and Michaels did what they had to do because Bret was being a dick.

 

[Chris]

I feel both are at fault. Vince was still paranoid over the whole Madusa thing and he was convinced Bret would do the same thing despite Bret saying he would drop the title the next night on Raw, he just didn't want to lose it in Canada especially to Michaels considering the nature of their feud. Still though, that would be such a letdown, so Bret should have just dropped the title in Montreal like Vince wanted and none of that would have happened.

 

[EffectsofRaven]

Only irk I had with the entire situation was, if Vince knew the deal with Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart and knew Bret was leaving X amount of weeks before hand.

Plus the fact, there was noway Bret was gonna drop in Canada to HBK, then why not have booked Undertaker to take the title off him, woulda been such a safer and possibly more acceptable option for Bret.

WWF was at his mercy tbh. But at the same time, Bret fucked himself over.

 

[PHX]

I don't think Bret wanted to drop the belt to anybody in Canada. The fact that it was Shawn just made it worse obviously but from what I gather he just didn't want to drop the belt in Canada no matter who it was.

 

[Chris]

I don't think Bret wanted to drop the belt to anybody in Canada. The fact that it was Shawn just made it worse obviously but from what I gather he just didn't want to drop the belt in Canada no matter who it was.

Yeah, that's what I've heard to, but you'd think if it was anyone other than HBK it would have at least been a little more negotiable.

 

[PHX]

Probably but only reason I say it was cause of Canada and not just cause it was HBK was cause he was said he was perfectly fine dropping it to HBK on Raw the following night.

 

[EffectsofRaven]

Could of been saying that, so he didn't look like an absolute asshole which he is.

Imo, he woulda dropped to Foley or Taker in Canada because they was two really respectable guys in the back when you think about it, especially compared to HBK. Vince woulda have more to negotiate with.

 

[The Cork]

It was 15 years ago, why are people still not over this :

 

[chefboyardee]

Once he talked bad about Steamboat/Savage the rest of the interview became irrelevant.

i completely agree.its sacreligious.i recently rewatched it and 20 some years later its still a thing of beauty.not as good as flair steamboat best 2 outta 3 falls but still awesome.

 

[Deezy]

The Animal should know all about psychology amiryt? That universally praised worker.

Also, Bret told HBK he was prepared to put him over and HBK said he wasn't prepared to do the same. And Bret being the mark for himslef that he is, took it as disrespect and said fuck that little bastard.

Don't anyone read books here?

Anywho, it was along time ago, all parties involved are over it. Wrestlng fans need to do the same.

Still, Bret dropping the title to HBK didn't make sense, if he was to lose the title to anyone it should've been Austin.

 

[Tapout]

The Animal should know all about psychology amiryt? That universally praised worker.

Also, Bret told HBK he was prepared to put him over and HBK said he wasn't prepared to do the same. And Bret being the mark for himslef that he is, took it as disrespect and said fuck that little bastard.

Don't anyone read books here?

Anywho, it was along time ago, all parties involved are over it. Wrestlng fans need to do the same.

Still, Bret dropping the title to HBK didn't make sense, if he was to lose the title to anyone it should've been Austin.

Was that in the Bret Hart Book? I read the Michaels one and I don't remember reading something about that. I know he had a chapter for the Screw Job but of course theres two sides to every story, and in Michaels book, he is gonna try to make himself look like the good guy, and Bret is going to do the same in his.