Bret Hart

Guide Note

Bret Hart is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, who has been a part of both World Wrestling Entertainment and the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.

Hart debuted in the WWE in 1984, and was paired with Jim Neidhart to form the tag team The Hart Foundation. Together, they won the WWE Tag Team Championship twice, later breaking up in 1991 following a loss to the Nasty Boys at WrestleMania VII.

As a singles competitor, Hart won the Intercontinental Title from Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam 1991 and again from Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII. After losing the title for the final time to Davey Boy Smith at SummerSlam 1992, Hart set his sights on the World Title, which he won from Ric Flair in October of that year.

From then to 1997, Hart won the belt four more times, feuding with Jerry Lawler, Diesel, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels along the way. Hart lost his final match in the WWE to Michaels at the infamous and controversial "Montreal Screwjob," where real-life WWE owner Vince McMahon forced the timekeeper to ring the bell on Hart, despite Hart never submitting or being pinned. The betrayal was not part of a storyline, and has strained the relationship between Hart and McMahon to this day.

Hart entered the WCW at the height of the company's popularity, even assisting its top star Sting in winning the World Title from Hulk Hogan. Despite his popularity in the WWE, however, Hart was confined to mid-card status for the bulk of his WCW career, feuding with Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T for the United States Championship.

After the accidental death of his younger brother, Owen, in May 1999, Hart was bumped up to main event status in the company, and won the vacated World Title in November that same year.

At Starrcade 1999, Goldberg gave Hart a stiff mule kick to the head, which resulted in a severe concussion. Unaware of the severity of his injuries, Hart continued to wrestle the next several days, which worsened the injury. He forfeited two World Titles, both of which were won during that time span. Hart retired on October 26, 2000.

Hart is the eighth child of Stu and Helen Hart. Despite early aspirations to become a film director, Hart decided to pursue a wrestling career after working for his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion. He is twice divorced and has four children. He currently resides in Hawaii.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Bret Sergeant Hart
2. Born: July 2, 1957
3. Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta
4. Billed height: 6'1"
5. Billed weight: 234 lbs
6. Finisher: Sharpshooter
7. Nickname: "Excellence of Execution"
8. Signature: Pink sunglasses, pink tights
9. Quote: "I'm the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."
10. Retired: October 26, 2000
11. Trained by: Stu Hart
12. Brother of Owen Hart
13. 5-time WWE Champion
14. 2-time WCW Champion
15. 2006 WWE Hall of Fame inductee
16. Only wrestler to hold all 3 major titles of both WWE and WCW