Bret Hart Revisits Life-Altering “Montreal Screwjob”

Seventeen years after one of the most astonishing moments in pro wrestling history, Bret “Hitman” Hart talks about the “Montreal Screwjob” that changed the course of two wrestling organizations.

You’re not a pro wrestling fan if the phrase “Montreal Screwjob” doesn’t ring a bell. Seventeen years later, the event still evokes volumes of emotion, especially for the one man who got screwed, Bret Hart.

More from WWE

Hart lost his then-World Wrestling Federation title against Shawn Michaels in Montreal during the 1997 Survivor Series pay-per-view, his last appearance with the organization before he headed to rival World Championship Wrestling. Hart, who had signed a lucrative deal with WCW, did not want to lose the belt in his home country of Canada, but WWF owner Vince McMahon — who had haggled with Hart for weeks on how to end the match — had other plans.

“It was a pretty close-knit group who knew about the screw job,” said Hart, who opened up to Sports Illustrated about the match. “Vince, Triple H, and Shawn were the three who planned it, and they got Jerry Brisco to come up with a plan when to execute the finish.”

Hart feels that McMahon pressured referee Earl Hebner, a longtime friend of Hart, to become involved in the plot.

“I always felt bad for Earl,” said Hart. “I think in his heart he would have told me, but when they cornered him, he rolled over. It’s hard to watch the match because of the spot they put Earl in – he’s terrified.”

Hart, who punched out McMahon behind the scenes following the match, went to WCW, where his career was ended after a series of concussions in 2000. McMahon used the incident to develop the evil boss persona that defined his 30-plus years as owner of the company.

More from FanSided