Both comments are true. Except I think it affected him more than WCW being as sh!##y as he expected it would be. And he has always had an egotistical quality, it's even in his catchphrase, but the bottom line is that Bret wasn't in on the fix
@@Perk_SportYourCardsyes exactly what I was thinking. He’s down for not getting pinned in his hometown. But was mad ass shit for his career how wcw turned out
Nah. U are crazy. It was indeed a work. So if you keep that in mind (as Brett has) u can always capitalize on it, Decades later as it is one of the biggest moments in wrestling history. So yes it was a work. But those involved will keep telling us it wasn’t. That’s why it’s so historic. It indeed was a work.
That's confusing, because doesn't that mean its a shoot? If brets in on it its a work, i hear ppl say it can be a work but bret isnt in on it. Im confused. How?
@@atimetraveler4910 Oh..ok. I'll try to start being more gullible. I promise, from now on, It'll Still BE REAL TO ME, DAMMIT! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm going to start arguing with people about how real, wrestling is.😂🤣
It was nothing to do with not wanting to lose in Canada. After Vince told Bret the plan to drop the belt, Bret told Shawn he had no problem doing the job for him. Shawn replied: “for the record, I wouldn’t do the same for you.” This pissed Bret off so much that he didn’t feel it was right to drop the belt to such a dick. He offered to drop it to Taker or just forfeit it on the next night on Raw.
Agreed. Brett was not in on it. Brett could have screwed tye screw job, by announcing before the match that he was handing the belt back to Vince then and there. Then tell Shawn "I don't like you and want to kick your a** this one last time, no title on the line". How could they have stopped him? Brett trusted Vince too much, Vince wanted to get the belt off Brett that night because of his soon departure to WCW. Vince allowed himself to be punched by Brett because he felt bad having to screw Brett out of the belt. Vince stubbornly wanted the belt on Shawn Michaels, but he could have met Brett halfway and had him lose to Taker or someone else on the PPV. It was stubborn attitudes by Vince and Brett, and Shawn being a jerk, WCW looming in the shadows, that led to Vince engineering the screw job. Which Brett wasn't aware was going to happen that way. As Brett stated in interviews, his account never changed. But the others have shifted around the stories.
ANYBODY would be pissed off about that. On the other hand, Shawn was probably angry about Bret signing the new twenty year deal, meaning that he would be out of his prime by the time Bret finally left. Somewhere in the back of Shawn's mind, he was probably worried that his opportunity to be a mega star would be behind him if Bret stuck around.
@@hatchetmouth8211Good point. Bret having more creative control overall in the contract's later years could've ended up feeling like a storm cloud haunting Shawn, who was pivotal in establishing the Attitude Era. Probably why Vince let himself get pushed around by Shawn and HHH; he was essentially forced to pick between Bret and Shawn despite his best efforts. HHH saying "if he doesn't wanna do business, we'll have to do business for him" may have applied not just to Bret, but Vince as well. Even separated, the Kliq were still in charge, and indeed even more so.
There are a few things that makes Montreal-being-a-work an enticing theory. 1) One can see how it all could have (and in some cases, did) played out so well; Vince becomes the hottest heel in the business; Bret gets a massive babyface boost as the guy who got betrayed by his boss/father figure; Shawn also has loads of heat; If Goldberg doesn't kick Bret's brains out, Bret can return in a few years and have an epic feud with Vince. 2) There is a certain elegance to the idea that Bret and Vince worked everyone inside and outside the business; that they tricked not only the fans, but the people who thought they were in on it. Not only this, but that these two men, mentor and mentee, metaphorical father and son, could pull this off and keep quiet about it all these years (this is also a significant reason to doubt the theory; surely one of them would have let something slip to someone in the itnervening decades). 3) It is convenient that the WWS documentary crew could film the whole thing. Yes, they were working on it long before the plan could have been hatched, but that does not mean Bret and Vince didn't say, "You know what will also help this thing? The fact that a third party will be there to record it as a shoot." Of course, we need to examine how seriously Vince subsequently tried to block the documentary. 4) If any two WWF people could pull it off, Bret and Vince would be two excellent candidates; wrestling is not a job for these men; it's their lives; it's who they are. The biggest problem with the theory (in my version it's just Bret and Vince; I wouldn't have involved Shawn in it) is the lack of direct evidence. As far as I know, everything we have is circumstantial. I would love to have a psychologist watch WWS and analyze Bret and Vince in the second half of the documentary to see how genuine their responses are. Something else that may be at the root of this theory-crafting is a desire to be tricked by the business. Everyone knows it's a work and it's been out there a while. It reminds me of the ending of the movie The Prestige; the final line by the narrator, referencing magic tricks, is "You want to be fooled." I think it's possible Montreal was a work, but I also acknowledge that it is not likely.
I know it was a shoot, but I hope people never stop making compelling cases for it being a work, because it keeps the Montreal Screwjob discussion fresh.
Even tho Vince perfectly positions himself on "Hard camera" so everyone could get a good look at Bret spitting on him? Shawn's face when it hits is so funny tho
What u said makes no sense 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 how he position himself???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 no that spit was not planned, Bret clearly spit him directly in the eye!!! That was a huge chunk of spit because when he wiped his face he still had some in his hair 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Why would he? They legitimately almost killed his image in that city. I guarantee you if this happened in any other city, he would’ve let it go by now.
@@BuddsHanzoSword i think because it was in Canada period that it hurt him that much. He was a national hero in the sport. No Canadian had the kind of popularity and accolades he garnered in pro wrestling, which in Canada, pro wrestling is side by side with hockey as the biggest sport in the country.
Vince being the owner was always an open secret. We may not have had the internet but everyone knew his dad was Vince McMahon Snr, everyone knew about the steroids trial, and everyone knew how he had bought out the old territories.
@MissLippy-fy6bj Well in the mid 80s to early 90s time frame there was an on screen character named President Jack Tunney. Many younger people at that time were led to believe vince was only an announcer and not the owner. Being young naive (me at the time) I was just 12 in 1995 when I think was his last year, I believed up until that point that he owned WWF, since his character was so damn believable. My friends and I in 96 when Vince started his most known feud with Stone Cold, thought he had bought the company from Tunney. It wasn't until Amderica Online that I learned the whole truth. Ah memories
I live in Fairfield County Connecticut and pretty everybody here always knew Vince owned the WWF in the late 80s and 90s. We knew he lived in Greenwhich we knew he owned the building in Stamford. Small state small county talk goes around pretty fast.
It goes both ways, way too many facts prove its a work. You just haven't done enough research. Or you're a major bret mark and refuse to believe he would be in on such a conspiracy
@@atimetraveler4910 I want to believe it is a work because it's such a fun alt history conspiracy. And Brett would be in on such a storyline. Brett loves wrestling yet he is going to break kayfabe to abhorrently with news organizations because he lost and WWE didn't honor thier contract? That sounds odd too me. The biggest indication for me the Screwjob was real is Eric saying Brett didn't really want to be at WCW. There could be reasonable explanations why the screwjob is a work and Brett didn't feel like being at WCW but only the people involved know. Without key players breaking character and saying it was a work the conspiracy will always live on. I also believe Scott Hall's insight more than anyone else's. Even if his rationale behind believing it was a work was slightly inaccurate.
@@atimetraveler4910Wrestling conspiracy theorists are some of the most dense motherfuckers I’ve seen lol No, there are not “way too many facts” that it was work. Literally everyone who was ever involved in this situation has never even hinted at it being a work for DECADES. Too many real life altercations and ramifications have happened for it to be planned. With how open the industry is now about its past, we would’ve seen SOMEONE talk about how every single person has been lying for several decades and was planned from the start
@@BuddsHanzoSword not many ppl were, but Bret’s draw was still good during a time when wrestling was down, better than Shawn’s title reign a few years later
Ima big Howard Stern fan and Bret went on in late 90s and talked about punching Vince and it so doesn’t line up - he said he like caught him in the temple, but Vince did that Bret Screwed Bret with the black eye (which def seemed like a makeup artists work)
I like what Al Snow says about the situation. Shawn Michaels refusing to return the favor with the title change went against the trust and respect as brothers in the ring. That was the catalyst of events.
@@Gardenhoser86 wasnt worth it for him, he had a stroke taking a spear in wcw,most of those millions are going to hospital bills,For us maybe entertainment but for him it was a rollercoaster
@@hatchetmouth8211Again, this has been debunked over and over. The concussion came from Bret doing the ring post figure four and smacking his head on the ground. The career ending damage came after when he continued to wrestle, including wrestling a hardcore match with Terry Funk who hit in the head with everything he could get his hands on.
out of curiosity. What is wrong with looking at certain details? You do the same thing when researching crime. You don;t look at it from face value. If you love wrestling, why not look at the "Secret Details"
Because once it happened and was known about they only have the option of trying to capitalize. They could never keep it all secret, obviously... This is bad argument.
@@timbritting7905 It wasn't aired on the original PPV but it was aired on Raw for a few weeks after once the story got out. Except I don't think they ever showed the spelling of WCW until much later.
You do know it's wrestling, and it's all a work, right? In what world do you not know that every match, and every interaction you see in a show is staged by working actors, and always was? Nobody working cares about fake belts for fake titles...it's a job. You work the job to make money. That way, you can keep working. You go up the ladder, make money doing main events, then down the ladder you go so another working actor can get a spot and keep the crowd interested. When better offers come thru, you leave that company to work for someone else. You know how I can prove this is and always was a work? Not once did you ever see any of the contracts in real life. All you ever heard was "...I heard this is what was in that contract.", which was told to you by? Working actors doing fake storylines for crowds to believe is real.
@@Balloutking4just type in Wendi Richter vs Black Spider and down the rabbit hole you'll go😂❤but the mask thing just obvious but yeah technically the 1st
How do we know that happened? These are the same people who once conned the world into believing wrestling was 100% real. Believing anything they say without proof is like believing a politician.
They were working the boys. If Bret makes Earl swear not to screw him over, that means Bret knows he needs to expect it. So then why help Shawn get him in the sharpshooter? I’m a big Bret fan and I think it’s a work.
It's called need to know. Everyone has a need to know only what they need to know. You tell Shawn the finish. You tell Earl to call the match when Shawn does that. You make everyone believe that Bret doesn't know when Bret is going to sell it how he sold getting screwed after the cage match.
9:20 People will believe anything. They let their knowledge of how things turned out for wwe color their analysis of the event. Thanks for mentioning the creative control. So many people gloss over that when it's so important... Hogan refused to lose matches but no one fucked him over, I always assumed due to that contract. But here suddenly there's no options. It pisses me off that people blame Bret in any way. This was Vince fucking someone over in multiple ways because his boy toy told him too. It's pathetic, Vince was wrong, the end. They say hunter said 'if he won't do business we'll do business for him' but they had many options for business. No one disagrees Bret said he'd lose to someone else or outside of Canada.
The problem with every counter argument to "it a work" is that if you had just pulled off the greatest workin history, you would continue to sell it. Even 30 years later.
If it was a work and Titan Sports, aka WWF and Vince McMahon more than likely had all parties sign a non disclosure agreements. Also Vince and Bret are very old school in their approach of the business. Keeping secrets is a big deal for them. Not saying it was or wasn't a work. Just food for thought.
To me, the Montreal Screw Job is just another example of Vince blurring the lines between Kayfabe and reality. Vince is heavily known for taking his character that we all seen on television and being that character in real life. Almost as if he didn’t know how to not be his character off camera. I truthfully wouldn’t be shocked if we hear some more insight on the Montreal Screw job when they release the new Documentary about Vince on Netflix. The fact alone that Russo and Cornette’s story’s line up.. when they are literally each other’s arch nemesis in real life should tell people that they were most likely telling the truth about what happened that night. Bret literally lost passion for something he loved that night. It would be wild to kill your own career through a scripted decision. To just say “yeah I think that’s what happened!” is a bit mind boggling to me. I mean.. It was scripted. But Bret knew nothing about it. And I honestly till this day still believe that. On top of that, anybody who knows Vince’s real life background, knows he wouldn’t be fond of you taking up a rival company’s offer in one of their worst climate’s as a company. ESPECIALLY if you’re one of his top talents. But I mean… there are people who believe dead people are actually alive and hiding in Cuba. What’d ya gonna do?? 😂🤷♂️
Even before 1996 when the WWF was still a combination of old school and TV cartoonish, the official fan publication noted that it was owned by Titan Sports, Inc. of which Vince and Linda McMahon were the sole stockholders.
Doesn’t make any sense for Vince to think Bret would bring the championship belt to WCW, Bret would’ve never done something like that cuz he was loyal to Vince. Til this day I think everyone was in on it but Bret.
The thing that always mystifies me about the whole Bret taking the belt to Nitro thing is that Vince and co worried he'd do it the following night. But if memory serves me right, Bret's WCW contract didn't actually officially start until December, that would've meant the WWF had over a month to get the belt off of Bret. Cause Bret's first actual on screen appearence in WCW wasn't until December. I know the NWO did the tease for it immediately after, but I don't think Bret's contract began officially until December. So it feels really weird Vince would get that paranoid about it. Although I understand why considering the Medusa angle, but it seems like the WWF getting overly paranoid and not stopping to think.
Never thought about that actually. The timing! Though, Vince probably thought Eric wouldn't give a damn and would jeopardize or risk litigation if it meant sticking it to the WWF. But I don't think Bret would take that risk.
@@Genolocs Yeah from all that you can find, it would seem like Bret due to his loyalty would've probably dropped the belt via forfeit or anything before he left regardless. I know they were paranoid after Medusa, but it's still not thinking rationally. Granted I'm not excusing Bret as he should've just played ball, but also I get Shawn was a prick. The final straw was Bret telling Shawn months prior that despite all their issues, Bret wanted Shawn to know he'd never hurt him in ring and that Bret would have no issue losing to Shawn. So Shawn proceeded to tell Bret thanks and that "I'd never do the same for you" and that made Bret decided he'd never lose to Shawn ever
@@TheFEARSlayer01 imagine a world where Bret did show up in WCW with the title and completely tarnish the respect of his peers, family, loyal fans and principle out of petty spite and vitriol towards messy ass hbk/Vince? Oof. Though, I know I've been close making some brash decisions going off emotions and retaliation.
I just recently re-watched their Ironman match at WM12, and forgot about Shawn not accepting the belt until Bret got out of the ring. It really made that whole ending awkward. Bret was trying to sell to put over Shawn's finisher, and Shawn made a scene, with Hebner not knowing what to do, walking around the ring aimlessly with the belt. Just really childish stuff. Shawn was insufferable back then, glad he found humility in his second run/ rest of his life.
I just find it a little hard to believe that Brett or Shawn (or even Vince or HHH) haven't come out and said it was a work if it really was. It's been over 20 years and kayfabe has been dead for at least 10. I don't feel that it would make it less of an iconic moment if they told the truth.
Because of that very fact. Kayfabe is dead and people are still eating it up as the truth. Why not keep it alive lol I’m sure they get a kick out of it
It would ruin it if they were to ever come out and say it was a work. This was the defining moment of modern professional wrestling. If this was not a shoot I hope it is never disclosed
Why would they keep this secret for almost 30 years? 1. There is much more money to be made off of this if people believe it was real, rather than a storyline. Books have been sold, dvd’s; all participants have profited off thus far more than if it was known as just a storyline. 2. The wrestling business is traditionally about “working” the audience: presenting a staged fight/storyline as if it was real. Bret and Shawn are two of the greatest workers of all time, and clearly take pride in their work. If Montreal was a work, then it’s the Mona Lisa of wrestling storylines. Why would they want to give it up now? Instead they can all sit back knowing they created the greatest wrestling work masterpiece in history.
The original screwjob was Stanislaus Zybysko over Wayne Munn in 1925. Zybysko was a legit wrestler who agreed ro start working with the Gold Dust Trio of Strangler Lewis, Billy Sandow and Toots Mondt in 1921. He won the title from Lewis on May 6, 1921 and lost it back to him on March 3, 1922. Around that time wrestler Joe Stecher stopped working with the trio and started to gather his own wrestlers. Zybysko stayed with Lewis, Sandow and Mondt, who in 1925 made former professional football player Wayne Munn the champion. Zybysko agreed to put Munn over the build his crediblity...but had secretly accepted a payment from Tony Stecher (Joe's brother and manager) to make the match a shoot. Munn couldn't actually legitimately wrestle so Zybysko manhandled him so badly the ref simply had to say he won, lest the whole enterprise be revealed as predetermined. For decades that made promoters shy about putting the belt on anyone who didn't have legitimate catch wrestling skills to defend against a potential double cross. Lou Thesz was a pro wrestler who could easily slap on a shoot leg lock and twist your leg off for real if he needed to.
6:29 It's funny (in a sad ironic way) that the sign for Vince's office is in the same spot as the ladies dressing room. I wonder if they were in the same room.
I literally thought this too as I was editing it! An unfortunate foreshadowing of things to come... Thank you for watching!! I hope you enjoyed the video :)
I want so bad to believe this was a work. The problem for me is that it's too perfect. A Shakespearen Theatre company couldn't have pulled this off. Does anyone honestly believe all those people have kept the greatest secret in the history of wrestling. Kayfabe was peacefully put to rest appx 15 years ago, probably longer, and shoot interviews are so common that every prominent wrestler has his own podcast. Thousands of hours of beans are being spilled, and not one drop about Montreal being a work. I believe that is the biggest, most important piece of evidence maintaining its authenticity.
I don't believe this was a work. And if it was a work, I would think Bret would have said something about it being a work by now and not complaining about it for 30 years. Bret was bitter about this screw job for a long time and rightfully so.
Yea you're dead on. You can see when Bret talks about he is extremely bothered, in every interview. He wouldn't stay pissed off for 27 years. It's insane
This is the only claim to fame for brett. If he reveals it's a work, then his legacy is less, and it reveals his desperate attempt for attention as a true midcard wrestler who couldn't draw dig numbers as a main event guy.
@robbiedoblin You're kidding right? Bret didn't need this dumb controversy for him to be remembered. And I don't know what you mean how Bret wasn't over when he main evented. If that's the case why did McMahon stamp the gold on him 5 times? Why did he groom him with a King of The Ring win, make him multiple time tag champ? Give him high profile matches? Are you kidding me? Hart is easily ranked in the top 10 greatest technical wrestlers in the world. If you can't see that, you're not even a real wrestling fan.
Any real Bret Hart fan would know this was real shit! Bret got screwed. And then got screwed in WCW. Its a perfect example of bisiness will either bury you or miss use you. WcW/WWF fucked up a legacy.
Probably still gets a chunk of change, and it's probably part of the Hart's NDA about Owens death settlement. Both families were carnies. And remain so. @@michaelridley3676
I honestly don't think it matters because when it comes to personal greed your success as an employee doesn't matter to the boss of whatever company you work for. Your feelings don't matter, your money situation don't matter , your mental health doesn't matter. Unless your favored you're nobody and idc how many good deeds they do if they have a chance to sell your soul they will.
Here is some facts about Pro Wrestling/Sports Entertainment. 1- In a fude the writers, bookers and owners pick a point they want to reach and work backwards in planning out the fude. 2 There is always a back up plans in place incase something happens or like injury, illness, etc. Point There where multiple back ups if Hogan didn't pull the trigger on being The 3rd man reportedly Sting was at the fore front for that one. 3 None disclosure agreements. If the Montréal Screw Job was a work each party probably would have had to sign said agreements and keep their mouth shut or be financially ruined. 4. Kafabe was slowly becoming more open with the internet picking up steam and a documentary called Card Subject to change being one of the 1st if not the 1st behind the scenes documentary. 5. This was not fully brought up in the video. Bret Hart had Creative Control the last 30 days. The screw job wasn't a work why didn't Hart sue the pants off the WWF and Vince McMahon for breach of contract. From this video point 1 is majorly in play and adds to the work theory. As for the last few months there was The everyone's Screwing me from Bret Hart. Also in this video The pivot comes up throughout. Some times they do pivot sometimes they don't. Just look at John Cena, Roman Reigns as major examples.
@@keithwiggins3131 thats not how wrestling works...even the damn referee said it was rigged..this is obvious to anyone with 2 eyes and a brain..Bret hart and sean michaels proly had dinner together when it was over
We knew Vince owned the company as far back as early 1985, when he was interviewed on the 20/20 piece.. Maybe some fans knew so much earlier than that.
True! It's hard to pinpoint exactly when the *majority* of fans knew, as it wasn't necessarily hard to find out if you wanted to. I simply used that JR segment as a pretty clear example that he had been introduced as the owner on their actual program. There certainly may be other examples! Thank you very much for watching! I hope you enjoyed!
More than likely they scripted it, BUT I do take issue with one part… Everyone who really followed the WWF in the early to mid 90’s already knew Vince owned the WWF… he had faced legal battles over roids as the owner of the company by this time lol…. We already knew who owned the WWF before JR ever said it lol
You're right! I was merely using an example of them using it on their own show and specifically making it clear to their audience. But you're right, any older fans of the WWF would have known! There may be other examples too, that one was just very blatant! Thank you for watching, I really appreciate it!
Honestly, the look back to a year before with Vince and Bret does kind of lean toward them having play. This could have been done 2 yrs prior to the screw job. Back then, the 4th wall was in place. Yes, we know Vince never liked long term story telling, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't do it. This breakdown makes sense. We'll never know the truth unless the actual players say the whole story, which will never happen.
I feel like its one of those were bret had a feeling something was gonna happen. So his reaction wasnt something of a suprise, but more pain knowing that they actually went through with it.
Bret was going to WCW, why would Vince want the hype to follow Bret to the rival company? It was real and Vince wanted to never mention it again. Russo was the one who talked Vince into using the screw job as a story line.
Agreed, except according to Jim Cornette it was his idea to double cross Brett, not Russo. If I were a betting man, knowing Cornette is fueled with piss and vinegar, I believe him.
No, bret not wanting to lose in canada is NOT and has NOT always been "the official story". Bret didn't want to put Shawn over because Shawn had once told Bret he would never put him over. Bret even suggested losing the title on RAW the next night in Ottawa and guess what?? Ottawa IS IN CANADA!! Bret wanted Shawn to have the respect to do it for him first before Bret would do it for Shawn.
I noticed some possible tells that this theory could be true. First of all, both Cornett and Brett vehemently denied it was a work and called anyone that thinks that complete morons. I find that as “doth protest to much” seeing as it shouldn’t be that crazy to think something in the world of professional wrestling might be staged. Secondly, everyone actually walked away in a better position in this situation. The WWF got the belt off of Hitman and began the Attitude Era and Hart didn’t “lose” the title in the worked universe but rather was “assassinated” as he phrased it. Additionally, it seems pretty convenient that there was a documentary crew around filming these final days with the organization. Lastly, and this might just be from the reframing of a narrative through the years but the idea that the “Mr. McMahon” character came about because of the reaction from the so called screw job is also a somewhat false. This persona of Vince’s actual existed years earlier when the WWF was doing a cross promotion with Memphis. If you do a search for “Mr. McMahon goes to Memphis” you will see that a very similar character already existed. You could speculate that Vince wanted to pivot into this role and a blurred lines “real life” screw job would be one way to do it.
I think the best and almost only evidence is after the 1997 Royal Rumble. That was the first time McMahon had been outed as owner of the company on air. It was Bret feeling as though he'd been screwed by Austin winning. He immediately goes over to Vince and outs him. Shouting what are you going to do about this. It's almost a mirror image of what happened 10 months later. That was a worked screwjob and it's an extraordinary bit of foreshadowing.
Watch Vince in Memphis and say the Mr McMahon character developed because of what happened in 1997. It didn’t, Vince had that character cooked up a long time and was waiting to implement it. If Bret didn’t see it coming he absolutely should have, him asking Earl not to screw him shows he had some idea that they would try it. I think him asking Earl is a case of working the boys. Bret is my favorite wrestler ever, but I think it’s a work.
One more thing that I thought of is the narrative of Cornett and others that they didn’t think Brett would “expose the business”. This is also an inconsistency when you think about it since the business really had been exposed so to speak since 1989 when Vince indicated to state athletic commissions that they were indeed entertainment. The idea that there was some code eight years after the proverbial vail was lifted and that this would keep Brett from talking is a pretty silly assertion.
Bret "The Hitman" Assassinated WCW. Most of the Planet, except for Canada, would have hated how Bret was bad-mouthing the business which made Bret a bad purchase. WCW might have received a Canadian boost in rating for a short period but Bret wasn't into WCW from the moment he got there, remember? This means even the Canadians aren't going to stick around watching Bret self-loath himself into a shit career for long. Also, I'm quite sure there were some document trade-offs Between Bret and WWF from time to time, you know a little espionage. Why the WCW would pay such a high price for a broken toy I have no idea, except to say, sorry guys, there was a screw job.
And the boss listening to underlings who tell him 'you've got to let him punch you once, it's only fair', walking into where Bret is showering and giving him the opportunity without fighting back.
Well 1.cops would have to be called in the first place and 2. Somebody would also have to press charges for the assault. Vince always considered himself one of the boys, so it makes perfect sense that he would allow a punch from Bret hart
What I don't understand about it - don't think it was a work at all BUT why did Owen carry on working for WWF . I know we're not ''allowed'' to say anything negative about the nicest man ever - even though he broke Steve Austins neck and didnt apologize for it and instead made a t shirt mocking the injury without consulting Austin about it...... But Owen was a strange guy . But always struck me as weird why he'd stay and job to Triple H of all people regularly
Not as a work. WCW legitimately signed Bret but the conspiracy goes is that he was signed without Bischoff knowing the truth about Montreal, so he would be more inclined to utilize Bret better given his recent popularity due to the screwjob.
this is lowkey one of the best things to ever happen cuz if Bret left regular no one would talk about this. he'd just be another sad injured wrestler story.
If your so worried about being screwed why would you allow yourself to be put in your own submission finisher? One of the few situations that you could get screwed over. It screams being a work.
I don't believe it was a work simply because of how things went for Bret following his departure. Screw job, concussion, Father's death, Owen's death, stroke, etc. While some incidents were not related to the screw job, I believe Bret genuinely became disillusioned by the business and the direction it was heading in as indicated by his dislike for Vince Russo's and WCW's more grittier direction. I believe that he entered a spiral of depression, which affected his performance in WCW. And more importantly his relationship with Vince and WWE was so damaged that he would not appear on WWE tv until 10 years after the screw job. If this were a work I would have expected Bret to have returned to WWE much sooner as a return feud with Shawn Michaels would likely have drawn tons of money.
It’s a fun theory but 100% not the case. Two things meant more to Bret than anything else in the world: his wrestling legacy and his reputation in Canada. The screw job goes completely against everything he stood for and cared about. His approach to the business wasn’t clever, sneaky and subversive. He was straight laced and honest. He wouldn’t have seen this storyline as a strategic marketing opportunity. He would’ve seen it as a slap in the face of everything he worked his entire life for. Now after the fact, once Vince and WWF saw the opportunity, of course they naturally leaned into it. But that was only with hindsight. Vince saw dollar signs and strategically pursued the plot once it presented itself, but definitely not before.
Many flaws and missing detalis. Bret had about three months during which he could - and would - have dropped the title. He was all set to put over Shawn at Survivor Series, but then Michaels decided to be a smart-ass and disrespect Bret with an audience of their peers. The Canada thing was somewhat minor, and had it not leaked that he was leaving (from the WWF), it would have never been much of an issue. But Bret did - and does - have a special standing to Canadian fans especially. And WCW had already lost a suit for putting a WWF title on WCW TV. It would have cost them millions and millions. I blame Vince ultimately for pussyfooting the issue until the last moment. But Shawn and Trips were assholes too.
If it was staged it wouldve gotten out by now. The plans were kept close to the chest, there was only a few who knew. Some of vince's top office stooges didnt even know. Bruce Prichard didn't, Kevin Dunn didn't. Plenty in the company didn't. Undertaker and Bruce tell a very similar story of not knowing. Bruce is a sack of trash and Undertaker is well respected. Both are telling the same story. Id assume based off that this is not only real but very well thought out to make sure Bret couldn't come after Vince legally.
15:00 All those incidents of Hart whining about the results and pissed off for the camera, especially with Sid, really shows the screw job fit the storyline too well.
It was a work. If he has to job to a piece of shit person like Shawn in his home country, what better way than to do so in a matter that gets him sympathy?
Or hes a great actor.....you know "acting" which is 75% of brets job....in wrestling you have to be a good actor, whos to say bret cant work us but in real life
The thing with this whole debate is that you can literally see this entire scenario playing out well before Survivor Series, or even the instances in question leading up to it. Let's wind it back - - Bret wins the WWE(F) championship in a dark match against Ric Flair. As a long time fan of pro wrestling I don't recall another instance of the company's most prized possession changing hands without some sort of film presence, or feud hype. One day Ric was champion, and the next it was Bret. - Bret loses the championship to Yokozuna at WrestleMania, only to have none other than Hulk Hogan race to the ring in order to "save Bret" from Yoko's after-match attacks. There was no precedent for Hogan assisting Bret. The two rarely worked together, and the only thing they had in common at that time was they were former babyface champions. Suddenly the challenge is issued and Hogan beats Yoko and the show ends with the champion Vince always wanted back with the company strap until that summer. This was Vince's view of Bret's "drawing power", which wasn't that high. Bret's story was compelling enough to give him the strap while the steroid scandal was forcing many stars to bury their heads, but the moment Vince thought he could get it off of him and "return to the golden era", he tried to do so. - the Hart family was starting to dictate the direction Vince's company was starting to take. As WCW pounced on WWE(F) talent in the 'roid wake, Vince found that his normal gift for presenting the show was starting to look tired and stale, and the fans actually wanted workhorse heroes like Bret, and Shawn, but they also went in fully when Bret and Owen stole the show at WrestleMania. Owen beats his older brother, but then Bret powers through injury to take out Yoko. Luger was being amped as the next huge babyface but he was still Vince's idea, and these were failing, while the real-time, in-ring storytelling that people like the Harts were doing were actually what the fans wanted to see. People talk about it like Bret and Shawn didn't draw like Hogan - Warrior didn't either. Neither did Flair. Neither did Savage, but this was not their fault, it was just symptomatic of the trough the company was in. Nobody drew like Hogan, but even Hogan couldn't draw like Hogan used to back then. The real reason why Bret wouldn't draw like Hogan was because Vince was never sold on Bret, and was constantly trying to get his dated ideas over rather than leaning in to the direction guys like Savage had been taking the company. - Bret's gimmick had always been "honest guy takes on the world" and he walked that talk. But let it not be said that he wasn't full of himself. I'll be honest I cringe at Bret shoots these days, because he really was a mark for himself, and you can see it in hindsight. Vince, who's obviously a mark for himself as well, hated it that he had somehow allowed this obnoxious little jerk to gain so much influence in his company. Mix in Shawn's growing ego (just watch his match against Hogan to see his ego on full display) and then you have Vince in the position of "whom do I choose? The man who makes me look bad, but I can't stand and he wasn't my idea, or the primadonna who didn't understand the business as well?". Vince obviously chose the latter, and got Bret out of there. I expect it galls Vince that his talent is what ended up helping to win that war with WCW and not his own genius. And that talent, with only a few exceptions, was built on the back of Bret Hart's in-ring skill and storytelling. Austin. Michaels. The Rock. Maybe even 'Taker. None of these guys emerge without Bret elevating the game, and in spite of upper management believing they understood the business better. Like a restaurant manager believing they know how to cook better than the chef, what they really should have done was gone to the chef and said "your food tastes delicious! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!" But they didn't.
The entire argument that scott hall used doesn't work, because the footage of bret signaling "wcw" and spitting on Vince were not on the ppv, that footage was captured by the film crew for wrestling with shadows. Hall said Vince wouldn't have allowed that on his TV, and tried to limit the airing of wrestling with shadows.
"I don't think it was just because Vince truly didn't want Bret Hart to leave for WCW with the WWE Championship belt. That would have looked bad, especially after what happened with Alundra Blayze, who famously dumped the WWF Women's Championship into a garbage can on live TV during a WCW event. Vince didn’t want a repeat of that incident, as it would have made the company look bad again. So, to me, it was real. It took decades for Vince, Bret, and Shawn Michaels to forgive each other for how things went down. Everyone should understand that, at the time, Vince McMahon had a lot of pride, which is why it was real."
Unless your wondering about the history, save yourself half an hour. He says Earl said it was a work in the beginning then says he changed his story half an hour later. It was real. End of story.
He didn't say that at all.. He said Earl has constantly changed his story over the years and then provided proof of Earl saying it was a work as recent as 2020. He didn't bait you, he literally showed you that Earl says it's a work lol.
When I first heard about the Montreal Screwjob almost twenty years ago. I went back to the tapes and saw the scene of Vince McMahon staggering from the hit and walking between the wrestlers. I saw the funny coincidence of a Bret Hart documentary documenting every moment. My initial judgment was that I was watching a scripted scene and part of the entertainment business. McMahon's acting was primitive. His presence in the back at the beginning, his exit in uniform. His waiting for Bret Hart to spit on him in front of the crowd and TV. It was crystal clear that they were a contract business and they milk a lot of money out of it.
I was never a big bret hart fan but this "screw job" ruined his legacy becauae now he looks like a big baby who cant do a job and continues to cry about it to this day.
I don't think this was a work because even Eric Bischoff stated that Bret was a shell of his former self and the Montreal Screw job really affected him. I think the reason why Bret never got release from WCW is that Eric felt sorry for him.
15:48 That is incorrect. Bret did not lose the title to Sid in a steel cage match. He lost it on February 17th 1997 on an episode of RAW after interference from Steve Austin. The clip you showed to back up your statement was Sid RETAINING the belt against Bret Hart who was the challenger. This ended with interference from Austin and Undertaker.
Haven't watched this video but the reason it was obviously a work was the entire storyline leading up to it. For literally a year leading up to this event, Bret's entire storyline was getting screwed by Vince, while getting him over as the face in Canada only. This was the ultimate culmination of a carefully scripted storyline. I don't know how you don't see it if you watch the year leading up to it starting in late 96
Bret wrote like 10 pages in detail what happened before and after im sure he made it all up and im sure he made it up that vince told him not a single day goes by when he doesnt regret screwing him
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 79 | คู่เอก "ก้องชัย vs อาเมียร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WfPSA1A0NHc/mqdefault.jpg)
Bret's a good actor, but not good enough to pull this off for 30 years. It changed him
I think his shitty experience in wcw and Owen's death changed him
Bret changed Bret
Both comments are true. Except I think it affected him more than WCW being as sh!##y as he expected it would be. And he has always had an egotistical quality, it's even in his catchphrase, but the bottom line is that Bret wasn't in on the fix
@@Perk_SportYourCardsyes exactly what I was thinking. He’s down for not getting pinned in his hometown. But was mad ass shit for his career how wcw turned out
Nah. U are crazy. It was indeed a work. So if you keep that in mind (as Brett has) u can always capitalize on it, Decades later as it is one of the biggest moments in wrestling history. So yes it was a work. But those involved will keep telling us it wasn’t. That’s why it’s so historic. It indeed was a work.
It was a work, it's just nobody told Bret
That's confusing, because doesn't that mean its a shoot? If brets in on it its a work, i hear ppl say it can be a work but bret isnt in on it. Im confused. How?
Because bret think his real life is a work and wrestling is a shoot@@atimetraveler4910
@@atimetraveler4910 because he didn't suck it
@@atimetraveler4910it’s a joke
@@noahaltberger2560 No, because I've heard of this being an actual theory.....
If it was fake Bret deserves an Oscar or 5.
lol more 5 Emmy’s as well and a Tony hell give him a Grammy nomination
He does have a Gemini nomination, for his recurring role on Lonesome Dove.
Any Evidences?
Or are you one of those people that "have a feeling"?
@@MissLippy-fy6bj then the jig would be up though. If he, McMahon, and HBK fooled everyone.
@@marqueswilliams345For what? For fooling marks?
It wasn't staged. Too many real life issues were created for it to be staged.
Don’t talk sense the wrestling perverts will cry, yes wrestling fans these days are weirdos 😂
If Vince was ever behind something so perfect there's no way he couldn't admit it
Because there would be lawsuits and or severe consequences. Something that monumental being a planned work could have led to the death of WWE
@@atimetraveler4910😂😂 It's time to grow up.
@@flashinthepan3273 Yes, for you.
@@atimetraveler4910 Oh..ok. I'll try to start being more gullible. I promise, from now on, It'll Still BE REAL TO ME, DAMMIT! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm going to start arguing with people about how real, wrestling is.😂🤣
@@flashinthepan3273 Wrestling is real. People are fake.
It was nothing to do with not wanting to lose in Canada. After Vince told Bret the plan to drop the belt, Bret told Shawn he had no problem doing the job for him. Shawn replied: “for the record, I wouldn’t do the same for you.” This pissed Bret off so much that he didn’t feel it was right to drop the belt to such a dick. He offered to drop it to Taker or just forfeit it on the next night on Raw.
Agreed. Brett was not in on it. Brett could have screwed tye screw job, by announcing before the match that he was handing the belt back to Vince then and there. Then tell Shawn "I don't like you and want to kick your a** this one last time, no title on the line". How could they have stopped him? Brett trusted Vince too much, Vince wanted to get the belt off Brett that night because of his soon departure to WCW. Vince allowed himself to be punched by Brett because he felt bad having to screw Brett out of the belt. Vince stubbornly wanted the belt on Shawn Michaels, but he could have met Brett halfway and had him lose to Taker or someone else on the PPV. It was stubborn attitudes by Vince and Brett, and Shawn being a jerk, WCW looming in the shadows, that led to Vince engineering the screw job. Which Brett wasn't aware was going to happen that way. As Brett stated in interviews, his account never changed. But the others have shifted around the stories.
ANYBODY would be pissed off about that. On the other hand, Shawn was probably angry about Bret signing the new twenty year deal, meaning that he would be out of his prime by the time Bret finally left. Somewhere in the back of Shawn's mind, he was probably worried that his opportunity to be a mega star would be behind him if Bret stuck around.
@@hatchetmouth8211Good point. Bret having more creative control overall in the contract's later years could've ended up feeling like a storm cloud haunting Shawn, who was pivotal in establishing the Attitude Era. Probably why Vince let himself get pushed around by Shawn and HHH; he was essentially forced to pick between Bret and Shawn despite his best efforts. HHH saying "if he doesn't wanna do business, we'll have to do business for him" may have applied not just to Bret, but Vince as well. Even separated, the Kliq were still in charge, and indeed even more so.
21:40 ... Vince agreed to give Paul Jay unrestricted backstage access on _one condition_ - he could not show The Undertaker out of character.
There are a few things that makes Montreal-being-a-work an enticing theory.
1) One can see how it all could have (and in some cases, did) played out so well; Vince becomes the hottest heel in the business; Bret gets a massive babyface boost as the guy who got betrayed by his boss/father figure; Shawn also has loads of heat; If Goldberg doesn't kick Bret's brains out, Bret can return in a few years and have an epic feud with Vince.
2) There is a certain elegance to the idea that Bret and Vince worked everyone inside and outside the business; that they tricked not only the fans, but the people who thought they were in on it. Not only this, but that these two men, mentor and mentee, metaphorical father and son, could pull this off and keep quiet about it all these years (this is also a significant reason to doubt the theory; surely one of them would have let something slip to someone in the itnervening decades).
3) It is convenient that the WWS documentary crew could film the whole thing. Yes, they were working on it long before the plan could have been hatched, but that does not mean Bret and Vince didn't say, "You know what will also help this thing? The fact that a third party will be there to record it as a shoot." Of course, we need to examine how seriously Vince subsequently tried to block the documentary.
4) If any two WWF people could pull it off, Bret and Vince would be two excellent candidates; wrestling is not a job for these men; it's their lives; it's who they are.
The biggest problem with the theory (in my version it's just Bret and Vince; I wouldn't have involved Shawn in it) is the lack of direct evidence. As far as I know, everything we have is circumstantial. I would love to have a psychologist watch WWS and analyze Bret and Vince in the second half of the documentary to see how genuine their responses are.
Something else that may be at the root of this theory-crafting is a desire to be tricked by the business. Everyone knows it's a work and it's been out there a while. It reminds me of the ending of the movie The Prestige; the final line by the narrator, referencing magic tricks, is "You want to be fooled."
I think it's possible Montreal was a work, but I also acknowledge that it is not likely.
I know it was a shoot, but I hope people never stop making compelling cases for it being a work, because it keeps the Montreal Screwjob discussion fresh.
The spit on Vince was real tho 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Aww...shucks no big deal for vinny.😂
@@modev4163Right! Probably something he's into. 😅
@@flashinthepan3273😅😅
Even tho Vince perfectly positions himself on "Hard camera" so everyone could get a good look at Bret spitting on him?
Shawn's face when it hits is so funny tho
What u said makes no sense 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 how he position himself???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 no that spit was not planned, Bret clearly spit him directly in the eye!!! That was a huge chunk of spit because when he wiped his face he still had some in his hair 😂😂😂😂😂😂
You can tell Bret still hasn’t let it go completely
By constantly reminding us that it happened, it could also mean hes just a very good liar
Why would he? They legitimately almost killed his image in that city. I guarantee you if this happened in any other city, he would’ve let it go by now.
@@zacwoods he wasn't even from Montreal. It's like 3000 miles from Calgary.
@@BuddsHanzoSword i think because it was in Canada period that it hurt him that much. He was a national hero in the sport. No Canadian had the kind of popularity and accolades he garnered in pro wrestling, which in Canada, pro wrestling is side by side with hockey as the biggest sport in the country.
@@BuddsHanzoSwordsame thing
Vince being the owner was always an open secret. We may not have had the internet but everyone knew his dad was Vince McMahon Snr, everyone knew about the steroids trial, and everyone knew how he had bought out the old territories.
It was a secret?
An open secret?
@MissLippy-fy6bj Well in the mid 80s to early 90s time frame there was an on screen character named President Jack Tunney. Many younger people at that time were led to believe vince was only an announcer and not the owner. Being young naive (me at the time) I was just 12 in 1995 when I think was his last year, I believed up until that point that he owned WWF, since his character was so damn believable. My friends and I in 96 when Vince started his most known feud with Stone Cold, thought he had bought the company from Tunney. It wasn't until Amderica Online that I learned the whole truth. Ah memories
@@akgstonesame!
I live in Fairfield County Connecticut and pretty everybody here always knew Vince owned the WWF in the late 80s and 90s. We knew he lived in Greenwhich we knew he owned the building in Stamford. Small state small county talk goes around pretty fast.
BS. No way the screwjob was worked. It was 100 a shoot. Theres too many facts that prove it was real.
It goes both ways, way too many facts prove its a work. You just haven't done enough research. Or you're a major bret mark and refuse to believe he would be in on such a conspiracy
@@atimetraveler4910 I want to believe it is a work because it's such a fun alt history conspiracy. And Brett would be in on such a storyline.
Brett loves wrestling yet he is going to break kayfabe to abhorrently with news organizations because he lost and WWE didn't honor thier contract? That sounds odd too me.
The biggest indication for me the Screwjob was real is Eric saying Brett didn't really want to be at WCW.
There could be reasonable explanations why the screwjob is a work and Brett didn't feel like being at WCW but only the people involved know.
Without key players breaking character and saying it was a work the conspiracy will always live on.
I also believe Scott Hall's insight more than anyone else's. Even if his rationale behind believing it was a work was slightly inaccurate.
I hope people never stop debating this even a hundred years from now. It's fascinating, the back and forth.
It’s disturbing how many adults still think wrestling is real.
@@atimetraveler4910Wrestling conspiracy theorists are some of the most dense motherfuckers I’ve seen lol
No, there are not “way too many facts” that it was work. Literally everyone who was ever involved in this situation has never even hinted at it being a work for DECADES. Too many real life altercations and ramifications have happened for it to be planned. With how open the industry is now about its past, we would’ve seen SOMEONE talk about how every single person has been lying for several decades and was planned from the start
Vince's Office/Womens Dressing Room sign. In 2024 this is just baaad lol
I thought I was the only one that noticed that
Ye ngl it got a chuckle out of me though 😂
He also views himself as Caesar... The implications
Lmfao
The real screwjob was how hogan repeatedly screwed over Bret every chance he got
Yes!!!! Hogan is trash
@@JeffMartin-ob3tg - BIGGEST * EVER -
@@IVANCREED-l9n agreen! Fuck hulkamania more like egomainia
Waaah wahhh. Bret was never as over or as popular as Hogan and he's bitter about it.
@@BuddsHanzoSword not many ppl were, but Bret’s draw was still good during a time when wrestling was down, better than Shawn’s title reign a few years later
This is a remarkable piece of work. Well done, sir.
Thank you very much! I’m glad you liked it!
Anyone else notice the “Vince McMahon office” sign right above the “ladies dressing room” sign? 😂😂😂
Vince Mcmahon left with a black eye and swollen face from being punched by Bret that night, it wasn’t staged.
He wouldn't take one the hard way to make it look better? He probably thought he owed it to Bret for reniging on the contract he just gave him.
At what point does to go back to not a work then? Vince would take an ass beating for the story line work?
Vince once had his face in Rikishis butt cheeks, he'll do anything for the angle.
Ima big Howard Stern fan and Bret went on in late 90s and talked about punching Vince and it so doesn’t line up - he said he like caught him in the temple, but Vince did that Bret Screwed Bret with the black eye (which def seemed like a makeup artists work)
@Gardenhoser86 he also changed the story to he uppercutted vince. Not saying Bret is a liar but a lot doesn't really add up.
Narrator: “The screwjob was a work.”
Also Narrator: “The screwjob was more real than not real.”
You can’t seem to comprehend that somehow ? Wow 🤣
@@nigelramirez3775 never said i didn’t comprehend. It’s literally what he said. It can confuse some people
I like what Al Snow says about the situation. Shawn Michaels refusing to return the favor with the title change went against the trust and respect as brothers in the ring. That was the catalyst of events.
he was filming a documentary possibly knowing something was going to happen knowing he was going to move to wcw.
And without the screwjob how boring would his documentary have been? Worked out perfectly for em
@@Gardenhoser86 wasnt worth it for him, he had a stroke taking a spear in wcw,most of those millions are going to hospital bills,For us maybe entertainment but for him it was a rollercoaster
@@myyoutubepage199 It wasn't a spear, it was a mule kick where Goldberg was looking at the ground instead of concentrating on his opponent's safety.
@@myyoutubepage199 Also, Lloyds of London was his insurance so I doubt he paid too much in hospital bills.
@@hatchetmouth8211Again, this has been debunked over and over. The concussion came from Bret doing the ring post figure four and smacking his head on the ground. The career ending damage came after when he continued to wrestle, including wrestling a hardcore match with Terry Funk who hit in the head with everything he could get his hands on.
Some people just want to be contrarian and feel like they know some secret knowledge
Basically
like atheists
@@logosfocus not a valid comparison at all fella, stop letting them live rent free in ya head
out of curiosity. What is wrong with looking at certain details? You do the same thing when researching crime. You don;t look at it from face value. If you love wrestling, why not look at the "Secret Details"
@@logosfocus You're not particularly bright are you? 😀
Why would WWF release the footage that wasn’t aired if they didn’t want it out there?
It was aired on the original PPV, I remember watching it all happen. It cut off probably 5 after he did the WCW thing.
@@timbritting7905 So you're saying this guy got it wrong? Did you see him smash the equipment too?
Because once it happened and was known about they only have the option of trying to capitalize. They could never keep it all secret, obviously... This is bad argument.
@@timbritting7905 It wasn't aired on the original PPV but it was aired on Raw for a few weeks after once the story got out. Except I don't think they ever showed the spelling of WCW until much later.
It was only the coliseum video version but not on tv or the magazine
I can't remember which one it was... I want to say it was one of the members of The kliq but they said anytime a camera is on they're making money...
Scott Hall… RIP
I think it would have come out by now if it had been staged
by who? only vince, hbk and bret have to be in on it.
@@deathbystereo- by one of them. And there would definitely be other people who knew by now.
You do know it's wrestling, and it's all a work, right? In what world do you not know that every match, and every interaction you see in a show is staged by working actors, and always was? Nobody working cares about fake belts for fake titles...it's a job. You work the job to make money. That way, you can keep working. You go up the ladder, make money doing main events, then down the ladder you go so another working actor can get a spot and keep the crowd interested. When better offers come thru, you leave that company to work for someone else.
You know how I can prove this is and always was a work?
Not once did you ever see any of the contracts in real life.
All you ever heard was "...I heard this is what was in that contract.", which was told to you by? Working actors doing fake storylines for crowds to believe is real.
@@deathbystereo- hhh too , undertaker? Earl hebner
@@TheCaptainSlappy What? Wrestling isn't real? Shit, you got me.
The first screw job was The Fabulous Moolah massing over Wendi Richter
Got footage?
@@Balloutking4just type in Wendi Richter vs Black Spider and down the rabbit hole you'll go😂❤but the mask thing just obvious but yeah technically the 1st
Did u watch the video? He mentions this around the 12:40 mark
Actually Gorgeous George vs Don Eagle in 1950 was the FIRST wrestling screwjob
@@walterhager8626 not even close to being the first
We just gonna ignore that Bret knocked out Vince backstage after the screwjob????
Fake fist. Fake backstage. Fake punch. Fake fans. And this is a Fake video. But Bret is real.
That was AI
@@damonodell9125 In 1997?
did you see it happened?
How do we know that happened? These are the same people who once conned the world into believing wrestling was 100% real. Believing anything they say without proof is like believing a politician.
There was no way they could have kept this secret if it was staged. The temptation would have been too much.
by who?
@@deathbystereo-the participants. To be the one to break the story and leak the truth is 💰 and a lot of fame
@@deathbystereo- Anyone who was involved. It would have meant cash and interviews.
100 percent. Remember when John Cena lost to The Nexus and was "fired"? He was back the very next Raw anyway.
Exposing a Billionaire's plot on how he became a billionaire seems like a quicker way to end up like his brother than a path to riches.
Earl Hebner would’ve been in on it. The fact he doesn’t know means it’s not a work.
They were working the boys.
If Bret makes Earl swear not to screw him over, that means Bret knows he needs to expect it. So then why help Shawn get him in the sharpshooter?
I’m a big Bret fan and I think it’s a work.
Only argument against Hebner not knowing would be the less people that know the better kept the secret is
It's called need to know. Everyone has a need to know only what they need to know. You tell Shawn the finish. You tell Earl to call the match when Shawn does that. You make everyone believe that Bret doesn't know when Bret is going to sell it how he sold getting screwed after the cage match.
Earl doesn't need to know.
Earl literally thinks its a work. It took him time but he said it recently
9:20 People will believe anything. They let their knowledge of how things turned out for wwe color their analysis of the event.
Thanks for mentioning the creative control. So many people gloss over that when it's so important... Hogan refused to lose matches but no one fucked him over, I always assumed due to that contract. But here suddenly there's no options. It pisses me off that people blame Bret in any way. This was Vince fucking someone over in multiple ways because his boy toy told him too. It's pathetic, Vince was wrong, the end.
They say hunter said 'if he won't do business we'll do business for him' but they had many options for business. No one disagrees Bret said he'd lose to someone else or outside of Canada.
There's just as much possibility that it was a work than not...relax with insulting people
A lot of modern day wrestling fans don't know the lengths Vince and WWF went to protect kayfabe in the 90s.
The problem with every counter argument to "it a work" is that if you had just pulled off the greatest workin history, you would continue to sell it. Even 30 years later.
No not at all lol
@@joshuaa1605 just cuz you wouldn't be able to.. they ARE in the big leagues for a reason.
@NeCoruption and they have killed kayfabe with every single angle in history. But yes just this one they choose not to lol cmon now.
If it was a work and Titan Sports, aka WWF and Vince McMahon more than likely had all parties sign a non disclosure agreements.
Also Vince and Bret are very old school in their approach of the business. Keeping secrets is a big deal for them.
Not saying it was or wasn't a work. Just food for thought.
@@jeffreywhitaker6627 WAS a big deal for them. Not anymore.
To me, the Montreal Screw Job is just another example of Vince blurring the lines between Kayfabe and reality. Vince is heavily known for taking his character that we all seen on television and being that character in real life. Almost as if he didn’t know how to not be his character off camera. I truthfully wouldn’t be shocked if we hear some more insight on the Montreal Screw job when they release the new Documentary about Vince on Netflix. The fact alone that Russo and Cornette’s story’s line up.. when they are literally each other’s arch nemesis in real life should tell people that they were most likely telling the truth about what happened that night. Bret literally lost passion for something he loved that night. It would be wild to kill your own career through a scripted decision. To just say “yeah I think that’s what happened!” is a bit mind boggling to me. I mean.. It was scripted. But Bret knew nothing about it. And I honestly till this day still believe that. On top of that, anybody who knows Vince’s real life background, knows he wouldn’t be fond of you taking up a rival company’s offer in one of their worst climate’s as a company. ESPECIALLY if you’re one of his top talents. But I mean… there are people who believe dead people are actually alive and hiding in Cuba. What’d ya gonna do?? 😂🤷♂️
That Montreal Screw job was REAL!
Double j was a real country singer too. 😂
If it was scripted Vince’s ego would’ve taken the fame for writing it
Even before 1996 when the WWF was still a combination of old school and TV cartoonish, the official fan publication noted that it was owned by Titan Sports, Inc. of which Vince and Linda McMahon were the sole stockholders.
Doesn’t make any sense for Vince to think Bret would bring the championship belt to WCW, Bret would’ve never done something like that cuz he was loyal to Vince. Til this day I think everyone was in on it but Bret.
I heard Bret Hart came up with The Montreal Screwjob.
Where did you hear that from?
@@666dewscented1 brets Autobiography
You put this together very well brother. Very entertaining. I didn't know about the Moolah story prior. Great work
The thing that always mystifies me about the whole Bret taking the belt to Nitro thing is that Vince and co worried he'd do it the following night. But if memory serves me right, Bret's WCW contract didn't actually officially start until December, that would've meant the WWF had over a month to get the belt off of Bret. Cause Bret's first actual on screen appearence in WCW wasn't until December. I know the NWO did the tease for it immediately after, but I don't think Bret's contract began officially until December. So it feels really weird Vince would get that paranoid about it. Although I understand why considering the Medusa angle, but it seems like the WWF getting overly paranoid and not stopping to think.
Never thought about that actually. The timing! Though, Vince probably thought Eric wouldn't give a damn and would jeopardize or risk litigation if it meant sticking it to the WWF. But I don't think Bret would take that risk.
@@Genolocs Yeah from all that you can find, it would seem like Bret due to his loyalty would've probably dropped the belt via forfeit or anything before he left regardless. I know they were paranoid after Medusa, but it's still not thinking rationally. Granted I'm not excusing Bret as he should've just played ball, but also I get Shawn was a prick. The final straw was Bret telling Shawn months prior that despite all their issues, Bret wanted Shawn to know he'd never hurt him in ring and that Bret would have no issue losing to Shawn. So Shawn proceeded to tell Bret thanks and that "I'd never do the same for you" and that made Bret decided he'd never lose to Shawn ever
@@TheFEARSlayer01 imagine a world where Bret did show up in WCW with the title and completely tarnish the respect of his peers, family, loyal fans and principle out of petty spite and vitriol towards messy ass hbk/Vince? Oof.
Though, I know I've been close making some brash decisions going off emotions and retaliation.
I just recently re-watched their Ironman match at WM12, and forgot about Shawn not accepting the belt until Bret got out of the ring. It really made that whole ending awkward. Bret was trying to sell to put over Shawn's finisher, and Shawn made a scene, with Hebner not knowing what to do, walking around the ring aimlessly with the belt. Just really childish stuff. Shawn was insufferable back then, glad he found humility in his second run/ rest of his life.
I just find it a little hard to believe that Brett or Shawn (or even Vince or HHH) haven't come out and said it was a work if it really was. It's been over 20 years and kayfabe has been dead for at least 10. I don't feel that it would make it less of an iconic moment if they told the truth.
Because of that very fact. Kayfabe is dead and people are still eating it up as the truth. Why not keep it alive lol I’m sure they get a kick out of it
It would ruin it if they were to ever come out and say it was a work. This was the defining moment of modern professional wrestling. If this was not a shoot I hope it is never disclosed
Could be some NDAs and payouts too
He was a spy for Vince
If you pulled off the greatest work in history, would you tell everyone and ruin it?
If you would, I'm glad I'm not your friend, you suck.
Why would they keep this secret for almost 30 years?
1. There is much more money to be made off of this if people believe it was real, rather than a storyline. Books have been sold, dvd’s; all participants have profited off thus far more than if it was known as just a storyline.
2. The wrestling business is traditionally about “working” the audience: presenting a staged fight/storyline as if it was real. Bret and Shawn are two of the greatest workers of all time, and clearly take pride in their work. If Montreal was a work, then it’s the Mona Lisa of wrestling storylines. Why would they want to give it up now? Instead they can all sit back knowing they created the greatest wrestling work masterpiece in history.
I don't think they could have predicted 30 years of controversy even all the way back then
@@roonkolosthese arent national secrets, its pro wrestling. Somebody would have said something if it was in any way planned.
Look at lawyer vs Kaufman, how real everyone thought that was, they can make anything a work
But once again, people involved admitted it. To this day nobody has admitted to the sj being a work.
@@GHMYahookaBecause it’s such a big part of pro wrestling’s history…plus the mystique keeps it alive
The original screwjob was Stanislaus Zybysko over Wayne Munn in 1925. Zybysko was a legit wrestler who agreed ro start working with the Gold Dust Trio of Strangler Lewis, Billy Sandow and Toots Mondt in 1921. He won the title from Lewis on May 6, 1921 and lost it back to him on March 3, 1922. Around that time wrestler Joe Stecher stopped working with the trio and started to gather his own wrestlers. Zybysko stayed with Lewis, Sandow and Mondt, who in 1925 made former professional football player Wayne Munn the champion. Zybysko agreed to put Munn over the build his crediblity...but had secretly accepted a payment from Tony Stecher (Joe's brother and manager) to make the match a shoot. Munn couldn't actually legitimately wrestle so Zybysko manhandled him so badly the ref simply had to say he won, lest the whole enterprise be revealed as predetermined. For decades that made promoters shy about putting the belt on anyone who didn't have legitimate catch wrestling skills to defend against a potential double cross. Lou Thesz was a pro wrestler who could easily slap on a shoot leg lock and twist your leg off for real if he needed to.
Eh!?
6:29 It's funny (in a sad ironic way) that the sign for Vince's office is in the same spot as the ladies dressing room. I wonder if they were in the same room.
I literally thought this too as I was editing it! An unfortunate foreshadowing of things to come...
Thank you for watching!! I hope you enjoyed the video :)
This wouldn't be as bad if Bret Hart simply decided to drop the WWF title, clean or not, to Ken Shamrock on an October episode of RAW.
I want so bad to believe this was a work. The problem for me is that it's too perfect. A Shakespearen Theatre company couldn't have pulled this off.
Does anyone honestly believe all those people have kept the greatest secret in the history of wrestling.
Kayfabe was peacefully put to rest appx 15 years ago, probably longer, and shoot interviews are so common that every prominent wrestler has his own podcast. Thousands of hours of beans are being spilled, and not one drop about Montreal being a work.
I believe that is the biggest, most important piece of evidence maintaining its authenticity.
Only three people need to know the finish: Vince, Bret, and Hebner. Hebner already said it was a work
Bro, they had a whole documentary crew set up for this. I think it was definitely a work
I don't believe this was a work. And if it was a work, I would think Bret would have said something about it being a work by now and not complaining about it for 30 years. Bret was bitter about this screw job for a long time and rightfully so.
Yea you're dead on. You can see when Bret talks about he is extremely bothered, in every interview. He wouldn't stay pissed off for 27 years. It's insane
@akgstone it's a work lmao always was. Maybe some tweaks here n there bret didn't like but it was 100% a work
@@thecardbunker801Sure. You definitely changed my mind...🙄
This is the only claim to fame for brett. If he reveals it's a work, then his legacy is less, and it reveals his desperate attempt for attention as a true midcard wrestler who couldn't draw dig numbers as a main event guy.
@robbiedoblin You're kidding right? Bret didn't need this dumb controversy for him to be remembered. And I don't know what you mean how Bret wasn't over when he main evented. If that's the case why did McMahon stamp the gold on him 5 times? Why did he groom him with a King of The Ring win, make him multiple time tag champ? Give him high profile matches? Are you kidding me? Hart is easily ranked in the top 10 greatest technical wrestlers in the world. If you can't see that, you're not even a real wrestling fan.
I'll never believe the moment that put Vince in the Billionaires Club all happened by Happenstance and neither should you.
Any real Bret Hart fan would know this was real shit! Bret got screwed. And then got screwed in WCW. Its a perfect example of bisiness will either bury you or miss use you. WcW/WWF fucked up a legacy.
bisiness 😂😂
Bret harts whole thing was whining about everything for years. It was a work. He probably signed an ndi. It was his thing. It's still his thing.
Probably still gets a chunk of change, and it's probably part of the Hart's NDA about Owens death settlement.
Both families were carnies. And remain so. @@michaelridley3676
terry boulder be a great place to take a leak.
It was a work buddy lol wake up
I honestly don't think it matters because when it comes to personal greed your success as an employee doesn't matter to the boss of whatever company you work for. Your feelings don't matter, your money situation don't matter , your mental health doesn't matter. Unless your favored you're nobody and idc how many good deeds they do if they have a chance to sell your soul they will.
theres no way in hell that the screwjob was a work
Cuz..It's STILL REAL to you, dammit! 😭🤣
Its a work, you're just ignorant or refuse to accept wwe could possibly have stumped you for so many years
No Chance In Hell
@@Trendleader863 once a mark ..
@@atimetraveler4910ur crazy and wrong
Here is some facts about Pro Wrestling/Sports Entertainment.
1- In a fude the writers, bookers and owners pick a point they want to reach and work backwards in planning out the fude.
2 There is always a back up plans in place incase something happens or like injury, illness, etc. Point There where multiple back ups if Hogan didn't pull the trigger on being The 3rd man reportedly Sting was at the fore front for that one.
3 None disclosure agreements. If the Montréal Screw Job was a work each party probably would have had to sign said agreements and keep their mouth shut or be financially ruined.
4. Kafabe was slowly becoming more open with the internet picking up steam and a documentary called Card Subject to change being one of the 1st if not the 1st behind the scenes documentary.
5. This was not fully brought up in the video. Bret Hart had Creative Control the last 30 days. The screw job wasn't a work why didn't Hart sue the pants off the WWF and Vince McMahon for breach of contract.
From this video point 1 is majorly in play and adds to the work theory. As for the last few months there was The everyone's Screwing me from Bret Hart.
Also in this video The pivot comes up throughout. Some times they do pivot sometimes they don't. Just look at John Cena, Roman Reigns as major examples.
This wasn't staged Bret Hart did get screwed because he didn't played ball with Vince.
Vince screws everyone, it seems. "Literally and figuratively" 🤢🤮
Lol something in wrestling not rigged lol..sure
Can you blame him? Vince could have went pro
@@Snyper1405if you're female he poops on you. Literally.
@@keithwiggins3131 thats not how wrestling works...even the damn referee said it was rigged..this is obvious to anyone with 2 eyes and a brain..Bret hart and sean michaels proly had dinner together when it was over
The whole business is a freaking work for the marks, Bret is a MARK
We knew Vince owned the company as far back as early 1985, when he was interviewed on the 20/20 piece.. Maybe some fans knew so much earlier than that.
True! It's hard to pinpoint exactly when the *majority* of fans knew, as it wasn't necessarily hard to find out if you wanted to. I simply used that JR segment as a pretty clear example that he had been introduced as the owner on their actual program. There certainly may be other examples!
Thank you very much for watching! I hope you enjoyed!
If this was a work.... Bret's the best wrestler to ever grace the ring, and they still killed Owen.... It's fucked up
More than likely they scripted it, BUT I do take issue with one part…
Everyone who really followed the WWF in the early to mid 90’s already knew Vince owned the WWF… he had faced legal battles over roids as the owner of the company by this time lol…. We already knew who owned the WWF before JR ever said it lol
You're right! I was merely using an example of them using it on their own show and specifically making it clear to their audience. But you're right, any older fans of the WWF would have known! There may be other examples too, that one was just very blatant!
Thank you for watching, I really appreciate it!
@@WrestleLoreYT I’m a creator as well, thumbs up, and comments always help!
Its real tho im sure bret made it up that vince told him not a single day goes by when he doesnt regret screwing him
Honestly, the look back to a year before with Vince and Bret does kind of lean toward them having play. This could have been done 2 yrs prior to the screw job. Back then, the 4th wall was in place. Yes, we know Vince never liked long term story telling, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't do it. This breakdown makes sense. We'll never know the truth unless the actual players say the whole story, which will never happen.
Hey Siri play work by Rihana
I feel like its one of those were bret had a feeling something was gonna happen. So his reaction wasnt something of a suprise, but more pain knowing that they actually went through with it.
Bret was going to WCW, why would Vince want the hype to follow Bret to the rival company? It was real and Vince wanted to never mention it again. Russo was the one who talked Vince into using the screw job as a story line.
bingo
Agreed, except according to Jim Cornette it was his idea to double cross Brett, not Russo. If I were a betting man, knowing Cornette is fueled with piss and vinegar, I believe him.
@danmcreynolds4173 No one said the double cross was Russo's idea.
And vince told bret not a single day goes by when he doesnt regret screwing him
No, bret not wanting to lose in canada is NOT and has NOT always been "the official story". Bret didn't want to put Shawn over because Shawn had once told Bret he would never put him over. Bret even suggested losing the title on RAW the next night in Ottawa and guess what?? Ottawa IS IN CANADA!! Bret wanted Shawn to have the respect to do it for him first before Bret would do it for Shawn.
I noticed some possible tells that this theory could be true.
First of all, both Cornett and Brett vehemently denied it was a work and called anyone that thinks that complete morons. I find that as “doth protest to much” seeing as it shouldn’t be that crazy to think something in the world of professional wrestling might be staged.
Secondly, everyone actually walked away in a better position in this situation. The WWF got the belt off of Hitman and began the Attitude Era and Hart didn’t “lose” the title in the worked universe but rather was “assassinated” as he phrased it.
Additionally, it seems pretty convenient that there was a documentary crew around filming these final days with the organization.
Lastly, and this might just be from the reframing of a narrative through the years but the idea that the “Mr. McMahon” character came about because of the reaction from the so called screw job is also a somewhat false. This persona of Vince’s actual existed years earlier when the WWF was doing a cross promotion with Memphis. If you do a search for “Mr. McMahon goes to Memphis” you will see that a very similar character already existed.
You could speculate that Vince wanted to pivot into this role and a blurred lines “real life” screw job would be one way to do it.
Bret. Took. The. Deal.
The Faustian bargain that Vince pushed on everyone he could because Vince took The Deal himself
I think the best and almost only evidence is after the 1997 Royal Rumble. That was the first time McMahon had been outed as owner of the company on air. It was Bret feeling as though he'd been screwed by Austin winning. He immediately goes over to Vince and outs him. Shouting what are you going to do about this. It's almost a mirror image of what happened 10 months later. That was a worked screwjob and it's an extraordinary bit of foreshadowing.
Watch Vince in Memphis and say the Mr McMahon character developed because of what happened in 1997. It didn’t, Vince had that character cooked up a long time and was waiting to implement it.
If Bret didn’t see it coming he absolutely should have, him asking Earl not to screw him shows he had some idea that they would try it. I think him asking Earl is a case of working the boys. Bret is my favorite wrestler ever, but I think it’s a work.
One more thing that I thought of is the narrative of Cornett and others that they didn’t think Brett would “expose the business”. This is also an inconsistency when you think about it since the business really had been exposed so to speak since 1989 when Vince indicated to state athletic commissions that they were indeed entertainment. The idea that there was some code eight years after the proverbial vail was lifted and that this would keep Brett from talking is a pretty silly assertion.
Bret "The Hitman" Assassinated WCW. Most of the Planet, except for Canada, would have hated how Bret was bad-mouthing the business which made Bret a bad purchase. WCW might have received a Canadian boost in rating for a short period but Bret wasn't into WCW from the moment he got there, remember? This means even the Canadians aren't going to stick around watching Bret self-loath himself into a shit career for long. Also, I'm quite sure there were some document trade-offs Between Bret and WWF from time to time, you know a little espionage. Why the WCW would pay such a high price for a broken toy I have no idea, except to say, sorry guys, there was a screw job.
Imagine really assaulting the boss of a media company without getting arrested...
bingo.
And the boss listening to underlings who tell him 'you've got to let him punch you once, it's only fair', walking into where Bret is showering and giving him the opportunity without fighting back.
Imagine thinking Vince is a traditional boss, and not knowing about Nailz
Vince knew he screwed Bret over. Which is why he let Bret hit him. Bret not getting arrested isn't hard to believe at all.
Well 1.cops would have to be called in the first place and 2. Somebody would also have to press charges for the assault. Vince always considered himself one of the boys, so it makes perfect sense that he would allow a punch from Bret hart
What I don't understand about it - don't think it was a work at all BUT why did Owen carry on working for WWF . I know we're not ''allowed'' to say anything negative about the nicest man ever - even though he broke Steve Austins neck and didnt apologize for it and instead made a t shirt mocking the injury without consulting Austin about it...... But Owen was a strange guy . But always struck me as weird why he'd stay and job to Triple H of all people regularly
So Bret went to WCW as a work ? Get real 😂😂😂
Hahahaha
Not as a work. WCW legitimately signed Bret but the conspiracy goes is that he was signed without Bischoff knowing the truth about Montreal, so he would be more inclined to utilize Bret better given his recent popularity due to the screwjob.
It wasn’t “a work” it was “for work” boom boom! I’ll see myself out.
this is lowkey one of the best things to ever happen cuz if Bret left regular no one would talk about this. he'd just be another sad injured wrestler story.
If your so worried about being screwed why would you allow yourself to be put in your own submission finisher? One of the few situations that you could get screwed over. It screams being a work.
He was also warned not to get into a submission hold
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SMARK COMMENT!
@@BkZ1AnD0nLyit was a submission only match? 😂
He was supposed to get out of it and have a different finish. Vince made sure hebner called for the bell.
He wasnt worried about getting screwed he thought it was fine he got warned but didnt belive it
This sounds good to people that didn’t see this live on TV, man Bret was pissed in real life. I’m not about to watch this whole video 😂
THE ONLY THING REAL ARE THE MILES AND THE MONEY!
“is”.
Not “are”.
Your grammar is lousy.
@@jrsmith1998 You must have fecked your reply up, that's why you edited it.
You mean the marks 😅
You must've forgot about the actual damage wrestlers take kid
Money and the miles actually 😂
I don't believe it was a work simply because of how things went for Bret following his departure. Screw job, concussion, Father's death, Owen's death, stroke, etc. While some incidents were not related to the screw job, I believe Bret genuinely became disillusioned by the business and the direction it was heading in as indicated by his dislike for Vince Russo's and WCW's more grittier direction. I believe that he entered a spiral of depression, which affected his performance in WCW. And more importantly his relationship with Vince and WWE was so damaged that he would not appear on WWE tv until 10 years after the screw job. If this were a work I would have expected Bret to have returned to WWE much sooner as a return feud with Shawn Michaels would likely have drawn tons of money.
Some idiots also believe that Earth is flat too.
Some idiots belive this is fake
🤣 Vince’s office …
Ladies dressing room
Am I the only one who caught that? 10:31
The reason this is even a conspiracy is a true testament to Vince’s kayfabe
It’s a fun theory but 100% not the case. Two things meant more to Bret than anything else in the world: his wrestling legacy and his reputation in Canada. The screw job goes completely against everything he stood for and cared about. His approach to the business wasn’t clever, sneaky and subversive. He was straight laced and honest. He wouldn’t have seen this storyline as a strategic marketing opportunity. He would’ve seen it as a slap in the face of everything he worked his entire life for.
Now after the fact, once Vince and WWF saw the opportunity, of course they naturally leaned into it. But that was only with hindsight. Vince saw dollar signs and strategically pursued the plot once it presented itself, but definitely not before.
Ain’t no way Brett was acting plus owed Vince stu hart money
Many flaws and missing detalis. Bret had about three months during which he could - and would - have dropped the title. He was all set to put over Shawn at Survivor Series, but then Michaels decided to be a smart-ass and disrespect Bret with an audience of their peers.
The Canada thing was somewhat minor, and had it not leaked that he was leaving (from the WWF), it would have never been much of an issue.
But Bret did - and does - have a special standing to Canadian fans especially.
And WCW had already lost a suit for putting a WWF title on WCW TV. It would have cost them millions and millions.
I blame Vince ultimately for pussyfooting the issue until the last moment.
But Shawn and Trips were assholes too.
Not a work in a million years
If it was staged it wouldve gotten out by now. The plans were kept close to the chest, there was only a few who knew. Some of vince's top office stooges didnt even know. Bruce Prichard didn't, Kevin Dunn didn't. Plenty in the company didn't. Undertaker and Bruce tell a very similar story of not knowing. Bruce is a sack of trash and Undertaker is well respected. Both are telling the same story. Id assume based off that this is not only real but very well thought out to make sure Bret couldn't come after Vince legally.
It was not a work. That was as real as it gets
15:00 All those incidents of Hart whining about the results and pissed off for the camera, especially with Sid, really shows the screw job fit the storyline too well.
It wasn't staged. Brett was really pissed and surprised
It was a work. If he has to job to a piece of shit person like Shawn in his home country, what better way than to do so in a matter that gets him sympathy?
Or hes a great actor.....you know "acting" which is 75% of brets job....in wrestling you have to be a good actor, whos to say bret cant work us but in real life
The thing with this whole debate is that you can literally see this entire scenario playing out well before Survivor Series, or even the instances in question leading up to it. Let's wind it back -
- Bret wins the WWE(F) championship in a dark match against Ric Flair. As a long time fan of pro wrestling I don't recall another instance of the company's most prized possession changing hands without some sort of film presence, or feud hype. One day Ric was champion, and the next it was Bret.
- Bret loses the championship to Yokozuna at WrestleMania, only to have none other than Hulk Hogan race to the ring in order to "save Bret" from Yoko's after-match attacks. There was no precedent for Hogan assisting Bret. The two rarely worked together, and the only thing they had in common at that time was they were former babyface champions. Suddenly the challenge is issued and Hogan beats Yoko and the show ends with the champion Vince always wanted back with the company strap until that summer. This was Vince's view of Bret's "drawing power", which wasn't that high. Bret's story was compelling enough to give him the strap while the steroid scandal was forcing many stars to bury their heads, but the moment Vince thought he could get it off of him and "return to the golden era", he tried to do so.
- the Hart family was starting to dictate the direction Vince's company was starting to take. As WCW pounced on WWE(F) talent in the 'roid wake, Vince found that his normal gift for presenting the show was starting to look tired and stale, and the fans actually wanted workhorse heroes like Bret, and Shawn, but they also went in fully when Bret and Owen stole the show at WrestleMania. Owen beats his older brother, but then Bret powers through injury to take out Yoko. Luger was being amped as the next huge babyface but he was still Vince's idea, and these were failing, while the real-time, in-ring storytelling that people like the Harts were doing were actually what the fans wanted to see. People talk about it like Bret and Shawn didn't draw like Hogan - Warrior didn't either. Neither did Flair. Neither did Savage, but this was not their fault, it was just symptomatic of the trough the company was in. Nobody drew like Hogan, but even Hogan couldn't draw like Hogan used to back then. The real reason why Bret wouldn't draw like Hogan was because Vince was never sold on Bret, and was constantly trying to get his dated ideas over rather than leaning in to the direction guys like Savage had been taking the company.
- Bret's gimmick had always been "honest guy takes on the world" and he walked that talk. But let it not be said that he wasn't full of himself. I'll be honest I cringe at Bret shoots these days, because he really was a mark for himself, and you can see it in hindsight. Vince, who's obviously a mark for himself as well, hated it that he had somehow allowed this obnoxious little jerk to gain so much influence in his company. Mix in Shawn's growing ego (just watch his match against Hogan to see his ego on full display) and then you have Vince in the position of "whom do I choose? The man who makes me look bad, but I can't stand and he wasn't my idea, or the primadonna who didn't understand the business as well?". Vince obviously chose the latter, and got Bret out of there.
I expect it galls Vince that his talent is what ended up helping to win that war with WCW and not his own genius. And that talent, with only a few exceptions, was built on the back of Bret Hart's in-ring skill and storytelling. Austin. Michaels. The Rock. Maybe even 'Taker. None of these guys emerge without Bret elevating the game, and in spite of upper management believing they understood the business better. Like a restaurant manager believing they know how to cook better than the chef, what they really should have done was gone to the chef and said "your food tastes delicious! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!" But they didn't.
Everybody knew it was staged , but Bret lol
Brett was just a whiner cry😅baby
@@Snyper1405 Bret.
The entire argument that scott hall used doesn't work, because the footage of bret signaling "wcw" and spitting on Vince were not on the ppv, that footage was captured by the film crew for wrestling with shadows. Hall said Vince wouldn't have allowed that on his TV, and tried to limit the airing of wrestling with shadows.
Even if what we know is the truth of the situation, it's still a work IMO. Shawn, Vince, Earl and HHH were working, Bret got worked.
"I don't think it was just because Vince truly didn't want Bret Hart to leave for WCW with the WWE Championship belt. That would have looked bad, especially after what happened with Alundra Blayze, who famously dumped the WWF Women's Championship into a garbage can on live TV during a WCW event. Vince didn’t want a repeat of that incident, as it would have made the company look bad again. So, to me, it was real. It took decades for Vince, Bret, and Shawn Michaels to forgive each other for how things went down. Everyone should understand that, at the time, Vince McMahon had a lot of pride, which is why it was real."
Unless your wondering about the history, save yourself half an hour. He says Earl said it was a work in the beginning then says he changed his story half an hour later. It was real. End of story.
He didn't say that at all.. He said Earl has constantly changed his story over the years and then provided proof of Earl saying it was a work as recent as 2020. He didn't bait you, he literally showed you that Earl says it's a work lol.
When I first heard about the Montreal Screwjob almost twenty years ago. I went back to the tapes and saw the scene of Vince McMahon staggering from the hit and walking between the wrestlers. I saw the funny coincidence of a Bret Hart documentary documenting every moment. My initial judgment was that I was watching a scripted scene and part of the entertainment business. McMahon's acting was primitive. His presence in the back at the beginning, his exit in uniform. His waiting for Bret Hart to spit on him in front of the crowd and TV. It was crystal clear that they were a contract business and they milk a lot of money out of it.
Bret screwed Bret? No Bill Goldberg screwed Bret
HBK never moved the needle and almost cost Vince his company. Boring champ
I was never a big bret hart fan but this "screw job" ruined his legacy becauae now he looks like a big baby who cant do a job and continues to cry about it to this day.
It was a work
He has definitly made himself sound like a cry baby. But whatever...We all get screwed by our employers. At least he was compensated millions for it.
I don't think this was a work because even Eric Bischoff stated that Bret was a shell of his former self and the Montreal Screw job really affected him. I think the reason why Bret never got release from WCW is that Eric felt sorry for him.
Definitely staged, everyone gained from it
How vince literally lost bret from this
Plus wasnt staged anyways
15:48 That is incorrect. Bret did not lose the title to Sid in a steel cage match. He lost it on February 17th 1997 on an episode of RAW after interference from Steve Austin. The clip you showed to back up your statement was Sid RETAINING the belt against Bret Hart who was the challenger. This ended with interference from Austin and Undertaker.
Things did pan out for Bret in WCW. He was a US champ and multiple time WCW champion. He did go cold because he honored his non compete clause.
Haven't watched this video but the reason it was obviously a work was the entire storyline leading up to it. For literally a year leading up to this event, Bret's entire storyline was getting screwed by Vince, while getting him over as the face in Canada only. This was the ultimate culmination of a carefully scripted storyline. I don't know how you don't see it if you watch the year leading up to it starting in late 96
Bret wrote like 10 pages in detail what happened before and after im sure he made it all up and im sure he made it up that vince told him not a single day goes by when he doesnt regret screwing him