Gerald Brisco recounts what it was like backstage at Montreal

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
STW was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
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[@MarkyCannoli]

Great job Conrad, you just let the man tell his story. 👍🏻

[@TheBaitShopGuy]

However pro wrestling got so crazy whether of not a wrestler won or lost a match the whole concept is absurd. There never is actually a winner or loser in pro wrestling match. The booker says who wins or loses. Undertaker never won a single WrestleMania match. Ever.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

this was the best telling of a story I've heard 30 times

[@cpesq.5884]

Only 30?

[@Drummer8282]

Maple leaf gardens 🙄

[@AlwaysIrishINC]

This is my favorite telling of the story. So many little details . Also notice Conrad didn’t even have to ask ?s. The story just flowed perfectly

[@fishhookism]

Makes no sense why they didn't put the belt on Austin. Bret wouldn't of had a problem with it and Shawn didn't do a thing after winning.

[@kitramseysbrother]

All the booking plans were in place for Austin to win at wrestlemania and to put the belt on a heel to make the transition anyway. The unprofessionalism between both Shawn and Bret will always stain both for me enough to take them out of greatest of all time runnings.

[@danieldrayet2364]

They could've put it on undertaker to transition it to shawn(taker lost to shawn at rumble anyway)

[@jonathansmith7306]

@@danieldrayet2364 Taker lost because Kane set him on fire

[@DeitrichDavis]

Because Austin big win was set from rumble and then wrestlemaina 14

[@ElimGarakSpoonHead]

@The Joe King Show led *

[@NastiMarvasti]

Facts that Vince’s stooges never bring up: - Vince backed out of a 20 year contract that Bret was kind enough not to play hardball with. - Bret had some form of creative control written in said contract. - Survivor Series wasn’t supposed to be Bret’s last night. There was still time to drop the belt at a later date.

[@AxeDharme]

Agreed. Also Vince could've handpicked literally anyone else to win the title from Bret. A transitional champion even. Bret had already done the favours to Shawn at WM 12 and didn't need to do it again. He had just come off the title feud against The Undertaker in the summer. There's your readymade #1 contender and transitional champion. Have Taker bear Bret at Survivor Series, Shawn wins at D Generation X or at Royal Rumble through Kane's interference and we have Taker vs Kane and later Shawn vs Austin.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Why would Bret play hardball? He was leaving for a contract that paid more. Bret was given reasonable creative control, I don't really think his ideas were reasonable. It wasn't his last night, but Bischoff was announcing him the next night. I think they didn't want to have Bischoff announce he'd just signed the WWF Champ.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

@@AxeDharme Bret said himself on Wrestling with Shadows that he refused to lose in Canada period. His offer to Vince was to surrender the title the next night. Not really reasonable IMO. That said I don't think Montreal was the right move.

[@NastiMarvasti]

@@Matt-cr4vv Bret didn’t want to go to WCW. That’s why he turned the offer down the year before. He could have played hardball with Vince because they had a signed 20 year deal which would have paid him more over a longer period of time. He could have just told Vince to F himself and Vince would have to honor the deal.

[@thejoker7239]

Funny thing is years after being ”screwed" and his brother falling and dying like humpty Dumpty Bret came back 😂😂😂😂😂😂 to the E 😂😂😂😂😂 he came back

[@jamesstewart8377]

This is awesome for an old wrestling fan. Gerry Briscoe is such a legend. In the Attitude era him and Patterson were such a great comedy team. They way he would say Mr. MACKMan 🤣

[@Rjensen2]

He really wasn't a legend. That was his brother, Jack. Jerry was just along for the ride. Think a Stevie Ray of the 1970s, but good in the ring.

[@loulabubbooks1495]

What an arsehole Brisco is man! Goes on about how Bret didn’t win the title, that someone handed it to him, blar blar blar. Conveniently forgets to tell the part where Shawn ducked dropping titles for at least 18 months prior, conveniently forgets the part where on TWO occasions Bret tells Shawn he’d be happy to put him over, only to have Shawn say that he wouldn’t do it for him (who on Earth is going to drop it then), and conveniently forgets the bit where legally Bret didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to do due to having “reasonable creative control”. Bret would have dropped it to anyone in the company, including Shawn, until Shawn acted like a drugged up baby. Also totally glosses over the fact that Montreal wasn’t Bret’s last night in the company, that nobody thought Bret would take the belt down to WCW etc. etc. Revising history because he’s still in Vince’s pocket! 🥱

[@bullock4211]

Kind of a scummy thing to do to Hebner right as he's about to go out and officiate the match.

[@Rjensen2]

😂😂😂 Do you know Earl Hebner? 😂😂😂

[@Drummer8282]

Scummy people do scummy things.

[@tomwalker389]

Back when the belt actually meant something.

[@jasonrobertsutliff]

It is/was the Molson Center, Jerry, NOT Maple Leaf Gardens! 😡😠🤬

[@NastiMarvasti]

Not the same city. Not even the same province.

[@jasonrobertsutliff]

@@NastiMarvasti Nope, MLG is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, MC is Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 😁

[@matrivalries]

Tired of all this Vince guys always talking about Bret being too serious or selfish about the belt. They always leave out the most important part , Shawn. Shawn was an A### to Bret , that's why he didnt wanna drop it to Shawn. I lost it when he said Shawn was a nice guy , typical Vince guys lol.

[@richardwmgauthier]

Also, Brett had creative control for his last 30 days. So don't put a clause like that in there if you want to dictate how they drop the belt

[@q2rawgaming247]

Bruce is over knowledgeable about what’s going on, but due to being a very close internal company guy, there’s not much truth he will or can reveal, which can be respected 💯

[@skippythealien9627]

i just wish people would shut up about Montreal. We've been talking about it for 25 years now. What else is there to share ffs?

[@startrackertrax6493]

What they dont mention is the reason bret refused is because Bret said to shawn you will always be safe with me in the ring and Shawns response, who was a known d1ck at the time said i cant promise you the same. That was the reason ti wasnt because Bret was being selfish, see his book etc. He even offered to drop it to the brooklyn brawler instead

[@jaredarnold640]

Doubt Stu Hart would have given the champion that much creative control.

[@FCT70]

This is by far the most believable, well spoken, informative version of these events that we all have heard a million times before. Well done Conrad.

[@henrikschmidt3964]

Jerry Brisco is such a McMahon sycophant. Vince created the whole situation by not getting the belt off Bret well in advanced. Then Michaels threw gasoline on the whole thing, by declaring that he would never put over Bret. I am (still) totally on Bret's side in this.

[@DruDavis-kt3ww]

Bret should've dropped the belt, though.

[@henrikschmidt3964]

@@DruDavis-kt3ww He should have and I have no doubt he would have. They could have had him lose it to 'Taker or whoever (Bret even offered to job to the Brooklyn Brawler) should have won the title from Bret on Raw sometime in October and all would have been well with the world.

[@jackmissile]

What’s with the popping sound ??

[@Stonewall2]

It’s on every single video…some worse than others. You’d think they would’ve fixed it years ago

[@al5306]

"Mr. Mac Mahon"

[@Drummer8282]

Why did Vince put the belt on Bret at Summerslam in August only to then immediately ask Bret to leave the company for November? Don’t put the belt on Bret in the first place and that avoids the problem. Don’t sign Bret to a contract you didn’t intend to honour. That also avoids the problem. Let Bret drop the belt before his 30-day creative control kicks in. That also avoids the problem. Let Bret drop the belt to anyone else on the roster not named Shawn Michaels. That also avoids the problem. The way I see it, Vince signed Bret to a contract for the sole purpose of devaluing him before cutting him loose to go to WCW. Vince had Bret turn heel in America to alienate Bret’s US fan base then attempted to humiliate Bret in Canada to sour his Canadian fans. That was Vince’s goals. Send Bret to WCW in the worst shape possible.

[@Drummer8282]

Bottom line - Bret had creative control in the final 30 days of his contract and Bret said he’d drop the belt to anyone on the roster except Shawn. It’s not that hard - have Bret drop the belt to anyone else on the roster then have that person drop the belt to Shawn on another night. Problem solved. Vince was the unreasonable one. He WANTED to embarrass Bret in Montreal.

[@Drummer8282]

Bret warned Vince a couple times that he’d get KO’d if he was still around and also told Vince it’s his last chance to leave …. Was avoidable but Vince said beforehand he’d let Bret get in one shot but that’s all Bret needed. In Vince’s mind, he thought Bret would hit him and then Vince would fight back. But Vince isn’t as tough as he thinks he is.

[@michaelreich4827]

If Bret and Earl were as close as people say, couldn't Earl have refused, gotten fired, and then go with Bret to WCW?

[@ryangarvey9325]

It’s like Jimmy Stewart telling the history of wrestling

[@TheHardcoreRob]

Jim Cornette claims HE pitched the finish to Vince based on a similar situation in the early part of the century.

[@jonathansmith7306]

Didn't he also say he wanted Ken shamrock to shoot on Bret and win the title

[@Zroolmpf_Celmbror]

Jim also says that it's conceivable that numerous people pitched the idea to Vince. Bret was expecting some variation upon it after all - so it was obviously on a few people's minds.

[@pwr2dappl175]

The Battle of the Bite.

[@michaelsuder486]

IMO I believe Corny brought up the screwjob in the 30s as sort of a subtle idea and Vince x2 incorporated it

[@curtisburgdrof8618]

I would have Owen hart beat Brett hart at survivor series 1997 or have ken shamrock won belt .

[@Zroolmpf_Celmbror]

Gerald tells a good story. He seems to have facts: unlike Bruce who seems to make it up as he goes along.

[@raiderrocky1492]

So why did Vince have a black eye?

[@AB-ce5fg]

Maple Leaf Garden in Montreal LMAO He's losing his memory

[@RunThatBagUpDeeJay]

As a adult hearing all these back stories brings wrestling back to life for me !!! It's really cool finding out stuff behind the scenes

[@threeleft16890]

Nobody ever brings up Jim Cornette coming up with the finish except Corny. Lol

[@hoodtohollywood]

Believable that's all I have to say. Thanks Gerald!

[@honestabe6359]

I'm not sure if he's tackled this, but I don't think that Bret was selfish in this. It's just that it was Vince who backtracked on Bret's contract, and Michaels was a monumental prick to him. "Shawn doesn't have a mean bone in his body", is quite laughable too. Not that my opinion matters, but this whole thing was mostly Vince's fault, and Shawn's bad attitude and total and utter lack of any kind of professionalism. With all due respect to Gerald Brisco.

[@marvellis6762]

Who told the truck to hit Michael's music?... because Bruce always said he had no idea of anything. In gorilla its his job I thought

[@TheEverydayFan]

Everybody saying it should of been Austin doesn't understand what they were trying to do with their biggest show of the year. Austin needed to win the belt at Wrestlemania with Mike Tyson and the DX stuff for it to be remembered and taken serious. From Bret Hart's initial heel turn, to the end of Wrestlemania 20 was the best pro-wrestling could possibly get. Those top guys from 97-04 are majority the best wrestlers of all time. It was such a great TV show. Never ever will be like that again. Love hearing these, brings me back to the glory days.

[@Chad-xp4to]

Taker.

[@dadman9799]

Two people to blame. Vince. Brett. End of story.

[@AxeDharme]

Michaels as well

[@JohnLancaster-fh3oc]

It's ridiculous to believe that Bret Hart would have taken the title down to WCW. That was not in Hart's character and Briscoe knows it.

[@aaronwhalen6433]

My biggest thing with people retelling this story with Bret as "selfish" is that it's ridiculous. It was petty? Sure. He didn't want to drop the title to one guy. You gave him this 25 year contract and reneged on it after 1 year. You GAVE him creative control. It was in writing. So he should just wave that too? Did Stu Hart give "some American" a 25 year contract and creative control? It's not apples to apples. It's universally acknowledge that Bret would have dropped it to anyone else. Taker beats Bret. Taker drops belt to Shawn at RR. Problem solved.

[@acidmack1041]

True..the "Bret is selfish" part only comes from Vince's henchmen like Pritchard & Briscoe. The others who were not Vince yes men like JR, Cornette and other wrestlers around at the time (that were not in Shawn's crew) never say it was based on Bret being selfish and they understand the whole story

[@stevenknaus4724]

Bret vs taker at survivor series definitely would’ve worked.

[@MrRwk314]

Bret is a baby and took himself too seriously. He was an actor he wasn't doing anything real.

[@aaronwhalen6433]

@@MrRwk314 so when the actor gets signed on for a 25 year deal to play superman. He should let the studio/director fire him after one film and while making him record the second film they now make Superman a weaker in some fashion character to pass the torch. So sorry top actor. Only 1 year of your 25 year deal paid and I need you to be a less than(even though I guaranteed in writing you would have creative control of your character) I need you to tarnish yourself on the way out as we replace you with the next biggest actor in Hollywood.

[@cb3648]

@@MrRwk314 As opposed to who? I mean Hogan, Austin, Shawn, etc, didn't refuse to do jobs, or work with certain talent? Everyone who gets to the top is a primadonna.

[@kelli31210]

Honestly lost some respect for Brisco here - just a company stooge through and through.

[@acidmack1041]

Did you expect anything else from Briscoe and Pritchard lol?

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Is Bret signing Brisco's check or is Vince? That's really all you have to consider honestly. It's honorable to not do it but not over supporting your family.

[@jotac87278]

I like how Gerald tells a story. No extra nonsense, but still full of information. Speaks directly, and his southern accent brings its own twist to it.

[@threeleft16890]

Gerald thinks he could of beat up Brett hart, come on. He would not be on the losing end.

[@rawbundy4676]

Probably not at his age at the time. But in his younger years Briscoe was legit.

[@Rjensen2]

​@@rawbundy4676 What does that have to do with 1997? Besides, you are mixing up Jack with Jerry. Jack was 100% incredible as a real wrestler, Jerry was not. It's kinda like the Steiners, but in reverse. With Rick and Scott, it's the younger one that was the great real wrestler. Scott was pretty good but Rick wasn't much.

[@oceandeep318]

Stu would have made Shawn apologize or decided for a different champion and punished Shawn for a long time in the midcard.

[@ScotsGal]

A stand up fair and square fight between bret hart and shawn micheals bret hart wins everytime ...hart was tough as nails legit shooter ..micheals was lucky in Montreal that bret just didn't hammer him into the matt after the bell or attack him in the locker room

[@ScotsGal]

18:58...I dont think that was very fair putting baby earl in that position right before he went to the ring or threatining him with losing his job...it wasent his fault what was going on ...that was pretty low of Briscoe

[@jdffurr3237]

nobody ever brings up the fact brett was willing to drop the belt,just not in canada

[@jeremiahcross9542]

This show needed more egg...

[@darthsebio1726]

Poor guy couldn’t talk about this with somebody else for a hole day...con-man..

[@panelsofDOOM]

This is the most filthy carnie excuse ever. If you didn't want Bret to have creative control DONT WRITE IT INTO HIS CONTRACT. Period. End of story.

[@inutero10]

Reasonable creative control.

[@rayfinkel4434]

And I’d like to add if u couldn’t afford a 20 yr contract why give it?

[@inutero10]

@@rayfinkel4434 at the time Vince thought he could.

[@reyjusuf]

Or take the belt off him before telling him to sign with wcw

[@aaronwhalen6433]

100% right.

[@reyjusuf]

The problem with criticizing Bret for not wanting to drop the belt is Shawn did the exact same thing when he "lost his smile" and suffered on what he thought was a career ending injury.

[@Rjensen2]

Also when he refused to drop the IC belt a few times.

[@tomkenworthy6802]

Brisco’s talking like he’s Chuck Norris 🙄

[@jeffreyriley8742]

I'm all for Shawn protecting himself but I draw the line at Brisco essentially telling Shawn how to injure Bret's knees if there was trouble. That's going too far.

[@Rjensen2]

Brisco is office. That's completely separate from the wrestlers.

[@rayrawket]

Brisco said something that made me see the situation a little different although still wrong. He didn’t win the belt he was given the belt and Bret was walking around acting selfish at this time. Bret screwed Bret does make some sense but the loyalty in Bret won’t let me believe he wouldn’t have dropped the belt before leaving

[@Rjensen2]

So explain why he agreed to drop it at the December PPV.

[@CuteLesbo69]

Has anybody ever asked Brisco about selling Georgia Championship Wrestling out from under Ole Anderson?

[@jdffurr3237]

he,s such a simp for vince

[@supershawn77]

So much bullshit in this as well!

[@thomaswashburn3513]

Brett screwed Brett!

[@AB-ce5fg]

34:40 ROUND HOUSE!!! LIES!! ITS ALL A WORK!! Bret said "Mike Tyson uppercut" on Dark side of the ring LMAO

[@AB-ce5fg]

35:30 Vince and Bret said he didnt fall down. he staggered over Briscos foot and broke his ankle thats why he was limping. Coincidentally Vince and Bret both said this RATE AFTER 2000-2001ish when SCOTT HALL AND HBK SAID VINCE WAS SELLING THE SHOT FOR BRETS MOVIE

[@crazyhorsejohnny1974]

They’re lucky Taker cleared most of the guys out of the locker room. Shamrock and Blackman were Hart guys and if they were in that room when the shit hit the fan Vince’s guys would have gotten beaten up starting with Shawn.

[@arthurmorgan7086]

One of the nasty boys knocked shamrock cold. He’s a pretender

[@crazyhorsejohnny1974]

@@arthurmorgan7086 Yeah and how did he knock him out cold ? Face to face ? No. One on one ? No.

[@arthurmorgan7086]

@@crazyhorsejohnny1974 according to everyone apart from shamrock yes he did

[@crazyhorsejohnny1974]

@@arthurmorgan7086 They jumped him in a hotel room. 2 on 1. And one of them had brass knuckles. Nasty boys were cowards.

[@arthurmorgan7086]

@@crazyhorsejohnny1974 🤣 says Ken shamrock and Ken shamrock only

[@Flamingcloud083]

... Except Brett had creative control.. If he wanted to drop it to the Undertaker instead of Shawn then the WWF should have done it that way

[@ryanbratoc]

some of his details are a little as fuzzy but great telling of this story!

[@nonyabusiness9192]

I don't think shawn was a nice guy.

[@Scorch1028]

After Alundra Blayze threw the WWE Women's strap in a trash can on WCW Monday Nitro in 1995, there was no way in hell that Vince McMahon would allow the WWE strap to leave his company. Vince made the mistake of giving his top superstars "creative control" over their characters. That was the primary reason that the Montreal Screwjob even came to pass. If Vince had been "firm" with all of his talent and told them with authority that they either had to drop the strap or get canned, then the incident at Survivor Series '97 would never have occurred.

[@Rjensen2]

And there's no way in hell Turner management would allow it either. If the WWF women's belt meant so much, why didn't Vince ask Madusa for it back before he fired her and stopped women's wrestling?

[@cpesq.5884]

I want to know if they knew bret had a good chance of leaving at end of year why book survivor series in canada??Canada??? Go anywhere else in the US

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Because the idea you have to change all of your plans for one guy for a silly reason like not losing in Canada is absurd to think should’ve happened.

[@michaelsuder486]

Brother Bruce? 😂 He does realize Brother Love was just a character....

[@jamesstewart8377]

That’s what everyone called him.

[@greyjedi6430]

Should have released this 24 years ago and it would have saved us having to listen to the screw job over and over and over and over u get the picture lol

[@brianthomas3451]

Bruce knew about it, he was one who told earl the finish right before he went out. Earl stated this in an interview

[@tomkenworthy6802]

No he never 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@Krimsonking1998]

Gerald Brisco is great

[@1971khaos]

Excellent listen

[@bootlegpass5969]

Mr. Brisco's perspective is f'ing gold 👍

[@ryanschmidt8327]

So who is the liar then? Cornette or Brisco?

[@AxeDharme]

Can't say for sure. But I know which one of them is a corporate shill and which one I'm more likely to believe.

[@KClouisville]

@@AxeDharme Brisco is like Bruce in that he'll give WWE company line on almost all of this. Thing is, Brisco might not have had any knowledge of what Cornette and Vince talked about.....if I recall, Cornette has said the only person who was in Vince's office at the time was Vince, Cornette himself and Russo coming in and out.

[@CrownCityLife]

Vince was right.

[@AxeDharme]

Nope