Jim Ross shoots on Bret Hart re negotiating his wwf contract in 1996

[@ljman6789]

These interviews are more entertaining than watching today's wrestling matches on wwe

[@thenewweirdwest2746]

By a long stretch.

[@KevinsKontentKorner]

@@thenewweirdwest2746 do you guys even watch? maybe the storylines and all around product aren't as good to YOU, but the matches themselves are fantastic, especially the women. they are killing it and have been for years

[@Rick-si1re]

Yeah sadly, it's like we're all living in the past....

[@crummyfett]

Agreed. Not even close.

[@joshuasenior4397]

Def thought the same thing...ill listen to shit like this all day but todays wrestling is the shits...i couldnt even watch wrestlemania and i refuse....its fucking terrible in my opinion

[@lgdry90]

Look at young Bret looking like a Boss!! Man! I miss the 90’s.. An era of proving grounds loaded with a lot of greatness!! The Best there is. The Best there was, and the Best there ever will be!

[@kelman727]

In fairness, the 20 year contract was feasible in purely physical terms: it involved relatively few years of in-ring competition. The rest was behind the camera stuff, PR, being the ‘face’ of the company etc. When Vince tried to weasel out of it almost immediately by pleading poverty, he was flat-out lying. All he wanted to do was have fewer long term financial deals on his books so he could take the company public.

[@kelman727]

ShadowAngel You are in the embarrassing position of explaining why, if business had been so dire before, why the contract was offered at all. That Vince made losses is hardly in dispute. That he had large reserves somehow went unmentioned in your account. And I’m not at all sure how someone can plead poverty one moment and ALSO pay Tyson millions for a few minutes’ work another. Don’t need to be a chartered accountant to see that doesn’t quite add up. Bret was one of the greatest workers in the business and along with Taker, HBK and Mankind held the company together. He was cool when a past-it glory hog like Hogan was stale; he could get a good match out of virtually anyone when Warrior couldn’t work his way out of a wet paper bag. Bret was right.

[@ClassicKrusty]

ShadowAngel Idk why work rate doesn’t sell PPVs. I was just watching some Bret Hart Vs Mr Perfect matches and they weren’t just “rolling around on the mat” they were showcases of a lot of athleticism. U mean to tell me Bret wasn’t over when he first arrived at WCW despite the fact Bischoff didn’t have any noteworthy plans for him? I think Bret was def a draw in 97. Solid heel work and Austin Vs Hart at WM13 won match of the year but then I don’t know the buy rate.. Shawn becoming champ at WM12 and how the crowd was pretty split makes me wonder if Shawn was a draw pre DX but I think like Bret he didn’t exactly have a heel factory to work with during the mid 90s. I know 96” financially was just as bad as 93-94 if not worse.

[@newageassholes]

@ShadowAngel Bret Hart lives rent free in your head and he's loving it 😁

[@newageassholes]

@ShadowAngel it must kill you that everyone still talks about Bret as the greatest and he's still just as relevant twenty years later.

[@raulo19999]

Bret didn't draw and that's why Vince went back on the deal. Shawn didn't either but he didn't cost near the money. WWF/E was also finally shedding the bad gimmicks. And workrate (whatever that really is) won't draw enough to be profitable. There aren't a lot of people that want to see fake fighting just for the sake of seeing fake fighting and it's so much worse when you constantly remind people that your version of entertainment is fake. People are drawn to good storytelling. If iron man was audibly calling spots with war machine there would not have been iron man 2. Hard to get draw 20k people to invisible/silent hand grenades, dick spots, and Papa Shango.

[@patrickhoisington5111]

I was happy when Bret came to WCW, then I was sad because they did nothing with him... then he got the long-term injury and I got very sad

[@stevebiggavel2720]

Damn. This is so true. He went to wcw and he wasn’t used correctly.

[@DannyBZ9]

His vault for selling out & turning on the company that made him

[@DannyBZ9]

@@tommyboyraider3555 he even said himself he knew WCW was second rate and terribly run. Stone Cold told him horror stories and not to go! Yet he still went for triple the money. How is it not his own fault?

[@IHateNicolasCage]

Bret was the best the business ever saw and was red hot. Of course the clowns at WCW didn’t know what to do. That’s why WCW is a corpse.

[@fundyproductions5927]

@@IHateNicolasCage to be honest his career was hurt almost irreparable after that Canada vs America angle. His fanbase was halfed and never recovered. Then when he left to WCW he didn't give a fuck anymore because the way he left then Owen.

[@michaelpaiva9924]

I'm sorry but WCW DEFINITELY dropped the ball big time with Bret Hart. Hogan had ALOT to do with that. The way Bret left WWF with the " screwjob" and then spits the biggest loogee in Vinces face BOOM the Wrestling World was in . Everyone wanted to see Bret do good in WCW and wrestle there Top Talent and show how good he still was. I blame WCW writers/diva Wrestlers and backstage politics to why Bret was mismanaged in WCW. Bret knew it himself but 3mil a year....gotta feed the Fam. Even if that means losing prestige 🤷‍♂️

[@naikavs]

Would’ve loved to see more of the Hart Foundation. I remember as a kid I thought Owen and Bulldog were the best and coolest tag team ever.

[@ActiveRehabMobility]

You thought that because you were a lame kid

[@naikavs]

@@ActiveRehabMobility whoa good one 😂

[@rockwild737]

Bret and Jim followed by Bulldog and the Dynamite Kid!

[@michaelpaiva9924]

Bret Hart says yes over 1,000 times....the 1 time he says No all the previous decade + is forgotten and Bret's the a - hole. Bret has been loyal as heck to Vince and ALWAYS had problems with other talent but Bret was consistent. When you call someone who has scheduled days off to all of a sudden drop everything cus another co worker calls out, damn right im staying home with the family who I never see.

[@rockwild737]

How many times did Shawn Michaels let Vince down and yet Vince decided to exchange Bret for Shawn 🫣

[@Kitto0]

Vince is a genius of 90s & early 2000s but its quite evident that Vince is a terrible boss & when it comes to repay some of your most loyal worker in worst possible way he shamelessly did it He screwed Bret, he did same with JR & stories of him making fun of his Palsy just tells how awful of a person he can be, CM Punk firing on his anniversary was another for leaving terrible taste in anyone's mouth

[@conradwilk1425]

Vince renigged on the original contract.

[@kellyremple8982]

Eric denying he made an offer in 96 is ridiculous. On Austin's podcast he ADMITTED he had made Bret an offer the year before he eventually got him. Then on Conrad's podcast he denies it up and down. Eric also said he NEVER paid Bret 2.8 million, yet you can google "WCW contracts 1998" and see it for yourself. Eric seems like a nice guy, but clueless.

[@NwoFresh]

he didnt make 2.8 though but he was close

[@cobra1xtz]

But I don’t wanna save with Conrad though....

[@kellyallen8528]

That's the ole Bobby Bonilla contract.

[@Dakatari]

By Jim's answer I would believe he was involved in that conversation of telling Bret to rip the contract up live on TV

[@Grassyknolldallas]

The attitude era would of been even better with heel Bret Hart

[@sj4632]

Nope. What storyline would he be in?

[@maxxdahl6062]

Bret would have hated it and did hate the attitude direction.

[@ericjackson7632]

​@sj4632 Top dog in the corporation. Feeding with Austin. Rock would've gladly feuded with Bret. Short feud with Shamrock, feud with Angle. Like is this a serious question? Bret was doing the best work of his career in 1997. 1998 - 2000 would've been even better, given the available talent to work with.

[@jasongodfrey823]

I swear Bret Hart looks like he's taking a school picture

[@AllTheRageShow]

This was like "The Decision" before the "The Decision."

[@kinnymonster]

Brett said in "Wrestling With Shadows" that he took less $$$ to stay in WWE then Vince renigged after they signed the contract & asked Brett to call Turner & get their offer back. JR is lyin on this one.

[@reondhsingh7491]

I love Bret as a wrestler, a person and as an idol. Met him once in South Africa when I was 11 years old. But I have to say that he was a terrible businessman. When Vince came to him and said he can't honor his 20 year contract, Bret should have said okay fine, what can you offer me in future stock options. He would have been super rich today but I also believe in what he says that it's not about the money, it's about the respect. That's why he is the Best there is, the Best there was and the Best there ever will be!

[@WSK9002]

No matter whose side you land on, about what occurred at Survivor Series 1997, that was the moment that proved to me, there is no loyalty in Pro Wrestling, up until John Cena, Bret Hart was the most loyal Pro Wrestler to WWE and for Vince McMahon to do that, that's what being loyal gets you.

[@melvynsngltn27]

Vince did that after Bret Hart already signed the contract.

[@jarrethcutestory]

Hindsight. Anyway WWF stock isn't even twice as valuable as when it was listed in 1999. Plus this was two years earlier. going to WCW was a no brainer.

[@montyrobertson7362]

Bret was willing to renegotiate but Vince wasn't.

[@rockwild737]

Bret was more concerned with his legacy than with money. He got screwed in the worst way possible considering he had worked so hard for the company during their great time of need after the steroid scandal.

[@mrbobevans]

"Best there was, Best there is, and Best there ever will be." Bret Hart.

[@JamesWilliams-eu5mn]

Go Patriots and go Bucs. As a life long Pat's fan I don't think any sane person expects NE to be a better team without Brady. He has done so much for NE I will never cheer against him except if they face NE.

[@DarkDramon]

A lot of "he said she said" type of thing.

[@Emporkommling]

Vince has always struck me as under appreciative of Bret’s contributions. (Vince the man, not Mr. McMahon. Although art imitates life.)

[@IMPALERonYT]

I really like this interviewer. Great job!

[@bronsonnolan1383]

Probably the most famous Calgarian, love from Calgary

[@toddc3653]

Love from Rocky Ridge

[@MykHip]

Love the TB comparison!

[@trevormurraymusic4975]

Bret Hart = GOAT.

[@staleydu1]

Apparently you didn’t live through wrestling in the 80’s

[@IHateNicolasCage]

@@tommyboyraider3555 The GOAT will never say they are the GOAT, but everyone’s best match was against Bret. HBK, Davey, Yoko, Austin, Owen, Piper, 1-2-3 Kid, even Tom friggin Magee

[@IHateNicolasCage]

@@tommyboyraider3555 HBKs top 3 matches were WM 12 Iron Man, Hell in the Cell #1 and IYH Mind Games against Mankind. Fair point that you can make an argument, but I think WM12.

[@NwoFresh]

@@tommyboyraider3555 80's macho man

[@NwoFresh]

@@tommyboyraider3555 that was takers best match not hbk's

[@dolosavage6295]

Jim ross and Conrad walk into a kitchen, they stay there forever the end

[@jackmayor5329]

*Until the foods gone

[@tankboi8249]

Why is this a video of jr talking to himself?

[@Drummer8282]

12:58 JR claims Bret had backed Vince into a corner and being desperate, Vince made a bad deal in agreeing to a 20-year deal with the Hitman. But yet, JR doubts Vince agreed to Bret winning the belt from HBK at Mania 13?!? OF COURSE Vince agreed to that. Bret played hardball and Vince said whatever he needed to say to get Bret to stay even with no intention of keeping his word on any front. Vince is, was and always will be a liar.

[@quikdeath100]

Exactly and beyond that are we supposed to believe Vince never told Ric Flair he would put the belt on him in negotiations for him to come to WWE back in the 90/91

[@figo7ronaldo]

@Ze TheGame Geez, if there's something in our water, i can only imagine what garbage is in yours over in the States. The real idiots are down south, lol.

[@PsychoKillertheGame]

Vince on takers Streak "Nobody wants to give back to business more than Mark" "I made the decision for him to lose".

[@packergeek10]

@@quikdeath100 No way. Ric had no leverage. He was 42 years old. WCW wanted Ric to change his gimmick to something stupid. Ric practically begged Vince to come work for him.

[@HighSpotPodcast]

This was the original A-Rod deal

[@BrotherTonyshow]

Money, miles and creative.

[@emjai4895]

Bret wrestling story is heart breaking no pun intended, but after all these years his still claim one of the best, if not the great wrestler of all time. I'm glad his getting his roses while his still here. Best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.. GOAT 🐐💗💀🤘🏽

[@rockwild737]

Thanks for keeping our company afloat these years after the steroid scandal. Here, get screwed in the worst way possible. Then our great rivals can retire you. He deserved so much better.

[@dennismarcucci3465]

Yeah, Jim, it’s all about the money with Vince, the billionaire, too

[@amirprog]

Bret noticed from behinning how shitty wcw managment was. Very smart man.

[@JulioPerez-re9mt]

You gotta chill on these commercials

[@brummieviking9541]

Why does Bret look like Brother Love in the picture 😂😂

[@colourblind021]

If Bret hadn't been screwed in '97 he would've gone down as the greatest of all time for WWE, at least over Michaels and really in that spot where Cena is now. What I mean is Cena comes back they tell you that he's the greatest of all time, they'd have billed Hart that way. That's what I get from the actual details of that contract offer. I've heard of the 20 year thing but not the breakdown. And to JR saying no offer like this has existed even after, apparently they have Undertaker on a 15 year now. Apparently.

[@PsychoKillertheGame]

Cena? Rock, Austin, Taker, Kane, Angle, HHH, and a shit ton of others are WAY ahead of Cena.

[@arturboy777]

Will never understand why Vince wanted out of that deal which in the long run was insanely favorable to him. Locking Brett Heart, who is a legend, an expert in putting people over and teaching people how to wrestle, locked for 20 freaking years with inflation in Vince's favor. He'd kill to have Cena on a deal like that today. Brett could've just showed up every once in a while to put someone over, sell Wrestlemania, act as RAW GM etc...

[@2HitWonder]

How does history change if Bret goes to WCW in 1996, instead of 1997?

[@TheFuckingShitLoL]

I dunno lol

[@ShelCorporation]

No Stone Cold match at WM 13 and no Montreal Screwjob

[@TranslatedAssumption]

Bret could NEVER be the face of the NWO like Hogan was... Brother!

[@cragerzz]

Yeah cause Eric is a reliable source

[@Retrorevelations]

The absolute best thing that ever could have happened for the business, would have been for HBK to legit "have to retire" for his so-called knee injury in 1997, for him to never wrestle or even appear again, and for Vince to do the smart thing, and stick with Bret, NOT HBK.

[@pauldavis5665]

Eh, Bret was never really a huge draw though. WWF was getting its worst ratings when Bret was champion after Hogan left in that mid-1990's period. Ratings for WWF did not pick up again until Bret left and Stone Cold was given his big push starting the Attitude era. You had the Hogan era, and the Austin era. In between that was the Bret era which was no where near as successful in terms of how much money the company was bringing in.

[@Retrorevelations]

@@pauldavis5665 Factually incorrect. THE worst business era, houses, ratings, PPV buys, period, was 95 and 96, when Diesel and HBK were WWF Champion. Bret may not have been 80s Hogan (nobody was), but he was the biggest star Vince had from 1992-1997. He was a strong draw, especially internationally. He helped grow their international business. Selling out Wembly Stadium in 92 was a BIG part Bret, even though they were excited to see their home kid Davey. Fact is, Diesel was NOT a huge draw, especially keeping him Champion for WAY too long (over a year). HBK was also not a huge draw. The smart business, would have been putting the belt on Vader at Summerslam 96. He was a monster early on in WWF, and giving him a monster title reign, where he's attacking faces AND heels, "injuring" people like Yoko, etc. That could have been some major pre-Attitude Era intrigue, that could have spiked business. Instead, HBK buries him, and continues his miserable low-ball run. But the point is, Bret was always a much bigger draw, in the 90s, in their prime, than HBK.

[@zachmitchell5290]

Wrestlers today are still great, a lot of athletic, awesome workers but the product is 💯 garbage. We’ll never have another era like the attitude era. Hell I think most of us would be happy if it went back to the ruthless aggression era.(highly doubtful)

[@d-anger-noodle]

Bret screwed Bret. He left WWF for more money in WCW and in doing so, he left the security of safe workers in WWF and he got hurt by that piece of shit Goldberg. He let his ego get in the way and didn't want to put people over and his ego is what killed his career. I loved Bret but the truth is the truth. Vince had to do what was best for business, not what was best for Bret.

[@Della624]

What Conrad Thompson doesn't tell you are the bits that place Bret Hart in a bad light; things that Ross wouldn't know about but what Bret admits to in his Books. For instance, every time there was a contract up in the air Bret would wave something in Vince McMahon's face to insure Bret would get the contract he wanted. That's not negotiation, that's a threat; do it or else. Bret admits when the Steroid Trial was going on and his contract came up for renewal he used it against Vince McMahon; when the WCW vs WWF wars were on and his contract was up for grabs, Bret played the WCW card (and as Bret admits "like he always did"). Loyalty? Not in it for the money? Pahleeeeeeease! The Montreal Screwjob (even though no one was screwed out of anything) came about because Bret Hart played the WCW card once too many times. Vince Mcmahon realised Bret Hart was close to retiring age, Shawn Michaels was a much younger buck and as over as Bret Hart as a heel, (who as a heel could work with a tweener (Austin) something a white hat couldn't do), so McMahon made a business decision and chose Shawn Michaels over Bret Hart... and Bret's been throwing temper tantrums ever since because he didn't get his own way; and to make it worse McMahon chose Bret's arch nemesis over him. Heartbreaking............................................................. oh wait a minute :D

[@sonofsarek]

This has more ads than Raw.

[@Gardenhoser86]

They always downplay Lex going down South as no big deal; I beg to differ, I think him showing up on first Nitro surprisingly set the tone for wrestling viewers having to check out each program and ultimately what developed into a f ton of really worn out Last Channel buttons on remotes across the world 😂

[@LADYJAYY19788]

If bret would have been the third guy at batb 96 starcade 97 would have been sting vs bret and the ending would have been epic.

[@joshwilbur4980]

"According to the Observer"

[@djtrankilo231]

*Wrestletalk creeping in*

[@rockcatinc.4814]

Meltzer- is his words wrestling law?? Why is he always being quoted as a be all end all??

[@seemjibernadino6487]

Meltzer is Dave Meltzer who published The Wrestling Observer for decades. In the days before the internet when people wanted wrestling gossip the Observer was a cool peak behind the scenes. That said, often times, Dave didnt know what he was talking about and/or was publishing lies fed to him by wrestlers. Meltzer's word isnt law, at all. Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer ARE the best record of wrestling history we had before everyone and their mother starting doing shoot interviews. Oftentimes when what Meltzer wrote is brought up people have a lot of history to correct. That said, consider how much would have gone completle undocumented in any real way without the "rags" and "dirt sheets" like the Observer. All part of the game.

[@chasam1]

References

[@FatMenace]

It's embarrassing

[@gamingdoppelganger1414]

I would love for them to do this with Bret on the Show

[@mattb6369]

The closest comparison to Bret's '96 contract for 20 years was Mark Henry's 1996-2006 contract for 10 years but definitely nowhere near the kinda money Hart was getting.

[@Nemesio609]

I feel like Brett missing from 98 to 2000 was good I don't see how he would have fit in the attitude Era or the nwo era

[@timothymoynihan8063]

Brett and Vince both f'ed up. In the end Brett paid the price.

[@VodkaIsGood4U]

Bret*.....the goddamn name is right there spelled for you for the entire video.

[@killerjoe5628]

Then only Bret f*cked up.

[@MrDaryboy]

I wish Conrad would ask him his take on the stupid finish with Hogan and Sting

[@TherealHazlett]

Bret was the master of making you truly believe that it was a sporting contest.

[@marlowstanfield6815]

JR couldn't have been more right about Tom Brady lol

[@cincyplayer11]

Completely unrelated and I'm sure it's been mentioned as I just found the channel but Conrad sounds dead on Nate Bargatze.

[@rockwild737]

Bret carried the company for nearly 5 years after the steroid scandal. How on earth Vincenwas willing to exchange Bret for Shawn Michaels to take the company I have no idea. Yes, Shawn was a fantastic performer but he'd already let the WWE down again and again. It paid off for Vince in the end but they only just scraped through at one point and then WCW did their absolute best to lose the war.

[@bullrider245]

If Brett would have been the third guy it would have changed everything, it would have been just as good if not better than hogan, and Brett had no problem being put into angles with wrestlers he knew he could get the best out of and draw money with, just think of Jericho, Hennig, Benoit, Guerrero, etc. that would have been players in the company, he would have helped grow the company instead of have everyone who was hot in 97 go down with the ship in ‘01, who knows, maybe they’d still be in business today

[@davejohnson2085]

That's ridiculous. Look at the Charisma of Hulk Hogan, and then look at Bret Hart's charisma. It's not even close. Hogan's promo skills and charisma is one of the main things that helped NWO succeed. End of discussion.

[@maxxdahl6062]

Not the biggest hogan fan, but that is 100% nonsense, it never would have worked as well with Bret instead of Hogan.

[@kwrbt2979]

JR seems to always be misleading and mix in disinformation about all this stuff. Cornette has all the scoops on that period of time, he was working in creative, and he says clearly their intention was to have Bret beat Shawn at WM because Shawn self-destructed over that year as champion and they wanted to change directions.

[@Retrorevelations]

Shawn was also not a draw. Just like Diesel for a YEAR, HBK was not a big draw. Vince blamed Vader for a low Summerslam buy rate, but the truth is, the larger wrestling audience never bought Shawn as a shining babyface champion. He had his fans, for sure. But he was not nearly as over as Vince and Co. like to pretend he was. Ratings went up when Bret came back in Nov., against Austin. That's a fact. Business was always better in that mid-90s low period, when Bret was champion. Yet Vince repeatedly kept going to other guys. When Vince initially tapped Bret as his "new guy" post-Hogan in 1992, that should have been. He SHOULD have been the new Hogan, to a degree, in that Vince should have invested in him more long-term as THE guy, THE champ. Instead, he went back to Hogan. Then tried to go to Luger. Then screwed over poor Backlund who could have had a nice heel champion run, to go to Diesel. And stuck with Diesel for WAY too long. Then used Bret as a transitional champ to go to HBK. Just really disrespectful, even though Bret was a workhorse, and was carrying the company on his back throughout that time. The only guy who would have made sense, and could have been a top draw as champ, but Vince didn't go to until 97, was Taker.

[@AlexThorn]

"maybe bret is still aore about the situation with Hogan" till this day, hes still upset about it.

[@jamescourt5201]

WWF survived and won the war without Bret. He's more like Hogan than he'll let on. Who did he ever put over clean that he wasn't related to? He never passed the torch Hennig gave him to anyone. The only screwjob would've been the WWF championship belt in a burning garbage on Nitro.

[@jishualamb3085]

Brett seemed to me like he was trying to be loyal for J.R it's always about doing what the boss wants regardless of how dumb the request or demand may cross someone's morals I disagree I think with and for J.R. It's all about the money which I am not knocking I just think it influences how he sees everything and say what you will the wwf screwed Brett hart double crossing their word to him and contract agreement

[@chelseapetrie7750]

We are all old.

[@mattpomara1967]

Of course Vince would totally go back on the contract and screw the guy over

[@jimbanks7791]

I can listen to this shit for hours! Today’s wwe, I rather eat shit than watch!

[@emprodabob]

Random... Randy Savage would have worked in the Attitude Era... Getting bit by a snake and spazzing on Hulk because of Elizabeth isolated what that era was about 🤣

[@NoelComiX]

I think 1996 WCW would have known what to do with Bret. He could have been a Luger type face guy or an elite nWo guy.

[@ABCDyeahyeahyeah]

They still had the technical workhorses of Eddie/Benoit around and Bret would have made them look like a million bucks.

[@jamalmosley5306]

So what deal undertaker had

[@donnelladams340]

Exactly they wanted to keep Bret and not as a mid card performer as certain people that commented believe that he was.

[@donnelladams340]

. bret was still in the main event status up until Montreal.

[@BeeBumper]

Oh I bet Andre had a long time contract

[@TherealHazlett]

Bret Hart is #1 on my Mount Rushmore

[@Ramenshea83]

Classic of example of money isn't everything, Bret should have been wiser and forecasting. Or sign a 2 year or 1 year contract. Bishoff would have fallen for that shirt term contract trick

[@SignOfTheTimes008]

It sounds as though JR is going back on what he said about Bret from previous interviews. Cause the way I understood it was the only reason he was considering WCW was because they had no financial room for Bret anymore and the plans for him if he stayed somehow was he was going to loose to HBK for several more matches. Its not always just about the money, although that is always a big factor. I know for some for sure its just about it.

[@watchreport]

I dont remember that. I know it was clearly discussed in the shadows documentary but I haven’t watched that in years either. Either way, I don’t listen these things as canon, I just enjoy backstage or insider wrestling talk.

[@SignOfTheTimes008]

@@watchreport Originally (back in 1996) I heard rumors that Bret wanted to leave to WCW solely for the money and that it was all he cared about. That was the whole Bret screwed Bret time. Unreasonable expectations, wanting to keep the belt, wanting more money, ect. Then I heard it was more cause they were making room for HBK and couldn't afford Bret, so he was looking elsewhere. Jim Cornette from what I recall was saying Bret never wanted to leave WWE and I thought Jim said the same that Bret was loyal and wanted to work a way into staying. Jim has said a lot of good things on Bret, just here it sounds like he's in part blaming Bret. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong. What do you think?

[@donnietropolis18ds]

Bret was happy until he had to put Shawn over; especially in Canada.

[@KB-hh8rt]

Vince screwed Bret when he weaseled his way out of the contract claiming to be broke then he gives Tyson millions to make an appearance at WM13. What a POS. Vince robbed us out of a rematch of Austin vs Bret. With Shawn being such a prick and a prima donna I'm surprised Vince didn't push him to WCW instead.

[@ZOMBIE_STOMP]

Vince allowed all that backstage access in a time when protecting the gimmick was the golden rule all to keep Bret hart and Bret still wouldn't drop the belt

[@skinnypippen9580]

Selfish Pick!

[@jamesdawson6424]

10.5 million for 20 years was a ripoff, considering he was gonna get 2.8 million for only 3 years and he could retire alot earlier

[@NoneofYabiz-rx3zi]

2.8 million PER YEAR

[@johnc3084]

I know he's a sacred cow to some, but others have said this and I will say it here: Bret was relatively...boring. Great wrestler. Boring as a "star." During Bret's heyday as champion, it felt like a glorified midcard guy being on top while they waited for another superstar. Come at me. ;)

[@donnelladams340]

Yet they kept giving him the belt and the WWE needed bret to accelerate Stone Cold, that's not a mid carder. Vince definitely didn't think that Bret was a mid carder hints the 20 year contract. Vince could have just let Bret go in 96 if he was just a mid carder, Vince didn't offer The British Bulldog a 20 year contract and he damn sure was a mid carder, Vince didn't offer Triple H, Owen Hart or even the undertaker a 20 year contract why is that? Vince isn't running a charity or signing significant contracts to mid carders and these are all facts.

[@jimbanks7791]

Heck no! Not even close. Bret elevated many guys! Carried many great matches! Great charisma! It’s not his fault economy sucked

[@fishhookism]

I thought the U.S.-Canada angle was one of the best on television. I didn't think Bret was boring at all.

[@deadaccount7520]

.....who would the "Turner people" be that Eric had to give a actual number to? Who in the Turner office was insisting he try to lure Bret to WCW? And required some sort of proof fhat he tried by giving them a actual price.

[@2buxaslice]

WCW was owned by Turner. Bischoff didn't have permission to just spend whatever money he wanted. He had to talk to the Turner reps first to ok any amount of money he offered in a contract. It's not like in WWE where Vince owns the company and can do whatever he wants. At the end of the day WCW went out of business because Turner execs finally realized just how much money WCW was losing them and pulled the plug.

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@2buxaslice Eh, they wanted to get rid of it from day 1. Just that Ted wouldn't allow it. Every single exec there at the time hated wrestling and wanted nothing to do with it. Once ted lost power even if it made a profit it was going to be gone.

[@randyortonsbulge]

Jr thinks hart does it for money….. no he did it for the belt. Bret was always up his own ass when I it came to making sure his character got over as a good guy! He always wanted to be the good guy…. Smdh.

[@packergeek10]

Which is a shame because he was an awesome heel. The Canadian American angle was on another level.

[@vilotfox1]

Bret Hart was 1st or 2nd wrestler in WWF In WCW he was number 20 or 30 in WCW roster Simply he left for money and sadly lost everything in WCW

[@raulo19999]

And Vince didn't want to pay him that contact less than a year later. Vince couldn't justify paying "the hottest wrestler on the business" $1.5M/yr. And why? He didn't draw enough money for it to make sense. Neither did Shawn.

[@raulo19999]

@Ze TheGame they did ok but it was never going to be enough to win the war. Shawn went home when Austin ascended to the top because he didn't want to be second fiddle. Kind of a self admission that he couldn't draw as well. Plus he'd lose his political capital in the back and he might have to pay for his previous transgressions.

[@ryanb7013]

Every single video of the audio quality shit and I have no idea why. The non stop clicking in every single one of these videos is cringe.

[@Snickerbar-rr9hb]

Vince screwed Bret

[@Jameslfgsmith]

Bret “The Whiner” Hart was over rated and over hyped! THERE I SAID IT!!

[@timjummichuck]

It's not un-vince like to lie to talent

[@dwaynemenzies8824]

Dubbya See Dubbya

[@StarCadet]

If Hart signed a twenty year contract with WWF, then how was he able to jump to WCW?

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

Let him out of his contract.

[@maxxdahl6062]

Vince gave him an out.

[@kjo2130]

lol that 20 year contract was trash

[@tammyforbes2101]

Never been a Bret Hart Fan! Dude just seems like he thinks he is something he is not, a Hero! He is nothing more then a wrestler and TV star which is plenty but he just has this attitude like he is the only one ever Being right about anything!

[@kelman727]

He seems to think he was a man of integrity who respected what was right and decried what was wrong. He thinks right.

[@melvynsngltn27]

@@kelman727 Bret was too loyal and could of did what Ric Flair did in 1991 or what Jeff Jarrett did in 1999. He didn't

[@aaronneville1164]

Actions speak louder than words. Bret was secretly in talks with WCW in 1989 and again in 91/92, but the money wasn't right and Bret didn't like the dirtsheets finding out. Bret has also admitted to being a heavy cheater throughout his marriage. Loyalty and integrity? Don't think so.

[@aaronjackson9385]

@@aaronneville1164 the cheater aspect? Agreed. But whats wrong with trying to maximize your earning potential in such a brutal business??

[@TherealHazlett]

Well, Bischoff is a notorious liar.

[@TheSpanishAnnounceTable]

Hulk Hogan is the most boring wrestler in the history of the business.

[@justmythoughts2786]

Bret was a mark he just wanted the belt that’s it .., I mean Bret it’s fake it’s a fake belt and you was a fake champion

[@quarenteam829]

Bischoff talks trash

[@slamponyp]

BTW it was Tom Brady's choice to leave.

[@Snickerbar-rr9hb]

Vince is a liar

[@jamalmosley5306]

Wwe screw bret then lost Shawn to back injury karma

[@Adam-km3xy]

Bret screwed Bret ...

[@ChadIsAmazingMakeADifference]

Meltzer said Mabel. lol. jk.

[@cats362]

bret screwed bret

[@kelman727]

Yes. Lots of morons believe that.

[@cats362]

@@kelman727 lol hey moron bret just admitted himself keep up with the times

[@SignOfTheTimes008]

@@cats362 Post a reference to this instead of just declaring that. Many wrestlers, including those he was at odds with at the time have disclosed that he got screwed over. In other interviews Jim Ross has said that Bret wanted to stay, but it wasn't in the budget with HBK and he was basically pushed out. Odd that he's going back on that here it seems.

[@kelman727]

hlk j So post a link supporting your claim, or you’re an even bigger moron than we already think.

[@donnelladams340]

@@cats362 Vince screwed Bret and Vince got a nice black eye