Jim Cornette on Eric Bischoff Saying Bret Hart Was Boring

From Episode 177 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
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[@MilMaska]

"Eric Bischoff woudnt know a good idea if it ran him over" - Bret Hart

[@SteveSport_]

WORD

[@gunitantk]

Yup all except that nwo idea, the one that changed the whole wrestling culture.

[@MJ_Weaver]

@@gunitantk Taken from Japan

[@gunitantk]

@@MJ_Weaver influenced yes, like everything else in wrestling has an influence. Just because it's easy to not like the guy doesn't mean he shouldn't get the enormous credit he deserves for helping put the wrestling business on the map.

[@wrestlingtapes2036]

Eric stole Nwo from Japan too

[@brettconnerley8670]

Bret Hart was amazing to watch and very realistic. The feud with Stone Cold was classic. The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

the feud with stone cold was so good because stone cold made it good. he made people care about it with his promo work. put anyone in that feud with bret and we'd never be talking about it.

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

People harp on Austin/McMahon, but I feel that Austin and Bret was right up there with it as one of the best feuds in history. It got to the point that it felt surreal to me when Austin inducted Bret into the HOF, because I just KNEW they hated each other.

[@fmthebaron]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 I bet Pillman would've had an epic feud with Bret in place of Austin.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

@@fmthebaron because pillman was interesting. it still wouldn't be on the level of an austin feud, though.

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 Nobody else could’ve filled Bret’s role, because his family history juxtaposed with Austin’s rebelliousness was what made the program work in the first place. Not to mention the fact that if Bret had lost his smile or decided to squash Steve, he may not have reached those heights in the Attitude era.

[@iluvinternalcombustion]

Probably the best analysis of Bret's style I've ever heard, "his matches made sense!." And therefore, since they made sense they were great no matter what type of match it was.

[@derpderpin1568]

no. he was the most boring wrestler of his era BY FAR. literally the worst thing about his era and all he has done for the past 25 years is bitch and cry.

[@BAztid]

It also explains why Bischoff didn't see anything in him.

[@EnterThePug]

I know Bret comes across as serious and a bit grouchy, but I just find him so likeable. He’s got bucket loads of integrity, and his matches are second to none. Been watching his heel turn on the WWE Network recently, and he’s had me in stitches. BOY TOY!!!

[@17thNO]

I agree

[@TheRealAhoy]

It's not reported often, I think he doesn't toot his own horn because he wants Owen to be remembered as "the funny one", but Bret was just as funny to the boys, Owen was more a troll, Bret had dry witty storytelling kind of humour. I think he's happy letting Owen be known as the humorous one in the family.

[@mattypaul87]

Let's face it - Bischoff paid Bret a ton of money to come over to WCW just to stick it to the WWF. He was relying on that shock factor of Bret jumping ship instead of actually planning what to do with him. A perfect example is him doing things against the nWo, only to join them a few months later. To me, that showed WCW had no clue what to do with Bret from a storyline perspective.

[@charlest5604]

Exactly. Him joining the nwo is one of the worst booking decisions of all time.

[@micmaliss]

Perfectly said.

[@moonsaves]

And he accidentally caused the most "real" thing in wrestling and gave WWF fuel for the Attitude Era fire as a result.

[@drg5352]

Bischoff didn't know what to do with anyone. The booking was all over the place and shitty, with the only thing being an angle he stole from NJPW, and only managed to make work because he had dumped tons of money on WWF stars. Then he screwed it up entirely, making half the roster NWO, tagging the whole promotion as WCW/NWO, and no one knowing who was a heel or face (sound familiar?) Basically, he got lucky with catching WWF at a really low point, and that's it. When it came down to following through, he only had one trick, and couldn't even do that well.

[@saj8]

I had been saying this for years. Bischoff was nothing but a one trick pony whose 15 minutes were almost up at that point.

[@TheVoidofNothing11]

"Bret's matches made sense." King of The Ring 93. Three matches all different, and fits with this statement. Great example of that.

[@ricosalvaje5802]

That was one of the greatest performance of a wrestler ever.

[@grimsvaultstreaming3956]

all boring cause bret is and was fucking boring

[@SteveSport_]

Bret was an excellent wrestler who exemplified what a Professional Wrestler is and should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His storytelling prowess was superb. Look at his storylines with Owen, Stone Cold, revamping The Hart Foundation(Pillman, Davey Boy, Anvil & Owen)...to Michaels....

[@grimsvaultstreaming3956]

@@SteveSport_ and yet his matches were boring so

[@SteveSport_]

@@grimsvaultstreaming3956 To each their own. Bret could work with anyone and both would come out better. Just saying

[@rosserjake]

Bret Hart's promos were one of the best things about the WWF in 1997. They just felt so raw and authentic. His in- ring ability, speaks for itself.

[@stucazzo2000]

His previous mic stuff was average at best. But holy shit! 1997 Mic Bret was fantastic. His promos were real and authentic like you said.

[@TheKestevon]

Bret didn't have bizzare gimmick but on mic he spoke like a person having a feud in real life.

[@michaeltracy2725]

It really is overlooked when people talk about all time promo work. He had some cheesy promos prior to that but who didn’t in pro wrestling? At least he was able to sound authentic when in a feud. His ‘97 stuff was also made better by the fact that he actually felt that way about pro wrestling. Yeah he leaned into it as he should have with the anti-USA sentiment but it created a unique situation. He’d turn heel to face by crossing the border and it was real heat from the crowds in both sides. I sure it has been done in wrestling somewhere else but I can’t think of any other character/s who pulled this type of angle.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

The Shawn Michaels Bret Hart feud from 1995-97 was better than anything Bischoff ever did

[@derpderpin1568]

yikes. Bret was the most boring wrestler of his era and it's not even remotely close.

[@cloud8317]

Great insight from Jim Cornette. I think a lot of people misunderstood what makes Bret great. A lot of his stuff is understated but it was logical and he could get anyone to have good lengthy matches which is really hard to do.

[@stucazzo2000]

Bret could have a 5-star match with a chair. :) He is the GOAT.

[@derpderpin1568]

except every single one of those lengthy matches was a terrible boring slog. most overrated wrestler in history and it's not even close.

[@joshuayoung8381]

@@derpderpin1568 you're entitled to your opinion but in general he made himself a superstar and made even bigger superstars with his excellence...I'd be interested to know who your favorite guys are from that era ...chances are Bret made them bigger

[@stpierrecanada1]

@@derpderpin1568 Eric is that you? Hahahaha you mad bro?

[@steveaustin330]

@@stpierrecanada1 It's definitely Eric.

[@p.d.l7023]

EB: Bret Hart was boring. No wonder WCW imploded under his watch. Also, let Eddie, Jericho, Benoit and more slip out of his hands.

[@PeteUnsigned]

Like Steve Austin....

[@kendyer8761]

Letting Benoit go may have for the best c9nsidering....you know

[@Bale4Bond]

Eddie and Benoit admittedly weren't charismatic when they were in WCW. Guerrero learnt how to become a character in the WWF and ended uo becoming a great wrestler. Benoit just kept on being a boring technical wrestler and ended up...well. Jericho was on his way to becoming a great wrestler but didn't become truly great until he turned heel in 2008. He's now heading backwards again, though.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

it imploded because he signed boring guys like bret hart. bret leaving WWF didn't hurt their ratings and didn't help WCW. WWF's ratings only went up after he was gone and it's because they moved on to more interesting people, like stone cold, rock, and mankind.

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

Bale4Bond To be fair Benoit was intense inside the ring, outside of it he clearly struggled to put personality into his promos. Still a more personality displayed than any other modern wrestler today and he came off like a tough smaller guy that could take it to the bigger guys like angle.

[@mikedemopoulos2210]

As a kid Bret was my favorite wrestler, was in attendance for SummerSlam when he fought Owen in the cage. Still one of my favorite matches I’ve seen live

[@12012channel]

He was a hero to millions of kids. I doubt 5 - 8 years olds even care about 5 star matches. At least back then. Plus he was underrated as a talker and at character work. The Hart Foundation vs America thing was one my favorite storylines as well.

[@juice4080]

His promo just before the match is still IMO one of the greatest face promo i've ever heard

[@awesomeatronik]

@2005 Cool Year depends on where you live

[@thekidfromiowa]

Match wasn't a floppy floppy spotfest but it definitely had psychology and storytelling.

[@KDonkey4lyf]

@2005 Cool Year that’s hogan, there weren’t many like him. That’s like comparing every basketball player to Jordan. When Bret was champ the wwf as a whole wasn’t really doing well so you can’t really put it all on him. hogan got hella stale too that’s why he left and turned heel on WCW

[@lightning116]

Eric Bischoff: the man who called "Stone Cold" Steve Austin a generic wrestler who couldn't draw a dime for WCW and fired him. Eric Bischoff: the man who could've driven a fatal blow to Vince McMahon and the WWF in 1997 with Starrcade and it's Hogan/Sting main event, but allowed the inmates to run the asylum and refused to put his foot down. Blame Hogan and Nick Patrick all you want, Eric should be mentioned as one of the names behind this blunder. Eric Bischoff: the man who would much rather hang on with guys like Hogan and Nash because he wanted to be part of the cool kids table. ERIC BISCHOFF: the man that flushed numerous PPV buys with a Hollywood Hogan vs Goldberg main event on a random Monday Nitro just so he could beat Raw in the ratings. That guy is calling Bret Hart boring. Well if he was so boring, Eric, why did you sign him? Other than trying to stick it to Vince McMahon for the hundredth time? I've always figured that Eric Bischoff was a joke and this pretty much seals it.

[@Rjensen2]

Stone Cold Steve Austin never wrestled in WCW. That was Stunning Steve Austin, and that's a big difference.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

@@Rjensen2 Same person Different gimmicks

[@NitroNEXT]

You can't "put your foot down" and force someone to do something when they've been given creative control in their contract. Russo tried to throw his weight around with Hogan and it was a disaster. The best Eric could have done was not give Hogan so much creative control to begin with but then Hogan would have never agreed to sign with WCW.

[@lilgucci6847]

@@NitroNEXT no it actually wasn't that bad it exposed the business and hogan

[@Studio732JRL]

@@Rjensen2 You must have been at the top of your fucking class.

[@kovulion7777]

Jim's totally correct on Eric changes his stories, if you listen to his podcasts and other stories, he keeps changing the story and says he doesn't remember if someone tries to correct him

[@amirpourghoureiyan1637]

Eric's just mad that Bret called him out as a horrible promoter, he was buddying up to Bret for years until he told him what he thought of him.

[@georgesalgado8783]

Bret is a no-nonsense straight shooter and can come across as a bit dry but Bret is a once in a lifetime talent that current performers and aspiring wrestlers have to study if they ever want to have even a little bit of believability and success in the business. The Owen tribute match against Benoit is a masterclass of technical magic.

[@HPKazan]

Yeah. And the El Dandy promo was a thing a beauty. For a ‘’boring’’ guy, he could cut a promo better than a lot of other wrestlers. Bischoff is just a silly clown.

[@RandalfElVikingo]

@@HPKazan My favorite promo was when he started calling Michaels and Triple H degenerates lol.

[@HPKazan]

@@RandalfElVikingo Fitting

[@taofeng718]

You think Owen was the better package? He was no Bret but I think Owen did have the mic skills over Bret and was a damn great wrestler himself. Idk something I’ve thought about.

[@georgesalgado8783]

@@taofeng718 I think Owen had a more diverse style than Bret but Owen wasn't too serious about the life of a wrestler. He wanted to make his money and leave and be with his family. Bret was a pure bred wrestler who took his craft very serious to the point where it sometimes worked against him. Owen was amazing but Bret in my humble opinion (Mic skills aside) is the better wrestler by a hair.

[@Halbared]

Eric Bishoff doesn't need to reinforce how little he knew about wrestling. But he seems happy to constantly exhibit it and flaunt his ignorance.

[@vb2806]

@Two Masta So the guy that he bought for more money than most of his wrestlers was boring? Then why would he spend so much money on Bret?

[@xavierwilliams2228]

Brother bret was a good in ring worker but he was boring.

[@Halbared]

@Two Masta Eric had already spent that money, the screwjob happened as a direct result of Bret being already under contract to WCW, for more money than Eric 'clueless' Bishoff had spent thus far.

[@kpax45]

Ignorance and arrogance, is a really bad combination to have , Bischoff has them both in abundance!

[@Halbared]

@@kpax45 He was doubly blessed. :D

[@1776Sledge]

Bret Hart’s wrestling matches were like reading a story from a book. It had a beginning, middle with a climax and an end.

[@Beatles0223]

So, he wasn't a bore. "Shame" on him. You no doubt thought Hulk Hogan could actually wrestle. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@1776Sledge]

@@Beatles0223 I haven’t the slightest clue how you could arrive at that conclusion by reading what I said. Bret Hart is the GOAT.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

@@1776Sledge Good wrestler Great skills Good IQ Great look Decent character Average mic skills But he never drew a dime as champion Is he top 10-15? Yes Did he have some of the finest matches of all time? Yes (WMX, WM13, etc.) Is he the greatest in WWF history? Absolutely Not

[@1776Sledge]

@@dumisatonyjohnson8145 The Hitman was definitely a draw internationally, as he was a phenomenon all over Europe and Canada. Also, many people agree that Bret’s run was affected by all the negative press the WWE had because of the steroid trials. He’s definitely within the top 10 in anyone’s list if they know what they’re talking about. By your logic, Eddie Guerrero is the worst wrestler ever because he was the worst draw as WWE Champion.

[@jakeh6980]

“Bret Harts matches were like reading a story from a book”. Lmfao Jesus Christ

[@hauweiguy9587]

Brett Harts best feud was against Austin, the rivalry based on polar opposites, the in ring work was the icing on the cake.

[@Tun-Dar]

Bret is easily in my top 5 of all time. Great worker and one of the best when it comes to psychology of all time.

[@TheVoidofNothing11]

This. He was my in my top growing up, absolutely loved him.

[@joshuagumpert8910]

His submission match with Austin was pure excellence... Top Five Of All Time

[@MrTurtle15]

His mic skills were horrible

[@torymason4651]

Overhyping him maybe top 10 but you got to have mic skills to be top 5

[@adambedard8641]

His matches vs. Mr. Perfect were, well... Perfect!

[@gamechanger700]

This is coming from the same guy who couldn't capitalize the momentum of Bret Hart when he was the hottest wrestler due to the Montreal screw job

[@sleazyfellow]

This for sure. Bret could of had big impact right out the gate. Bischoff just wanted all former WWF stars and for Bret, he just wanted to shelve him. Bret had the hottest feud outside sting vs nWo in 97 with Steve Austin.. Bischoff had no clue about wrestling. nWo and that's it. Even when a megastar landed in his lap in goldberg he fucked that up too.

[@RichSmithson]

Yeah puts him in the NWO and puts him in US Title matches. Bret should have been pushed to main event straight away. Him and Sting could have had an awesome run with Benoit being implemented in 99. But no we got Hogan.

[@Kas58223]

Absolutely what a opportunity that was but they had no clue what to do with Bret Hart image if that was swerve he wasn’t going to WCW he resigned with the WWF secretly and took good few months of to rest etc but then showed up when HBK saying I drove Bret Hart out and cue the music and HBK has the look that he saw a ghost

[@thekidfromiowa]

There was a no compete clause IIRC but there's no excuse for underutilizing him after that restriction was lifted.

[@raulo19999]

He was only hot because of the Montreal Screw job and that would only go so far. Bret as a person was boring. His matches may have been incredible to watch but there was nothing beforehand to interest people in spending so much money on ppv or even watch it on TV. The ratings and ppv buys bear that out. Bret didn't draw. Shawn didn't either.

[@jeffreymark475]

Hart Foundation in 97 was the last time where the foreign heel(s) actually worked

[@jasoncrane1928]

The anti-US run that the Hart family had with Brett doing the hard lifting, was one of the best promo runs in the nineties. No he was not the most electrifying promo, but when you gave him a chance to believe in what he was doing and what he was saying, he could give Flair a run for his money. The fact that the WCW did not run with that anti American theme, and turn him heel, when he arrived, just shows how Bischoff lacked vision. Like the culture back then he just looked for the next weeks ratings and not the long term, except for the NWO and even then the WCW diluted that by then splitting into different factions. They had a good chance there with Brett and Jericho and Lance Storm and then the Latino faction. With three strong factions which had good leadership, and the Flair led company guys like Sting and Page etc,, this could have been the foundation for a real challenge to WWE, but the writers let side down.

[@endrsgm]

the latino faction never really grew and mostly was just konan

[@smac919]

While I agree he should have been a heel in WCW.. but not right away. Bret shouldnt appeared until he could actually wrestle, I thought it was dumb they announced they had signed him before his non-compete was up. They should have Bret say to the public that he retired to just train other wrestlers like his dad, and had Bret legitimately debut. The Sting vs Hogan thing that Bret debuted with would have been alright if that ref didnt fuck up the spot.. but if Bret could actually have wrestled that night, you could have had Bret fending off the NWO guys from getting to the ring to help Hogan. Theres sooooooooo many things you could have done that would have been so much better than what happened.

[@DanielKeithMorrison]

yo bret being anti was the best of his promo skills ever

[@stevenhenry5267]

Beginning of the Attitude era. Calling Michaels a pussy on tv made my jaw drop.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Bret wasnt flashy, but his work made sense down to the smallest detail.

[@Chaz4543]

His outfit was flashy which made up for it.

[@steveomac385]

So did Lance Storm's. Didn't make him a draw though.

[@exorphitus]

@2005 Cool Year Bret was never given the chance to be that level of draw because neither WWE or WCW was willing to present him that way. Vince had him lose to Yokozuna and then had Hogan immediately come out and win the title in seconds making Bret look like a fool. Hogan then refused to wrestle Bret for the title as he'd agreed to leaving Bret, again, looking like a second place chump. Imagine how over Bret would have been if he'd had the chance to beat Hulk Hogan clean? Instead he was the ultimate transitional champion in WWE. He was never treated as 'The Guy'. He was only there to hold the belt until 'The Guy' won it from him. IN WCW he was used to rehash the Montral Screwjob, then he was buried and forgotten until Bischoff did what he does with every wrestler he has no idea how to use and had him join the NWO. In WCW just like in WWE, he was never presented as equal with the top talent. You might argue that such is proof that he wasn't equal to them, but neither company seemed interested it giving him a chance to try.

[@goharderthanyesterday3935]

He’s basically the Tim Duncan of wrestling

[@RobwLPOC]

@2005 Cool Year well Hogan didn't draw like Hogan when he first went to wcw. It wasn't until the NWO started that he actually started drawing money for him

[@gochasingwaterfalls9970]

Bret’s matches looked like real fights that’s what made him special and what made his matches dramatic.

[@pikkon899]

The only thing I found boring about Bret were his promos as a babyface. I always loved his work as a kid and still do as an adult. Even as a kid who enjoyed more of the show aspect of Pro Wrestling instead of the technical/in ring work, Bret's matches had me glued to the TV because of how physical the matches were and how well Bret sold every single spot in the ring. I thought he was legitimately getting his ass kicked when I saw his matches because of how he took his bumps in the ring.

[@itsterrific]

Ultimately, WCW failed because the matches didn’t live up to the angles. They built the interest, but the payoff was ALWAYS disappointing. That’s what Bischoff always seems to ignore. A three act play will always be a disappointment if the third act is a disappointment.

[@deadend1041]

No you're mistaken. WCW did not fail it was shut down deliberately but not because of ratings and not because it wasn't making money but because AOL didn't want it once the time Warner merger went through

[@JohnnyFlash-]

@@deadend1041 That was the final nail in the coffin, but ratings tanked much before that. The finger poke of doom, Sting/Hogan and Warrior/Hogan were all big parts of that. Which is why it's even more frustrating what WWE did to DDP when he came in, because his matches were constantly the bright spot in the main event. I know people who stopped watching WCW after Halloween Havok 98 because we saw Warrior/Hogan which was terrible, then the feed cut out before the great match that DDP and Goldberg had for the title.

[@arami187]

Bischoff knows how to hit the Climax of the Angle, but didnt really know how to end it. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@stanleyfranks9891]

When the Game of thrones last episode was over I wondered to myself…. Did Eric Bischoff write this!!

[@NitroNEXT]

@@JohnnyFlash- It was being sabotaged before that. Eric said himself that he was given no extra budget to accomodate for Thunder. They just expected him to pull off another show despite already being stretched thin with Monday Nitro. That said I do think they spent too much on the roster, guys were notorious for not working much and getting great paydays regardless.

[@atikulislam6359]

Bret Hart's match against Steve austin in wrestlemania 13 is one of the finest wrestling match ever. It was the perfect example of professional wrestling.

[@kensummerlin180]

The double turn. They pulled it off. Easily one of the best matches in wrestling history.

[@stucazzo2000]

It was a brawl from what I remember. But what a brawl! ( I think they fought in the audience for half the match?)

[@derpderpin1568]

not even top 1000 but ok. bret is the most boring wrestler of his era by far and he dragged that match down so much.

[@atikulislam6359]

@@derpderpin1568 Go watch those boring snoozefest of favourite cosplayers. I will watch the best match described by the wrestling legends and critics alike.

[@bigolebot]

​@@atikulislam6359"critics" lmao you've lost credibility

[@GFWFight]

Bret's legacy has just grown with time, and it continues to grow. He said himself years ago that he just wanted people to remember him, and boy, do we ever. His matches still hold up today, and are classics. Nobody will ever be able to match the quality of his in-ring work. What a wrestler. Untouchable.

[@Matthew-mf6xg]

Greatest wrestler of all time.

[@Treyski4410]

nah i think shawn was abetter in ring worker than him stone cold hell even chris benoit that awful garbage but brett was good

[@MyUserTubeAccount]

still boring though

[@williewest2998]

@@Treyski4410 Nah Bret was better, only thing Shawn does better is talk

[@YEAHBIGGIECHEESE]

He is truly the goat! Real detailed fans know this

[@mathewaconley7810]

Bret was an incredible performer. He used to get you so invested in the matches and made it all so believable as a kid watching. This is just sour grapes because Bischoff gets a lot of flak for wasting him in WCW. He’s trying to rewrite history to deflect from his own shortcomings. Sorry Eric, you messed up with Bret bottom line.

[@MarkDemeo]

Ever since I heard Gorilla Monsoon coin the phrase Exelance of Execution,it made me watch his matches more. To just see how well he did the moves and holds.

[@ralph8677]

You know who else Bischoff thought was boring & bland? "Stunning" Steve Austin. Maybe Bischoff didn't have the best eye for charisma.

[@JohnnyLouis1145]

There's a difference between having great matches and being a great talker. austin had both. Face Bret couldn't cut a promo. It was only after he turned heel that he found his voice.

[@autobotstarscream765]

@@JohnnyLouis1145 But once he did find his voice... 🔥

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

That's not true, they fired Austin because they thought he was too injury prone and that the injuries he had accumulated at that point in his career were career ending. Anyways, that's what he said.

[@NickPoeschek]

As recalled by Bret: “The funny thing about it all is I remember [WWE Chairman Vince McMahon] saying that to me," the Hitman said. "He goes, 'WCW would never know what to do with a Bret Hart.' And, you know, it's like, after about three or four months there, it's like, I realized how incredibly true that was -- that they really didn't know what to do with me.”

[@troystaunton254]

That’s true they didn’t know what to do with him, how ever I do agree with Eric bischoff, Bret sits there saying they don’t know what to do with him, but never says what he should be doing instead. If Bret doesn’t like his creative he needs to be proactive and bring in alternatives.

[@ignoranceisnotablessing615]

@@troystaunton254 Bret can never not give his opinion

[@StuUngar]

@@troystaunton254 I agree with that. Youve never heard Bret give a good idea for someone else. Bret’s entire idea for wrestling was, “Give me the belt. Book me to beat everyone with the sharpshooter.” The nWo was a bigger angle than Bret Hart ever was and Sting in 97 was bigger than Bret Hart had ever been, even when you take Bret’s 1992 and 1997 years into account. Yet Bret’s big idea was to toss those two things aside and that “they shouldve brought me in and had me beat Hogan for the belt.” Anytime Bret has ever been asked about WCW, he always basically says that what WCW shouldve done was have him beat Hogan for the belt and be champion until the end of time.

[@moeswagger2329]

@@StuUngar He also talked about putting him in programs with Mysterio, Jericho or Benoit but they shut that down too

[@moeswagger2329]

@@troystaunton254 he did bring in alternatives but they didn't let him go for it

[@train9703]

Eric Bischoff is the perfect 80's action villain. Like the ones that talk smooth and big with an army and a 5 foot thick shield around them. Outside of having a smile that made his face the ideal place to put a fist I can't say Bischoff brought anything good and original to the table as far as the business of wrestling goes. To hear him talk about Bret Hart as a failure is ironic, baffling and laughable.

[@derpderpin1568]

What? Bischoff has been relevant for the past 20 years while Bret vanished and only appears to cry about stuff. He's literally spot on, Bret is BY FAR the most boring wrestler of his era. Other people wouldn't also say this if they didn't think it. Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you get to dismiss the way many people legitimately feel.

[@train9703]

@@derpderpin1568 🤣🤣🤣

[@alienlife7754]

@@derpderpin1568 you have no idea who Brett Hart is if that is who you see. And Hart didn’t “fade away”. Bill Goldberg ruined his career by not being safe in the ring. But I’ll bet an untalented fool like Goldberg with his three moves is more your speed. Pathetic.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

@@derpderpin1568 your name says it all. You werent even there to watch.

[@joeperry2065]

@@derpderpin1568 yeah u have no fuckin clue what your talking bout. Brett was never boring . He had some of the greatest fueds and matches of all time. He had great promos as well. Bret vs Michaels is one of the 5 greatest rivalries ever. Brett vs Austin is top 10 too. He also had great runs with Taker and Nash. And those were the best matches Nash ever had. How the fuck u can get boring out of all that is beyond me.

[@olschoolTonyCarter]

Bret was once like the "Michael Jackson" of pro wrestling.

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

The fact that Bischoff had singled out Bret, Ric Flair, Piper, and if I’m not mistaken Raven at a talent meeting as workers who doesn’t make WCW money says it all.

[@Hi-kq1vi]

He said the only guys in the room that had drawn money were Hogan & Piper, which pissed many off-especially Flair who I believe still holds the record for most 10,000 people attendances ever. But of course in Bischoff's mind you only drew money if you were a star in WWF in the 1980's.

[@DannNotDaniel]

I think he ment at that time from the ppvs Hogan and piper main evented

[@treywar25]

@Ze TheGame yeah, that's strange how so many wrestling fans talk out of their ass and other fans just go along with it lol.

[@jordan_8329]

@Ze TheGame Raven and his flock could have been something if they kept Raven strong in the TV or cruiserweight title picture and let Kidman or Saturn win more often. Goldberg beating Raven for the TV title was the breakout moment for Goldberg and is the most memorable Goldberg match to this day for me.

[@RichSmithson]

How the F could he say someone like Flair wasn't making money. Go back and watch Nitros back then and see how many people are throwing up the 4 horseman hand sign even when Flair and the boys weren't even on the show. Then you go to Flair territory and they are cheering him even as a heel.

[@Anto_Skum]

Even when I was a kid I never thought he was boring. Even though he was "The best there is" I always felt like I was watching an underdog and because of that I was always invested. He had a cool song, shades and a leather jacket, he was pretty badass to a kid.

[@WolfNutrition]

Same feeling here

[@colleenmckenzie5471]

I agree Bret wasn't as big draw like hogan. Hogan couldn't wrestle psychology wise like Bret could.

[@troykennedy1087]

He is badass. Anyone trained by Stu Hart is a badass in my eyes!!

[@QuentinDude]

@@colleenmckenzie5471 Vince didn't want Hogan doing much in the ring so he wouldn't get hurt.

[@sammacdaibheid]

Hogan can't wrestle at all! His matches are all the same. He gets pummeled for 15 minutes, he goes into a state of Hulkamania, he wins. Rinse, repeat.

[@johnmcgraw972]

Bret Hart was boring to alot of people

[@dereklanier6075]

Bret Hart didn't go out and try to do five star matches he was just that damn good he just happened to have them

[@stonecoldhitman7662]

Very well said! 👌🏼

[@ghostspectre1861]

I remember Bret calling the US a toilet bowl. His anti-American angle was epic.

[@ironcrosstrainingltd6482]

Crazy heat

[@jakeinator722]

And that's a shoot, It still is a toilet bowl.

[@barringtonfisher87]

That heel turn was the best ever. Because it wasn't a shock heel turn where he attacked his friend/tag partner for no reason. It was a build up of constantly being screwed. It was so great

[@Tordeques]

That angle was so cool because they did Canadian shows a lot back then, too, so he'd be a heel in the US and a face in Canada. Brilliant.

[@tinotica]

The slow build from the December 1996 all the way to Wrestlemania 13 was probably the greatest lead-ups to a heel turn ever. It’s only competition is Macho Mans in 1989

[@brianjames7712]

He was no mantaur but bret was good

[@charlest5604]

Don't forget about the Yeti or Giant Gonzalez!

[@brianmcleod1683]

@@charlest5604 that’s Yetayyyyy to you....

[@charlest5604]

@@brianmcleod1683 My bad. I always get distracted by the erotic Hogan and Giant sandwich!

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

Where is the Gobbledy Gooker at too? He never gets any credit

[@pedroeggers7315]

@@charlest5604 e³34

[@stevensingleton1412]

I guess Eric never seen the jam packed houses in Canada go crazy over Bret especially when he was heel with Hart Foundation. That Bret heel turn was amazing!

[@rong805]

That's hilarious, at the end, I had totally forgotten about Zbyszco's funny names he would give people,

[@mitch6962]

Heely gameshow host is the best description of Bischoff I've ever heard.

[@anthonyclark9441]

"Ken Doll", and "Weatherman wannabe" are the best that I've heard.

[@johnnyp4928]

"He don't know shit from apple butter" was it for me lmao

[@Dubyahh]

I do love the dude as an entertainer tho

[@garyschneider8700]

A blind used car salesman.

[@DaveMoth]

Bret was an amazing wrestler and extremely entertaining his work in 1997 was outstanding.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

when has bret hart ever cut a good promo? wrestling is fine, but you have to be able to cut promos so people care about what is going on in the ring. bret hart was boring on the mic, so people stopped caring.

[@Halbared]

Yeah, he was the complete package in 1997.

[@antoni.guzman]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 when was he not a good promo u don’t have to go out there and recite poetry, his promos were true to his gimmick he said he was the best and he went out and proved he was the best.

[@JamalTheTitan]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 ...literally all the time?

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

@@JamalTheTitan if you have no standards, then sure. he could move his mouth and words came out, but no one cared. ratings prove it. you can try to put your personal preference into the argument, but facts prove otherwise.

[@morrnmanderson7376]

Bischoff is crazy. Bret Harts matches were great to watch. He had superb runs with the Intercontinental belt, and then also the Heavyweight Championship. He sold being hurt great, and his moves in the ring always came as being very snug and crisp. And like Conette said, Hart didnt just do a crapload of highspots. His matches made sense.

[@anthonycummins9558]

Bret was crisp in the ring. He told a different story with each person he performed with. Watching wrestling bios "reliving the wars "illustrates how one dimensional the booking of nitro was. And I am talking the summer of 96. Their high point in the Monday night war.

[@mosho3611]

I remember putting on the Wrestlemania - Bret Hart vs Austin match for a group of people that hated wrestling, they thought wrestling was a joke and silly. 5mins into Hart vs Austin, those same people were on the edge of their seat and totally invested... one of them had an epiphany "I know it's not real, but I can't stop watching" Bret made people believe despite What they knew about wrestling.

[@joni1405]

Bret Hart's promos were actually great later in his career. His heel promos in 1997 were consistently excellent. Hart was far more charismatic and was better on the mic than people remember. I actually agree with Bischoff that people don't care about 5 star matches and care about promos more, but Hart is a terrible example of this.

[@TravJam317]

The quote in the question was out of context. Bischoff was talking about how Bret was in WCW. Bret's WCW promos were terrible. Bret claims that WCW didn't give him anything worth talking about and he considers the promo where he talks about his cat his best WCW promo.

[@FredCracklin]

@@TravJam317 The El Dandy promo was legendary though.

[@LooseCollectorCollectibles]

@@FredCracklin " How about Hypnosis?!"

[@derpderpin1568]

wait what? brets promos and matches were the most boring content of his entire era. no idea what you're talking about.

[@wingzero2348]

@@LooseCollectorCollectibles Psycosis, you mean Psycosis!

[@partypoppers1988]

Anyone who remembers Bret in 1997 knows he wasn't boring.

[@aoisora1445]

@@KHLB516 it is as subjective as the music industry... he is a bigger draw than people realize and he is also over rated in some aspects at the same time, but he was needed cause we have too many wannabe shawn michaels,

[@KairiPrime]

@@KHLB516 Pretty sure that honor goes to Diesel actually. Bret might not have been a super huge draw in the states, but he was super over both in Canada, obviously, but also in Europe. You also have to remember that wrestling itself was more or less shunned for a time following the steroid scandal. It took a long time for the business itself to pick back up following that, not just the WWF/E but wrestling as a whole.

[@robotube7361]

@@KairiPrime Sorry but Im from Europe and no. Bret was not a draw. Never was. He cant be put in the same sentence as Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Andre The Giant, The Undertaker, The Ultimate Warrior or Sting when it comes to making money. Heck even some heels made more money than him. He was just boring to watch because there was nothing special about him as a character. He had no gimmiks, he was not insane, aggressive, over the top, heck he wasnt even a womanizer. He as a character didnt have anything going on for him. He didnt have a hulking physique, nor height. Its just nothing in the eyes of an average fan. People who are so into wrestling are so caught up in knowing grapling techniques, names of techniques, executions yada yada, the forget to understand that majority of people dont care about that stuff. They just wanna be drawn into a story and they want to see freaks (for a lack of a better word) beating eachother's asses. The average fan doesnt give shit about things WWE fanboys care about. From my perspective as a kid, BHH was like watching paint dry. He looked like my neighbour's metalhead son. Ticket sales dont lie bro.

[@KairiPrime]

@@robotube7361 And yet fact remains that several of the legends you mentioned, Undertaker, Rock, Sting, even Shawn Michaels still hold Bret up as one the best of all time. As do millions of regular people who just enjoy watching wrestling. I mean, all you have to do is just look at the comments on any Bret video to see just how many people still love him today. Yeah there are always negatives as well, but there is still a whole lot of love.Ticket sales only matter in the short term. What really makes or breaks a legend is longevity, and like it or not, Bret has that. If he really is as unpopular as you claim, he wouldn't still pack rooms every time he does a signing, or a meet and greet, or a speaking event. He would have faded into the background like many other technically excellent wrestlers have, *cough* Dean Malenko*cough* *cough*Lance Storm*cough*, even with the controversies surrounding him, if he didn't still have so much fan support. Hell a good dozen of his matches wouldn't still be talked about as being all time greats without so many "average" fans loving them. A wrestling journal can say "this match is a great match" all they want. If the fans don't agree, the match most likely won't be remembered. Wrestling, just like any other art form, is subjective. What you like and connect with is going to be different for everyone. Saying things like 'the majority of people don't care' is putting people into boxes they don't really fit in. Especially when I can click on a video of Bret and scroll down and see easily 50+ comments of people saying how much they loved watching Bret as kids. Don't like him, fine. Like or don't like whatever you want. Video views, comments, and people still paying money to see and meet him don't lie bro.

[@KairiPrime]

@@KHLB516 The Attitude Era didn't start until after Bret left, and part of the reason it was so hot was the fallout of the Screwjob. Also, Interestingly enough, a new study based solely on ticket sales of domestic shows where the champion headlined shows that the worst drawing champions based on that fact are as follows. Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Kofi Kingston, and Seth Rollins. So no, the story that Bret was the worst draw in history is just false. He's not even in the top five.

[@PistNRods]

Agree with that statement. He’s like the “default” CAW in any game if you didn’t change any settings down to the move list. Punch, kick, arm drag, arm bar, headlock, atomic drop, elbow drop, drop kick, modified boston crab (sharpshooter). Speed medium, strength medium, endurance medium, charisma medium.

[@Rjensen2]

You obviously have never even watched Bret Hart wrestle.

[@mr.b9613]

Modern fan who never took 2 minutes of his life to watch a Bret match or a Bret highlight. I bet you think CM punk and the miz are better

[@PistNRods]

@@mr.b9613 I’m 43, I don’t hardly even watch the new shit. Watch many Bret matchs grew up with him on my TV. Always thought he was boring. He could drag a 30min match out of anyone…doesn’t mean he was exciting. Bunch of arm bars, leg holds, and walking slowly with his mouth wide open to deliver a second rope elbow drop doesn’t excite me sorry.

[@memewizrd]

@@PistNRodsSTERNUM BUMP

[@amirpourghoureiyan1637]

my dude, he was the guy that they built that standard off of - you should go back and see his contemporaries when he started, hardly any of them did more than 5 moves.

[@Sparkledash1]

Holy shit dude. I will say this, i don't hold Bret in such a high regard as alot of other people do and if you do more power to you my friend. But there is no denying that Bret carried the company in the mid 90s during a very bad time for wrestling. And he also deserves credit for giving Steve Austin the springboard for his later career. Bret was a fantastic worker in the ring, who was able to tell in-ring stories, that barely anybody could. He was one of the few guys that could make great matches with guys that where twice the size as him, like Yokozuna or Diesel. And let's not forget his great feud with his brother Owen, which was one of the few things from that era that kept you coming back. But hey, let's give that boring wrestler a deal of 2.5 million a year. Uncle Teddy can borrow me some of it.

[@jgeorge2693]

Also not a fan of hart but I respect his work

[@lightning116]

And don't forget that one-time match he had with a pirate that stole his jacket. Yeah, In Your House 3. The card was terrible, but that Bret Hart match with Jean Pierre Lafitte was not.

[@Anunag1]

I think WCW got filled with corrupt and greedy people who kept wasting money and thus it ran out of businesses.

[@noneyobusiness7525]

Heel hart foundation was phenomenal and Bret showed how entertaining he could be outside of matches

[@vampirascoffin870]

brett in 1997 was epic and untouch damn i love heel hart

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

the WWF almost went out of business in 1997. how is bret hart so great if his company almost folded because he couldn't draw flies to shit?

[@MrJjburgess11]

That was the only time I gave a crap about Bret was when he turned heel. As a baby . Was definitely boring like Eric said.

[@noneyobusiness7525]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 probably because much like everything else in life business has ups and downs wwf was obviously steadily growing its business back and bret was a huge part of it

[@noneyobusiness7525]

@2005 Cool Year i mean he carried a company through low ratings, terrible gimmicks, thin roster with few stars etc etc etc

[@dhotnessmcawesome9747]

"What?" Highest compliment Jim Cornette could possibly give.

[@muds1123]

Bischoff was star struck by Hogan. Didn’t Hogan tell Bischoffs wife to have a session with a stripper and Bischoff was clapping saying yes sir. He didn’t have a clue about wrestling. Bret was one of the greatest.

[@arnavbhagwat4232]

I was born in 2002, by the time I was born, Bret was already out of the ring. But every single match I've seen with him is so damn entertaining. Every one of Bret's matches tell a neat and tight story that even a casual can follow. Bret Hart matches looked so real, regardless of ratings, they just look real and Bret pulled out amazing matches with Papa Shango for heaven's sake. Just watch his Mania match vs Austin, vs Piper, any match vs Michaels, even his matches against Diesel were fun to watch, not to mention that banger of a cage match and the Mania 10 match vs Owen. Even his USA vs Canada promos were gold, although his promos were his weakest ability. Might I add, in my opinion, Bret had a much larger international appeal than even Hogan did. He was a favourite in my country of India and sold out a 100.000 person show here. I'm sorry, but as much as I am a fan of Eric, Eazy E, you are wrong on this one.

[@ricosalvaje5802]

His matches with 123 kid on July 94 Raw was great. Also Bret and Owen teamed up in January 94 vs the Steiner Brothers that match is incredible. That match should have been on a Monday night Raw or a ppv.

[@gamechanger700]

Bret's promos on Shawn were pure gold and his promo work with Austin were great I have seen even more boring guys than Bret,compare Bret's promos to Triple H's boring ass reign of terror promos,Bret wasn't boring

[@ricosalvaje5802]

@@gamechanger700 I would totally rather watch Bret Hart than HHH. HHH in 2000 was incredible, but after that he was never as good.

[@arnavbhagwat4232]

@@ricosalvaje5802 I still haven't even mentioned the few classics he had in WCW, like Hart vs Benoit at Mayhem

[@TheAaronChand]

I was born in in 1993 at 27 weeks premature in 1993 Bret Hart was already an active in WWF untill 1997 when I was 4 years old that's when he left for WCW 1997 creative was great for WWF and a turning point

[@cibida1]

Bret Hart WAS 1997, which was arguably WWF’s greatest year in terms of storylines.

[@dirtmcgirt8269]

Bret's the GOAT IMO. And 97 is personally my favorite year in WWE history.

[@fmthebaron]

HBK, Undertaker, and Bret as the Main Eventers of 1997 made it the best year. Plus Kane, Rock, Owen, Bulldog, Pillman, Austin, Mankind, and HHH as great upper mid carders helped contribute as well.

[@aaronneville1164]

In terms of WWF, he was co-mvp of 97 along with Austin. January to December Austin got hotter and hotter while Bret's steam cooled off by August. Nobody sold merchandise like Stone Cold.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

uh...you guys are aware that "WWF's greatest year in terms of storylines" is also the same year that WWF almost went out of business, right?

[@BizzyIzzy87]

BS

[@richardtrapnell1717]

Most importantly Bret's matches TOLD A STORY.

[@Limitedtom643]

Bret Hart vs The Undertaker at the 1997 Summerslam is one of my top 10 matches of all time

[@shindean]

Obviously Eric is lying because he's tired of ppl calling him a failure for getting the greatest working talent from WWF, not knowing what to do with him, and then crippling him from ever working.

[@Ted_Bell]

Bret vs Goldberg, Bret vs Savage, Bret vs razor, Bret vs DDP. Benoit, Raven, Vampiro, etc. There were plenty of good matches and story to be had. Hogan and Bishoff put him in the NWO to bury him.

[@aymanres]

Bret was a school to learn from..., he's simply one of the best in history and it's enough a lot wrestlers said he know how to protect the opponents in the ring , how I wish to see his technical style in these days ...

[@Speedyreedy1218]

I agree with EB on this one. Owen was the only Hart I was a fan of. Bret was a 😴

[@mastermike1]

Bischoff continues to expose himself.

[@Halbared]

Eric has a capacity for it.

[@Hi-kq1vi]

After eating his bluechew?

[@dannyc3915]

@@Hi-kq1vi lmfao

[@mackspowah3281]

He exposed himself when he gave Brian Pillman a real release from his contract after getting his character over on Eric's tv show so he could go to ECW and leverage a deal with the WWF. Bischoff likes to say he was in on it but I believe Pillman worked him like a sucker

[@King4sshole89]

When Bischoff talks about wrestling, it's shocking that he's been in and around the business for almost thirty-five years.

[@ravenlit]

Eric Bischoff's track record: - Fired Steve Austin from WCW because "you can't market black boots and black trunks", and then pushed Goldberg to the moon (sort of) after he saw how hot Austin got in the WWF - Made Tony Schiavone mock Mick Foley's WWF championship win on live WCW television and how "that'll put a lot of butts in the seats"...only to have 800,000 households switch from WCW to WWF immediately to watch Foley vs. Rock - The Finger Poke of Doom - Put Hogan vs. Goldberg on free TV instead of promoting it to the moon as the biggest PPV match ever - Hiring Bret Hart and then doing nothing with him for his entire WCW run Bret Hart's track record: - Pulled a watchable 20 minutes out of Ric Flair in Hart's first WWF championship win - Wrestled an amazing (and bloodless) cage match with his brother Owen at _SummerSlam '94_ - Called his entire 30-minute match with Davey Boy Smith at _SummerSlam '92_ on the fly after Davey blew up in the first two minutes - Flawlessly executed a double-turn with Steve Austin in their Submission Match at _WrestleMania 13_ - Going into Sudden Death Overtime at the end of the first Iron Man Match against Shawn Michaels at _WrestleMania XII_ (Honorable mention: Bret Hart vs. Tiger Mask I in 1982 is a 20-minute masterpiece back when Hart was still essentially a rookie) Bret Hart isn't boring. Eric Bischoff is a creative moron who couldn't book his way out of a paper bag.

[@marcoluca9232]

It all comes back to what McMahon said about WCW and specifically Bischoff. "They'll never know what to do with a Bret Hart" They had the killshot in their chamber but were too ignorant and incompetent to know how to fire it. Too distracted by the loud, bold and brash imposters of Hall, Nash and Goldberg to see they had the best talent in their company who not only knew how to get himself over but helped immensely in developing and building the star in Stamford who put WWF over the top and out of sight.

[@autobotstarscream765]

Goldberg? An imposter?

[@sherazumerqureshi]

When Bret had strong storylines (wm8, summerslam 1992 etc) his promos were great. Brets issue was that for a large chunk of his run, he didn’t have mega stars to work alongside, since the generation before him all left rather than put him over. An early 90s wwf Bret hart title run that included matches against Randy savage, hogan, warrior, piper, jake, the undertaker etc would have been incredible. The wwf also didn’t do enough to capitalise on his star power in Europe. They could have held a Ppv in Germany (and many other European cities) and drawn 100,000 fans.

[@markellis3036]

100% agree. I was lucky to see Bret in Munich, Germany and the ovation was incredible for him. He was a megastar there.

[@sherazumerqureshi]

@@markellis3036 if I could go back in time and if I had booking power: piper vs bret would have been his first world title feud. Piper would win the belt, claiming that the only reason bret beat him at wm8 was because he had been overly soft and held back. The two would then trade promos and feud, culminating in bret winning the belt at a major ppv held in Berlin, in a stadium with 100,000 fans. After this match, Bret would then defeat piper in a piper retirement match to end the feud. After this feud I’m unsure where we go based on who was around. But one thing is for sure: this is defs better than what we got !

[@sadifmahmud4537]

Jim cornette you’re awesome!! 1 min uploaded and I’m already watching

[@josiahhenson4550]

He's a dumm commie

[@Halbared]

Yip, my favourite wrestling youtube channel.

[@Baastilein31]

@@josiahhenson4550 From an european standpoint he's just reasonable. It's no communism to have a working health care system and a safety net when you lose your job. It's love for your people.

[@kev247365]

Brets promos as a heel were entertaining. Also he had great story lines with Owen, lawler, shawn , hart foundation to name a few

[@urberstud]

Let's dive deeper into the back story as to why Bishoff said this. Bret did a interview where he said...when I showed up in WCW they had nothing for me. No angles, no scripts nada. So he said, one day I approached Eric and said hey...I have a cat named Smoky. How about I come to the ring with him? Eric supposedly said great idea!

[@Will_kid_cortez]

Bret hart's wwf career was more interesting than wcw under bischoff.

[@rubarbstret]

Huge take

[@sethhuntley8359]

I love Bret but I disagree . Respectively.

[@joshkiepper7102]

Nah bro

[@BigFredMachine]

not even close

[@brianticas7671]

No shit. Your pointing out the obvious duh. Everyone knows bret in wcw was miserable ass shit. That looks bad at work when you're miserable. I been there man. Your unhappy and coworkers see it. They don't want you around.

[@BIG_L.O.E]

He wasn't boring, he was just serious. In persona, and in tone

[@BIG_L.O.E]

@2005 Cool Year but who was drawing huge during that time? The early to mid 90s were and are considered a lull from the 80s and then the resurgence of the AE and the Monday night wars...by the time WWE bought WCW and the invasion angle happened Bret was concussed by Oldberg and done...imagine if Bret was there for the invasion, the disgraced former champion with real life heat with Vince coming back to destroy his baby...that's a money printer

[@BIG_L.O.E]

@2005 Cool Year If the match and corresponding vignettes can tell the story then yes all you need is wrestling to compete mainstream. And saying Oldberg is funny idc. I was a kid when Bill was in his prime so yeah I was a fan. The only difference between wrestling now and in the attitude era is the mature themes. But I doubt we'll see the amount of talent on roster top to bottom

[@BIG_L.O.E]

@2005 Cool Year and no Bischoff is an idiot, had he not been WCW would still be around

[@RichSmithson]

Bret was an awesome heel.

[@vb2806]

@2005 Cool Year True, but Bret was good enough to keep the company afloat. He was no hogan, Austin or Rock

[@johnlewisbrooks]

Jim putting Bischoff in his place is GOLD!

[@TIDbitRETRO]

I don’t know how controversial it is to say Bret Hart was boring. He was excellent in the ring, but his promos and character really were pretty flat. His best angles were when he was doing the pro-Canada anti-American stuff in feuds with Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold, two guys who had more than enough charisma to carry those programs. Bret peaked as the head of the Hart Foundation when it was him, Owen, Niedhart, Bulldog, and Pillman. That was a GREAT heel stable.

[@Bale4Bond]

From a character standpoint Bret was certainly dry at times and he wasn't the greatest promo. But he looked like a star and carried himself like one. Him being an awesome wrestler, who could have great matches (that weren't nonsensical spot fests) with almost anyone on the card, is just the cherry on top. Bischoff is dead wrong on that one.

[@potatoman305]

I don't see why being dry is such a problem. Being one of the few straightman in a world of bigger than life characters is a breath of fresh air.

[@brodyjames4126]

I can't tell if Eric is trolling people with this comment. "The ring was his canvas and he would paint masterpieces with his matches." I wish I remembered who said that, I wanna say Bruce Pritchard said it.

[@benitofranklyn4237]

If you look back at his matches, they actually were boring af, he always did the exact same moves in the exact same order and never got heat on the heel by actually selling something.

[@basedelon]

@@benitofranklyn4237 You know nothing.

[@oceandeep318]

@@benitofranklyn4237 What? Hogan's, Goldberg's, Warrior's matches were always the same. Bret's matches were all different. Just watch KOTR 93. And Bret was one of the most realistic sellers. Not over the top unrealistic like Shawn or The Rock (with all due respect, they are two of the best performers of all time). Watch his matches against Diesel or Undertaker. He told a story in every minute of the match. You could see a strategy being told from both wrestlers in the ring, when Bret was one of them. That's ring psychology. Yes, he had some signature moves. Most wrestlers have only 5 moves in their complete move set. Bret had 5 signature moves and literally a hundred moves, he would perform when they made sense. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpaVdWqsqpd6brc

[@brodyjames4126]

You can say the same thing about John Cena, and a lot of other wrestlers who had a working formula for matches. Bret was a master at making others look great with him. Case and point is Tom Magee and that elusive match that made Vince think he had the next Hogan. Having a set of moves is like a catchphrase for lack of a better term. You know it is coming and it either pisses you off or gets you ready to cheer it on. The five moves of doom did the same thing. Bret never got anyone hurt and worked his ass off to make everything look legit. As a kid when Bret was champ he was able to keep me into things a lot more than Hogan could. I am not crapping on Hogan becasue i was more of a Macho Man and Bret Hart as workers had resinated with me. I felt Hogan had his formula too and he could be predictable and boring. But I also had a bad taste in my mouth becasue of how wm9 ended. That killed the business for me as a kid.

[@acidmack1041]

@@benitofranklyn4237 He did the exact same moves in the exact same order?? Hmmm, somebody's never watched King Of The Ring 1993 then. Also you say Bret never got heat on the heel by actually selling something?? Didn't he go the whole of Royal Rumble 1994 playing on the leg injury that The Quebecers gave him in the tag match? One thing Bret is know for was being good at playing on a injury a heel gave him for the rest of the time he was on camera...that comment alone proves you dont have a clue what you are talking about but its not surprising...anybody who uses the term "af" is not old enough to have watched WWF in Bret's era...no adult in his 30's says 'boring af'

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Bret looked like an Olympic-style wrestler to me as a teenager. His work looked more real than anyone else's.

[@roberttrester4030]

LOL!!! "He don't know SHIT from APPLE BUTTER!!!" LOL. Thanks Jim for another great line. I'm going to barrow it. There are SO many others that I have procured from you. You have give us all so many smiles 🙂. I can't thank you enough. We can't thank you enough.

[@calebtaylor9300]

By the time Bret got to wcw he was doing his best work of his career and was one of the hottest superstars at the time. He was hitting on all cylinders. Wrestling, character, talking. Bischoff and wcw fumbled.

[@txmetalhead82xk]

He should have stayed WCW and not joined the NWO. In my opinion. I did love all his chair attacks on the different wrestlers. It was very convincing.

[@Leisure3389]

Funny how much credence some give ATM Eric. Been listening to him on interviews for years. It follows one of two lanes: I don't know/remember or change history to suit your agenda. Have never heard anyone ever calling out Bret for creating revisionist history like you Eric. Cornette's words were spot on...Game Show Host

[@troykennedy1087]

I'm glad Bret took himself and wrestling so seriously. I feel its a large reason as to why his matches were always quality. He is without a doubt a top 3 wrestler to the majority of people who love top draw wrestling! The Bret v Owen at wrestlemainia when Owen does the tombstone on Bret. Is a fantastic match.

[@MC-bd5ub]

As someone that grew up in the attitude Era, I remeber promos more than any match.

[@danyt6630]

I was watching a random Bret Hart match the other day and he has for sure the best working punch ever. The way he delivers it, it look like it hurt for real. His ring work was great and he looked like a real badass in the ring. Bret is the only guy I saw wrestling and I was like, omg even his punch look great.

[@lordoffaiyum9727]

His shit looked real 2 me. Always did

[@jamesgray8542]

Best professional technical wrestler of all time

[@willmk4042]

Nia Jax says hi

[@thagame7528]

Nope

[@rav-7072]

Yes but technical wrestling doesn't sell

[@erickmack4131]

Meh

[@charlesclair7809]

@@rav-7072 Daniel Bryan

[@bizzybezz]

Bret and Shawn started the attitude era when you look back, bret and Vince had physical contact before Austin and McMahon

[@Derricom.]

Hulk Hogan and the NWO started the Attitude era. Wwe had to step it up to compete with wcw.

[@gst013]

I don't exactly disagree, but Pillman and early stage Golddust were doing stuff that was insanely edgy well before the start of what's considered the Attitude era.

[@jayanxiety]

Bret could tell one of the greatest David vs Goliath stories in the ring. His come-from-behind matches were some of the most exciting of the 90's. His earlier tag team matches where he would get beaten to a pulp before coming back and then tagging Jim to come and steamroll over the opponents before Bret came back in for the finish. He was a great baby face and equally a great heel.

[@DeepakIyerp]

Bischoff the fool who broke the bank to hire a 'boring rassler' during the height of the ratings war. Yea rite.

[@chadk890]

Exactly

[@acidmack1041]

​@2005 Cool Year Bullshit...Austin was not a larger then life character and he was the biggest draw of all time. Bret was a draw for the time only the draw was not huge due to the state of the business. Nobody was a draw in that era...name one wrester in WWF or WCW between 1993 & 1996 that drew like Hogan in the 80's. Guess what, Hogan did not draw like Hogan in that era either. But thats something the younger "smart" internet fan narrative cant grasp.

[@michaelmarino7391]

The GREATEST technical wrestler of all time. WCW didn't know what to do with Bret. Even Vince McMahon said that they (WCW) would never know what to do with the "Hitman" character.

[@0mally13]

Are u fkn kidding me. My favorite fued ever was stone cold Vs Brett Hart match. Where Austin passed out from the shooter instead of tapping

[@craigjonesISno.1]

My personal favorite Larry Zbyszko zinger, to the nWo Sting: "That's not Sting it's Stink"!

[@eals524]

Further proof, as if it was needed, that Eric Bischoff doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.

[@jumboincredible]

Bischoff was never a wrestling fan. He was a fuckin Tv producer that got hired to spend Teds money. Yes, Bret wasn’t the best promo, but his matches MORE than made up for it. I’d take 1994-1996 Bret Hart ANY DAY over practically any late 90’s WCW champion!

[@aaronst.pierre3080]

Bishoff was right, and I've watched wrestling since the early 80s. I stopped after the attitude Era. I thought Macho Man made Brett Hart on Saturday nights Main event. Brett is a great wrestler, but that's a small part of the package. To me his villain turn in WWE was really his best character driven stuff in his career. And it helped Owen a ton. Brett's matches were great for the most part but he did have a lot of matches very similar to others. I found he wrestled a ton like Ted Debiase. He worked tight and real but he had never had the charisma to get over completely.

[@Renodrums-vq8nv]

6:22 LOL!!!!!

[@bigearl33]

Mid 80's 'heel' Bret is on my short list of all the time greats, his work meant something in and out of the ring.

[@viralmedianetwork415]

Bret was larger than life. As a kid you believed that we was a real wrestler that went pro. He was every kid's dream of what would a non gimmick wrestler would look and feel like. When he gave the kid his sunglasses ringside would be the ultimate memory for a lifetime. He was a pro wrestler that made his matches look real and competitive. All of his matches told a story and they progressed in a logical back and forth, built to a climax. even his more brawl non grappling matches like vs Diesel.

[@herbert9241]

Bret vs. Razor Ramon, circa late '90s - Bret handed his shades to some kid in the front row en route to the ring. Not to be outdone, Ramon similarly bequeathed his toothpick to some other kid. Pure class. I don't mind admitting it brought a tear to the eye.

[@chadalpha7983]

Bret was one of the greatest in ring storytellers, his moves always told a great story in the ring, there was always a plot to follow in his matches, and he could play into other wrestlers strengths ( and hide their weakness)

[@LeoWhalen1933]

Bret wasnt boring at all. His matches were like actual athletic competitions. Every move mattered. Just like Seinfeld, where every scene had to be funny. Bret is a genius when it comes to pro wrestling. If he had half the charisma of Ric Flair he would be unanimously considered the best of all time.

[@bigolebot]

LMAO "athletic competitions." Wrestling fans are so dense

[@justinhongeva9996]

"Eric Bischoff doesn't know anything about wrestling" I agree with you Corny on something.

[@AndromedanPrince]

Bret was actually very exciting to watch and had great matches Eric's just mad that Bret spoke out about how badly he was treated

[@sethcurran9806]

Jim hits the nail squarely on the head. Eric didn’t have a clue about wrestling. At one time, he had the best wrestlers past, present and future in his locker room and the company tanked and lost millions.

[@troydhansen4990]

Remember a few years ago on the Discovery channel when Bischoff tried to create a made for TV motorcycle club...?