Jim Cornette on Bret Hart's Influence On Modern Wrestling

From Episode 223 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@JUYAN16]

I still to this day can't explain why I was such a huge Bret fan as a kid. He was literally the only wrestler I cared about. Hogan, Taker, Flair. I didn't care about any of those guys. Bret was the man. The only guy that made wearing pink look cool. On the rare occasions he lost a match, my heart sunk into my stomach. Like when he lost to Shawn at mania

[@jbkb24]

Same here, enjoyed the match all the way up till the end. Guts me every time.

[@ridgeroadl3gend100]

Omg!!! I hated Shawn Michaels growing up the iron man match tore me up as a young tike I cried when Bret lost to Shawn. Still til this day I can’t watch that match back and I’m a grown ass man. 🤦🏽‍♂️ 😂

[@BasementBubbatunde]

I was born in 95, wasn't even old enough to see him wrestle. But when I went to buy figures as a young kid or play one of the console games I liked him immediately just because he looked cool and had a nice entrance and song, wasn't till I was older I realised he was also incredible in the ring

[@nickhughes8179]

Watching Bret Hart hooked me on wrestling as a 10 year old. His matches were realistic, always had something different, and he brought out the best in his opponents. Don't know why Hogan was afraid to work with Bret, Bret was an in ring professional that could've made Hogan look amazing regardless of who wins. A dream match we never got even though both were in WCW in the late 90s was Bret Hart vs Bobby Eaton.

[@jackduncan5442]

Didn't care about The Undertaker?

[@wilcee675]

It’s a damn shame that we’ll never get to see Bret Hart vs Kurt Angle.

[@paranoidandroid9979]

Probably would almost be as good as Kurt vs Jeff Jarrett

[@tafttheraft5314]

True but we should also be appreciative for how many high profile matches we got between Angle, Lesnar, Eddie, Benoit, Rey, etc... 03/04 Smackdown was the best in ring period in wrestling history.

[@gabrielgarcia8662]

Agree, and I hate when some people say that because of their styles it wouldn’t have work, it makes me wonder if they’re really wrestling fans. That match would’ve been a banger.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

And it would have to be at an “In Your House”🏠 while Todd Pettengill gave some shmuck ass suburbanite that would be meth house

[@That90sShow]

@@paranoidandroid9979 Almost as good as meth head HBK and HHH vs Taker and Kane... lmao

[@DavidRagan3134]

Bret Hart and Randy Savage have been my 2 favorites, but as time goes on, I give Bret the nod because of the person he is. I love how honest he is, but yet you can still tell he loves the business and a lot of people in it.

[@gst013]

Randy was a great wrestler and I'm a big fan of his too, but Bret was more "real". Better punches, more realistic offense and selling. Macho on the mic was a god, though. 😅

[@slappygilmour1984]

Bret was "human" the others were more cartoonishly over the top.

[@herzkine]

Thats why MR Perfect and Big Boss Man always were my number one, top workers, respwct for the biz and big hearts.

[@bradpaton3927]

"When something is different, it gets over, but unfortunately, when something gets over then, everybody tries to copy it and what got over about it is no longer different." -Jim Cornette, 2021 It's as true in professional wrestling as it is in music and probably movies, too.

[@Briansgate]

Indeed.

[@standardofexcellence]

Yep

[@user-hc9qv9yb9m]

In entertainment

[@facejobby]

Hell it's true about just about everything. But it's well put as always by Jim. And people wonder why people listen and watch what he says.

[@DCUBE3D]

Truer words have never been spoken

[@Neethan3247]

The way Bret carried himself in and out of the ring and how his character (and his matches) was presented to us, Bret just felt like a main character of a larger story or plot. All of his matches not only felt so cinematic and rich in story, but his opponents always felt like endgame antagonists (Jerry Lawler, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Daddy, Shawn Michaels, and of course...The King of Hearts). Another thing I loved about him was that he was no "Superman" character. All of his matches felt like a real struggle where, at times, it seemed he would lose.

[@revment]

Amen to all of this. The part about Bret feeling like the main character is so true. He wasn't the invincible superhero, he was a hard-working and humble athlete with no quit in him. His feud with Yokozuna in the middle of his feud with his own brother, falling and rising in a bittersweet manner...that's just great, compelling storytelling.

[@Neethan3247]

@@revment Yep! He was the Luke Skywalker of WWF.

[@foxbear60]

Agreed for the most part. Bret had some out of the ring controversial moments likebamyn others; the difference is that his weren't destroying the company.

[@johnjagodzinski407]

I believe if Bret didn't get his shot like he did, WWF/WWE would have most likely failed because NWA/WCW had some real good talent back then like Steamboat, a very young Sting, Terry Funk etc. Then eventually Hogan jumps ship. Not to take anything away from Randy Savage but, he already done his part, and WWE needed a guy who can take wrestling into a different direction and Brets tag team matches and Intercontinental matches were awesome. Bret Hart definitely a no brainer for Flair to drop the belt too especially after the match he had with Davey Boy Smith. I grew up a Hogan fan when I was 6-12 yrs old. His interviews were some of the best. Like Undertaker, Jake Robert's, Ric Flair just to name a few but, I wanted to see better wrestling and I became a huge Bret Hart after his feed with Mr. Perfect and Roddy Pipper. After he beat Pipper I was sold.

[@ennbee2051]

When did he fight Big Daddy?! Was that in England?

[@Ted_Bell]

Wish more of the current generation took themselves seriously like Bret and tried to make their work look as good as his did. Unfortunately the majority of them went with Shawn, without Shawn's ability to make most of his stuff look good.

[@devadasn]

Bret is my favorite wrestler of all time. I even love the bitter old Bret lol. He’s hilarious

[@Zanatos9]

As crusty as he comes across, can't argue with his views.

[@Waltherppk78]

Goat 🐐

[@ruggie.74]

@@Zanatos9 Bret Hart has earned the right to be bitter.

[@Rich51185]

He isn’t bitter. He just tells it like it is. It anything, he’s just too honest

[@darnellpistachio2991]

Likes all around

[@KnightBoat]

I still remember turning on WWF Superstars after cartoons and finding out that one of my favorite wrestlers was suddenly the WWF Champion.

[@lee.valley]

I remember bret as a tag team wrestler and watching him get better and better, it was inevitable he had to go alone and he grew and evolved his character perfectly, kept it so fresh and made it so real, not many could tick as many boxes.

[@dustinmasterson411]

We are blessed to have had a Hulk Hogan and a Bret Hart amongst us for a little while.

[@TheTezza1]

I’ve said this a few times I love both guys they are my all time favourites. But the biggest problem with today’s product is that their is too many guys trying to be HBK and not enough guys trying to be Bret Hart

[@joysmith6017]

WHO WOULD WANT TO BE SHAWN MICHAELS ??? YUCK.

[@herzkine]

No , they try to be some Manga guy i gladly dont know :-D

[@MilMaska]

"I think I had a really hard-working and authentic wrestling style, so people liked the way I was - that I was a 'no-quit' kind of wrestler - and I was very realistic and credible in my style." - Bret Hart

[@basquiatofconvos4655]

Had to love Bret for it....

[@charlieprince8671]

It's weird how things wind up....I think Bret has been so maligned for his over-seriousness and tooting his own horn a bit too much(obviously by people that dislike him) that I think he's starting to get underrated for his in ring work. I recently rewatched his championship match against Diesel at Survivor Series 95 and he's one of the only smaller guys that I ever really BELIEVED could take it to a bigger stronger guy and dominate him through tactics and aggression and make it look utterly real.

[@JohnTheBaptist87]

I agree before I understood n appreciated the technical side of wrestling I loved bret cos he felt kick ass in ring, cool as far as his entrance etc, great move set, he was like Michael's made you feel for him when he was taking a beating

[@JohnTheBaptist87]

I'm curious tho, anyone know why body guys got over so much in the 80s?

[@charlieprince8671]

@@JohnTheBaptist87 Bigger guys have always had an easier time getting over because them being big strong tough and able to beat anyone is just more visibly believable but it was also just part of the culture. Think of 80s action movies and how jacked the heroes of the era were, the wrestlers that matched those bodies and to some extent the gravitas of the Stallone's, the Schwarzenegger's and the like were easier to get over. Plus that's who Vince pushed like mad lol

[@NickRaymond871]

Bret is the old man yelling at clouds, who actually makes good points.

[@Briansgate]

I can't argue with that.

[@ruggie.74]

Bret Hart has damn well earned the right to yell at clouds.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

"First Goldberg costs me 16 million dollars, now i cant even have a sunny day at the park? THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME IM IN MONTREAL"

[@xsteveconwayx]

Bret had the best backbreaker of all time.

[@newageassholes]

And the way he hit that turnbuckle sternum first looked sick

[@justsayin3000]

@@newageassholes the fact that you dont see this today is astounding. Nobody hit the buckles like him nor will they ever.

[@piggyintheshadows]

@@justsayin3000 Benoit was the last one I remember doing that spot.

[@ndr1764]

Absolutely.

[@ordohereticus3427]

100%

[@H.L.S.98]

As I’ve gotten older, my appreciation for Bret Hart has grown immensely. His body of work holds up today. I’ll admit I probably took him for granted at the time. Just look at the way he tells a story in a match. He had the basics perfected. His punches looked legit. His selling was tremendous. To this day, if I was to try and sell wrestling to someone, I’d show them the WM13 match with Bret and Austin.

[@Zanatos9]

I've found that too, not so much the 90s stuff since I was a teen and appreciated it. But his 80s stuff that I watched as a kid, now rewatching it, I'm like...holy shit what a GREAT match. Especially Hart Foundation vs Rougeaus.

[@dantheman9228]

Bret`s knowledge of wrestling moves and how to use them correctly is up there with the best ever,the way he would work on body parts you actually believed he was putting full power into the hits,he was also a great bumper and seller in that he would never go over the top and over sell,when he got punched in the face he went down like he had been punched in the face lol

[@FreneticZetetic]

Bret's punches were like THUNDER. Dat snap suplex! Back breaker! Side Russian + second rope (Bret's Rope) elbow!

[@FreneticZetetic]

@@EXPLISITemcee Good eye! He totally drops to his knees when he's going to hit it, vs like you side taking that nice side slam bump like Savage. Bret still rules!

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

A lot of wrestlers emulated Shawn Michaels and all of the big moments and mannerisms Shawn would do BUT those wrestlers didn't think about WHY Shawn did what he did in the ring. They just did the shit he did and looked fucking stupid and had no psychology. Bret Hart's matches at least looked real and made the lamen invest themselves inside his offense and defense.

[@danthemancushecan]

Thank you. None of these wrestlers get Shawn Michaels. They do all the fancy shit, buy it has no psychology and they don't sell like Shawn.

[@ralphjb]

Yeah, that's the thing. Shawn's stuff was far more athletic and flashy than the average wrestler but it all made sense and was logical. There's a reason that very few could touch him in the ring. And shit still holds up to this day.

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

@@ralphjb Bret developed his mic skills far too late. In 1997 he was amazing on the stick as a patriotic Canadian heel. I wish he would have discovered this a few years earlier and could have tried to talk people into the buildings

[@emmanuelmoses7249]

@@HEAVYDIAPER Yeah 1997 was the best version of Bret, too bad we didn't get alot of him

[@kornstarr]

you might not realize it Adam, but you precisely just explained why HBK is the greatest to ever wrestle.

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

True story: Around the age of 4 or 5 I was channel surfing on a Sunday. I landed on channel 5 (I live in NYC) and I saw a guy in red and yellow fighting someone. I thought it was pretty boring, and I changed the channel. Fast forward 3 years later and once again on another Sunday, I was channel surfing and landed on channel 5. I saw a guy in pink and black fighting someone. I thought to myself, pink is a girl's color, but there's something about this guy. I became mesmerized. I was delighted the following week when I saw him on Sunday again, and on Saturday. I never liked Hogan. Ever. If it wasn't for Bret, I more likely than not wouldn't have become a wrestling fan at all.

[@respectedlocalgentleman7108]

How did your sex change surgery turn out though?

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

@@respectedlocalgentleman7108 I'll only answer that if you tell me how recess was today? Did you have detention after class?

[@nostalgiaman6816]

The best there is. The best there was. The best there ever will be.

[@IrishHooligan86]

Thanks for your hot take

[@stevenhenry5267]

Barry Horowitz?

[@Scott-oo2cz]

For my birthday this year my friends got me a cameo from The Hitman. It’s awesome. He pretty much cuts a 90 second promo about how great I am. All facts.

[@magillanz]

I love how they start on one subject and go off on a tangent into a history lesson. Both entertaining and informative. If all learning was as fun as listening to Corny the world would be way more educated.

[@herzkine]

Nice at the moment i want to get into french history from about 1000 to 1700 , tell me when Jim drifts there...

[@PREEM513]

Bret is my favorite wrestler. I agree with his statement. Bret is the first normal size guy of his generation. Big Shawn Michaels fan too but if Bret didn’t work out Shawn would of never got a chance either. But technically macho man was the first smaller champion that Vince took a chance on. Macho Man is was always amazing in the ring. But bret is the first of his generation Vince gambled on.

[@That90sShow]

And Bret would look like Andre the giant with AEW midgets

[@stevonwhite8933]

@TheJoeGreene Too Many outside controversies and lawsuits caused the huge dip in ratings and crowds. To just blame that on Shawn and Bret is BULLSHIT.

[@rubenarriaga3029]

@TheJoeGreene the business as a whole took a hit

[@Director2024]

Macho was the prototype!

[@bdot187um]

@@Director2024 he was the total package.

[@LS-fd6tl]

Bret Hart had a good physique too tbf - he wasn't the pale, skinny, anorexic looking guy that Adam Cole is today! Bret also had really cool ring gear that made him stand out. He had BOTH the look and the believable in-ring style and it was the combination that made me such a fan of his.

[@robertriverathe3rd]

Bret would be considered a Big guy by today's standards

[@jonathanbynoe4375]

Bret Hart was the heir of Hulk Hogan's top spot. He put the focus on wrestling back on the map, and him and The Undertaker made pro Wrestling popular in Europe and the rest of the world. Both Bret and Hogan are my all time favourite wrestlers, but I like watching Bret Hart's classic matches more than any other wrestler. I have both of the Bret Hart DVD's and Hart & Soul Hart Family DVD. I also watched the Collesium Videos of Bret Hart on WWE Network.

[@Hammer332]

His matches watch even better today than they did at the time. That's why he's the GOAT. The Rock, Austin etc. were bigger draws but only Kurt Angle matches Bret Hart's talent as a professional wrestler (in the post-1980s WWF anyway).

[@lmaoitsmee1812]

Modding old SvR games while listening to Corny. All I need is a damn blunt 😂

[@imright6340]

Grow up to be like me man, I use a 1 hitter that looks like a cigarette.

[@derekstewart2956]

Wanted to put it out here that New Brunswick is not a butt plug, stayed in Sackville for a night once and it’s a beautiful town.

[@justinrussomusic661]

For tag teams, the Steiners were so good, loved watching as a kid

[@lyricsanonymous9036]

Steiner vs the British Bulldogs, that's good shit pal

[@easter_sunday]

This is the bottom line: do they successfully sell the story through violence and drama? And do people care enough to buy? Hogan is my generation. He cut great promos. That was then. Tastes amongst audiences has become more discerning, so there’s more demand for different kinds of stories. And in 2022 could you put the business on the back of someone like Hogan? Dwayne Johnson says yes. As much as people harp on Hogan a lot of people were inspired towards the commercial art form of violent choreography.

[@Jblizzybaby]

Bret Hart and HBK are the biggest influences in pro wrestling today

[@Jblizzybaby]

@@benjaminubben4436 for sure 👍, i only say Bret Hart and HBK because they were the first two to become WWE Champion based on their in-ring skills in the 90s

[@OongTheLastAirbender]

Top 10 in my honest opinion in no typical order 1 bret hart 2 hbk 3 stone cold 4 the rock 5 rvd 6 eddie guerrero 7 chris benoit ( if they want to admit it or not) 8 rey mysterio 9 kurt angle 10 kevin nash

[@danthemancushecan]

This has a lot of truth to it. You ask most of the millennials in Wrestling who their favorite wrestler is, HBK and Bret Hart ate mentioned quite often.

[@Jblizzybaby]

@@OongTheLastAirbender good list 👍, I definitely agree with eddie and Benoit as big influences even though it’s taboo to appreciate Benoit’s career

[@danielburger1775]

And pro wrestling today is about 1/10th as popular as it used to be.

[@jesusleyva4386]

The NWA and WWF both had good quality products at the time. The difference was WWF focused on show buisness while NWA felt more grounded. Ultimately WWF won that war

[@goat666db]

I was born in 84, discovered wrestling when I was 6 or 7. Never cared much for Hogan, even as a little kid, for the same reason I didn’t like Superman comics. He was boring to watch because you knew he was just invincible. I attached immediately to Savage, and then Bret as my first two favorite wrestlers. Still two of the all time greats

[@Winston0Boogie]

Bret was my favorite and still is. He told an excellent story. He took a ton of details into consideration. I feel like Daniel Bryan and CM Punk were big Bret Hart fans. Those guys give excellent stories behind their matches more times than not. There are a few others those are just my two favorites now. Also let's not forget when Bret saw potential in you he wanted to work with you and he would protect you unlike Lesnar or others now. Bret protected Stone Cold and Rock. He refused to beat Rock for the Intercontinental title and lost via DQ so Rock can have an out. He made Stone Cold bigger than ever. He would have helped anyone who showed potential. Unlike that idiot who wants to pretend he's a born again Christian.

[@noelatcheson4174]

To me, Bret Hart is the best ever. He was my hero growing up watching wrestling, and still is really. He made it feel real to an extent that no one else has, though a few have come close. He just had ... everything. Had the pleasure of meeting him once and I absolutely froze up and couldn't say anything to him lol

[@user-do2ev2hr7h]

I like Bret, but realistically they don't wrestle like either Hogan or Bret these days. If anything, they wrestle like Shawn Michaels.

[@That90sShow]

Yup.. unwatchable garbage

[@youngzeus87]

That's the issue with Bret vs Shawn. HBK won the kids watching. They grew up into this PWG, leg slappin, 50 super kicks a match, plucky underdog no sellers. Bret style wrestlers need to save this business.

[@octoman_games]

Bret Hart is at the front and center of the entire internet wrestling community.

[@yoholmes273]

"internet wrestling community" MARK!!! 🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤡

[@SAM-ru4vx]

Isn't that on the list of words / phrases that Vince refuses to acknowledge. It's not wrestling it's sports entertainment. It's not iwc it's marks that complain who never shut up. I.e. toxic fans. Pal

[@michaelhauser6440]

Shawn Michaels is the one that influenced them. Wrestling woul be better if they were influenced by Bret Hart. Bret Hart was an amazing storyteller. Modern wrestling is missing that aspect.

[@travismckoy2564]

Most of these guys DON'T wrestle like Bret ,bret made me believe he was in a fight ,they wrestle like shawn and do spots like the hardy's ,with shawn they are missing his timing and showmanship.

[@octoman_games]

@@yoholmes273 huh?

[@kellyremple1041]

Absolutely fair and reasonable comments by Bret Hart. Guys like Bulldog, Warrior, Barbarian, Warlord, and Hogan were pushed to the side for good reason. WWF went with an actual "wrestler" who could take the focus off the "bodies", and focus on the "mechanics" and give wrestling some respect. Flair was stale, and Vince made the correct choice with Bret Hart. Period. Maybe the best "in ring worker" ever...

[@KayFabe87]

Bret Hart vs Ricky Steamboat at the Boston Garden from April (?) 1986 was my Bret Hart epiphany. I nearly wore out that section of the VHS tape watching that match so many times. Still holds up today. It was after seeing that match that I sought out Stampede wrestling tapes, which were hard to come by in the US. Bret Hart was so good at that time, but it was still a "big guy" era unfortunately so he didn't get the big push.

[@orkutfinance]

What really got Bret over was that he was an extremely talented wrestler and he looked like a regular every man. It's why a lot of kids my age at the time idolized him because he could be what they wanted to be as a child. Hulk Hogan was Superman, Bret Hart was Batman.

[@markula_4040]

I would say wrestlers today try to be more like Shawn Michaels than Bret Hart. Nobody today wrestles like Bret Hart because they are too busy trying to do flips and pop the crowd so I have no idea what the Hitman is talking about.

[@Director2024]

He is delusional and bitter like normal.

[@johnnymedrano7081]

It always pisses me off when I see Marks claim Hogan was inept in the ring.

[@bdot187um]

Same here.

[@timyumichuck9262]

He was able to be a cartoon and boring all at the same time

[@bdot187um]

@@timyumichuck9262 the same could be said about cats like cena,warrior and others but that doesn't discredit who they were and what they accomplished, just cause your a hater don't mean shit at the end of the day.

[@mkultra5752]

Hogan could punch, scoop slam and leg drop...couldn't even do a suplex in most of his matches..he sucks as a wrestler.. good entertainer

[@johnnymedrano7081]

@@mkultra5752 he could literally do all those things

[@ianferraro9640]

As a 90's kid (born in the mid 80's) growing-up in Canada, I was a huge mark for Bret Hart (before I ever knew what a mark was). It's not an exaggeration that Bret truly was a hero to kids like me - and he still is. He just got a star on Canada's walk of fame and was voted one of the 50 most important Canadians. He has this level of respect and adulation not just because he was a 5-time champ (back when that meant something) but because he ended-up being one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. He was also one of the most famous Canadian athletes around the world at a time when wrestling was not really mainstream. Wrestling exploded in Canada in '97 when they finally started showing RAW on cable live. Bret was the top heel and one of the top stars in the company (along with Stone Cold and Shawn) at that time. A shame how Montreal and then WCW turned-out, but Bret already had a 20 year career under his belt and it probably only made him more famous.

[@eiephants]

As a Calgarian, I echo your sentiments. He's our hometown hero. Same goes for Owen.

[@mazzoanV2]

He's big deal here in the UK too

[@damanzakkwylde]

As an American, Michaels is trash compared to Bret (hell Owen too). They were real wrestlers. Michaels is just a showman

[@respectedlocalgentleman7108]

Cool Canadian kids rocked out with Dino Bravo.

[@herzkine]

Bret was HUGE here in Germany in the wrestlingboom in the 90s, he was most over though with young girls, we boys had other Fans, even if we respected him beside wearing pink and been Robert pattinsoned by the gurls.

[@ZacBeans]

Cornette’s comments about The Ultimate Warrior got me. How great of a worker was Randy Savage to get that WM7 match out of Warrior? Classic match imo, one I remember so much as a kid.

[@rudyrusso711]

Always loved the Hitman....especially when he was tag partners with Jim the Anvil Neidhart and had jimmy as their manager....the matches between them and the British Bulldogs were excellent!

[@stuartfoster1]

The first ppv I ever saw on sky tv in the UK was King of the Ring 93. I was 8 years old. From VHS tapes I was a huge Hogan fan but after that night I was a Bret Hart fan. The way he won the tournament was an amazing story. I didn't even care Hogan lost the belt that night. I was so outraged after Lawler attacked Bret at the end. I was so angry I couldn't sleep. Hogan was a great character larger than life. He got me interested in wrestling but it was Bret Hart who made me appreciate wrestling.

[@christopheriverson7103]

Such a true statement 👍🏾👍🏾🔥🔥

[@jerry85g7]

Bret was and still is the man. God bless him. He saved WWE back in the 90's

[@taofeng718]

Bret hart was everything I ever wanted to be if I could wrestle on the big stage.

[@Briansgate]

I WISH people in today's wrestling worked like Bret. Bret had a psychology, and and worked wrestling like it was real, you know, a real wrestler. By Wrestling. This bullshit today of young bucks and lucha bros doing super spike piledrivers, kicking out, and that's only half the match before all the other bullshit? No, Bret never worked like that.

[@ralphjb]

Thanks for mentioning The Rockers, Brian. They really were an awesome tag team. Their match at Royal Rumble Vs The Orient Express is still one of my favorites.

[@jovanss2361]

A few years back I went watched WWF and WCW from 96-98 prior to the attitude Era. I didn't expect to like Bret, thinking he'd be too old school or slow, he was my favorite right away and going thru all the old matches he was impeccable

[@lyricsanonymous9036]

Thats good shit, pal

[@stevenhenry5267]

I was a fan of Bret's even back when I hated the Hart Foundation.

[@ezgeezer]

I think more of today’s wrestlers wanna be HBK rather than Bret all of AEW are HBK Influenced Bret matches always made fucking sense and had psychology

[@Pastyovercoat]

Bret has always been my favorite even when he was a heel in the Hart Foundation. I could always count on him to deliver a good match whether it was with hakushi or diesel. From Zuna to the 123 kid

[@citizenstrife]

My one regret was I didn't watch enough Bret Hart growing up as it happened. But watching Bret/Diesel and Bret/Austin wasn't a bad way to get hooked on wrestling.

[@younghotboy109]

you gotta watch bret vs owen wm10 best tech match ever

[@randywark8865]

If you can, bret vs dynamite in calgary

[@shakeandjake_1]

“If Hogan was the Elvis of professional wrestling, I was the Robert De Niro” - Bret

[@thepointlesstroll5702]

He shouldn’t put himself down like that

[@frankbank0892]

I feel lucky to have been able to watch the rise of Bret. The first PPV I was ever allowed to get was SummerSlam '91. Even as a kid you know when you're watching a match that isn't like other matches. Bret catching Perfect's leg drop and turning it over into the Sharpshooter was the coolest thing I had ever seen.

[@skippythealien9627]

bret has consistently said for the last 15-20 years in shoots that Mr. Perfect was the best opponent he ever wrestled. it's a shame Hennig isn't recognized as much as he is

[@philcollins7269]

Same! I saw him in his prime. He was the king.

[@lyricsanonymous9036]

Their KotR '93 match was better

[@lindseysummers5351]

Imagine how much better the match would have been if Curt Hennig wasn't wrestling while hurt. He did a bang-up job but he was in a tremendous amount of pain that night.

[@slamrobot6584]

Bret Hart still has the best backbreaker in the business. Fight. Me.

[@timyumichuck9262]

Don't make me show you my backbreaker

[@MrMllx]

There’s very few people you look up to as a kid who you can still have respect for once you’re olde and wiser. Bret is one of those guys and because of that his career has aged better than most

[@keyceandreas9254]

I feel bad that future generations will never experience an Undertaker. Today’s wrestling climate makes it next to impossible for that to happen again. A wrestler that transcends generations, era’s, time periods, socially change, and adapt with them while still maintaining that supernatural appeal that made the character great. Sad.

[@tylegend1986]

Wow. Totally agree

[@louclarkson6098]

I've loved wrestling since I was a kid, but the undertaker has always been on another level of fascinating to me, and still to this day. It's the one wrestling character that rivals fictional characters outside of wrestling in coolness.

[@chrischar9428]

Yes need more dead guys with supernatural powers

[@jumbothompson]

No, just less guys that look and act like jobbers.

[@tylerdame1360]

As time goes on, it becomes more clear who really is the greatest and it’s Bret.

[@davidlyf2508]

“When something is different, it gets “over”. But unfortunately when something gets so over that everyone tries to copy it and then what had got “over” about it is no longer different.” - Jim Cornette

[@von2300]

We have Bret to thank for the Bryan Danielsons, the Eddie Edwards, the Finn Balors, and the CM Punks of today

[@kevintowers8006]

Bret Hart the Goat!

[@williamgraham8680]

Totally agree

[@heyyo7431]

I can remember a 2002 Calgary Sun column of Bret's where he praised Terry Bollea's legacy on the business, so even as late as 2002 Bret was prepared to be positive about Hogan. So bret saying stuff about hogan has no validity, grow up bret.

[@That90sShow]

This was before he found out what a back stabbing, lying snake Hogan was... Now we all know about the Dbag and his "that doesn't work for me brother"

[@heyyo7431]

@@That90sShow Yet Bret said he hates hogan back in 1993 when hogan didn’t want to work with him. See that’s where Bret and his fans just get exposed.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

@@heyyo7431 You do realize that you can hate someone but still respect them, right?

[@heyyo7431]

@@AWX_Wrestling Yet he was praising him after the fact, do you guys lack that much sense?

[@AWX_Wrestling]

@@heyyo7431 Did I stutter?

[@RobotReg]

Brett Hart just seemed so cool when I was a kid. He didnt need to say a while lot. He was just the best. The dude wore pink in the 90s and no one thought he was lame for it.

[@JM1993951]

I love Bret’s way of speaking. Which is to say, he keeps it real. He’s not afraid to hurt feelings or bury people if he thinks it’s the truth, and it is most of the time. It’s refreshing because it doesn’t come off as jealousy or as if he has any motives like some guys. Conversely, he’s not fake like most top guys who don’t want to burn bridges or offend WWE.

[@cojack636]

It doesn't come off as jealousy to you because you're a mark for Bret

[@JM1993951]

@@cojack636 I think you’re confusing bitterness for jealousy. Bret’s definitely bitter about a lot of things, rightfully and irrationally, but he’s not jealous of shit.

[@aronmaslan6604]

Bret is delusional. He stood in the way of progress. When Vince kicked him to the curb, his company exploded. And When Hulk was on top in the 80s, Bret was lost in the shadows. That must eat away at Bret everyday.

[@jojogarcia8766]

At 200K this clip is underrated. I LOVE when Brian and Jim inform us on older gen wrestling that relates to professional skill building reference. Keep it coming guys!!++ we need all the wrestling vibes🎉

[@ruggie.74]

Best there is, best there was, best there ever will be. Oldberg deprived us all of Angle vs. Hart and I will be miserable about that until the day I die.

[@mikejejenich7116]

Brett. The hitman. To me. Was the best all around. Technical wrestler. Mr perfect was. Dam. Good. As well……. 💯

[@timyumichuck9262]

It would have been nice to get more Perfect and Hitman matches and storylines

[@glennwelsh9784]

Coming off WWF's Hulkamania Era, Bret was such a shift in style and approach. Hogan may have made you enjoy wrestling as entertainment, but Bret made you appreciate wrestling for the skillfullness and the technical prowess.

[@ghostgrabber]

Sackville NB ftw.the Rocks dad was born right down the highway in Amherst NS.

[@neilsmith9066]

I still can't believe how Vince couldn't see how big of an influence Bret Hart would be on the entire industry forever especially on the current best wrestlers in the world and picked the stripper over him.

[@staceyattmere5431]

The best there is, the best there ever was and the best there ever will be

[@megaphablet3790]

John cena was another hulk hogan in some ways

[@TFoneFiddy]

As someone from New Brunswick it is a little buttplug lol

[@matthillegas3099]

Vince with the "hey pal" face

[@dirtyhiggins5484]

I never really got Bret

[@bigsteve8921]

It's fine to like both guys. Loved Bret's style. But he always made sense. Today's wrestlers don't make sense so i wouldn't say they are like him (hbk maybe) But Hogan being useless in the ring is an ignorant statement

[@bdot187um]

Agreed, as a kid I was a hogan fan i liked the colors the music the tearing of the shirt and the posing, but I grew to appreciate guys like bret who didn't have the flash or the charisma of a hogan but could tell a great story in the ring, & yes saying that Hogan didn't know how to wrestle is stupid.

[@stevenhenry5267]

Even as a kid,I wasn't big on the large,muscle heads unless they could move well like the Road Warriors and Sting.

[@paulearl8203]

Jimmy forgets the NWA pushing Luget and The Road Warriors. ALL BODY.

[@markwrenn5965]

I feel like Bret walked so that Kurt Angle could fly. They're just who I prefer. I understand a lot of folks prefer HBK and Flair for their showmanship and charisma, but I loved the dudes that made it seem real. Except Sting. I loved sting too just because he was my first favorite.

[@bernardwilliams4071]

Bret was a Wrestling Savant so smart I think in many ways he is really underated and not Truly appreacited for what he brought to wrestling.

[@demonblood8841]

'The pink and black attack is back' The Hart foundation was awesome

[@6ANUR34DT81S]

I hate that term, "workrate". Smarks love throwing that word around 🙄

[@bdot187um]

Yeah like the average fan cares about that shit, sure the hardcore fans enjoy it but in the bigger picture it doesn't mean shit its a business and what sales tickets and ppv etc is what matters.

[@SegunOla80]

Bret Hart my favourite wrestler of all time. He's realism, selling and storytelling was phenomenal

[@Nocampdadwrestling]

Why is there such hate for hogan's work with the subscribers to this channel? Check wrestlemania match with the rock, this guy knew exactly what he was doing to a high level

[@danielburger1775]

Because many of them are also fans of Dave Meltzer.

[@bdot187um]

@@danielburger1775 fuck those guys.

[@Alasdair198]

I just love Jim pushing his product placements lol

[@goodolbrad3]

Lol I'm in NB two hours from Sackville. That was hilarious.

[@damiendemento9852]

If the wrestling business had people who drew like Hulk Hogan instead of Bret Hart it would be a heck of a lot better off.

[@stevonwhite8933]

And a lot more guys dying young…

[@bdot187um]

@@stevonwhite8933 use and abuse are two different things, those who abused the drugs are dead, but those who didn't are still with us, look at your guy Eddie Guerrero he abused it and passed away, while a guy like hogan who was the poster boy for that era and is still around.

[@aronmaslan6604]

​@@bdot187um Plus none of these deaths were primarily related to steroids. They were almost all related to pills. You can add Brian Pillman to that list. Pun intended

[@Hi-kq1vi]

Don't see much of his influence today-most of the guys have copied Sabu & Jeff Hardy with flips, dives, falling off high things & then added in their own video game, ballet, highly choreographed phony looking garbage.

[@thewoodchipperr]

Sabu hated calling matches beforehand

[@mikebadaoa8525]

Bret headlined first and ten highest attended wwe event in 90s

[@bigolebot]

But he still couldn't draw. Shame

[@JeffBird86]

Hogan knew his limitations and played to his strengths. That’s why he was as successful as he was.

[@greglewia6160]

when it comes to pro wrestling Hogan is light-years better than Bret. Bret can work a 30 min match and Hogan will get the same reaction and end game in 10 min

[@greglewia6160]

And everyone will go home healthy and ready for the the show

[@WingsofHistory]

The Rockers Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty became better than rock n roll and the midnight, just a fact. One of the greatest tag teams ever and there theme is badass

[@dianneEdangerously]

Ok that 81 commercial is the best ad I ever heard!

[@sunniedunbar6889]

Seeing matches Hogan did in Japan was a revelation to me. He could be a worker if he needed to be (he just didn’t).

[@Chaz4543]

Bashing Bret for his mic skills and promos seems silly when so many guys cant cut promos anymore. Brian Danielson better promos than Bret ? Nope.

[@towmater7081]

Bret could work with anyone and the match would be believable and good even great . Hart vs perfect or Shawn or piper . Great freaking matches

[@AhtoNajeebRashied]

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! THE THUMBNAIL!! MR. HECKEL, SALUTE!!

[@Pogo113]

Closest thing to the Road Warriors we've had in theast 10-15 years was probably NXT's Authors of Pain. I would have liked to have seen them given a little more, they had great matches with American Alpha and DIY.

[@lyricsanonymous9036]

💯

[@geraintthatcher3076]

If you look at Hogan's work in Japan, he could work when he wanted too. Its just there wasn't a market for it in the US

[@chrischar9428]

I'm so tired of that, he sucked there too