The Hall of Fame: Bret Hart DOES NOT care for today’s wrestling

What does Booker T think of a recent statement made from Bret Hart about his lack of enthusiasm for today’s wrestling climate. Spanning WWE and AEW. See what the King has to say about it.
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#prowrestling #row #wrestling #womenswrestling #bookert #wwe #nxt #texaswrestling #independentwrestling #Rownation #Realityofwrestling #EdgeStone #JonnyLyons #TitleMatch #Brethart #HallofFamePodcast #BradGilmore

[@kevinlee9929]

Bret is right. Another problem is so many wrestlers today wrestle the same style. Where as in yesteryear Booker T didn't wrestle like Rey Mysterio. Rey didn't wrestle like Taker. Taker didn't wrestle like Flair. Hard to be impressed by stuff. When you're seeing it in every match on the card.

[@TheKingofKings2272]

That’s another thing, every wrestler has to do a suicide dive or at least some kind of high flying spot the cruiser weight division isn’t special or unique anymore because lots of wrestlers do the same stuff. Not all though. WWE is a bit better than AEW in this regard, though both companies have the same problems

[@kevinlee9929]

@@TheKingofKings2272 That's why it felt pointless when WWE tried to bring it back a few years ago. Why be impressed by things the cruiserweights are doing. When I can see Rollins, Styles, and others do the exact samething

[@lamontking87]

@@TheKingofKings2272or a super kick

[@sumobo7108]

@@TheKingofKings2272 I blame this suicide dive culture from PWG,I use to watch the show especially BOLA ppv,its like a requirement for every match to have wrestler dive to the outside,only now they did it on larger scale and on tv that is AEW.

[@cjjonez]

Wwe want their style of wrestling used. I listen to a clip of Dutch discuss they way they want a basic move like the hip toss done. He says it makes it harder than it need to be. So thats going to be an ongoing issues. Booker T came up thru the territory systems. Hes teaching his student basic solid wrestling. And his shows allow them to express their showmanship of their interpretation of what he taught them.

[@drejonesj85]

I agree with Bret as well being a 37 year old man and I loved watching the era of the greats from Andre the giant to stone cold and today era of wrestling has to much phony stuff going on. Bret is 100% right and I wish there was someone who would say that to Vince and Tony Khan when it comes to AEW & WWE has become bad.

[@TheKingofKings2272]

Brett is 100% correct. There’s great matches here and there, but a lot of matches are huge spot fests and especially when it comes to AEW, a lot of those matches look fake as hell. We know it’s fake especially at this point when I’m an adult but it’s so obviously fake more times than not. That goes for both companies

[@dantecarroll2435]

Wrestling is predetermined not fake there’s a big difference

[@thesupervisor3270]

Real wrestling fans don’t use the word “fake” when describing pro wrestling 🤡

[@saltychips7627]

Also finishers keep being kicked out of. When macho man dropped that elbow or undertaker hit that tombstone know one kicked out. I.e it's highly retarded

[@VigilanteWilliamson]

I agree 1000% the worst part is if a vet like Bret or Booker says something these guys act holier than though.

[@MrFree2BeMe1]

i Agree with Bret, I miss when wrestlers could work the crowd and get over with their characters, i miss the storylines outside of the ring, you had wrestlers going different places to fight each other, like gas stations, other wrestlers homes, now it's just long promos in the ring, i'm use to sloppy wrestling, it looked more realistic, now you can see the moves coming from a mile away, now you see a bunch of hurricanranas, dives between the second ropes to the outside etc... i hate when wrestlers bunch up on the outside of the ring for another wrestler to jump from the top rope on to them, you see way too much of this now, i remember when you didn't need to use your finisher to win matches all of the time, some wins come out of nowhere ,a lot of wrestlers can't get over with crowds until they are doing flips off of the top ropes, now you see way more injuries because of this, new fans have been conditioned to wait for high flying moves, those moves use to be special, but now most matches have them, fans even expect big guys to do these moves , are they will say they can't wrestle, i like when wrestlers really look like they would hurt you, a lot of fans today come to shows just to look at their phones, the internet killed a lot of what we once loved about wrestling, with Heels and Faces on instagram with each other right after a match, companies with storylines that are hard to keep up with like AEW, a lot of their wrestlers are in their storyline and others, it's not consistent , i liked when Seth Rollins broke into Edge's home, then they killed that, maybe i'm just too old school, no hate to the fans that like it today. i will always be a fan, of wrestling.

[@codesm96]

For real

[@ZBR_ProXP]

While I agree with your general point, Bret doesn’t mean we should be wrestling sloppily at gas stations.

[@joypadlad]

Bret is 100% correct. Most veterans will agree but might say different publicly if they still need to work. Too many older guys just go with the flow instead of teaching the younger guys because they don't want to look like the old out of touch guy saying, "back in my day." The unfortunate reality is that just because times change, it doesn't mean it always changes for the better.

[@AlphaProto]

Can't call it a work, if everyone is in on it. I miss when people would ask,"Is wrestling fake?" With genuine curiosity. Now, even asking would make you look like a fool. During the attitude era, where things were super outlandish, but people didn't ask that question. They enjoyed it. I can only assume, but the matches that really captivated me are the one's where talent had real skills. They could just get a finish and just call it in the ring. One guy would do a move, and the other would counter, or bump. You could see the gears turning.

[@FernandoGarcia-rl6gj]

Can't argue with the hitman, all valid points. Wrestling feels more comic book ish nowadays tbh which isn't a bad thing. It's just wrestling has evolved over time. I do agree though that the modern wrestlers should focus more on the story telling in the ring & feel the energy of the crowd. Once a wrestler does that they become next level just look at the rock, Cena, Austin etc

[@Louis-xx2os]

Glad to hear others feel exactly the same as me. I can't watch wrestling today it's embarrassing.

[@aaronc2880]

I 100% agree with Bret

[@andremarc1275]

i agree with Bret Hart and its the reason why i only watch my WWF dvds and vhs.... i dont care about WWE....i just watch WWF.

[@goodman_1955]

Bret and Booker are bang on the money

[@TheBeatdownBros]

I think Scott Hall was good at it too

[@Mjsnananbbsie737]

Easy fix hire people like Bret Hart in these wrestling organizations, the product will improve quickly. I remember watching Rick Flair as a kid, it was something magical. Like it was a rhythm to wrestling, gritty and just like a beautiful written screenplay it was delicately crafted. Those guys were great with their characters and they knew how to use and control their bodies, they gave blood sweat and tears. I see wrestling now and the difference is they don't focus on the details, but the details is what makes a good wrestling match great. Whether that be the actual wrestling, characters and personas. As a kid even the promos were on point. Everything had rhythmic timing.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Well said

[@Leisure3389]

Agreed. Only problem is that at least in AEW they have Jake, Arn,Punk etc that allegedly tried but the kids won’t listen.

[@jeffryallred2174]

This why I watch Memphis Wrestling, NWA and ROW!!!!!

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Thanks Jeffry

[@SonnyK248]

It's the same with a lot of things. Look at the NBA. How many die hard fans from the 80's and 90's enjoy the modern game? Same with the wrestling. Young people today have very overstimulated brains and the just crave an excitement spike every two minutes. So they took defense out of the NBA to make room for more exciting offensive plays and in wrestling they basically took wrestling out of wrestling to make room for more high spots and gasp moments.

[@jars1]

There's no comparison

[@Twoaas]

100% correct. Perfect example is the commander dude who walks the ropes in AEW before every spot. Like why?? Lmao. Then you got great stuff like Dax vs. Jeff Jarrett this past week as well. Such a mixed bag.

[@redrebel0066]

The endless superkicks and thigh slapping in wrestling today really annoys me.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Facts

[@Chimpa307]

Bret is RIGHT!!!!!

[@Tim_the_Enchanter]

It's all about selling the illusion. It's like watching a magician. You know he didn't saw that lady in half, but you can't figure out how he made you believe it.

[@user-ll2yj3hy4c]

I love the difference in background. Muhammed Ali on one side and Jay Leno on the other.

[@Dewaynesite1]

Book is right all the way around and people who disagree with me or the Book man go checkout Booker T vs. Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Triple H, Bret Hart, Benoit, Cena and Batista. The matches I listed were my personal favorites but they felt real to the core. I started watching wrestling late 2002 but I respected their craft even if Vince was dictating their performance (not saying the wrestlers didn't have any input) matches came out great and believable. Today these wrestlers are spot happy and especially that spot on ROH where Donte Martin got injured over a silly stunt that most likely wasn't needed.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Facts

[@ZBR_ProXP]

You believed Mick Foley was wrestling for real 1000% of the time? Ok, I mean come on

[@kellyremple8982]

Has anyone noticed 90% of the wrestlers from the 80's and 90's agree with Bret 100%? Is Bret negative or just honest?

[@Rob_Shoot]

Hart is 100% right!

[@Rryghi]

Bret right about wrestling Because some superstars dont take it seriously theses days

[@lamontking87]

Bret got a point but I watch it for just entertaining that’s all.

[@babalarassrah]

Thats the point of pro wrestling lol

[@bluebutterfly4296]

I agree with Bret, Harte and Booker T. that’s why I like wrestlers like Mercedes, Brock Lesnar, Randy, Orton, Shawn, Michaels, and Seth Rollins, and dean Ambrose, because they know how to not perform. Big moves all the time. Takeover Brooklyn one NXT women’s championship match is the perfect representation of an actual pro wrestling match. I haven’t seen it in a while since the old era.

[@dennismarcucci3465]

The best era for wrestling was the late 70s 80s mid south, Georgia, Florida, Fritz Von Eric Texas wrestling!

I wish Bret was involved with the creatives far as writing

[@tomhood7343]

100% agree with Bret. The problem is people don't know what wrestling is or what even makes a good match anymore! So lets stick a fork in someone's head because that will get views and ratings? No people will turn that stupid crap off! Another thing that really bothers me about AEW is that it literally takes running over someone with a Mac Truck to pin these guys. You can do a triple back flip off the top rope through a table on somebody and they will kick out at 2 and Powerbomb somebody through the concrete floor and they kick out at 2? This is absolutely ridiculous to the point where its unwatchable today. Another thing Booker mentioned which I agree with is that wrestling should be as close to a real fight as possible. But its not a fight today its a choregraphed piece of crap that looks so phony. These guys don't look like they're trying to fight at all looks more like a scripted acrobatic ballet.

[@MightyJabroni]

Absolutely agree with Booker and his movie comparison. People knowing that pro wrestling isn't "real" never was the problem. They have known that since like the 50s and suspected it even earlier. It is being constantly reminded of it not being real, that is the problem. Everything in wrestling is so tounge-in-cheek tonally and overly stylized in the ring these days. The only reason why wrestling is still doing relatively well is because it is easier to monetize than ever. That is why the WWE is smashing financial records, year after year it seems. Meanwhile, there are less and less people watching it. The early to mid 90s are generally seen as the darkest period in WWF/E history. And even then they did better numbers in attendance and on TV than they do now. This is the result of a decline, that has been going on for over two decades by now. Sure, there is the ever enthusiastic and annoyingly self-ware "this is awesome" crowd, which looses it's shit in the modern high flying excesses, that literally fly in the face of all rhyme or reason. But this fan culture is a walled garden with zero overlap to a wider audience. And that is why it keeps shrinking as it has done for the last decades. TV stations pay a premium right now for any sport related content. Because safe for some exclusive rights to a new smash hit series, sports is the only thing that pulls at least some decent numbers on TV consistently. And streaming has opened new models of monetization that are by now technically trivial enough. But all of that is fool's gold. Wrestling has lost it's thunder a long time ago. And it better finds it again fast. Because right now, I am far from confident about where wrestling will be in ten years.

[@DaBoyz361TLS]

Agreed with The Hitman 🩷🖤

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Same

[@adarkprofilepicture1313]

Bret, Booker T, Bischoff, Cornette, etc. are usually right. Why is it that people complain about others not being honest, but when they get that honesty, they don't like what they hear? The ones that normally calls them "bitter" are the vocal minority that loves the current product and they're the same people that wonder why their favorite show isn't growing their audience.

[@Brook11223]

I do agree with Bret's assessment about today's wrestling but the whole Fork poking on the forehead has happened in Wrestling for example with Abdullah The Butcher in Stampede Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling.

[@davidrichards6059]

And Abdullah was considered a scary circus act. And it wasn't straight close ups on tv.

[@akmalshabazz9497]

A lot of these performers have been doing wrassling longer than The Rock but are not learning and look like rookies.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

True

[@akmalshabazz9497]

Its to many HBK & Mandkind want to be's now but they're not good at it.

[@life0093]

As someone who follows both companies, I’m not to fond of it either

[@RoyalRizzness]

I agree in some ways. Like you look at Mox and he's one of the best in the modern generation BUT there's really no need to bleed all the time. Just wrestle and put on a show. As far as the slap goes, if you see a super kick with a slap it gives off the sound and makes it more dramatic. Without the slap it would look kinda real but less exciting. Idk. I started watching in 2009 and yes it's very different from now to then. But I still watch and enjoy. It's fun. It's entertainment. But unfortunately we'll ALWAYS have someone complian about wrestling😆. You never see this with sports or TV. There's always complaints about wrestling. It's werid LMAO.

[@codesm96]

You started watching wrestling when it was already dying. What a shame. Even you didn't grow up in the era of real wrestling.

[@AhtoNajeebRashied]

People complain about entertainment and sports all day everyday. It's all they do. Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, the DCEU, Disney Movies, Game of Thrones ending, Music... it doesn't end. You are 1000% incorrect in your assessment

[@TheBrockLanders420]

Anything after 2007 sucked for a long time in my opinion.

[@sumobo7108]

While wrestling journalist only highlight Bret's negative comment to make him look miserable person but this one I wholeheartedly agree of what he said,I rarely watch wrestling nowadays because of overuse of leg slap.

[@Starryynightss]

Bret is correct alot of the technical skill is missing and original character development and story telling, yes we all know it's scripted it's sports entertainment but these days it skips the sport part and it isn't very entertaining to have two titles contracted to a particular wrestler and have them rarely appear and win by cheating every time it's pretty piss poor. AEW on the other hand is kinda gone off the rails with the gore and shock factor but that isn't it either I don't really dig MJF either overated as Roman and they're relying on former WWE talent to keep relevant with the fans who liked the old days of WWE.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Agreed

[@wingedhussar1453]

Wrestlers all think they know what is rihht without taking input from the guys before which was traditionalist. All of tht is gone and its a joke

[@MrMegaManFan]

As much as I respect Bret Hart (I personally attended his WWE Hall of Fame induction) I don't understand his bitterness and negativity about modern pro wrestling, nor that of people like Jim Cornette and Eric Bischoff. Guys, you had your time. The world changes and so does pro wrestling.

[@southsudani983]

it’s his opinion and wrestling isn’t as popular and huge as it’s used to be and these ppl care for it’s longevity

[@kellyremple8982]

He was asked a question, he answered... Maybe next time he should just say "pass"? Cmon.

[@goodman_1955]

It's the shits today, pal can't you see?

[@baytownoutlaw9992]

Hopefully the next generation of Wrestling are fans of real wrestling an bring it back.

[@bohbruvinnit]

Booker is the man!

Bret is 100 on this shit

[@deanehill3074]

Am I the the only one that thinks wwe could benefit from a roh style pure rules match? Would love to see that style in the wwe. We all know it's fake so are movies. But doesn't mean they should lean into that aspect so much. I miss the days where you had to wonder how much was fake vs real but I guess I get it with such a sensitive nation we get what we get.

[@benjamindesanti7899]

I don't care for today's wrestling. To fake. To choreographed. No one is over. No top guys. AEW is low budget ECW. I agree with Brett Hart

[@Traducteur1]

Psychology has disappeared. I think you end the statement right there. It's come to a point where even casuals think it's all horseshit.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

You’re not wrong

[@rockyruane9379]

I will never understand how Bret got to the level he did. He was an atrocious champion and an all-time atrocious promo.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Bigger Shawn fan?

[@rockyruane9379]

@@RealityOfWrestling Was never a huge fan of either. With that said, there's no comparison between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels.

[@metalheadjake3339]

Bret is right... like usual I feel a lot of the same way as bret ironically

[@babalarassrah]

He must chill out his matches were boring

[@Mathias6x]

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BRET THINKS!!!

[@PuppetMaster1]

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!!

[@Mathias6x]

@@PuppetMaster1 U GOT IT PAL

[@noshow22]

I mean , hes not wrong. The dumb bowling pin suicide dive spot wouldnt be so bad if it didnt happen in EVERY SINGLE MATCH, regardless of who is wrestling. If we've seen it 100 times, why would we care the 101st time? Everything is so generic with no psychology behind it at all.

[@Jwjmcc]

Coarse he doesn’t it’s pathetic

[@OlmecaHarborAreaLA]

WWE and AEW are Corny, handful of top talent only. Wwe is movie angle, AEW faces are Corny beyond belief (McfingerBang, Bucks).

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Always enjoy a good Jim Cornette reference 😃

[@fauziazzurri]

I couldn’t agree more with Bret…i was a huge wrestling fan of the 80’s,90’s n early 2000’s…I just can’t watch today’s product for more than 15 minutes without changing the channel

[@Gino419]

Wrestling now is gymnastics. Who cares about how much you ca back flip.

[@babalarassrah]

kayfabe is dead, thats the main problem of modern wrestling

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Some people still make people feel things. Roman & MJF

[@ArthurLindseyIII]

Bret hates everything, though, so who cares?

[@babalarassrah]

The big question is what he hates the most: Goldberg or modern wrestling ?

[@fitzgerald434]

I still remember to this day when Bret Hart gave HHH vs Taker at WM 28 a 4 out of 10, LOL he constantly complains about Goldberg, complained how he didnt like Clash at the castle, complained about wrestling chops back in his day and how phony they look, complaining about dives to the outside (which I can agree with it is over done) and now he's complaining about Moxley. Bret Hart sounds like a bitter old man lol. You cant fool the fan now, the business has been exposed and having that gritty wrestling that booker is talking about is impossible to have now. Fans are so quick to chant you F'd up which makes it where you have to wrestle perfect and have perfect timing.

[@Lj-md9ng]

I agree with Bret.. when Shaun Michaels did his slap with the super kick it was a finisher, but now it has become common. Also with the blood ,I think should be mostly done on a main event or paper view as a conclusion of a storyline

[@troyberdahl5922]

😅😅😅 Nothing has been exposed that people haven't always known. The modern wrestling fan would be to scared to attend a Stampede Wrestling spot show. Everyone just assumed the TV was a practice day and event schedule. You'd watch the preliminaries thinking these guys need a lot of practice. Ain't no one would EVER watch the likes of Dynamite Kid, The Stomper, Bad News Allan, Dr. D and think they were playing. You had to assume their opponent had fucked their wife or accidently kicked them in the nuts, pandemonium. Fans didn't rush the ring to seek revenge, it was to save some poor bastards life. Dynamites five star matches weren't doing silly flips, it was, at 185lbs, facing 260lb Bad News, way bigger and scarier than TV portrayed, and believing they were battling to the death (don't know if you knew Dynamite was always a heal, and a darn good one). Stompers stomps didn't look goofy like on the utube videos, it looked like he was crushing skulls. And pass off with the "promos", there was none, nor announcers. Bret Hart ain't bitter, he's correct. And fuck Goldberg, only a sissy like you would watch him.

[@kinghiggins5021]

You Different styles of wrestling That's what it is

[@LeaderLT]

Why should Bret care?

[@michaelmercury1297]

Why shouldn't he?

[@PuppetMaster1]

Why should you care?

[@hitek9too255]

Bret is a bitter old man.

[@kinghiggins5021]

I am a big fan of Brett the hitman heartBut I would have to disagree with him on this one

[@codesm96]

Bret is 100% right. Wrestling is a joke nowadays especially AEW, they put on some of the most ridiculous shows and it all looks so fake, choreographed, babyfaces can't get over and heels can't get heat, many of them simply don't know how to work properly, their timing is completely off and nearly all of them would never be able to call a match on the fly without embarrassing themselves. There may be a decent match here or there but most of it with these new guys who started wrestling after 2010 suck ass, some of the only good newer wrestlers were trained at ROW because Booker T is an actual vet you can learn a lot from and had plenty of great matches in his career, many of the new guys weren't trained by credible or successful wrestlers. You must have started watching after 2010.

[@kellyremple8982]

He is 100% right in my opinion

[@kinghiggins5021]

Nope nope nope nope I've been since I was born there was a station in Jamaica before the WWE Network that showed tapes of the golden era and the Attitude Era every single day and then I would watch the ruthless aggression era The Attitude Era and the ruthless aggression era best in my opinion

[@kinghiggins5021]

In terms of some of the storytelling yes I agree team women tag team champions what did they wanted Sasha Banks to be in a triple threat match to be the number one contender for the WWE Women's Championship where on earth does that make sense it would have been better if they made a open challenge for the women's Tag Team championships