Ted DiBiase on The Montreal Screwjob

'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase looks back at his Hall of Fame career, from Mid-South, to Japan, to WCW, to WWF, and everywhere in-between! Join Ted and Marcus every Friday at 6am ET on all podcast platforms or if you want early access, get it commercial free on Premier+ with Premier Streaming Network!

[@lukestone365]

Bret had creative control in his WWE contract before Montreal, or even going to WCW, so it wasn't just a matter of "He should've done business".

[@Jimmyd134]

Source? I domt believe anyone had creative control before hogan

[@lukestone365]

​@@Jimmyd134 Source, it's been well documented! Maybe Hogan was the first ever to have creative control in his contract? I don't know who was the first ever? Bret had creative for the last 30 days of his WWE contract before Montreal happened. Hogan was already in WCW with creative in his WCW contract. What does Hogan, already in WCW, have anything to do with Bret in WWE when Montreal happened?

[@geoffreyfranklin5890]

Ted wasn't there in Montreal. He was working in WCW managing The Steiner Brothers at that time.

[@timthegem]

There was never any mention of Ted being in Montreal, so what's your point? When someone is asked about the Civil War, do you say, "They weren't alive back then"?

[@RG-lr4pk]

@@timthegem someone disagreed with his hero Butt Hurt so now he has to attack them.

[@TL2354]

@@RG-lr4pkwho?

[@makefootballviolentagain5258]

The belt wasn't Bret's, it was Vince's.

[@benatkinson5671]

And the contract Vince signed with Bret gave Bret creative control during his final days in the WWF. So Vince gave Bret the *legal* right to refuse to drop the belt to Shawn.

[@donjohn2695]

It was Bret's property

[@Jim-Tuner]

Yes. And the dignity of the belt and linage meant everything to Vince. He later proved this by winning the belt himself and then retiring undefeated with the belt. in 1999.

[@afdcg]

​@@benatkinson5671Creative control didn't mean total control. Bret Hart had to loose the belt. It's not that he had to loose it via squash. He could have agreed to loose a cage match without getting pinned. But him saying I will job whenever I want when he was a flop WWE champion. Hogan drew a lot of money so he could throw tantrums and loose getting protected. Bret Hart was tag guy at best. Mid card talent.

[@jonmccormick8683]

When Vince Jr told Bret Hart "no baby oil" -he meant it.

[@raftheleo]

Bret had creative control; Shawn was able to DROP titles twice, without a match; "Respect the biz," is one thing, "Respecting the talent," is another.

[@raftheleo]

@@Billable_Ours right; as if Brets loyalty was as thin as Madusa?; Or.. Was it in Shawn's Creative Control to beat Bret? Bret I feel had seniority over Shawn and Bret should've been given that cuirtousy.. If Bret jumped with the belt on that Madusa method; then it would've went to court.. righteously.

[@RG-lr4pk]

I guess he should've sued them for breach of contract if he had creative control as you say.

[@raftheleo]

@@RG-lr4pk and now the only reason one wouldnt go to court is because its expensive. And Vince has more money than Bret.. Sad but true.

[@TL2354]

Bret didn’t have full creative control. Weird how you left that part out

[@raftheleo]

@@TL2354 it was in his contract.. Watch the doc.. Even Bret says, "glad i put that in there."

[@garethcullen9604]

Michaels said to Bret “I wouldn’t do the same for you” so Bret had valid reason for not doing any favour for him.

[@Nostalgia9478]

Well said

[@num1shinfan]

Came to say this very thing. Two things can be true at the same time. Bret should have done business. But shawn should be held to that same standard.

[@chico1680]

Yup. Bret was more than willing to drop the belt, initially to Shawn in Montreal. That point often gets lost in the discussion of the Screwjob

[@Nostalgia9478]

@@num1shinfan Those two things cant be true Bret should not have been expected to do business after CHICKENbottom refused to

[@Nostalgia9478]

@@Billable_Ours Bret had creative control the last 30 days of his contract..He wasnt obligated to follow Vinces orders without question

[@GamingNewsIn60]

Fact number 1. Bret would have lost in Montreal to anyone other than shawn. Due to Shawn's comments after bret said to shawn "he will always be respectful, and take care of him in the ring and had no problem losing to him" shawn replied "I appreciate that, but I won't do the same for you" 2. Bret never refused to lose in Canada, bret offered to drop the belt to anyone including shawn the next night on raw which was in Ottawa which is still in Canada. 3. Bret had already fulfilled his contractual obligations and didn't even need to turn up at survivor series. These are facts people seem to forget.

[@makefootballviolentagain5258]

All the more reason to get the belt off Bret before he showed up on WCW with it.

[@GamingNewsIn60]

Wouldn't have happened. Wcw didn't want another alundra blayze situation

[@chico1680]

Thank you for this. Nothing against Marcus or other podcast host but, whenever a talent who wasn't there at the time or involved is asked about the Montreal Screwjob, these details are always left out and so the wrestler like Jake or Ted or someone like Bischoff responding to a question with facts missing which to me is a disservice to them because now they're answering a question not knowing everything involved beyond "Bret and Shawn didn't like each other so Bret wouldn't drop the belt to him" which is a huge simplification of the whole deal.

[@RG-lr4pk]

How convenient. Sadly, the reality of the situation points otherwise.

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Yeah people always simplify the whole situation and just say Bret didn't want to lose to Shawn and he didn't want to lose in Canada.

[@PassivePortfolios]

The so called "Montreal Screw Job" was one of the best works in modern pro wrestling. Perfectly acted by Brett, Shawn and Vince. To this day many still believe it was real.

[@pablocuneo4611]

The screw job is over and Bret’s over it. Bret’s contract said in his last 30 days which was when Survivor Series happened, Bret didn’t have to lose to Shawn due Bret’s creative control. Contract’s are contracts and should be followed to the letter. Bret was in the right.

[@travissloan6864]

You also have to remember that contract had been restructured considering the fact that a year prior Bret signed a twenty year deal with the WWF in 1996, so his last 30 days wouldn't have rolled around until 2016.

[@RG-lr4pk]

Not true at all. 1. Butt Hurt is not over it. That's why he cries constantly. 2. Butt Hurt did NOT have creative control. He had "reasonable creative control". Which is absolutely worthless at the end of the day and only a mark would value that. 3. Surely Butt Hurt would've sued for breach of contract especially when Vince also went back on a signed 20 year contract. 🤣 4. Butt Hurt was in the wrong and he thinks the matches are real. He tried playing the political card too often and burned the candle from both ends. Sucks to suck.

[@TL2354]

@@KingPossum100% correct? Bret’s contract said he didn’t have to lose to Shawn? Never heard that before

[@benatkinson5671]

And let's remember the following night on Raw, when Bret offered to lose the belt, was in Ottawa, so it was not even about losing in Canada. It was about losing to Shawn Michaels who told Bret to his face that he would never lose to him. People like to make a lot of false arguments against Bret to make him look ridiculous and petty, as if he refused to lose anywhere and anytime in Canada, but it was solely about Shawn Michaels. And let's also remember that whenever Shawn did not want to lose a belt to someone (like Dean Douglas), he could just surrender it outside the ring and pretend to lose his smile. Vince was OK with that, but when Bret said "I will lose the belt to anyone but Shawn, and anywhere in the world", that was a step too far? Shawn never went to WCW, but no one can convince me that he never made the threat. He had Vince wrapped around his little finger. People argue Bret should have just been professional and done the job, but they conveniently ignore that Michaels only did the same thing for his friends like Diesel and Razor (or when Undertaker was prepared to take him down for Austin), and no one batted an eye when he refused to do the job.

[@TL2354]

Yawn

[@BrianBeeby]

Bret was leaving WWF for WCW. He not only did not want to drop the belt to Shawn, especially in his native Canada, he wanted to KEEP the WWF belt as he was heading into WCW! That is absolutely ridiculous. The late Scott Hall said that more than anything, Bret just wanted to "win." This was the mid to late '90s when most of the top WWF talent had left for WCW or otherwise. During this time, Hall said he and the remaining WWF wrestlers called Bret the $400,000 a year champion. That is evidently what Bret was, but when his contract was up, Vince basically told Bret, to the effect: "Okay, Bret... You're leaving for WCW, so you can no longer be the WWF World Champion. You gotta give up the belt. C'mon, give it up..."

[@Jim-Tuner]

It was all silly. On that day, the two biggest marks in wrestling were Vince McMahon and Bret Hart. Bret Hart somehow thought he really was a world's champion and forget that he was in pro wrestling. He couldn't lose in Canada because of all he meant to Canadians in his own mind. He couldn't figure out any way to give up the title on his way out of the promotion. It was just all impossible. He was always a mark for himself. Vince McMahon somehow forgot that he had told everyone that was wrestling was fake 15+ years before but somehow became convinced that the key his company's survival was the "prestige" of a title that didn't really mean anything at the time. Vince liked to talk alot about the prestige and the legacy and the liniage of that title. Right up to the point in 1999 where he gave it to himself and then refused to do a job to give it up.

[@afdcg]

What's funny is 2 guys who were mid card talent got the WWF belt. They didn't draw a dime yet kept throwing tantrums and all the hardcore fans defending them as if it was World War 3. Two of the biggest flops of all time and people are acting as if it was a big deal. Randy savage and warrior drew more money for WWE in a year of 2 than Bret and Shawn in their entire life for WWE.

[@gregorykrug8034]

Maybe Bret should have dropped the belt to HBK, but Bret still got screwed. Bret had creative control and already fulfilled his contractual obligations. Some of the wrestlers (Austin) in the past twenty years had similar things written into their contracts. If Vince is going to make a deal, that's the deal. WCW had so many problems with Hulk Hogan's contract, and that often screwed with the PPV bookings. Hogan looked out for Hogan, not the business.

[@charlesshankle3178]

Ted DiBiase and Jake Roberts have their mindset on doing business because they came from Cowboy Bill Watts territory. Watts took no crap from anyone. Vince employed Watts for a few months in 1995. But, do to his constant meddling, Watts left the company. Montreal would not have happened if Watts was in charge. Bret and Shawn could have tried their crap if they wanted. But, they would have been fired, QUICKLY!! Watts said it best about McMahon's weaknesses. On the day of the show, he doesn't have time to babysit the problems. He has to concentrate on the show. Jake and Vince were on the phone for hours trying to placate Bret and Shawn. Jake said fire the both of them. Watts would have done so, IMMEDIATELY. I am positive about this.

[@fmthebaron]

Lots of butthurt Bret fans in these comments.

[@Jim-Tuner]

No shortage of Vince McMahon pole smokers around here either.

[@RG-lr4pk]

@@KingPossum why didn't he sue if it was a breach of contract? 🤣

[@cdwattie]

I have often wondered if the screw job was just another storyline. It fits well with pro wrestling and everyone involved is paid well enough not to spoil it

[@liamclarke5275]

Bret was willing to 'do business' & had time left on his contract. Just not Shawn & just not in Montréal. Vince begged him to sign a massive long term contract, then wanted out & gave Bret creative control as a result.

[@ShadowAngel-lt8nw]

Actually wrong. His contract ended already and Bret didn't have Creative Control in the full sense of the term, he had a limited creative control that gave him the right to make suggestions. That was all. Bret acted like a piece of shit (usual business for him) and got what he deserved ultimately.

[@liamclarke5275]

@@ShadowAngel-lt8nw Nope. None of this is true.

[@ShadowAngel-lt8nw]

@@liamclarke5275 What a well thought out comment, full of proof, links and sources. Well done. Moron.

[@RG-lr4pk]

@@ShadowAngel-lt8nw Butt Hurt is the ultimate victim

[@QuentinDude]

It-was-dumb-for-Bret-to-just-not-do-the-job...Everyone-in-that-arena-knew-he-was-leaving-the-WWE-and-expected-him-to-lose-and-WWF-even-pimped-this-as-Brets-last-match...Vince-allowed-him-out-of-his-contract-and-let-him-sign-a-very-nice-deal-with-WCW

[@chrisclines6321]

I’ve always been fascinated that some wrestlers felt BIGGER than the business and basically wanted to call the shots….. Hey it worked for some of the HUGE draws but come on Brett… on the way out you gotta take the L.

[@ShadowAngel-lt8nw]

It's especially funny considering Bret was the worst drawing WWF Champion from 1992 until 2001 and still holds the disctinction for main eventing the worst drawing WWF PPV of al ltime. He was a total failure in the truest sense of the word, but somehow thought he was a big star, lol.

[@iiVERSEii]

Hello my fellow wrestling fans! If you’d like, I have a new song called “Triple Threat” on my page that’s wrestling themed- based of the Montreal Screwjob and the Attitude Era all together. Just posting this in case there’s one of you out there that enjoys. Enjoy this epic episode as well, and thanks everyone! - VERSEatyle

[@shanesimpson7773]

Man-o-man, the Montreal screw job was such a messy situation If any one of us was a Vince McMahon, we would’ve done the exact same thing Just get it over and done with, so we can get back to business

[@Stick1983z]

tbh I think he could have trusted Bret to drop it the following evening.

[@oriondx72]

Yet shawn lost his smile and gave up the champ so he wouldnt have to drop to bret! yea they hated each other! This was before WM 13.

[@jaybarnes8034]

The screw job was real. Bret submitted to the better man.

[@robbymarton74]

Jake?? Seriously? He’s the last person who should be saying Anything! The biggest NO SHOW there is.

[@54champions]

Only needed to say business 2 times more for 1000 businesses 😂

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

I bet every wrestler in that era gets sick and tired of talking about it this gets done to death stop bringing it up

[@Nostalgia9478]

Bret>>>>POS CHICKENbottom

[@TL2354]

CHICKENbottom?! OMG that’s sooooooo original! How did you come up with such aa clever gem?

[@Nostalgia9478]

@@TL2354 :)

[@karimsunderji9180]

Bret had creative control. So it’s different.

[@TL2354]

Not total

[@dethaddr]

Way to forget 99% of the details, Mr. Wannabe Podcaster. Try doing the research next time, so you don't look like a fool to everyone who WASN'T born after the MS happened!

[@lordkain9529]

I still think that the whole thing was a work to this very day.

[@timthegem]

Flat Earther.

[@benatkinson5671]

If so, then what was the payoff to Bret? He went to WCW and went nowhere, not to mention the incident with Goldberg which no one could have foreseen. Only Vince really benefited from the screw job since he became the #1 wrestling heel of all time. Given everything that happened after 1997, what benefit did Bret get from "working" the screw job? Even with imperfect foresight, what benefit could Bret reasonable *expect* from the screw job?