Bret Hart
Bret Hart: The Excellence of Execution
Introduction
Professional wrestling has produced countless superstars.
Some were larger than life.
Some were incredible athletes.
Some were unforgettable talkers.
Very few mastered every aspect of professional wrestling the way Bret Hart did.
For many wrestling purists, Bret Hart remains the greatest professional wrestler who ever lived.
Not because he was the strongest.
Not because he was the loudest.
Not because he was the most controversial.
Because he made wrestling look real.
Every punch.
Every hold.
Every counter.
Every match.
Everything Bret Hart did inside a wrestling ring carried an authenticity that few performers have ever matched.
When fans and wrestlers speak about technical excellence, one name inevitably enters the conversation:
Bret "Hitman" Hart.
The Excellence of Execution.
The Hart Family Legacy
Before Bret Hart became a superstar, he was part of wrestling royalty.
The legendary Hart family is one of the most influential families in professional wrestling history.
At the centre stood his father, the iconic Stu Hart, whose infamous "Dungeon" in Calgary became one of wrestling's most respected training grounds.
The Hart family produced an extraordinary collection of wrestling talent, including:
Bret Hart
Owen Hart
Bruce Hart
Keith Hart
Smith Hart
Ross Hart
Diana Hart
Davey Boy Smith through marriage
Jim Neidhart through marriage
The Hart family helped shape professional wrestling across multiple generations.
Yet among them all, Bret emerged as the crown jewel.
Presentation and Character
Unlike many wrestling superstars, Bret Hart never relied on flashy gimmicks.
He did not need supernatural powers.
He did not need outrageous costumes.
He did not need shocking antics.
His character was built on something much harder to fake.
Credibility.
Bret Hart presented himself as a serious professional wrestler.
A competitor.
A craftsman.
A fighting champion.
Fans believed him because he believed in himself.
His confidence never felt forced.
It felt earned.
The Entrance
One of the most iconic entrances in wrestling history began with the opening guitar riff of Bret Hart's entrance music.
The moment the music hit, arenas erupted.
Then came the signature pink and black attire.
The sunglasses.
The walk to the ring.
Most importantly, the interaction with the fans.
Children would line the entrance ramp hoping for a moment with their hero.
Bret would remove his trademark shades and place them on a lucky fan before entering the ring.
For many young wrestling fans of the 1990s, receiving Bret Hart's sunglasses became a lifelong memory.
It was a small gesture that strengthened his connection with audiences around the world.
The Look
Professional wrestling has produced many iconic looks.
Bret Hart's belongs among the greatest.
The pink and black colour scheme became synonymous with excellence.
The leather jacket.
The mirrored sunglasses.
The long dark hair.
The confident stare.
Everything about Bret Hart looked cool without trying too hard.
His presentation reflected exactly who he was.
Professional.
Disciplined.
Focused.
Fighting Style
This is where Bret Hart separated himself from nearly everyone else.
Bret Hart was a master technician.
His matches were built on logic.
Every move connected to the next.
Every limb attack had a purpose.
Every hold told part of a larger story.
His wrestling style combined:
Technical wrestling
Submission wrestling
Counter wrestling
Ring psychology
Storytelling
Realism
Nothing looked wasted.
Nothing looked fake.
Bret Hart wrestled matches that felt like genuine athletic contests.
Many wrestlers could perform moves.
Bret Hart could construct masterpieces.
Signature Moves
Bret Hart's move set became legendary because of its precision.
Among his most famous attacks were:
Russian Leg Sweep
Backbreaker
Bulldog
Atomic Drop
Side Russian Leg Sweep
Elbow Drop from the second rope
Figure Four around the ring post
Every move had purpose.
Every move had timing.
Every move advanced the story.
The Sharpshooter
Every legendary wrestler needs a legendary finishing move.
Bret Hart had the Sharpshooter.
Simple.
Painful.
Iconic.
The moment Bret turned an opponent over and stepped through the legs, audiences knew the end was near.
The Sharpshooter became one of the most respected submission holds in wrestling history and remains forever associated with Bret Hart.
Few finishing moves have become so synonymous with one performer.
Microphone Ability
Bret Hart was never as flashy on the microphone as The Rock.
He was never as outrageous as Ric Flair.
He was never as rebellious as Stone Cold Steve Austin.
What Bret offered was sincerity.
Fans believed what he said.
His promos felt real because they often reflected his genuine personality.
As his career evolved, Bret became increasingly comfortable expressing anger, pride, frustration and passion.
His interviews carried authenticity.
That authenticity became one of his greatest strengths.
Babyface or Heel?
Perhaps no wrestler ever executed a character shift more brilliantly.
For much of his career, Bret Hart was the ultimate babyface.
Honorable.
Respectful.
Hardworking.
The hero parents wanted children to admire.
Then came one of wrestling's most fascinating transformations.
In the United States, Bret became increasingly bitter and frustrated.
In Canada and much of the rest of the world, he remained a hero.
The result was one of the most unique character dynamics in wrestling history.
Americans viewed him as a villain.
Canadians viewed him as a patriot.
Both sides believed they were right.
It was storytelling at its finest.
Greatest Rivalries
Owen Hart
The rivalry with his younger brother Owen Hart produced some of the finest wrestling matches ever performed.
Their match at WrestleMania X remains a technical masterpiece.
The emotional depth made every encounter unforgettable.
Family.
Jealousy.
Respect.
Competition.
The story felt real because it was rooted in genuine family dynamics.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
If one match changed wrestling forever, it may have been Bret Hart versus Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13.
The double turn remains one of the greatest storytelling achievements in wrestling history.
Austin became a hero through his toughness.
Bret became a villain through his frustration.
The image of Austin bleeding while refusing to submit became legendary.
The match helped launch the Attitude Era.
Shawn Michaels
Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels shared one of the most intense rivalries in wrestling history.
Both were elite performers.
Both viewed themselves as the best.
The tension between them extended beyond storylines and into reality.
Their rivalry culminated in one of wrestling's most controversial moments.
The Montreal Screwjob
No discussion of Bret Hart is complete without addressing the Montreal Screwjob.
At Survivor Series 1997, Bret Hart entered as WWE Champion.
He left involved in perhaps the most controversial event professional wrestling has ever witnessed.
The finish was changed without his approval.
The Sharpshooter was applied.
The bell rang.
History changed.
The incident remains one of the most debated moments in wrestling history and fundamentally altered the careers of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon.
It also created the Mr. McMahon character that would help define the Attitude Era.
Championships and Accomplishments
Bret Hart's accomplishments include:
Five-time WWE Champion
Two-time Intercontinental Champion
Multiple Tag Team Championships
King of the Ring Winner
Royal Rumble Winner
WWE Hall of Fame Inductee
Yet statistics tell only part of the story.
His true achievement was elevating the quality of professional wrestling itself.
Best Matches
The list is extraordinary:
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart (WrestleMania X)
Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)
Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect (SummerSlam 1991)
Bret Hart vs British Bulldog (SummerSlam 1992)
Bret Hart vs Diesel (Royal Rumble 1995)
Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Iron Man Match)
Many of these matches remain required viewing for aspiring wrestlers.
They are wrestling classrooms disguised as entertainment.
Influence and Legacy
Ask professional wrestlers who influenced them most and Bret Hart's name appears repeatedly.
He inspired generations of performers through:
Technical excellence
Match structure
Storytelling
Realism
Professionalism
Countless wrestlers have studied Bret Hart matches to learn their craft.
Many of today's stars still borrow elements of his psychology and ring work.
His influence stretches across decades and continents.
Why He Was The Best There Is, The Best There Was, And The Best There Ever Will Be
Bret Hart's famous slogan was not simply a catchphrase.
For many wrestling fans, it was a statement of fact.
He represented professional wrestling at its purest.
No wasted motion.
No shortcuts.
No unnecessary theatrics.
Just excellence.
Night after night.
Match after match.
Year after year.
The Excellence of Execution was not merely a nickname.
It was a description.
Bret Hart made wrestling look real.
He made wrestling matter.
And long after championships are forgotten and rivalries fade into history, Bret Hart remains what every great wrestler ultimately strives to become:
The standard by which excellence is measured.
