Bret Hart contract situation in 97

[bitesthedust]

Let's change tack here and focus on the match itself at Survivor Series. Put yourself in Earl Hebner's shoes.

Bret Hart approached him the night before and told him that the WWF would ask him to screw him, and asked him to tell Bret of the plan. Then Shawn Michaels tells Earl before the match they would doing a swerve, and he needed him to ring the bell etc, etc.

What if - a) Earl Hebner doesn't tell Bret (as happened) but decides he doesn't want any part of the plan? (So when the ref bump happens, he stays down whilst Shawn has Bret in the sharpshooter and Vince McMahon calls for the bell)

or b) Earl Hebner does inform Bret Hart - so when Shawn Michaels goes for the sharpshooter, he kicks out, or grabs Shawn's leg as he attempts to turn him over?

If a) happens, the belt goes to Shawn but what happens to Earl?
If b) happens, how does the match finish and what happens to Shawn, Bret, Earl, the title, etc.?

 

[HBKperfect23]

If "A" happens not much changes and Earl is going to WCW with Bret after Vince fires him.McMahon can write in the storyline that being owner he granted himself power to make the decision in that match or any match. Makes sense.

If "B" happens the plan is screwed. They arent getting the title off of him. Bret could just leave and never go out there at all (if Earl gets to him before they go to the ring). If Earl tells Bret why they are in the ring it could turn out to become a real fight. The real fight would look horrible on tv and would end with Bret keeping the title. This is worst case senirio because now Bret would be furious and still WWF Champion. Im sure they could have took the belt back but you would still see the WWF Champion on Nitro the following night.

This could turn into a legal battle because Bret would have done this under contract. I dont know how that would play out.

 

[IT Factor]

And let me make one point crystal clear; I'm a fan of both HBK and Vince as characters/wrestlers as well as Bret. Both McMahon & Michaels have given us alot of memorable moments that I appreciate and respect. I just think the manner in which they executed the whole Montreal screwjob was deploreable. Even respected locker room leaders like The Undertaker and Mick Foley have voiced their disdain for what happened. Simply put, the whole thing was unethical and unprofessional. Was Bret partly responsible for being impossible to persuade differently? Yes. I'm not claiming that Bret was somehow a total victim or anything of the sort. Bret definetely had a major stake in it and some of his actions snowballed on him and added to what eventually happened. The person I most blame is Vince McMahon;

Vince was the boss and he should've intervened and demanded that both Bret & Shawn be professional or else. After all, he could fire either one if they refused. He should've had both men diffuse their issues together and put them in a room not letting them leave until their issues were resolved. That would've been the respectful and professional thing to do. And while other parties like Triple H and Earl Hebner were involved, it was McMahon who had the final decision on what did and didn't happen. There were other ways to go about proceeding that still would've made both guys happy and preserve the company's dignity[and the WWF Title intact]. No one can deny that this move ended Bret's career pretty much and that it helped turn the tide for WWF against WCW. It was compelling and entertaining to watch. As a fan though, you have to see things for what they are. What they did to Bret was uncalled for. And it was Montreal that would also have shockwave effects on the careers of both Owen Hart & British Bulldog. Owen was stuck doing nothing until his death with the Blue Blazer punishment gimmick and Bulldog was released and did nothing really major afterwards either[in both WCW & his return to WWF]. In the long run, Montreal and the screwjob was the lone domino that caused a bunch of different dominos to fall. While I'm glad that all parties involved have since resolved their issues, no one can deny that what took place was just plain wrong.

 

[HBKperfect23]

I know the Montreal thing is ancient, but it still is a sore topic to me. I was a huge fan of Bret's and thought the whole thing was unneeded and not necessary. If McMahon had wanted out, there were other ways of going about it. Strip Bret of the title[which Hart agreed to, btw]. McMahon wanted to humiliate and make an example outta Bret, which is very telling about how insecure Vince must be. You see it all the time in the history of Vince McMahon. He's a shallow and child-like personality who is by very definition a hypocrite. Anti-bullying campaigns galore, yet a bully himself. The whole Bret Hart contract dispute and Montreal situation were just the beginning and it was a very dark day in wrestling history. I don't think Bret Hart, McMahon, Michaels or the wrestling business itself ever truly recovered from that one single event.

Of course Bret would have agreed to be striped of the title. He was being unprofessional and didnt want to drop the title. They never recovered? This was weeks away from the biggest boom period in wrestling history.

The person I most blame is Vince McMahon;

Vince was the boss and he should've intervened and demanded that both Bret & Shawn be professional or else. After all, he could fire either one if they refused. He should've had both men diffuse their issues together and put them in a room not letting them leave until their issues were resolved. That would've been the respectful and professional thing to do. And while other parties like Triple H and Earl Hebner were involved, it was McMahon who had the final decision on what did and didn't happen.

McMahon did try and sit them down to work out their problems numerous times, they couldnt get along so McMahon picked Shawn and pretty much released Bret. I dont understand how you could blame McMahon at the beginning of this and then end it with stating McMahon has final desicion?.....Did your boss ever ask you to do anything you didnt want to do? Its his company and he wanted a hot heel to take the title off Bret (Michaels) so he could make his next babyface at WM (Austin). Its not Brets choice who he drops the belt too. It all comes down to Bret not wanting to do whats right for the company but instead looking out of Bret Hart and only Bret Hart. Im a Bret fan but he was dead wrong here.

 

[theHeadliner]

If anything, Vince McMahon allowed Bret Hart to breach and get out of his WWF contract and sign the richest deal ever with the direct competition that was trying to put him out of business, while Bret was publicly bashing the WWF's direction. Also, Bret had reasonable creative control. That didn't mean he could agree or disagree to every single aspect. Bret and Shawn are my top two of all-time as well, just pointing out facts. Vince got the richest deal out of Vince, then got the richest deal out of Bischoff.

 

[Waylon Mercy]

In an alternate universe, Bret Hart retained his belt at SS 1997, although it was by cheating somehow. The hometown crowd loved it, though, and of course cheered for Bret as a heel. During that match, Vince McMahon entered the ring and talked to the alternate universe version of Earl Hebner. As Bret was leaving the ring with his belt, McMahon got the PA to call Bret back to the ring. Hebner had reversed the decision, and the match was going to continue. Bret came back to the ring and started arguing with Hebner. In a fit of rage, Bret attacked Hebner and laid him out. Vince tried to intervene, and for that he got sucker punched and Bret slapped the sharpshooter on McMahon. All this, in the alternate universe, was staged.
Michaels, who was recuperating in the corner, then intervened and the two came to blows. By this time the Hart Foundation came to the ring to assist Bret, while half the locker room (led by Triple H) joined in the melee. Bodies were smashing into announce tables, fights going into the stands, and foreign objects flying like missiles through the air. Absolute chaos ensued to close off the show. Bret and the Foundation escape with the belt, and the show ends with them fleeing through the parking lot into waiting cars.
The next night on Raw, Vince is in the ring with Sgt. Slaughter, as well as an entourage of security officers. He calls Bret out to answer for his despicable actions from the night before. Out comes Bret, unapologetic, and berates McMahon. Bret breaks kayfabe, and announces to the world that the actual person pulling the strings is McMahon himself. He is in fact the owner of the company. As the owner, Bret tells the world that McMahon has been trying to get the belt off of him for a long time, and wants his golden boy Shawn to have it. McMahon is visibly irate at Bret, and for real. Bret then shoves McMahon, and announces that he is sick and tired of the games McMahon keeps playing with him, and that McMahon tried so many times to betray him. For that, Vince can kiss his ass goodbye.
As Bret is about to leave the ring, Vince tells him to stop right there. Bret laughs him off, but Vince tells him what he is about to say will have the whole world talking. Vince says that for too long, Bret's ego has been getting in the way of what is right for HIS company. Out of respect and admiration, and even friendship, Vince has let a lot of things go over the years. Now, it seems, Bret has forced his hand. Vince says that the championship he is holding, and he reminds him that it is his championship belt, belongs to the WWF. A decision was made this morning to strip Bret of the title, for his despicable and disgraceful actions the night before in Montreal. Bret tells Vince that he'll have to pry the belt from his dead hands before he'll give it up. Vince tells him that he is not going to let Bret take the belt "Down South", as someone else once did. The two exchange words inaudibly to each other. Vince goes back to the mic: "Might as well let everyone know Bret. Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
Visibly upset, Bret tells Vince to go to hell. "After all these years of carrying this company on my back, putting my blood, sweat and tears for you and this company, this is what it comes down to, eh Vince?" Bret throws the belt into Vince's chest, gives him the finger and climbs up the turnbuckle. He gestures the letters "W-C-W" in the air, and there is a stunned silence. Bret walks up the ramp, and shouts "I'm DONE with you!!! I'm DONE with the WWF. Screw you Vince McMahon!!!"

As Bret is leaving the backstage area, he is comforted by the Hart Foundation, who sells extreme shock at what went down. Owen is there to give his brother support. They are all about to leave together when Vince interrupts the proceedings. He shouts out over the announce system, which is fed through the back that if anyone leaves with that traitor, then they can consider it their farewell too. Angered and disgusted, they all leave together with a unified middle finger to Vince, and more WCW gestures. In this universe, Owen left with them and never died.
Some might ask if this would have affected the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin, and I would say no. It would have been a slightly different version, but more or less the same Rattlesnake and the same wars with Vince. However, in this version, Vince would have been fully behind his golden boy Shawn Michaels, who was full-on heel by this time, and backed by Triple H and Degeneration X. Austin would have been a constant thorn in their sides, finding every way possible to ruin McMahon's plans. He would have been a lone wolf, though eventually he would have found unlikely allies in Mankind and the Rock. The Rock would have turned on Austin when Michaels went out with a back injury, as he would have become McMahon's handpicked successor.
So, in a nutshell, the Attitude Era officially began at Survivor Series in Montreal, and Vince's new role as "Mr. McMahon" would have taken form the next night on Raw. That Raw emanated from Ottawa, so Vince would have been booed out of the building. The Hart Foundation (Bulldog, Anvil and Owen) would have left with Bret to WCW. Austin would have emerged as the same guy who stood up to Vince and his bullshit, but in this universe it was Shawn who Vince put in the driver's seat. Perhaps all this would have emerged in some "tournament" for the vacated championship, in which Stone Cold was on his way to winning. Vince comes out and stacks the deck so that Michaels wins. Who knows? Maybe WCW in this universe did things right with Bret, and the rest of the Foundation and went on to more success over the years (until eventually losing the war to the WWE).

 

[IT Factor]

Of course Bret would have agreed to be striped of the title. He was being unprofessional and didnt want to drop the title. They never recovered? This was weeks away from the biggest boom period in wrestling history.

So Bret was being unprofessional? What were McMahon and HBK being? Because taking a consistent hard worker and basically humiliating him in the middle of the ring on a live PPV feed is obviously professional, right? I'm not saying Bret was 100% right, far from it. He should've been more open to different ideas and willing to compromise. As usual, when someone on the topic says something, there are others who will twist the meaning or distort what was actually said. I never said WWF never recovered. What I did say is that Bret, Vince, and Shawn never fully recovered from Montreal. I believe I even went as far as to point out how the Montreal controversy helped turn the tide for WWF against WCW. Any fan of that time knows that professionally Montreal did wonders for WWF. On a personal level as a fan, what they did to Bret was inexcuseable. No other way to say it. Simple as that.

McMahon did try and sit them down to work out their problems numerous times, they couldnt get along so McMahon picked Shawn and pretty much released Bret. I dont understand how you could blame McMahon at the beginning of this and then end it with stating McMahon has final desicion?.....Did your boss ever ask you to do anything you didnt want to do? Its his company and he wanted a hot heel to take the title off Bret (Michaels) so he could make his next babyface at WM (Austin). Its not Brets choice who he drops the belt too. It all comes down to Bret not wanting to do whats right for the company but instead looking out of Bret Hart and only Bret Hart. Im a Bret fan but he was dead wrong here.

I know, it's hard to fathom. Going from one point to the other and expecting everyone to be able to follow. I blamed McMahon and ended it saying Vince had final say so. How is that contradictory? If anything, it is consistent. Sure, my boss has asked me to do plenty I didn't wanna do. Which is why I said Bret was partly to blame for not compromisizing as most rational people would have. However, Bret was loyal to McMahon at a time when not every talent was. Alot of WWF made talents jumped over to WCW without reguard for McMahon or the WWF as a company. Say what ya want about Bret professionally as everyone has the right to judge how good a performer you are based on personal opinion.

We cannot judge Bret personally, because we only know what we've been told secondhand about everything. We do know that Bret never missed much time during his tenure in WWF. We know that Bret never refused to lose to anyone except Shawn Michaels in Montreal. We know Bret was pretty much a loyal model employee compared to others like Hogan or Ric Flair who constantly refused to do jobs and put others over. No one can deny that Bret helped build the WWF to what it was and still is as WWE. Bottom line is that a true boss of a professional nature would have made sure the whole ordeal was avoided and taken care of to everyone's liking. Shawn could've still won the title, Bret could've avoided the screwjob, and the WWF would have still eventually won the Monday Night Wars. Vince took a personal bias stance again Bret simply because he stood up for himself. If you look at past incidents involving Vince McMahon, you see a pattern. Read any autobiography involving a wrestler who worked for McMahon. Just about everyone concurs that Vince is a weasel type who talks out of both sides of his mouth. While every wrestling promoter is shady to a degree, McMahon has a history of that type of behavior. What he did to Bret in Montreal is just the biggest one us wrestling fans have actually witnessed. My stance on it is that it could've been done more professionally and everyone could've won. Instead, it became infamous for one of wrestling's darkest days. The mere fact that Bret is the only person to have been screwed in that manner is witness to it being unprofessional and unethical. That's my whole point here, which you seem to either be ignoring or not grasping.

 

[Just Do It]

The thing that has always bothered me about this is did Bret sue over the screwjob? Legally he'd be in his right's to do so with his 30 day creative control clause. If he did i've never heard about it, and if he didn't why not? surely he would have been able to sue for millions. If he didn't sue is this an indicator to suggest he was in on it?

In his book, Bret states he could have sued, but Vince had the resources to keep the case going for years. Bret would have had to put up a lot of money to keep it going, and it would have been stressful.

Vince had also threatened to sue for assault because of the punch afterwards. By not suing, he keeps it at a stalemate.

 

[HBKperfect23]

So Bret was being unprofessional? What were McMahon and HBK being? Because taking a consistent hard worker and basically humiliating him in the middle of the ring on a live PPV feed is obviously professional, right?

In this situation it was nessacary. HBK was very unprofessional with Bret at times...but not on this night. The purpose of the screw job wasnt humiliating Bret. I dont understand why you are unable to realize that. It wasnt about Bret, it was about Michaels getting a big win and more heat so the WWF could make Austin at WM. The screwjob was more about Steve then anyone an McMahon had every right to want Steve to made this way.

I'm not saying Bret was 100% right, far from it. He should've been more open to different ideas and willing to compromise. As usual, when someone on the topic says something, there are others who will twist the meaning or distort what was actually said. I never said WWF never recovered. What I did say is that Bret, Vince, and Shawn never fully recovered from Montreal.

Vince didnt need to be open to more ideas, its his company.
Shawn had complete rebirth and new out look on life a few years later. I dont see how Vince never recovered. Bret took awhile but I think he fully has put this behind him. Watch The Rivalries DVD.

However, Bret was loyal to McMahon at a time when not every talent was. Alot of WWF made talents jumped over to WCW without reguard for McMahon or the WWF as a company. Say what ya want about Bret professionally as everyone has the right to judge how good a performer you are based on personal opinion.

Never said Bret wasnt loyal before Montreal. Not sure where I bashed Bret as a performer. If you want my opinion on Bret as a performer, he was absolutley amazing. In the ring nobody could ever tell a story like he did. His match against Bulldog still holds up to me as the GOAT. Hes top 10 ever. I am a big Bret fan. I do think he was wrong in this situation though.

We cannot judge Bret personally, because we only know what we've been told secondhand about everything.

Again, you should check out the Rivalry DVD. Bret admits he was holding on to a lot of anger. I am glad to say he seems at peace now. I dont think Bret was/is a bad person. I just think he was caught up in his character and took himself to seriously then.

We do know that Bret never missed much time during his tenure in WWF. We know that Bret never refused to lose to anyone except Shawn Michaels in Montreal. We know Bret was pretty much a loyal model employee compared to others like Hogan or Ric Flair who constantly refused to do jobs and put others over. No one can deny that Bret helped build the WWF to what it was and still is as WWE. Bottom line is that a true boss of a professional nature would have made sure the whole ordeal was avoided and taken care of to everyone's liking.

Bret didnt like to lose and thats pretty well documented. Your examples are pretty week in this argument. Ric Flair refused to job? This statement is ridiculous. Bottom line is Vince did what he could to advoid this and there was no getting around it.

That's my whole point here, which you seem to either be ignoring or not grasping.

I understand it, Im just not agreeing with all of it.

 

[Wald]

If you guys want a reason for why Vince did this it's quite simple. Vince has always been against wrestlers that stand up to him. Bret used the leverage he had in 1996 to get himself probably the best contract any WWF wrestler had ever had at that point. Millions of dollars and creative control when going out the door, it was pretty unheard of in the WWF (not even Hogan got that much).

My thinking is that Vince wanted to make an example out of him for the rest of the locker. To show that no wrestler would be ever above Vince McMahon. Want proof of Vince as a boss? Look at his history. Jesse Ventura got kicked to the curb for daring to think that a worker's union should be introduced. He played that 'independent contractor' card into the ground so he could avoid travel expenses. He basically tosses in the trash anyone he thinks he has run as much use out of as he can. All in all, he sounds like an asshole of a boss.

He couldn't have Bret get that contract. Do that and it opens the door for HBK (who was meant to be furious when he found out what Bret was on), Undertaker and whoever else comes up the ranks to ask for the same. This was the era of WCW's guaranteed contracts, where WWF guys were jumping over because they could get better terms off Turner. All a guy like Undertaker would have to do would be walk up to Vince and ask for Bret's contract or he was heading down south and he'd have it. Getting rid of Bret got rid of Bret's contract. That's as simple as it gets. You can say that Vince had to do that, I'd say it was an asshole move to make and that he shouldn't have signed the contract in the first place.

As for Michaels, anyone who thinks he didn't kick out of doing that to Bret at that time is deluding themselves. I would go so far as to say that had he been asked to do that to Undertaker, for example, that he would have refused. Not just cause he would have been hospitalisied afterwards either.

 

[IT Factor]

In this situation it was nessacary. HBK was very unprofessional with Bret at times...but not on this night. The purpose of the screw job wasnt humiliating Bret. I dont understand why you are unable to realize that. It wasnt about Bret, it was about Michaels getting a big win and more heat so the WWF could make Austin at WM. The screwjob was more about Steve then anyone an McMahon had every right to want Steve to made this way.

Again, you ignore the obvious[SHOCKING!!!]. The screwjob was all about McMahon exerting his dominance over his workers. No one gets the upperhand on McMahon and the screwjob on Bret was the example to the locker room. If you believe anything otherwise, you are delusional.

Vince didnt need to be open to more ideas, its his company.
Shawn had complete rebirth and new out look on life a few years later. I dont see how Vince never recovered. Bret took awhile but I think he fully has put this behind him. Watch The Rivalries DVD.

Again, you rush through the text and misunderstand. I said "he should've been more open to other ideas". BRET, not VINCE. Damn, you cannot even follow what I'm saying and not fully digesting the whole context before quoting to dispute. Understand what I'm sayin' before you reply. Vince never recovered simply because it was a traumatic ordeal. It gave him an even worse position with his workers, who were already suspect that he would pull a double cross. Shawn never recovered because everyone knew he was involved. Bret was the biggest loser because Montreal had direct consequences on his career later on. His career in wrestling ended because of Goldberg, who was in WCW. If Bret had've still been employed with WWF, he wouldn't have been injured and still working[although retired by now]. And yes, I own the Rivarly dvd with Bret vs. Shawn. If you pay attention to the dvd itself, you only get a reinforced sense of remorse from all parties involved. Remorse is only preceeded by guilt, of which Vince McMahon had the most of. Not to mention others like HBK, HHH, and Hebner. Which is why I most blame McMahon. He could've ended the notion as soon as it was suggested, which he didn't because he was personally offended by Bret standing up for what he believed in. "No one crosses the boss", which was McMahon's mentality and vindictiveness towards his employees. Montreal was the culmination of that belief.

Never said Bret wasnt loyal before Montreal. Not sure where I bashed Bret as a performer. If you want my opinion on Bret as a performer, he was absolutley amazing. In the ring nobody could ever tell a story like he did. His match against Bulldog still holds up to me as the GOAT. Hes top 10 ever. I am a big Bret fan. I do think he was wrong in this situation though.

My whole issue with Montreal is that it was easily avoideable by Vince McMahon in specific. He didn't remain neutral as any professional boss would've had and let his personal dislike of Bret's standing up for himself directly influence his actions. Watch the "Wrestling with Shadows" documentary or read Bret's book for plenty of supporting evidence. Then, go back and watch the RAWs and PPVs leading up to the Montreal event. That's about as close to corroborating evidence as you need. And what's more, McMahon and HBK had more to gain by lying about everything than Bret ever did. Which is another issue I have with the screwjob; the lying and subsequent coverup. "Bret screwed Bret". The big lie. I was just as insulted as a fan back then as I still am now. Don't insult fan intelligence by lying. Bret was a professional for 99.9% of his career. He only stood up on a major issue once and it cost him his career. Do you honestly believe McMahon would have tried that on The Undertaker? Or even anyone else that were legit badass types? Although I'd have liked to seen the outcome of that. McMahon perceived Bret as a weak guy and screwed him to make him an example to the locker room.

Again, you should check out the Rivalry DVD. Bret admits he was holding on to a lot of anger. I am glad to say he seems at peace now. I dont think Bret was/is a bad person. I just think he was caught up in his character and took himself to seriously then.

I do admit, Bret was abit of a mark for himself. Everyone that is successful in wrestling has to be to some degree. Wouldn't you be angry if you were taken advantage of by your boss, despite all loyalty? Bret was pretty much one of the guys exploited by the company and then disposed of because of differences of opinion. Imagine how society itself would function if every business were of that mindset. Bret was justifiable upset and rightfully so. He helped build the company and was a casualty of McMahon stroking his own ego to send a message to anyone else who crossed him. Plain and simple as that.

Bret didnt like to lose and thats pretty well documented. Your examples are pretty week in this argument. Ric Flair refused to job? This statement is ridiculous. Bottom line is Vince did what he could to advoid this and there was no getting around it.

My examples are known history. Just read Flair's book "To Be The Man". He admits several instances of refusing to lose to those he perceived as not worthy of his time. He outright lies about certain historical events as well as taking shots at known legends like Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart. There are others on that list, but if you read the book you already knew that. Again, you are in some major denial and either don't remember accurate history or are outright ignoring it to distort the facts and somehow lend credibility to your viewpoint. Bret documents all of his feuds in his book, only naming Michaels and Dino Bravo as people he refused to lose to. Shawn was winning over Bret numerous times in the 90s and Bret never refused to put Shawn over until their real life issues started[which Bret says Shawn wasn't willing to put him over either, mutual dislike if you will]. Dino Bravo won a match in Bret's jobber days, so Bret didn't have a problem losing per say. He just refused to lose to Bravo because at that point, he was told by agents he was going to win. And despite the fact that the last match with Dino Bravo that he injured Bret's ribs, Bret still managed to continue until the ref stopped the match. Again, an example of Bret's loyalty. But please, keep distorting the known history to make it seem as if I have no basis for my opinion here. The bottom line is that Vinnie Mac could've ended the notion of a screwjob scenario upon its suggestion. The fact that he didn't proves he was operating on ego and not looking out for his employees[more specifically Bret]. The mere fact that McMahon kept lying about "Bret screwing Bret" proves he had more to gain from the event than Bret ever did. Which is my issue with him here.

I understand it, Im just not agreeing with all of it.

I can respect your view here. Everyone is entitled to think what they want. I simply cannot respect what Vince McMahon did to one of his most loyal employees in the most public way possible. Real professionals wouldn't have stooped to that level and it showed McMahon's true feelings about employee/employer relationships. Everyone is replaceable, even if they helped you build the company. Just look at what McMahon did to top stars like Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin when he had minor disputes with them. And those two names were the biggest stars in their eras that Vince ever had. Yet he had similiar falling outs with them as well. The difference is that he didn't publicly screw them over on a live PPV feed. Why you might ask? Respect for them and their accomplishments. Which didn't happen for Bret and Montreal. That's why alot of fans, wrestlers, and others didn't like what happened. It's as if McMahon were somehow overlooking Bret's accomplishments and saying FU and I'm the boss. A very shallow dim view to take, considering all Bret did for WWF up until that point.

I'm happy that HBK, Vince, and Bret buried the hatchet, really I am. Everyone needs to move on. However, it did happen and will always be a historical reminder that Vince McMahon is the biggest bully to ever work for WWE. He's supposed to be the great businessman and genius, yet his own ego has been the downfall for so many talents. Doesn't seem like a business type of philosophy to have and not that of a mature man. A true boss leads by example and not by ego. It's that simple.

 

[Nicky Midss]

if bret would've lasted through those 2-3 months, could you imagine his heel character during the 1998 run the WWF had?

it wouldve been even better. plus HBK got hurt, so it wouldve been the summer of vince the heel, the stooges, undertaker, kane, dude love/mankind, DX, the nation, bret, and stone cold.

it would've been incredible.

i look at brets life, and i cant help but feel horrible for the guy. yes, hes had a good life, but from 1997 to 2003 professionally and personally, you could argue his life was a disaster. you thank god the guy didnt kill himself. for a guy who was always great to the fans, and who gave the fans all they wanted, it was a damn shame. i felt horrible then, and i still feel horrible now.