Houston Region, Boston Subregion: Second Round: (1) Bret Hart vs. (17) Jerry Lawler

[klunderbunker]

The following contest is a first round match in the Houston Region.

This match takes place in the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

#1 Bret Hart

Vs.

#17 Jerry Lawler

This contest is one fall with a 20 minute time limit. The match will take place in a 16 x 16 ring with no ramp leading to it. Any traditional managers for either competitor will be allowed at ringside.

As for voting, vote for who you think would win this match based on the criteria you choose. Some suggestions would be (not limited to): in ring ability, overall skill, their level of influence at the highest point in their career, ability to connect with the crowd, experience in major matches or simply personal preference etc.

The most votes in the voting period wins and in the case of a tie, the most written votes wins. There is one written vote per user, meaning if a poster make ten posts saying Bret should win that will count as a single vote. In the event of a second tie, both men are ELIMINATED, no questions asked. Only winners advance.

Voting is open for four days and all posts must be non-spam.​

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler had one hilarious feud between 1993 and 1995, underrated in my opinion. The matches weren't anything to remember, but the feud was brilliant.

Lawler picked up a couple of dirty wins over Hart, but Bret won that feud after making Lawler submit at The King of the Ring in 1995.

So not only does Bret destroy him kayfabe-wise, he had the better career as well. Lawler is probably underrated in terms of how much he's actually achieved in professional wrestling, but he's not Bret Hart. Hart was the face of the WWF for a period of time, and is one of the most talented in-ring performers in the history of the business.

Bret goes over here, and doesn't have much trouble doing so.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

Most people will base this match-up on their feud in the mid 90's. I have no reason not to do the same exact thing, considering that was during Hart's prime and (some would say) right after Lawler's.

Lawler only won whenever outside interference was a contribute. The rules of this are pretty simple - only traditional managers are allowed in this, which means the likes of Hakushi, or Doink, or any other road block Lawler constantly put in front of Hart - aren't involved.

Lawler was more talented before the WWF, and people should understand that - but Hart has the edge in almost every catagory except 'cheating'. (to me, anyways; and until someone wants to try and prove otherwise - I'm sure to a lot of others)

Hart wins this.

 

[Tastycles]

Lawler's sustained success was mostly in his hometown, where this isn't. He actually had a feud with Hart and came out a loser, so it looks good for Hart. Also, nobody ever shit in Bret Hart's crown, which in itself is an achievement compared to Lawler, by his own account. With all that in mind, and bringing in things like Hart's world championships and technical supremacy, there can only be one winner. Bret Hart wins this.

 

[gd]

Completely off there, Tasty. How is having someone shitty in your crown a bad thing? That's just silly. Pro wrestling is all about making people care about you in some way. Did anyone ever care abot Hart enough to shit in his crown, or even piss on it? Not that I've heard.

Also, Hart may have "won the feud", as you all have said, but overall Lawler is 3-1 against Hart alltime in one on one matches. However you slice it, that is to his advantage.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Jerry Lawler is a great in wrestling, but Bret Hart is on a completely different level.

Hart was the face of the largest wrestling company in the world, a multi-time world champion in that company and probably the 2nd most popular superstar in the company after Hulk Hogan for a long period of time.

His wrestling ability is far above that of Lawler, who himself is no slouch in the ring. The King could play dirty though, which is something Hart wouldn't do, and that would give King a chance in this. In WWE, Lawler currently has a 3-1 record over Bret, which shows he could get the job done.

However, I think that Bret will have studied Lawlers underhanded tactics and will know what to expect. After using King's own fist drop on him from the top rope, Bret would force the tap out with the Sharpshooter.

Bret Hart goes through

 

[D-Man]

I don't even need to argue here because I know Hart is going through. Present day wrestling fans don't understand the impact that Jerry had on the business and as far as I'm concerned, he's done more for it than Bret Hart ever did. But I know that once a pro-wrestler achieves the WWF(E) or WCW titles, they considered a god in wrestling and it cancels out achievements similar to the ones Lawler attained. You know, all 17 million of his championships.

However, in a kayfabe match, Hart takes it easily. He's definitely the more gifted wrestler and this forum marks out to technical specialists like Bret. Even though his charisma falls short of Lawlers and he didn't accomplish anything outside of the WWE and WCW (besides Stampede Wrestling where he didn't even win their top championship) most of you will vote him through anyway.

Please keep in mind that I'm not knocking Bret Hart. I know he is one of the greatest wrestlers ever to step foot inside of a ring. When I praise Lawler, that's not me saying that Bret sucks. However, I've always felt that he was severely overrated. Bret's absence from the business is equivalent to Owen Hart and Eddie Guerrero's deaths. For some reason, once these guys step away from wrestling for a while, they become a fine wine that gets better with age. Some wrestlers are more deserving of their accolades than men like Bret Hart. I really think Jerry Lawler is one of them.

But once again, Bret is going to win so I'm just wasting my breath.

 

[LigerBomb]

I would love to vote for the King here, I truly would. In good conscience I can't though. It would be a really fun match all things considered. Especially if it were held in the south away from Vince's sphere of influence. There you get a Bret Hart that could even show a bit more teeth. I could easily see it going into the stands a bit, maybe even a bit of blood; Lawler trying like mad to cheat and get in a solid pile driver (or two), Hart finding innovative ways to reverse and escape. Really fun. Really, really, fun. *sigh*

Due to his technical know-how, more often than not, Hart would get the win (clean). Because of that, my vote goes to the Hitman.

 

[Dark Horse]

No one can deny the impact that Lawler had on the business. His feud with Andy Kaufman alone should tell anyone who isn't sure about it, that Lawler was one of the biggest stars of his day even if you try to say it was only in Memphis which isn't entirely true. That was a national phenomenon and got legitimate heat. I don't know who was hated more, Lawler or Kaufman. It was every bit as big as anything you could ever point to in Bret Harts career. Lets not for one second behave as though Lawler isn't on the level of Bret Hart, he clearly is.

Bret however, is Bret. His level of stardom in the WWF and WCW that continues to grow it's own legacy into today is as legendary as any. You look at his in ring ability and the way Hart innovated in the ring as well and you have to know that he is just the better man in the ring. His sharpshooter was one of the most feared submissions in wrestling history, and one of the most successful. That is in part why I think Jerry Lawler loses this match around the 15 minute mark via Sharpshooter.