About Bret “The Hitman” Hart
Full Name:
Bret Sergeant Hart
Ring Name(s):
- Bret “The Hitman” Hart
- The Excellence of Execution
- The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be
Date of Birth:
July 2, 1957
Place of Birth:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height:
6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight:
235 lb (107 kg)
Early Life and Background:
Bret Hart is the eighth of twelve children born to wrestling legend Stu Hart, who operated the Stampede Wrestling promotion in Canada and trained hundreds of wrestlers in the infamous “Dungeon.” Bret grew up surrounded by wrestling, and although he originally pursued amateur wrestling and film, he ultimately joined the family business.
He holds dual Canadian and American citizenship, has a background in amateur wrestling, and graduated from Mount Royal University with a degree in film.
Professional Wrestling Career:
Debut:
1978 – Stampede Wrestling
Bret debuted in his father’s promotion and quickly gained a reputation for technical excellence and ring psychology.
WWE Career (1984–1997):
Early Years:
Joined WWE (then WWF) in 1984, initially as part of The Hart Foundation tag team with his brother-in-law Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, managed by Jimmy Hart.
Tag Team Success:
- 2× WWF Tag Team Champion with Neidhart
- Known for his technical prowess paired with Neidhart’s power
- Rivalries with teams like The British Bulldogs, Demolition, and The Rockers
Singles Success:
Bret broke out as a solo competitor in the early 1990s and earned widespread acclaim for his wrestling ability and storytelling.
Major Titles & Accomplishments in WWE:
- 5× WWF Champion
- 2× Intercontinental Champion
- 2× WWF Tag Team Champion
- 1991 King of the Ring
- 1993 King of the Ring
- 1994 Royal Rumble co-winner (with Lex Luger)
- First wrestler to win the King of the Ring both in a non-televised format (1991) and on pay-per-view (1993)
- First wrestler to pin both Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan in WWE
Notable Rivalries:
- Shawn Michaels
- Steve Austin
- Owen Hart (his brother)
- Jerry “The King” Lawler
- Yokozuna
- Mr. Perfect
- Diesel (Kevin Nash)
Wrestling Style:
Bret was known for being a “real” wrestler in a time of larger-than-life characters. His style was technically sound, realistic, and psychology-driven. His signature moves included:
- Sharpshooter (submission finisher)
- Russian leg sweep
- Diving elbow from the second rope
- Ring post figure-four
The Montreal Screwjob (1997):
One of the most infamous events in wrestling history occurred at Survivor Series 1997 in Montreal, where Vince McMahon ordered the match to end with Shawn Michaels putting Bret in the Sharpshooter, despite Bret not submitting. This real-life double-cross ended Bret’s WWE career and caused a long-standing rift between Bret, Vince McMahon, and Shawn Michaels.
WCW Career (1997–2000):
- Joined WCW shortly after the Montreal Screwjob.
- Won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and United States Championship.
- His run was plagued by creative mismanagement and injury.
In-Ring Retirement and Health Issues:
- Suffered a career-ending concussion in 2000 from a kick by Goldberg.
- In 2002, Bret suffered a stroke due to complications from a previous concussion. He made a remarkable recovery but never wrestled full-time again.
- Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, from which he successfully recovered.
WWE Return & Hall of Fame:
Bret reconciled with WWE in the mid-2000s.
- Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 (individual)
- Inducted again in 2019 as part of The Hart Foundation
- Returned to WWE TV in 2010 to bury the hatchet with Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon
- Wrestled one final match at WrestleMania XXVI in a No Holds Barred match against Mr. McMahon
- Appeared at various WWE events afterward as a legend and ambassador
Legacy:
Bret Hart is widely regarded as one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time. Known for his in-ring storytelling, psychology, and dedication to realism, he helped transition wrestling from the cartoonish 1980s to the reality-based 1990s.
He was beloved internationally, especially in Canada and Europe, and was instrumental in elevating mid-sized, athletic wrestlers to main-event status.
Signature Nicknames:
- The Excellence of Execution
- The Hitman
- The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
Championships & Accolades:
WWF/WWE:
- 5× WWF Champion
- 2× Intercontinental Champion
- 2× WWF Tag Team Champion
- 1991 & 1993 King of the Ring
- 1994 Royal Rumble co-winner
- WWE Hall of Fame (2006, 2019)
WCW:
- 2× WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 4× WCW United States Champion
- 1× WCW Tag Team Champion (with Goldberg)
Personal Life:
- Married three times; has four children
- Brother of wrestlers Owen Hart, Bruce Hart, and others in the legendary Hart wrestling family
- Authored a critically acclaimed autobiography: “Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling”
- Philanthropist and strong advocate for stroke recovery, cancer awareness, and wrestler safety
Fun Facts:
- His iconic entrance included pink and black ring gear, sunglasses (which he would give to a young fan), and a leather jacket
- Deeply involved in Canadian identity and was considered a national hero during the mid-’90s
- Has been referenced in pop culture and appeared in The Simpsons and Lonesome Dove
Quote:
“I am the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.”
