Top 100 Bret Hart Matches, Part 4 (25-1)
Earlier this year I set out to write a list of the greatest matches of Bret Hart’s career. After watching well over 200 matches I have put together a list I am comfortable with that will be a nice tribute to my favourite wrestler. Note that multi men matches were generally ignored, unless Bret was a huge part of it.
Part 1 (100-76)
Part 2 (75-51)
Part 3 (50-26)
25.
Bret Hart
vs
Ricky Steamboat
Date: March 8, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (July 28, 1986)
Location: Boston Gardens in Boston, MA
Note: Appears on “The Hart Foundation” & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
The rumoured match for WrestleMania II and if this was any indication that would had been a classic. The only thing that keeps this from being even higher is that Bret was really lacking singles finishers at the time, so that aspect of near falls was not there.
24.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The British Bulldogs
Date: January 18, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Location: Capital Centre in Landover, MD
The best of the Hart Foundation and British Bulldogs matches and it’s weirdly on a house show in Maryland that never made a comp or Prime Time Television. It was a twenty minute match that actually had a pinfall finish, which is rare for their feud. Hot paced action here.
23.
Bret Hart
vs
Roddy Piper
Date: April 5, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Show: WrestleMania VIII
Location: Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, IN
Note: Bret Hart won the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story”.
This is a Bret Hart babyface vs babyface match where he isn’t the one who works subtle heel. It’s still a classic though, and the finish is something that will be used by Bret, then passed on to Steve Austin for years to come.
22.
Bret Hart
vs
Randy Savage
Date: November 11, 1987
Promotion: WWF
Show: Saturday Night’s Main Event (November 28, 1987)
Location: Coliseum in Seattle, WA
Note: Appears on “Best of Saturday Night’s Main Event”.
I LOVE this match. Bret destroys the Macho Man’s leg, and Savage is the master of selling a leg injury. Even though it’s one of the biggest stars in the company against a tag team wrestler it still feels like an even fight, due to Bret having his cronies with him. Highly dramatic and the best match in Saturday Night’s Main Event history.
21.
Bret Hart
vs
Diesel
Date: June 19, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: King of the Ring
Location: Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Appears on “Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
The first match in the series between these two and a great match to start it off. What is more shocking is that Diesel had just started his singles career, yet this is a classic. Bret can work any big monster to an awesome match, except Sid in 1996.
20.
Bret Hart
vs
Steve Austin
Date: April 20, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House: Revenge of the Taker
Location: War Memorial in Rochester, NY
Note: Appears on “The Best of In Your House”.
Bret is super injured and is about to get surgery, and this match was originally Sid vs Bret, and it has a fuck finish. With all of that being said, this match fucking rules and if it wasn’t over shadowed by two classics between these two it would be considered a classic too.
19.
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
Date: September 28, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: Action Zone (October 23, 1994)
Location: Westchester County Civic Center in White Plains, NY
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Appears on “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
I completely forgot about this match until this project and was blown away by the first main event of the very first Action Zone. This is the WrestleMania X match with hate and deserves to get more praise than it does.
18.
Bret Hart
vs
Mr. Perfect
Date: August 26, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Show: The SummerSlam
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Bret Hart won the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “SummerSlam’s Greatest Hits”, “SummerSlam: The Greatest Hits”, “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”, “The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect”, & “History of the Intercontinental Championship”.
Although Perfect’s back is completely messed up here, they work a great match that most people remember fondly. Perfect gutted it out and it felt more like a coming out showcase party for Bret. The finish is one of my favourites with the Sharpshooter out of nowhere.
17.
Bret Hart
vs
Ric Flair
Date: January 24, 1998
Promotion: WCW
Show: Souled Out
Location: Hara Arena in Dayton, OH
Note: Bret Hart’s first WCW match.
We’ve talked about these two not liking each other, but here is another great match between them. Feels slightly out of place as it feels like an old school contest between two vets in 1998 WCW. A great way for Bret to debut in WCW and if they stayed in this vein WCW would had been in a lot better shape.
16.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Killer Bees
Date: February 17, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Sqaure Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “Best of the WWF, Vol. 8” & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
The best Hart Foundation match in history and I think the Killer Bees might be the Harts best opponents. They get all the time they want in front of a hot crowd. A great tag match that everybody should watch.
15.
Bret Hart
vs
Davey Boy Smith
Date: August 29, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Show: The SummerSlam
Location: Wembley Stadium in London, England
Note: Davey Boy Smith won the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “1992 Year in Review”, “The Best of the WWF: SummerSlam”, “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”, “Best of Confidential, Vol. 1”, “History of the Intercontinental Title”, & “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
Bret’s first pay-per-view main event, even though he’s the Intercontinental Champion. Bret works the subtle heel which is one of my favourite versions of Bret. Famously Bulldog blows up very early on here and Bret works his magic to make this a classic.
14.
Bret & Owen Hart
vs
The Steiner Brothers
Date: January 11, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Location: Civic Center in Florence, SC
Note: Appears on “Wrestlefest ’94” & “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
As great as the Owen and Bret feud was, its kind of a shame they didn’t go longer with The Hart Brothers as a tag team. This also felt like The Steiners unleashed where they work like they are in Japan or WCW with vicious suplexes and a Steiner Driver.
13.
Bret Hart
vs
Vader
vs
Steve Austin
vs
The Undertaker
Date: February 16, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House: Final Four
Location: UTC Arena in Chattanooga, TN
Gimmick: Final Four Match
Note: Bret Hart won the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Appears on “The Best of In Your House.”
A match I have always loved that I feel never gets it’s due. These four go to war in a super hot crowd with a vicious contest. Bret and Austin try to kill each other. Vader almost dies from blood. Undertaker is more intense than usual. I think the thing that drags it out of the top ten is the over the top rope finishes.
Bonus List:
Top 5 Opponents
5. Diesel (An all-time great trilogy of WWF Title matches, too bad their final match was a letdown).
4. Ric Flair (A surprisingly great opponent that spanned two titles and two companies).
3. Shawn Michaels (I’m not a big fan of Shawn, but six of their singles matches made the list, plus a few tags).
2. Owen Hart (Two matches in the top 25 plus three more singles and a few tags, Bret certainly worked great with his brother).
1. Steve Austin (With two matches in the top 10, plus two more single matches on the list this is THE Bret opponent).
12.
Bret Hart
vs
Diesel
Date: January 22, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Royal Rumble
Location: Sundome in Tampa, FL
Note: Diesel retains the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Appears on “Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s”.
The second Diesel vs Bret World Title pay-per-view match and it builds on the first one. Here Diesel is the Champion and it’s a monster who is dominate versus the veteran Bret. A completely different feel than the King of the Ring match. Shitty finish aside, this is a great match.
11.
Bret Hart
vs
Terry Funk
Date: September 11, 1997
Show: Terry Funk’s WrestleFest: 50 Years of Funk
Location: Tri-State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Amarillo, TX
Gimmick: No DQ
The WWF World Champion goes to Terry Funk’s hometown on his retirement night and allows Funk to be as great as he’s always been. Bret works full heel and puts over Funk huge. Luckily it’s now on the WWE Network, so watch it.
10.
Bret Hart
vs
Chris Benoit
Date: October 4, 1999
Promotion: WCW
Show: Monday Nitro
Location: Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO
Gimmick: Harley Race was the special referee.
Note: This match was dedicated to Owen Hart. Also appears on “Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story”, & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”, & “The Best of In Your House”.
I really didn’t want to include a Chris Benoit match, but this tribute to Owen is a true old school throw back.
9.
Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart, & Brian Pillman
vs
Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, & Legion of Doom
Date: July 6, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House “Canadian Stampede”
Location: Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta
Note: Also appears on “Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon”, Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”, “The Best of In Your House”, & “Owen: Hart of Gold”.
The hottest crowd in wrestling history as Bret Hart returns home the conquering hero. The story telling is great and it’s a perfect send off for the Hart Family in the WWF.
8.
Bret Hart
vs
Davey Boy Smith
Date: December 17, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Also appears on “Monday Night Raw (January 8, 1996)”, “Winter Combat”, “Confirmed Hits”, “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”, & “The Best of In Your House”.
Some people claim the SummerSlam match is better, but this one blows it away for me. You have the hate and blood in this one that makes it feel extra special. Plus it includes one of my favourite troupes, Bret doing something he thinks is cool for the first time, this one being the la magistral cradle.
7.
Bret Hart
vs
The Undertaker
Date: September 20, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: One Night Only
Location: NEC Arena in Birmingham, England
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Also appears on “Tombstone: The History of The Undertaker” & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”.
We take the SummerSlam main event to England, drop Shawn and ramp up the intensity for this CLASSIC. They took everything from the really good SummerSlam match and improved upon it with a better pace and a WAY hotter crowd.
6.
Bret Hart
vs
Mr. Perfect
Date: June 13, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Show: King of the Ring
Location: Nutter Center in Dayton, OH
Gimmick: King of the Ring: Semi-Finals
Note: Also appears on “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”.
Much like the Davey Boy Smith match, Bret waits a few years from their SummerSlam classic and beats on a better version. Instead of the underdog Bret overcoming here we have two vets going at it with Bret playing the subtle heel. An amazing story with a great sports contest feel.
5.
Bret Hart
vs
1-2-3 Kid
Date: July 1, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: Monday Night Raw (July 11, 1994)
Location: Fernwood Resort in Bushkill, PA
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Also appears on “Raw Hits”, “The Best of Raw: 15th Anniversary”, & “The Best of Raw: Seasons 1 & 2”.
If you ever wondered what Bret as NWA World Champion in the 1980’s would had looked like you can find out by watching this match. The touring champion comes to town to take on the local under dog babyface and makes him look like a million bucks. Best match in the history of Raw.
4.
Bret Hart
vs
Diesel
Date: November 19, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Survivor Series
Location: USAir Arena in Landover, MD
Gimmick: No Holds Barred
Note: Bret Hart won the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Also appears on “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”.
One of the most Steven matches in wrestling history. Bret decides it’s No Holds Barred and works it like a No Holds Barred match. He doesn’t break when Diesel gets to the ropes, he ties him up and actually looks at the rules of the match like a real person, not a wrestler. Not to mention Bret bringing a table spot to the WWF in 1995 and doing perhaps the best most logical version of it ever.
3.
Bret Hart
vs
Steve Austin
Date: March 23, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: WrestleMania XIII
Location: Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, IL
Gimmick: Submission Match
Note: Voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestler Observer Newsletter’s Match of the Year. Also appears on “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”, & “Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time”.
I probably don’t need to tell you anything about this match for you to picture it, it’s probably one of the most famous matches in WWF history. It’s bloody, it’s violent, it’s got a double turn down to perfection, and it’s a perfect way to end the initial stage of this all time feud.
2.
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
Date: March 20, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: WrestleMania X
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
Note: Also appears on “1994 Year in Review”, “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”, Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s”, and “Owen: Hart of Gold”.
I think everybody knows this match very well. The best opener in WWE pay-per-view history. The best sibling rivalry feud ever and the match is just about perfect. Maybe if you don’t have a sibling you may not get the story as well, but regardless it rules. The whole lay out to make Owen a star with the perfect and shocking finish. Great ***** wrestling.
1.
Bret Hart
vs
Steve Austin
Date: November 17, 1996
Promotion: WWF
Show: Survivor Series
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
Note: Also appears on “The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin”
I have talked a lot about this match in the past and it’s my favourite match of all time. What I love about this is that it feels like a love letter to old school wrestling and the end of an era. Jim Ross tells the story perfectly, Austin knows Bret and uses his moves through out the match. One of my all-time favourite wrestling moments is Bret Hart’s come back in this match where he wins a first fight after losing one earlier. The emotion here is priceless.
I hope you enjoyed this four-part list. Please leave feedback at Pro Wrestling Only or to me on Twitter.
Top 100 Bret Hart Matches, Part 3 (50-26)
Earlier this year I set out to write a list of the greatest matches of Bret Hart’s career. After watching well over 200 matches I have put together a list I am comfortable with that will be a nice tribute to my favourite wrestler. Note that multi men matches were generally ignored, unless Bret was a huge part of it.
Part 1 (100-76)
Part 2 (75-51)
50.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The British Bulldogs
Date: November 1, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Location: Boston Garden in Boston, MA
Note: The British Bulldogs retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles. Appears on “The Hart Foundation” & “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
Another match up in their series, but this one had a shorter run time of about 13 minutes. This allowed their more sprint style to fit in better, than a longer match. A fun finish with everybody cheating.
49.
Bret Hart
vs
Hakushi
Date: July 24, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Monday Night Raw (July 24, 1995)
Location: Louisville Gardens in Louisville, KY
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
Not as great as the In Your House match, but these two work great together. Hakushi debuts the Space Flying Tiger Drop in the WWF in 1995. Insanity!
48.
Bret Hart
vs
Jerry Lawler
Date: September 29, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Location: Civic Center in Portland, ME
Note: Appears on “Bret “The Hitman” Hart”.
Two of the all-time best had one of the most under-rated feuds in WWF history and this is another match in that two-year long feud. The formula works so great, Bret destroys, Lawler cheats, Bret sells, cue a finish. This one had a fun segment where Lawler wins by cheating, but a second referee restarts the match. Such great hate here.
47.
Bret Hart
vs
Mr. Perfect
Date: April 24, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect”.
Their later matches in 1991 & 1993 is more well known, but the 1989 feud is pretty good itself. I would like to add that they had a very similar match in Toronto, Ontario the day before that I did not include on the list, but you could say it had the 47.5th spot on the list. This one has a better crowd is the main determining factor.
46.
The Hart Foundation & The Honky Tonk Man
vs
Strike Force & Randy Savage
Date: March 5, 1988
Promotion: WWF
Location: Boston Garden in Boston, MA
Gimmick: Cage
Note: Appears on “WWF Wrestling’s Greatest Steel Cage Matches Ever!”.
This is one of those WWF’s weird escape the cage matches, so each member of the team needs to escape to win, but once each member escapes the team is at a disadvantage because they are a man down in the ring. It’s a bizarre concept and it breezes along clocking under 9 minutes, but it’s a hell of a fun sprint.
45.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Nasty Boys
Date: March 24, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Show: WrestleMania VII
Location: Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA
Note: The Nasty Boys win the WWF World Tag Team Titles. Appears on “WrestleMania’s Greatest Matches, Volume 2” & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, The Best There Ever Will Be”.
I’ve always loved this match. The crowd is great, the drama is huge, and Bret’s selling is amazing. I was confused when nobody ever hyped this match and was elated when Bret Hart picked it for his first WWF DVD release. A great way to end The Hart Foundation team.
44.
Bret Hart
vs
Diamond Dallas Page
Date: August 17, 1998
Promotion: WCW
Show: Monday Nitro
Location: Civic Center in Hartford, CT
Note: Bret Hart retained the WCW United States Title.
Bret Hart goes full Lation Heat, nailing DDP with a foreign object when the referee was down, hiding it in Page’s tights, then putting DDP ontop of him for a two count. A Sharpshooter doesn’t finish it, but a Diamond Cutter gets DDP the surprise win, or does it? Bret gets the referee to check DDP and he finds the foreign object and disqualifies him, allowing Bret to retain. I love this shit!
43.
Bret Hart
vs
Yokozuna
Date: December 15, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Location: Civic Center in Augusta, ME
Gimmick: Cage
Note: Yokozuna retains the WWF World Title. Appears on “Inside the WWF”.
There is another great cage match between the two in Madison Square Garden on a fan cam, but I enjoy this one better. I know it’s a long escape the cage rules match, but the drama is great here and it’s a real fight.
42.
Bret Hart
vs
Jean Pierre Lafitte
Date: September 24, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House
Location: Civic Center in Saginaw, MI
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
1995 was a weird year for Bret and this is a match where he faces the pirate who stole his jacket. That being said, it’s a great match with perhaps Bret’s best shine segment of his career as the match starts with an amazing tope. It follows a simple formula, but the selling and the offense from Lafitte really make it stand out.
41.
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
Date: August 29, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: SummerSlam
Location: United Center in Chicago, IL
Gimmick: Cage
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Title. Appears on “1994 Year in Review”, “Off the Top Rope”, “Wrestling’s Most Incredible Steel Cage Matches”, “The History of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship”, & “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
A match that some think is an all-time classic and some think is boring, I think it’s really good and it’s the lowest **** match on my list. The story here is, what if we follow the escape rules very strictly. The problem people have is that the rules of the match stink, but this is as logical a way you can work within them.
40.
Bret Hart
vs
Steve Austin
Date: September 14, 1996
Promotion: WWF
Location: Sun City, South Africa
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
A hint of things to come for their Survivor Series match and they show great chemistry right away. This feels like a great match on a Coliseum Home Video.
39.
Bret Hart
vs
Razor Ramon
Date: January 24, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Show: Royal Rumble
Location: Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Title.
Very few people talk about this match, probably because it was a match with little story heading into it. It’s a match built on amazing psychology as Bret goes after the legs and Razor after the ribs. The finish is another of those Sharpshooter out of nowhere finishes that I love too.
38.
The Hart Foundation
vs
Strike Force
Date: January 9, 1988
Promotion: WWF
Location: Boston Gardens in Boston, MA
Note: Strike Force retain the WWF World Tag Team Titles.
They have an almost identical match in Philadelphia earlier in the day, but I felt the Boston match edges it out. Tito and Martel here and full of fire and an amazing face team in this fast paced contest.
Bonus List:
Top 5 Best Title Reigns
5. WWF World Title 3rd Reign (November 19, 1995 to March 31, 1996)
4. WWF World Title 1st Reign (October 12, 1992 to April 4, 1993)
3. WWF World Title 5th Reign (August 3, 1997 to November 9, 1997)
2. WWF Intercontinental Title 2nd Reign (April 5, 1992 to August 29, 1992)
1. WWF World Title 2nd Reign (March 20, 1994 to November 23, 1994)
37.
Bret Hart
vs
The Patriot
Date: September 7, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: Ground Zero
Location: Louisville Gardens in Louisville, KY
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Title. Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
At the time I didn’t think much of this match, but upon rewatch I thought it was a great old school contest. It starts off a little slow, but the last stretch of the match is amazing. Watching Bret make, even a nothing challenger seem like a worthwhile threat is a joy.
36.
Bret Hart
vs
The Undertaker
Date: August 3, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: SummerSlam
Location: Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ
Note: Shawn Michaels was the special referee. Bret Hart won the WWF World Title. Appears on “Tombstone: The History of The Undertaker”.
Although this match is remembered for it’s amazing finish, the whole match is actually great. These two matched up extremely well with Bret as a heel, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense on paper.
35.
Bret Hart
vs
Bam Bam Bigelow
Date: April 25, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Location: Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain
Note: Appears on “Global Warfare” & “Bret Hitman Hart: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
Take their great King of the Ring match, remove the false finishes, turn up the heat on the crowd, turn up the intensity, and you have this hidden gem!
34.
Bret Hart
vs
Doink the Clown
&
Bret Hart
vs
Jerry Lawler
Date: August 30, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Show: SummerSlam
Location: Palace in Auburn Hills, MI
Note: Appears on “1993 Year in Review”.
Bret was supposed to face his rival Lawler, but Lawler claimed to have had an injury, so he sends in Doink in his place. They have a spirited contest with Lawler pissing everyone off at ringside, including Bret’s whole family. After Bret disposes of Doink, Lawler jumps him and they have another heated brawl until Bret puts him away. Of course he won’t let go of the hold and the decision is reversed to nuclear heat. This whole thing together is a classic.
33.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Brain Busters
Date: August 28, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Show: SummerSlam
Location: Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ
A kind of WWF vs NWA dream match in the opening slot of one of my favourite WWF pay-per-views. Bret along with Arn and Tully are just magic against each other in the ring, showing Bret could had fit in well with the NWA. A really hot opener and one of the best openers in SummerSlam history.
32.
Bret Hart
vs
Ric Flair
Date: October 12, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: Saskatchewan Center in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Note: Bret Hart won the WWF World Title. Appears on “Smack’em Whack’em”, “German Fan Favorites”, “Bret Hitman Hart: His Greatest Matches”, & “WWE’s Top 50 Superstars of All-Time”.
Still one of the most surprising decisions in WWE history. Changing the World Title on a house show in Saskatchewan to a mid carder taped for Coliseum Home Video. Putting that aside, these two go all out and have a great match that solidifies Bret as a battling champion.
31.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: November 25, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Show: Survivor Series
Location: Coliseum in Richfield, OH
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF World Title. Appears on “1992 Year in Review”, “Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 1990s”, & “Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart”.
After almost having this match for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam, here it is at Survivor Series for the World Title. A good sampling of what the WWF will become with more work rate focused main events. Absolute love the finish. Plus, bonus points for Santa Claus appearing afterwards to congratulate Bret.
30.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Islanders
Date: November 16, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Show: All-American Wrestling (December 28, 1986)
Location: Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario
These two teams are perfect to have a sprint TV match against each other and this version of it is amazing. This match never lets up and has a great finish with Neidhart killing Tama with a lariat while he was on the top rope.
29.
Bret Hart
vs
Ted DiBiase
Date: March 8, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (March 20, 1989)
Location: County Coliseum in Odessa, TX
Note: Appears on “Best of the WWF, Vol. 19” & “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
Without DiBiase I am unsure if Bret would had made it as a singles star. Every time they considered going with Bret as a singles he would be paired with DiBiase and produce. Whether this match, the 1990 Survivor Series final stretch, or in 1991 they had great chemistry. Also I think DiBiase never looked better in the WWF than when he was facing Bret.
28.
Bret Hart
vs
Hakushi
Date: May 14, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: In Your House
Location: On Center in Syracuse, NY
Note: Appears on “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Was, The Best There Is, and The Best There Ever Will Be”.
A match most people have seen and it deserves the praise. One thing I really love about this match is seeing Bret take a move he finds stupid and making it work logical. Most people taking an Asai Moonsault stand around like an idiot and wait for it, here Bret brawls with Shinja and turns around at the last second to get hit by the move. Brilliant.
27.
Bret Hart
vs
Dynamite Kid
Date: September 14, 1985
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (October 8, 1985)
Location: Capitol Centre in Landover, MD
Note: Appears on “The British Bulldogs” & “Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
This is an intense sprint between two guys in their athletic primes. They beat the shit out of each other on this random TV taping and damn is it great. If you like Bulldogs vs Harts, this may be the best you’ll get from them.
26.
The Hart Foundation
vs
Demolition
Date: August 29, 1988
Promotion: WWF
Show: The SummerSlam
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Demoltion retains the WWF World Tag Team Titles.
One of the most under rated matches in SummerSlam and WWE history and I blame the announcers who miss all of the great details. The story here is that Jimmy Hart, the Foundation’s former manager, has sold all of his info on them to Mr. Fuji and Demolition. The match is then worked where Demolition steals Harts knee opponent going into the ropes spot and other aspects of Demolition knowing the Harts play book. We also get this tremendous heat sequence which starts with Bret getting thrown shoulder first into Fuji’s cane. Demolition destroy the arm until the hot tag. Hart’s megaphone downs the Foundation. I love this one.
Top 100 Bret Hart Matches, Part 2 (75-51)
Earlier this year I set out to write a list of the greatest matches of Bret Hart’s career. After watching well over 200 matches I have put together a list I am comfortable with that will be a nice tribute to my favourite wrestler. Note that multi men matches were generally ignored, unless Bret was a huge part of it.
75.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: March 31, 1996
Promotion: WWF
Show: WrestleMania XII
Location: Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA
Gimmick: Iron Man
Note: Shawn Michaels won the WWF World Heavyweight Title. This match was voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Match of the Year. Appears on “Shawn Michaels: The Heartbreak Express Tour”, “Shawn Michaels: From the Vault”, “The History of the WWE Heavyweight Championship”, & “Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart”.
A match that is highly praised as one of the greatest of all-time, but also derided as boring and one of the most over-rated matches of all-time. I kind of fall in the middle. The work is really great, but the story really suffers due to the stipulation. If this was merely a normal match that went an hour I think it would be a classic and way higher on this list.
74.
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
Date: March 13, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Monday Night Raw (March 27, 1995)
Location: Memorial Civic Auditorium in Stockton, CA
Gimmick: No Holds Barred
Note: Appears on “Super Slams” & “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
Bret and Owen had amazing chemistry, but they also subverted expectations when it comes to gimmick matches. Later on we’ll talk about their cage match, but this is a “No Holds Barred” match in name only. It’s a really good back and forth contest, just no weapons or no real need for the stipulation.
73.
Bret Hart
vs
Tiger Mask
Date: February 5, 1982
Promotion: NJPW
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Note: Tiger Mask retains the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title.
Bret did a few tours of Japan early in his career and this was the best we have on tape. I have some issues with the original Tiger Mask, but Bret being so technically sound he keeps Tiger Mask from making this too spotty.
72.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: April 29, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: War Memorial in Syracuse, NY
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “Best of the WWF: Bret Hitman Hart”, “Invasion of the Bodyslammers”, “UK Fan Favourites 93”, & “Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart”.
Another good match up in this series, that doesn’t disappoint. It really makes you wonder how great their match would had been if they had it at SummerSlam ’92, if the show was in the USA.
71.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The British Bulldogs
Date: September 23, 1985
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “Best of the WWF, Volume 7” & “Allied Powers”.
A kind of feel these two team’s matches would fit in better today then in 1985. It’s more about spots and speed than the traditional tag match. This one had an actual finish, which really puts it above most of their matches.
70.
Bret Hart
vs
Ric Flair
Date: November 13, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Location: Coliseum in New Haven, CT
Note: Bret Hart retains the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “Invasion 92” & “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
It’s odd that these two hated working against each other, because they had amazing chemistry.
69.
Bret Hart
vs
Rick Martel
Date: March 19, 1990
Promotion: WWF
Show: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Bret Hart is a replacement for Roddy Piper. This appears on “SuperTape 2”.
Rick Martel as a heel was an amazing character, but he really suffered in ring. With that being said, this match got lots of time and had the crowd really into it. Bret’s selling made Martel’s heel control segments better than normal.
68.
Bret Hart
vs
Lanny Poffo
Date: November 9, 1985
Promotion: WWF
Show: All American Wrestling (December 8, 1985)
Location: Boston Gardens in Boston, MA
I’m a big fan of Poffo as an under neath babyface and he does an amazing job here. Bret destroys Poffo, but Poffo hits some fun offense including an amazing finish, where Bret counters a hurricanrana into a cover. Really fun match.
67.
Bret Hart
vs
The Barbarian
Date: July 29, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Show: SummerSlam Spectacular
Location: Centrum in Worcester, MA
Bret Hart picked a monster to face for his warm up match for SummerSlam. This match has The Coach at ringside scouting and what he saw was The Barbarian murder Bret. Just some of the most vicious slams and clotheslines you’ll ever see in a WWF match. Bret sells great and makes the comeback in classic tricky finish style.
66.
Bret Hart
vs
Bob Backlund
Date: November 23, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: Survivor Series
Location: Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, TX
Gimmick: Towel Match
Note: Bob Backlund won the WWF World Heavyweight Title.
A match that some praise, but some feel is incredibly long and boring. To be fair the last 10 minutes is Bret in the Cross-Faced Chicken Wing. However, I like the old school feel early on and the drama in the last third with Owen and Bret’s parents is tremendous.
65.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Rougeau Brothers
Date: September 22, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (October 9, 1986)
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “The Hart Foundation”.
Watching those old Coliseum Home Videos, I was always drawn to this math. Early on Rougeau Brothers show some nice fire and are very classic white meat babyfaces. Harts bring their usual up paced heel routine and they mesh really well.
64.
Bret Hart
vs
Jerry Lawler
Date: June 25, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: King of the Ring
Location: CoreStates Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA
Gimmick: Kiss My Foot
Note: Appears on “Legends of Wrestling Collection”, “Legends of Wrestling: Jerry Lawler and the Junkyard Dog”, & “The Best of King of the Ring”.
I don’t know, everybody shits on this show and this match gets no love, but I think it’s a damn awesome way to end the feud. Lawler cheats and cheats, Bret makes a comeback and KILLS him for the win. Then makes him kiss his own stinky feet. It’s kind of perfect.
63.
Bret Hart, Owen Hart, & Davey Boy Smith
vs
Steve Austin, The Underaker, & Dude Love
Date: July 21, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: Raw is War (July 21, 1997)
Location: Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Gimmick: Flag Match
Note: Appears on “Best of Raw, Volume 7 ’97”, “The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary”, “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
The absolute greatest “Flag Match” of all-time, bar none. In the height of the Canada vs USA feud, Raw was in Halifax to an insane crowd where the Harts were the biggest bayfaces in wrestling. Lots of good false finishes and a really hot finish featuring the return of Brian Pillman.
Bonus List:
Top 5 Finishes
5. Victory Roll (ala vs Bam Bam Bigelow @ King of the Ring ’93)
4. Putting on the Sharpshooter out of nowhere (ala vs Mr. Perfect @ SummerSlam ’91 & vs 1-2-3 Kid on Raw)
3. Having his pin collapsed on for a loss (ala vs Owen Hart @ WrestleMania X & vs Davey Boy Smith @ SummerSlam ’92)
2. Playing possum and then surprising with a pin (ala vs Diesel @ Survivor Series ’95)
1. Reversing a sleeperhold into a pin (ala vs Steve Austin @ Survivor Series ’96 & vs Roddy Piper @ WrestleMania VIII)
62.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: June 2, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: Civic Center in Ottawa, Ontario
Note: Appears on “Rampage 92” & “Shawn Michaels: His Journey”.
This two had a killer feud in 1992 which showed amazing chemistry and this is another in that series. They got decent time and worked at a good pace. Of course Sherri was tremendous in Shawn’s corner.
61.
Bret Hart
vs
Bam Bam Bigelow
Date: June 13, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Show: King of the Ring
Location: Nutter Center in Dayton, OH
Gimmick: Finals of the King of the Ring Tournament
Note: Appears on “The Best of the King of the Ring”.
Not the last match against Bam Bam on this list, nor the last match from this show. One of the best night’s of Bret’s career as he wrestled three awesome matches which are all completely different. This is the rested monster destroying the technical underdog and it’s beautiful. The fake finish takes a little from it, but it’s great.
60.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Twin Towers
Date: May 17, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Location: Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, MN
Note: Appears on “Fan Favorites” & “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
I really love 1989 Twin Towers and I was pretty much bound to love this match before even seeing it. However, it does live up to my eternal expectations. Picture this match and this is what you get although the pace might be faster than you expect.
59.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Islanders
Date: March 14, 1987
Promotion: WWF
Location: Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
Babyface Islanders in this one and they get a lot of time to put on an impressive match. Old school tag match, but with some high end offense from The Islanders thrown in.
58.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: November 9, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: Survivor Series
Location: Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec
Note: This is Bret Hart’s last appearance in the WWF as an active wrestler. Appears on “Best of Confidential Volume 1”, “Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart”, & “History of WWE”.
The famous screw job match is known for it’s finish, however the match is really great up to that point. It’s building to an all time classic, super stiff, great heat and hate, until it ends out of nowhere.
57.
Bret Hart
vs
The Undertaker
Date: January 31, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
This two would later go on to have a stinker in 1996 and two great matches in 1997, but this was a great prelude to the latter. Knowing where both men were at this time, it’s really a shocking match which is worked with Bret almost being on Undertaker’s level. In fact he hits Undertaker and has him in the Sharpshooter, until shenanigans happens.
56.
Bret Hart
vs
Steve Austin
Date: April 21, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: Raw is War (April 21, 1997)
Location: Broome County Arena in Binghamton, NY
Gimmick: Street Fight
Note: Appears on “Falls Count Anywhere: The Greatest Street Fights and other Out of Control Matches”.
The first of this amazing feud to make the list. Although it’s under ten minutes and Bret is legit gets knee surgery afterwards, this match is all of the best of the attitude era all in one match. Hectic crowd, run ins, crazy brawling, and a cool angle afterwards. I remember being 16 at the time and being so pissed that Americans were cheering for this heel against a true babyface like Bret.
55.
Bret Hart
vs
Jean Pierre Lafitte
Date: September 25, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Monday Night Raw (October 2, 1995)
Location: Grand Center in Grand Rapids, MI
A match that I was told I had to watch for this project and it’s a little gem. I have it below their In Your House match, but these two had a really good chemistry. Bret allowed Lafitte to use his great offense and Bret brought the selling and story.
54.
Bret Hart
vs
Greg Valentine
Date: May 8, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wresetling (December 25, 1989)
Location: Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ
Kind of a dream match for me as these are two of my favourites and they get a full twenty minutes. Bret sells great and The Hammer beats the shit out of him. Some nice drama and not your usual WWF house show draw.
53.
Bret Hart
vs
Ric Flair
Date: January 9, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Location: Boston Gardens in Boston, MA
Gimmick: Iron Man
One more Iron Man match and the best of the three. Kind of a mix of an old school Flair hour long match and his matches with Bret Hart. It’s really good.
52.
Bret Hart
vs
Henry Godwinn
Date: June 7, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Action Zone (June 25, 1995)
Location: Johnston, PA
One of the most surprising matches that I watched for this project. This match follows the athletic monster vs underdog formula, but with the underdog being more experienced. Huge moves by Godwinn which Bret sells like death. Best match of Godwinn’s career.
51.
Bret Hart
vs
Booker T
Date: February 22, 1999
Promotion: WCW
Show: Monday Nitro (February 22, 1999)
Location: Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA
Note: Appears on “The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro, Volume 3”.
A rare time Bret got super motivated in 1999 WCW, as he went out to try to elevate Booker T. Bret controlled this, but gave Booker every chance to shine, including giving him the Davey Boy Smith SummerSlam 1992 finish.
Top 100 Bret Hart Matches, Part 1 (100-76)
Earlier this year I set out to write a list of the greatest matches of Bret Hart’s career. After watching well over 200 matches I have put together a list I am comfortable with that will be a nice tribute to my favourite wrestler. Note that multi men matches were generally ignored, unless Bret was a huge part of it.
100.
Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith
vs
Jerry Lawler & Hakushi
Date: May 13, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: A Night to Remember
Location: Boston Gardens in Boston, MA
Note: The final WWF show in the Boston Gardens.
A good traditional tag team match with Bret working the majority of the match for his team. Hakushi brought the flash and Lawler brought the old school heat. A great way to end the WWF’s long run in the famous Boston Gardens which I’m grateful someone captured on fan cam.
99.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers
Date: October 16, 1988
Promotion: WWF
Location: Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA
Note: Brother Love was the special referee.
These teams had a big feud in 1988, following Jimmy Hart giving the Hart Foundation’s contract to he Rougeau Brothers. The matches never hit great levels, but this was the best of the bunch. Brother Love as the cheating referee really took this one over the edge.
98.
Bret Hart
vs
Shawn Michaels
Date: July 21, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: Civic Center in Portland, ME
Gimmick: Ladder Match
Note: First-ever Ladder Match in WWF history. Bret Hart retained the WWF Intercontinental Title. Appears on “Smack’em Whack’em”, “Best of the WWF: Most Unusual Matches”, “Most Unusual Matches Ever”, “German Fan Favorites”, “Bret Hitman Hart: His Greatest Matches”, “The Ladder Match”, “Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart”.
A trial run of the ladder match which becomes one of their most popular gimmick matches. Bret noted in his book this match was simple, as it was just to show what the gimmick was. Having said that, it was still a dramatic match which is totally worth watching.
97.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Killer Bees
Date: August 18, 1985
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (October 1, 1985)
Location: Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario
After watching all of this footage I am convinced The Killer Bees are the Hart Foundation’s best opponents. This is a sprint version of their usually match. The cheating Hart’s steal this one that had the crowd in a frenzy.
96.
Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith
vs
Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart
Date: October 19, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Location: Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, NY
Note: Appears on “Canadian Fan Favourites”, “Wham Bam Bodyslam”, “Slamfest ’95”, & “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”.
It’s always a fun affair when the brothers and brothers-in-law all get together. A lot longer than their Raw match, which allowed them to work a more old school affair. This match belongs on all those home videos it was released on.
95.
Bret Hart
vs
Goldust
Date: September 22, 1997
Promotion: WWF
Show: Raw is War
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
On the night Vince McMahon told Bret Hart he could not afford his contract anymore, Bret was put into a long singles match against Goldust. Luckily the contrast between one of the greatest babyfaces of all-time and Bret in full heel mode lead to a good contest. The show is remembered for the night Steve Austin stunnered McMahon, but this is a match people should not over look.
94.
Bret Hart
vs
Raymond Rougeau
Date: October 20, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Appears on “Best of the WWF, Vol. 13”
I have a fondness for when the WWF used to split up tag matches into singles match and this is a good version of that. These two veterans doing an old school contest was a treat to watch. Matches like this are the reason I love those old Coliseum Home Videos.
93.
Bret Hart
vs
The Berzerker
Date: October 28, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF Intercontinental Title.
Bret Hart’s first Intercontinental Title run was a bizarre affair with almost no feuds and just facing random big men. Luckily Bret vs a big man is always good. It’s also a good contrast between the wild Berzerker and the stoic technique of The Hitman.
92.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Rockers
Date: April 23, 1990
Promotion: WWF
Show: Saturday Night’s Main Event #26 “The Tussle in Texas”
Location: Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX
Note: Appears on “Best of the WWF: Saturday Night’s Main Event”, “The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be”, & “Best of Saturday Night’s Main Event”.
As the norm with the Saturday Night’s Main Event shows, this was a quick match. Unlike a lot of those matches, they worked at fast paced contest here. It was ruined by a schmoz finish, but it was a fun match to that point.
91.
Bret Hart
vs
Jim Brunzell
Date: May 4, 1986
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (May 19, 1986)
Location: Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario
The best members of their respective teams put on a match playing to each other’s strengths. Brunzell didn’t get too many chances to show off how good he was in the AWA, but he got it here and made the most of it.
90.
Bret Hart
vs
Akeem
Date: January 15, 1990
Promotion: WWF
Show: Prime Time Wrestling (February 19, 1990)
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Note: Akeem replaced Bob Orton Jr., who was supposed to return to the WWF.
Akeem is one of my favourites and his dancing big man offense did a number on Bret, who got to show off his great selling. This is one of these novel matches which seem like they shouldn’t exist, but do.
89.
The Hart Foundation
vs
Demoltion
Date: August 27, 1990
Promotion: WWF
Show: The SummerSlam
Location: Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA
Gimmick: 2 out of 3 Falls
Note: The Hart Foundation won the WWF World Tag Team Titles.
Demolition lost something when Crush replaced Ax, but given enough time in a high profile match it still ended up pretty good. Although the focus seemed to be more on the Legion of Doom and Demolition feud.
88.
Bret Hart
vs
Sting
Date: October 25, 1998
Promotion: WCW
Show: Halloween Havoc
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vega, NV
Note: Bret Hart retained the WCW United States Heavyweight Title. Appears on “Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s”.
Bret as the biggest chicken shit heel in 1998 is odd to see, but wonderful. Bret stalls, uses a baseball bat and a steel chair, and even leg drops the referee at some point. After all this, with Sting knocked out, Bret is the biggest dick on the planet by putting on the Sharpshooter for the win.
Bonus List:
Top 5 Years of Bret Hart’s Career
Based on the amount of matches on the list. Ties broken by quality of matches.
5. 1992: The year Bret became WWF World Champion, plus he had a run as WWF Intercontinental Champion.
4. 1993: There is something about this year that just feels more sports oriented.
3. 1994: The Bret and Owen feud dominates the year, producing lots of great matches.
2. 1997: My favourite year in wrestling with the amazing Canada vs USA feud.
1. 1995: Although Bret was pushed down the card, he got to face a variety of opponents. Also helped by having more matches on television and pay-per-view.
87.
Bret Hart
vs
Randy Savage
Date: May 7, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Location: Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.
A dream match made available for us via a fan cam. The two planned a long classic, but were told they only had 15 minutes shortly before the match. It builds very well, but kind of doesn’t pay off. It’s a shame we never got the classic they wanted.
86.
Bret Hart
vs
Lex Luger
Date: August 10, 1998
Promotion: WCW
Show: Monday Nitro
Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, SD
Note: Lex Luger wins the WCW United States Heavyweight Title. Appears on “The Very Best of Monday Nitro, Vol. 3”.
Bret Hart wrestles fully heel in this match and both of these wrestlers channel their youth and work their ass off to a hyped crowd. Great feel good moment in the end with Luger regaining his past title.
85.
Bret Hart
vs
Papa Shango
Date: May 4, 1993
Promotion: WWF
Show: Superstars (June 5, 1993)
Location: Memorial Auditorium in Worcester, MA
I never expected this match to make this list, but here it is. This feels weirdly like a sporting match, even though there is a voodoo master in it. Similar to their Saturday Night’s Main Event match, but I thought Shango’s offense looked better here.
84.
The Hart Foundation
vs
Strike Force
Date: October 27, 1987
Promotion: WWF
Show: Superstars (November 7, 1987)
Location: War Memorial in Syracuse, NY
Note: Strike Force won the WWF World Tag Team Titles. Appears on “Best of the WWF, Vol. 15”.
One of the rare big matches on television at the time and it’s a fast paced action match that is very memorable due to it’s rarity and a title change on television.
83.
Bret Hart
vs
Waylon Mercy
Date: August 29, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Superstars (September 2, 1995)
Location: Civic Center in Erie, PA
Another awesome Superstars match for Bret, as Waylon Mercy looks the best he ever did in the WWF. He goes full Danny Spivey hitting his AJPW offense on a willing Bret. A DQ finish after Jean Pierre Lafitte arrives, but a nice hidden gem here.
82.
Bret Hart & Owen Hart
vs
The Quebecers
Date: January 22, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: Royal Rumble
Location: Civic Center in Providence, RI
Note: The Quebecers retained the WWF World Tag Team Titles. Appears on “1994 Year in Review”, & “Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology”.
Kind of an odd match, where Bret gets his leg destroyed but won’t tag in his brother. Although Bret’s selling is tremendous and the crowd is hot. It also has the famous Owen heel turn afterwards.
81.
Bret Hart
vs
Andre the Giant
Date: April 8, 1989
Promotion: WWF
Location: Palatrussardi in Milan, Italy
Note: Appears on “Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection”
Two of my all-time favourites here in what is essentially a squash match. What makes it stand out is the fact it’s Andre destroying Bret, with his amazing selling.
80.
The Hart Foundation
vs
The Legion of Doom
Date: March 12, 1991
Promotion: WWF
Location: Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS
Note: Appears on “WrestleFest ’91” & “The Life & Death of The Road Warriors”.
A legendary WWF vs legendary NWA tag match hear, which did feel like a dream match. Being face vs face really helped that feel.
79.
Bret Hart
vs
Jeff Jarrett
Date: January 9, 1995
Promotion: WWF
Show: Monday Night Raw (January 16, 1995)
Location: Summit in Houston, TX
Bret Hart has William Shatner in his corner for this one which is odd, to say the least, but made the match stand out.
78.
Bret Hart
vs
Bob Backlund
Date: July 3, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Show: Superstars (July 30, 1994)
Location: Convention Center in Ocean City, MD
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.
Bob Backlund went back to his roots and looked like early 80’s Backlund here, as the two put on a technical contest. The match is known for Backlund’s great heel turn after the match, but the match itself is pretty awesome.
77.
Bret Hart
vs
Owen Hart
Date: July 9, 1994
Promotion: WWF
Location: Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY
Gimmick: Iron Man
Note: Bret Hart retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.
The first of three Iron Man matches to appear on this list. I’m not the biggest fan of hour long matches, but these two did enough to keep the hour flowing. After trading a few falls, this comes down to a climatic over time.
76.
Bret Hart & Randy Savage
vs
Ric Flair & Shawn Michaels
Date: July 20, 1992
Promotion: WWF
Location: Centrum in Worcester, MA
Note: Appears on “Grudges, Gripes, & Grunts”, “German Fan Favorites”, & “Macho Madness: The Ultimate Randy Savage Collection”.
1992 Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair just work perfectly as a team and it’s a shame they didn’t team up more often. While Bret’s stoic attitude was a great contrast to the wild attitude of Savage. Together this lead’s to a great and unique tag team match.
Part two coming soon. I welcome your feedback on twitter @StevenGrahamTWS.
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