Bret Hart

Biography

Bret Sergeant Hart, known famously as Bret “The Hitman” Hart, was born on July 2, 1957, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. As a member of the storied Hart wrestling family, Bret was exposed to the wrestling business from an early age, being trained in the legendary Hart Dungeon.

Career History and Evolution

Bret Hart’s professional wrestling career started in his father’s promotion, Stampede Wrestling, in 1978. He was recruited by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1984, first achieving success in the tag team division alongside his brother-in-law, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, as The Hart Foundation.
Hart’s career evolved significantly as he transitioned to singles competition in the late 1980s. He went on to become one of the most successful and popular wrestlers of the 1990s, earning himself the moniker “The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be.”
After a highly controversial departure from WWF in 1997, known as the “Montreal Screwjob,” Hart joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he continued to be a major player.

Titles Won and Biggest Matches

Bret Hart is a seven-time world champion – a five-time WWF Champion and a two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Additionally, he held the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice and the WWF Tag Team Championship twice with Jim Neidhart. He also won the first-ever WWF King of the Ring tournament in 1993 and the Royal Rumble in 1994.
Some of his most memorable matches include his Iron Man match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII, his Submission match against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, and his SummerSlam 1992 match against his brother-in-law, The British Bulldog.

Biggest Rivalries and Tag Team Partners

Hart’s most notable rivalries include his feuds with Shawn Michaels, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Yokozuna, and his own brother, Owen Hart. Each of these feuds was marked by intense personal issues and outstanding in-ring performances.
In terms of tag teams, Bret’s most prominent partnership was with Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart in The Hart Foundation. Later, during a period in the late ’90s, The Hart Foundation was an expanded stable including Bret, Neidhart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, and Brian Pillman.

Family Life

Bret Hart was married to Julie Smadu from 1982 to 2002, and they have four children together. He married his second wife, Cinzia Rota, in 2004, but they divorced in 2007. He’s been married to Stephanie Washington since 2010.

Finishing Move, Clothing, and Entrance Music

Bret Hart’s finishing move, the “Sharpshooter,” is a modified Boston crab and has been used by numerous wrestlers since, but none as famously as Hart.
In the ring, Hart was known for his pink and black attire, including his singlet, tights, and boots. He also regularly wore wraparound sunglasses, which he often gave to a young fan in the audience during his entrance.
Hart’s theme music in WWF, “Hitman” by Jim Johnston, is one of the most instantly recognizable entrance themes in wrestling history.

Legacy

Bret Hart is widely regarded as one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time. His in-ring storytelling, technical proficiency, and ability to perform as both a heel and face have left an indelible mark on professional wrestling. His legacy was further solidified when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice – once as an individual in 2006 and then as part of The Hart Foundation in 2019.