BRET HART TRIBUTE
Stats
Born: 2nd July 1957
Real Name: Bret Sargeant Hart
Height: 6'
Weight: 235 lbs.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Finishing moves: Sharpshooter
Nickname: The Hitman
FAVOURITE:
Food: Sushi
Fruit: Bananas
Arena: Madison Square Garden
Author: Mark Helprin
Movie: Shawshank Redemption School
Subject: English
Candy Bar: Coffee Crisp
Olympic Sport: The Gold Medal Hockey Game
Athlete: Wayne Gretzky
Sports Team: New York Rangers
Type of Movie: Action & Dramas
Cartoonist: Matt Groening (Simpsons)
Vacation Spot: Cape Town, SouthAfrica
Fast Food Place: Pete's Drive In
Bands: U2, Pearl Jam and Annie Lennox
Colour: Blue
EARLY LIFE
Bret was born on 2nd July 1957 in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
Bret's mum and dad's names are Stu and Helen. Stu is Canadian and Helen is American (Bret holds both a US and Canadian passport) Stu is an accomplished wrestler and football player and operates one of the worlds most famous wrestling gyms 'The Dungeon' from his basemement in Calgary. Stu trained greats such as Roddy Piper, Chris Benoit, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart and Chris Jericho, but also his own sons.
Bret is one of 12 children. He has brothers: Owen (RIP), Dean (RIP), Kieth, Bruce, Smith, Wayne and Ross. And sisters: Ellie, Diana, Georgia and Allison. Bret's brothers all ended up having something to do with wrestling. Ellie and Diana are married to Jim 'Anvil' Neidhart and The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith respectivley.
EDUCATION
Bret was not the best student in school. The Hart kids used to be teased about their dad and wrestling. They were often called "Hart Fart." Bret's favourite subject at school was english.
Bret attended Ernest Manning High School in Calgary.
At the age of 14, Bret had no desire what so ever of becoming a pro wrestler. He instead wanted to become a film director. He attended The Mount Royal College of Film where he began to persue this career, but after a year he realised that his call was the wrestling ring. He traded the movie reels for a pair of wrestling boots and has never looked back.
FAMILY LIFE
Bret recently got a divorce from his long time wife Julie.
He and Julie have four children: Jayde, Dallas, Alexandra Sabina and Blade.
WRESTLING CAREER
Simply put, wrestling is in Bret Hart's blood. His father was a famed wrestler-turned trainer who started the Calgary Stampede promotion. Bret began wrestling in that promotion along with his brothers in 1976. He won his first title in 1978, the WWC Caribbean tag team title with brother Smith. In Calgary, he dominated, winning the Calgary Stampede heavyweight title 6 times, and the Stampede International Tag Team championship 5 times (4 with brother Keith) among other accolades.
In 1985, he made his way to the World Wrestling Federation. He started as a singles wrestler, and was a "stepping stone" for more accomplished grapplers, fighting in opening matches. But then destiny struck. Bret took on the name "Hitman" from boxing great Thomas Hearns. He began wearing sunglasses to go with his slicked-back hair. And then he was put together with WWF newcomer Jim Neidhart, and the rest is history.
This tandem, known as the Hart Foundation, won the WWF tag team titles in 1987 from the British Bulldogs. They were defeated near the end of that year by Strike Force. The Harts then decided to wrestle on their own without manager Jimmy Hart, becoming faces. In August of 1990, they regained the straps, defeating Demolition. Then in the spring of 1991 during Wrestlemania VII, the Foundation lost the titles for the last time, to the Nasty Boys.
After their last tag title defeat, the team decided to wrestle independently. Neidhart, or the "Anvil" as he is known, tasted only mediocre success and eventually teamed with Bret's younger brother Owen to reform the Hart Foundation. But Bret fit right into the singles division, and in August of 1991 he won his first Intercontinental title from Curt Henning at Summerslam. He held the title for almost five months before being defeated by the Mountie, but the following April he regained the title, besting Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania VIII. He remained champion for a few months before losing to Davey Boy Smith in front of over 80,000 in Wembley Stadium in England.
But then on October 12, 1992, Bret Hart stepped into the ring against the legendary Ric Flair, and captured the WWF title. He has won that title on four more occasions, tying him with Hulk Hogan for the most WWF titles held by one man. Bret Hart has added two King of the Ring victories as well as two Royal Rumble wins to his list of accomplishments. He is the most decorated athlete in WWF history, and arguably in all of wrestling.
In 1997, Bret Hart went back to his heel ways, and formed the Hart Foundation along with brother Owen, brothers-in-law Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart, and former Calgary Stampede wrestler Brian Pillman. This fivesome dominated the WWF, with the Intercontinental, European, and tag team titles being held by members of the group at one time. Bret also won his fifth WWF championship, defeating the Undertaker at Summerslam that year. The following Fall, Bret defended the title against real-life rival Shawn Michaels at the Survivor Series. It had been known prior to the event that Bret was to leave the WWF to join WCW. Bret lost the title to Michaels in arguably the most controversial match in WWF history, when the match's outcome was changed unbeknownst to Hart. The Hitman went on a tirade around ringside, smashing camera equipment. Later, he punched WWF owner Vince McMahon in the locker room. Bret left the WWF belt, as well as a 14-year WWF career, behind him that night.
Bret took the 'Hitman' name name after boxer, Thomas Hearns lost to Sugar Ray Leonard.
Bret truly is one of the best that the WWF has ever seen, they will never have another like him.
Bret is responsible for rebuilding The New Hart Foundation which consusted of: Himself, Owen Hart (RIP), Jim 'Anvil' Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith (RIP) and Brian Pillman (RIP)
Bret started a harsh fued between America and Canada in 1997 (but remember guys, it was an angle)
Bret is one of the only wrestlers today that people can truly respect. He is a forgotten hero and will always be my favourite international wrestler :)
With the WWF behind him, Bret debuted with WCW in January of 1998. He enjoyed success almost immediately, winning the WCW U.S. title. But for the most part, his WCW career was considered to be a disappointment. In late 1999 Bret Hart was kicked in the head by Goldberg during a match on PPV, and suffered a serious concussion. Unable to work, he was released by WCW in the Fall of 2000, and subsequently announced his retirement.
Bret made a comeback during 2001 and acted as a commisioner of WWA (World Wrestling AllStars).It was an unfortunate end to a legendary career.
Bret is 5 time WWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Bret is 2 time WWF Intercontinental Champion.
Bret is 2 time WWF Tag Team Champion with his brother in law, Jim 'Anvil' Neidhart.
Bret won the first ever WWF King of the Ring Tournament.
Bret has been WCW US Champion 3 times and is well on his way of becoming WCW World Heavyweight Champion in the near future.
TV APPEARANCES
Bret has made numerous guest star and television appearances for things other than the WWF and WCW.
Bret acted as Luther Root on 'Lonesome Dove the Outlaw Years' in 1995.
Bret was on the show 'Sinbad' playing a character called Eyolf.
Bret has made a few guest appearances on the Fox show, 'MAD TV' (hehe remember Will Sasso?)
Bret has been on the 'Tonight Show.'
Bret has been on 'Dino' in Toronto.
Bret has been on 'Regis and Kathy Lee'. Bret put the sharpshooter on Regis.
Bret has been on 'Off the Record' and 'Gallagher'
Bret has been featured on 'The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'.
Bret made an outstanding documentary called 'Hitman Hart, Wrestling with Shadows'.
Bret has made a guest appearance on 'The Simpsons'.
Bret appeared on the 'Dateline' special about pro wrestling.
Bret also appeared on ESPN 'Outside the Lines' about professional wrestling.
Bret has been on 'The Today Show'.
Bret has been on 'Good Morning America'.
Bret has been on 'Larry King Live'.
Bret was a presenter at the 1999 NHL Hockey Awards.
Bret and Owen appeared on an episode of 'Honey I Shrank the Kids'.
ALSO OF NOTE
Bret was a former part owner of The Calgary Hitmen, who are a very successful WHL Jr. Hockey Team. They was named after Bret and their uniform features the Hitman logo. Bret regularly wears a Hitmen Training Gear shirt on Nitro and other TV appearences. Best of luck to The Calgary Hitmen for the future.
Bret is a very talented writer. He regularly writes a column for the Calgary Sun and a column called "Straight from the Hart" for WCW/nWo Magazine. He is currently working on a biography.
Not many people know this, but Bret Hart is also a VERY talented cartoonist. He likes to draw cartoons to make people laugh and his favourite part of drawing is adding colour. His favourite media is ink.
NOTE : THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO MY DEAR FRIEND FRAUKE BRUESEWITZ