Against The Grain with Anthony Cain #4: Hartbreak

Hello wrestling fans and thanks for reading another edition of “Against the Grain”. This week I’d like to change things up a bit by putting aside my thoughts on the IWC and venturing into another subject. Instead of focusing on the topics of the present, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the WWE’s past.

                Although it’s been talked about ad nauseam, the bitter feud between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart has been on my mind lately, mostly due to the newly released DVD entitled “WWE Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels VS. Bret Hart”. I had been salivating over this DVD ever since I heard about it and after finally getting my hands on a copy, I locked myself away for a few hours so that I could thoroughly enjoy it.

                I was definitely not disappointed. Packed with hours of footage and classic matches between the two legends, including the infamous Montreal Screwjob, the primary focus of the DVD was the two hour interview between the two men (There was even an extra clip from this interview in which Shawn explains to Bret what exactly is wrong with his eye. Finally, my curiosity was put to rest…).

This marks the first time that both Shawn and Bret have been interviewed together about the events that led up to the 1997 Survivor Series in the hopes of finally putting this dark chapter in their storied careers behind them. This portion of the interview is without a doubt the primary reason most wrestling fans were interested in this release, but it is by no means the focus.  

The interview, moderated by Jim Ross, also covers their early careers which were spent in the WWE’s tag team division; Michaels with The Rockers and Hart with the Hart Foundation. They also venture into their early successes as singles competitors all the way up to Bret Hart’s lackluster tenure in WCW and his debilitating stroke, as well as HBK’s conversion to Christianity and his in ring return in 2002 which has already been extensively documented.            

Watching all of this, I was able to gain a considerable amount of insight into the relationship these two men shared. It was revealed that Bret and Shawn were much closer than most fans knew. During the early 90s they spent nights on the road together and joked around backstage; Shawn was one of the first to celebrate with Bret after his first WWE title win. At first the friendship that was forged between the two was based in mutual admiration and respect for one another. But as the pressures of carrying the company through hard times and competition for the top spot began building, that friendship devolved into the intense rivalry that we fans saw unfold week after week on television.

As the whole story unfolds one thing becomes apparent. I began noticing the difference in mentality between past generations of wrestlers and today’s current crop of talent. While they may love their chosen profession, quite a large number of today’s WWE wrestlers don’t exude the same passion that wrestlers of past generations have, and it certainly shows in many of their performances. Of course this isn’t the case for the entire roster, but I think you can see my point.

Michaels’ and Hart’s entire adult lives were both directly as well as indirectly shaped by their lives in the ring. Bret Hart lives, eats, and breathes wrestling and has done so since he was born. Shawn Michaels spent his adolescence imitating his heroes until he could finally emulate them in the ring. His time in the ring was so intertwined with his reality that his in-ring persona and Shawn Hickenbottom were, unfortunately, almost one in the same. When your entire life revolves around the squared circle, it’s hard not to be passionate, almost obsessive, about it.

Though they both have an intense passion for the business, they differed tremendously philosophically. Bret was the traditionalist; he believed in the classic face vs. heel template and wholesome family entertainment. On the other side of the spectrum was Shawn, who felt the company needed to be steered into grittier, edgier territory. This was another factor that added to the growing animosity towards one another, as Bret felt Shawn’s vision was a threat to the future of the company, and Shawn felt Bret was holding on to an outdated mentality. Of course we all know which direction the WWE took in the late 90s and too many, including myself, Michaels was the catalyst for that change.

                But much, if not most of the underlying tension was brought on once they had both gotten their hands on the crown jewel of the company, the WWE Championship.  In reality, the belt is merely a prop; there is no intrinsic value to it. But to them, at this point in their careers, it represented something that both men were yearning for: respect. Not just respect from other wrestlers and from Vince McMahon, but respect from one another. To hold that title meant that management had the confidence to make you the face of the company. This was all the more important during a period where the WWE was struggling to stay competitive with WCW. Due to their conflicting personalities, differing philosophies on the direction the company should take, and a myriad of other personal struggles, both Bret and Shawn felt that they were not getting the respect that they rightfully deserved from one another.

                As the two men delved into the past, bringing up some of the worst moments of their careers, it was hard to get emotional. At one point toward the end of the discussion both men were visibly holding back tears. Shawn becomes emotional when giving his account of a conversation he had with Bret the night of their match at Survivor Series ’97, stating his discomfort in having played his part in the screwjob. Bret becomes teary eyed as he talks about receiving a phone call from Vince McMahon wishing him the well immediately after suffering a stroke in 2002.

                Many skeptical fans who have decided where their loyalties lie in this debate long ago may feel this interview does nothing to absolve either party of their actions leading up to the events at Survivor Series. But it’s obvious that both Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart are now finally ready to put the Montreal Screwjob behind them. This DVD was a great watch for me as a fan, both for the great interview and the classic matches that were included. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend taking the time to watch this. It’s definitely worth it.

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