Bret Hart: The Hitman's Legacy

So in assessing Bret's legacy we should take into account the circumstances of his accomplishments aswell as their effects.

Is 4 of Triple H's world title reigns worth 1 of Bret Harts? Probably. Bret Hart had alot more competition back in his time (Randy Orton?, Dave 'Woody' Batista? You're kidding me) then the 'master of the WWE Universe' has today.

Whereas HHH, Hogan and Michaels etc. did their best to bury upcoming challengers while they were at the top, Hart and more progressive personalities like Macho Man, Harley Race and The Rock always tried to make their opponent look good in the ring so that their feuds could continue longer and therefore be better for business.

Was Bret Hart a money maker on the level of Hogan, Macho Man, Stone Cold, The Rock....or even John Cena?! Probably not, but again the circumstances of his time at the top have to be considered.

How many great matches can Bret claim to have had anyway?

Alot. From his early feuds with the Dynamite Kid, Curt Henning, and Steamboat to his memorable match with Bulldog at Wembley Sumerslam 1992 (back when the IC title a much more prestigious prize) all the way to his thrilling matches with Stone Cold and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania in the mid-90s and his final great match with Chris Benoit in 1999 which was arguably WCW's only dignified moment in its final 3 years.

Finally who cares about Bret anyway?

As the media reaction in Canada especially and around the world will tell you, Bret still has alot of fans out there. Sure, they may be older now and likely don't watch TNA or PG-era WWE but they still remember the Hitman. His book was an international bestseller and not many get the recognition Bret does from the fans and marks alike unless there's a consensus about his legacy.

Also Bret was noted among wrestlers (judging by some of the other autobiographies I've read) for being one of the dressing room favourites and enjoyed healthy working and personal relationships with many of the greats of his day. Thus in 2005 after a recovering from a stroke, even Vince eventualy relented and invited Hart into the WWE Hall of Fame (despite being knocked out once by the guy!).

Likewise Hart is one of the youngest members of the old school George Tragos/Lou Thesz Wrestling Hall of Fame (which only inducts wrestlers with both amateur and professional backgrounds). One of the highest honours given by his peers.

Bret is one undoubtedly of the greats, not the greatest, but one of the greats whose legacy is somewhere in between that of the Kurt Angles, Mick Foleys, Randy Savages (and indeed Shawn Michaels) of this world and the Ric Flairs, Hulk Hogans and Stone Colds who were to definitively symbolise their eras.

Bret's legacy is especially hard to define because he was in his prime at a time when wrestling was at its lowest. So it may be simply his story is his greatest legacy.

This was a review of 'Bret Hart: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling'. If you had or have an interest in wrestling, if you are literate and if you aren't an inanimate object you should give this book a go. A real page turner and shocker in some places.

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