A WWE Fan's Memories: The Night I Met Owen Hart

R.I.P. Steve "Dr. Death" Williams.

Owen Hart was a superstar who was taken from us earlier than he should have been.  I decided that with Bret coming back to the WWE, I would write an article about his brother.

Owen Hart was the youngest of the Hart clan, but in many ways had the most tenacity.  Owen, along with brother Bret, are sons of the late great Stu Hart.  Stu trained all his sons in the ways of the grappling arts, but Owen and Bret took to it the strongest.

When Bret and Owen came to the WWE, they were given vastly different characters. 

While Bret played the mat technician in blue and black—which eventually became pink and black, with Jim Neidhart—Owen was wearing neon baggy pants or portraying the Blue Blazer; a superhero gimmick that was popular, but never really took off until his second run with the character.

Owen eventually left the WWE to wrestle in Japan and other places.  He did well with his high-flying moves and mat-based technique.

Owen wrestled all over the world before coming back to the WWE and joining up with Jim Neidhart.  Owen and Bret would have what many consider one of the best Wrestlemania matches when they faced off at WM10.  Owen beat his brother in the match after countering a roll up attempt from Bret.

Bret would go on to win the WWE title later that night and Owen became the bitter brother.  Over the next several years, the brothers would feud over who was superior, usually with Bret coming out on top.

Owen eventually joined forces with his brother, along with Neidhart, British Bulldog and Brian Pillman, and they formed the new Hart Foundation which feuded with D-X for awhile.

Down the line Bret and Jim left for WCW, and we lost Pillman and The British Bulldog.  This left Owen as the lone Hart family member in WWE.

Owen was hugely successful, holding every title in the WWE, but the WWE world Title.  Many speculate that he was destined to be a mid-carder, while others feel he would have eventually gone on to greatness and the World Title.

Owen showed more guts and determination than most men in the sport and for that the fans loved him.  He was always willing to put over someone deserving of a push and was liked by just about everyone he ever met.

I remember the one and only time I met Owen very clearly.  It was at an event at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago.  He was the IC champion and one half of the tag team champions with Davey Boy Smith, at the time. 

I remember being in line for an autograph and he had his belts next to him.  I asked if I could hold his belts, and he said; "I've got a better idea."

He turned me around and strapped the IC belt to my waist.  He then asked a WWE/F employee to take a picture of me with the belts. 

A young guy grabbed a Polaroid and took my picture with the Tag belt on my shoulder, the IC belt on my waist and Owen with his arm around my shoulder. 

I remember thinking how cool it was that he would take the time to do something like that while there was a huge line behind me.  No one in line seemed to upset by it, though.

He was there until he had to go get ready for his match; so he spent about three hours with fans, which is more than I could say for Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, who were nowhere to be seen that night. 

I had heard from someone later on that after the show, he came back to sign more autographs.  He was a truly great man who loved his fans.

I will never forget the short interaction I had with him because, out of all the wrestlers I have ever met, he was the most down to earth. 

I remember as I was talking to him, he told me my hair looked like Bret's and that I should cut it to look more like his.  He made my whole night by being so nice and truly funny. 

I cheered him that night despite the boos from most in attendance.  He played a heel at the time, but to me, on that night, he was a hero.

I have no doubt in my mind that Owen would have been a world champion had he been given more time with us.

I will always remember Owen as one of the WWE's true workhorses, who could have a great match with anyone.  I just hope that someday he gets what he deserves and is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

R.I.P. Owen.