Bret Hart: Cliff Notes to the Best-Seller and the Clique

This is the first of many in my new series covering Bret Hart's best-selling book Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling. This will be a spoiler in ways as I am reviewing critical points in Bret Hart's career.

This week's topic, Bret Hart and the infamous Clique.

After the steroid scandal and the ousting of Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart was the top dog in the WWE due to his body not looking like a landing pad for steroid-filled needles.

Bret was on top of the world and feeling good. He traveled all over the world as champ, appeared on a TV series and was well respected by most of the boys.

All of this made him the perfect candidate for the vacant leadership position of the newly forming group that would later be known as the Clique.

Vince was not too sure on the Hitman's ability to be "the guy" and was looking to move in a bigger direction—Kevin Nash.

Nash was a near 7-footer who had recently found success as the bodyguard of HBK, Shawn Michaels. Michaels and Nash quickly bonded, as it was HBK that brought Diesel to the WWE. Scott Hall, aka Razor Ramon, joined the duo and history was set in motion.

According to Bret Hart, everyone could see the power slowly shifting to the Clique. Nash was scheduled to demolish Bob Backlund, who just won the belt from Bret three days earlier, and was going to enjoy the money and the perks that went along with it.

To ensure that the Clique kept the stroke in the WWE, they planned to only work with each other. That way it didn't matter who had the belt, as long as it was in the family.

But before they could run wild, they need to add the missing piece—the mouthpiece. They needed a leader. They needed Bret Hart.

At this time, Bret was friends with all three members of the Clique. Nash often sought Bret out for advice and Bret had faced HBK since the Hart Foundation versus Rockers days. They were all cool.

So when Bret was approached by the group in Germany during a trip in 1994, things could have gone either way.

The group was looking to "monopolize the cash flow" and they wanted Bret to "be the leader, to voice concerns pertaining to the group as a whole." And Bret had been screwed out of Vince's false promises on multiple occasions, so the idea of one for all and all for one should've been perfect...but it wasn't.

Afraid of the pill popping ways of Hall and HBK, Bret politely told the guys they were on there own. He capped off the conversation by challenging them, "If someone can out perform me, every night in every part of the world, then go ahead, step up and do it!" The line was drawn in the sand.

Bret would soon find out that Michaels could do just fine speaking into the ear of the chairman, and he would do everything he could to outperform the Hitman.

What would've happened if Bret would've taken up the Clique's offer? He never would've gotten "screwed" and he would never had jumped to WCW where he received a career ending kick to the skull by Goldberg.

But then again, Hall and Nash might not have jumped ship and revitalized the wrestling world with the NWO.

It's best to leave history as it was created, but you can't help but wonder what if.

In other news, Hit the Ropes Radio is having it's biggest show ever. Next week's guest include WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race, ROH's Bobby Cruise and former WWE Diva Debra Marshall (Steve Austin's ex-wife). Plus, the return of the TNA Trivia and giveaway. Please tell your friends and support.