WWE Classic of the Week: Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect from King of the Ring 1993

Bret Hart and Mr. Perfect are not only two of the most popular Superstars of their generation—they are also two of the most respected and trusted in-ring performers of all time. That is why when WWE created a new pay-per-view extravaganza in June 1993, entitled King of the Ring, WWE made the decision to pair them against each other in the night's semifinal round.

Arguably the top babyfaces in Vince McMahon's promotion at that point in time, the match would not only generate a classic match that would help lend credibility to the event, but it would also create a buzz about the show's reputation in the days and weeks that followed at the time.

The future Hall of Famers wowed fans in Dayton, Ohio, proving for the second time in two years why they were the best professional wrestlers in the world.

In the process, they set the bar incredibly high for the Superstars who would follow. While the event would become known for another match of an entirely different kind, it was Hart and Perfect's classic that helped make King of the Ring one of the marquee events of WWE's calendar year.

The Background

SummerSlam 1991 was one of the most important nights in the career of Bret Hart.

Given his first real opportunity to prove himself as a singles performer, WWE pitted him against Mr. Perfect for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Perfect was a legit star, someone who had shared the ring with Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in numerous main event matches. He had earned the trust of management, thanks to his incredible performances between the ropes.

If Hart could not deliver, the likelihood was that he would be saddled in a tag team for the rest of his career.

Luckily for him, and fans, Hart succeeded by turning in one of the most iconic performances of his career, capturing his first singles title in the process.

From there, the two Superstars would go on wildly different paths.

Hart would rise to the occasion, earning a main event run following two IC title reigns and his first WWE Championship. Perfect, on the other hand, would bow out of competition, a back injury sidelining him for well over one year.

When he finally returned, he did so as a babyface at a time when McMahon's roster was in one of great flux. 

With the King of the Ring tournament approaching, each Superstar was counted on to bring both star power and work rate to the table. In order to make it to the semifinal round where they would clash, they would have to beat two bruising Superstars.

Hart overcame the challenge of Razor Ramon, pinning him to advance, while Perfect endured a crack to the head with the Undertaker's urn, courtesy of newcomer Curtis Hughes.

Neither man was particularly healthy entering their encounter, but that would not stop them from delivering a fine example of in-ring excellence.

The Match

The Analysis

Many consider the King of the Ring match the superior of the two Hart-Perfect classics, thanks mainly to the fact that Curt Hennig was completely healthy rather than nursing a debilitating back injury.

This writer is not quite ready to go that far, though. While it was an equally outstanding match, it lacks the epic feel that the SummerSlam '91 match had. On that August night, inside the historic Madison Square Garden, it felt like the stakes were higher than just the IC title. It felt like one man's future was in question and the other's legacy was at stake.

From a technical standpoint, the King of the Ring match may be the better match, but the environment and atmosphere were lacking in a way they simply weren't in their original bout.

Hart takes a nasty spill outside the ring, bumping off the ring apron and smacking his knee into a tub of soft drinks kept at the side of the announce table for the commentators. Had he landed any worse than he did, the story of Hart overcoming three opponents to win the King of the Ring tournament may have been halted at two. 

The Aftermath

Hart would advance to the finals of the tournament to defeat Bam Bam Bigelow, proving his greatness in the process. In one single night, he wrestled three distinctly different workers and had great matches with each one of them. And every match was different, the strengths of the opponents on display and Hart's ability to counter them the key to his victory.

Almost immediately, the Hitman engaged Jerry "the King" Lawler in a rivalry that would last the better part of the next two years, culminating with a humiliating Kiss My Foot match at the 1995 King of the Ring event.

Mr. Perfect, on the other hand, would again disappear from in-ring competition by the time November rolled around. He would soon settle for a place at the commentator's table, robbing fans of witnessing another classic with Hart while both were still in the best shape of their careers.

They would meet again in WCW, but like their health, the quality of the match had deteriorated significantly.