Message-ID: 

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/columnists/detore/s_190870.html

Time is right for return of 'Hitman'

By Rennie Detore
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Sunday, April 25, 2004 

Growing up as the son of legendary wrestler Stu Hart, Bret Hart
crafted his professional wrestling skills under his father's tutelage.
Trained in a place referred to as the "Dungeon," Bret Hart learned the
finer points of his sport, respect for the industry, and left the
entertainment up to the entertainers.
So, when the then-World Wrestling Federation opted to produce more
spectacle than sport in the late 1990s, the usually upbeat superstar
became surprisingly disingenuous and, to a certain extent, bitter.

His father's old-school grappling was supplanted by groups such as
D-Generation X, whose name aptly described their antics.

Vince McMahon wrapped his brain around a concept that would be known
as "Crash TV," with a motto that read "less wrestling, more
show."
Shorter matches replaced 30-minute main events, and being revered as a
worldwide athlete no longer carried a positive stigma.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a more vulgar, anti-hero, quickly became
the prototype for the new attitude-laced sports entertainment.
Colorful language and finger gestures became measuring sticks for
talent.

Suddenly, Hart's wrestling ability wasn't valued as much. The
five-time WWE champion seemed terribly antiquated in every aspect of
his "Hitman" character, especially as fans grew accustomed to
McMahon's new vision.

Seven years after Hart's departure from the company, McMahon has
rediscovered his professional wrestling roots. Only a few months ago,
the WWE kingpin decreed that wrestling would return to form and
subsequent rules would be enforced.

Since then, the length of matches has grown and so has fans' interest
in a product finally laced with proper pacing. WWE is conditioning
once fickle fans that wrestling is what matters more than anything
else, and that entertainment is spawned from five-star matches.

McMahon's recent revelation only seems like more of a reason for Hart
to return to WWE, at least in a part-time capacity. Reports from "Raw"
last Monday said that Hart met with McMahon after the show, perhaps in
an effort to be cordial with one another. The two have spoken on
several occasions since Hart left WWE in 1997 after the infamous
incident in Montreal -- McMahon took the world title from Hart, who
was leaving for WCW, even though the two agreed that the "Hitman"
wouldn't lose on that night.

In addition to Montreal, McMahon and Hart haven't seen eye-to-eye on a
personal or professional level in almost 10 years. But Hart has stated
in recent months that he's earned a somewhat renewed level of respect
for WWE, after watching friend Chris Benoit win the World Heavyweight
title at "Wrestlemania XX," an event many thought Hart would attend as
a spectator since retiring in 2000 after a series of concussions.

The thought of Benoit, along with "Smackdown" champion Eddie Guerrero,
holding the WWE's two major titles has to be heartwarming for the
"Hitman," especially since the company he said goodbye to seven years
ago barely acknowledged the word "Wrestling" in its name. Certainly
Hart can appreciate the likes of Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas and
even the now-departed Brock Lesnar being valued over superstars
without such impressive amateur backgrounds. Hart's hard work as a
"wrestling champion" in the early 1990s is being revisited -- and now
finally appreciated -- through the likes of the aforementioned
talents, including Benoit and Guerrero.

WWE's dramatic change of heart still might not be enough to change
Hart's mind.

The shaky Hart-McMahon relationship perhaps cannot be salvaged, even
when money is to be made. Hart still has ill-feelings toward McMahon
for not only Montreal but for the death of his brother, Owen, in May
1998 when the harness lowering him from the Kemper Arena as part of a
"Blue Blazer" stunt came apart.

Time cannot completely conceal the kind of wound left from losing a
brother, but it can afford Hart an opportunity to step back and look
at everything else he and McMahon have been through. Hart knows that
he owes the majority of his legacy to McMahon, if for no other reason
than McMahon afforded Hart an opportunity to succeed.

Now, it seems almost perfect for Hart to return and give McMahon the
opportunity to stand behind his wrestling-first ideology and give the
"Hitman" persona the sendoff it deserves.


--- Internet Rex 2.29