[rock music playing]
[Big E] On this edition of WWE Raw Classics,
the best there is, the best there was,
the best there ever will be.
[McMahon] The Pink and Black Attack!
[Big E] Witness the master class in technique
that made Bret Hart a bona fide Hall of Famer.
And discover why he is known as the "Excellence of Execution."
It's the Raw Classics of the one and only Bret "The Hitman" Hart,
right here on Netflix.
[speaks indistinctly]
[lively music playing]
Aw, welcome to WWE Raw Classics.
I'm your host, Big E,
and today we're taking a look back at arguably Canada's greatest export.
No, I'm not talking about Wolverine.
[claws snikt]
I'm talking about the best there is,
the best there was,
and the best there ever will be,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart!
["Hart Attack" playing]
And in the first few years of Raw,
no one backed up those claims quite like the Excellence of Execution,
who performed at an elite level every single Monday night.
Known as one of the OG workhouse champs,
Bret Hart would defend his coveted WWE Title
against any and all challengers.
And on this hot July night in 1994,
The Hitman would give a shot to Raw's biggest underdog,
the 1-2-3 Kid.
["1-2-3" playing]
[Finkel] Ladies and gentlemen,
the following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the World Professional Heavyweight Championship.
In the ring is the challenger,
from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing 212 pounds, The 1-2-3…
[JR] Without a doubt, ladies and gentlemen,
this is one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups
in Monday Night Raw history.
Macho Man, what do you think the 1-2-3 Kid's strategy will be tonight?
[Randy] No doubt about it, he'll try to get the match out of control.
If this match lives up to one one-hundredth of its expectations,
well, I'll guarantee you one thing, get on the edge of your seat,
because we're gonna go on a magic carpet ride, yeah!
-[crowd cheering] -[Randy] Listen to this ovation here.
The Hitman's getting ready to come down that aisle.
Let's just stop one second and enjoy the moment, yeah!
[Finkel] At 224 pounds,
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] A thunderous ovation for the WWE Champion.
One of the most honored athletes in the history of the WWE.
A two-time WWE Tag Champion,
two-time Intercontinental Champion,
two-time WWE Champion.
He's been the King of the Ring, Macho Man,
and last year he was the WWE Superstar of the Year.
[Randy] Give credit to The Hitman for taking on all challengers.
No doubt about it, he is truly deserving of being the current WWE Champion.
[JR] I asked you the strategy for the 1-2-3 Kid--
Uh-oh.
Look who's here.
I knew it was too good to be true.
Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and The King of Harts, Owen Hart,
the younger brother of The Hitman, here on the ring apron.
-[crowd booing] -[Superstars yelling indistinctly]
[Randy] This would be a horrible thing if these guys, in any way,
spoiled the confrontation
with the 1-2-3 Kid and Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Looking forward to this match so much.
Get these guys out of here!
Talk about crashing the party!
[JR] Owen Hart wants to be the WWE Champion.
He wants to win it from his brother, Bret.
And Owen's brother-in-law, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart,
apparently is here to see that that happens.
-[Randy] Listen to this. -Look at the coward!
You don't deserve that shot!
-[referee 1] Get out! Get out! -[Owen speaking indistinctly]
[Randy] What's he saying now, Ross?
[JR] Some disgusting remarks, as usual.
-You haven't got the guts! -He's a scaredy-cat!
He's fighting the 1-2-3 Kid
instead of fighting me and The Anvil!
[referee 2] Now go!
[referee 1] Get out! Get out!
I'll get you! I will get you! We'll get you!
He's nothing! He's history! We're gonna break him in half!
[Randy] Now he's just running his mouth.
He called the fightingest champion of all time,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a scaredy-cat.
-[JR] A rather ludicrous remark, no doubt. -[bell rings]
[Randy] Those are harsh words.
[JR] Well, folks, you can see the 1-2-3 Kid
in the biggest match of his life, ladies and gentlemen.
[Randy] Look at that deep breath the 1-2-3 Kid just took.
He knows he's one match away
from realizing his goal of all time.
Reaching up and grabbing that brass ring out of the sky.
And he's not gonna let Owen Hart and Neidhart ruin and rain on his parade.
[JR] Collar and elbow tie up, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Armdrag takedown.
The 1-2-3 Kid, very, very quick.
[Randy] What a message the 1-2-3 Kid just gave The Hitman right there.
He's saying, don't be thinking about Neidhart and Owen Hart,
you be thinking about me.
'Cause I'm gonna take your title.
[JR] Randy, I asked you earlier the strategy of the 1-2-3 Kid.
What do you think the strategy will be for the champion?
[Randy] Right now the champion should be concentrating on the 1-2-3 Kid,
and not paying any attention to Neidhart and The Rocket.
[JR] You think he'll want to slow it down?
[Randy] Absolutely. He'll wanna keep the 1-2-3 Kid to the mat.
And the 1-2-3 Kid is gonna try to keep it in a high-flying type action,
an out-of-control situation, like he did before.
[JR] Good counter move by the 1-2-3 Kid into the wristlock.
The 1-2-3 Kid with the advantage here.
Into the armbar.
So the 1-2-3 Kid being the aggressor thus far in the very, very early going.
[Randy] You're right.
Both these guys belong to the mutual admiration society
of respect for each other.
Watch now. Bret "Hitman" Hart with a big body slam to the 1-2-3 Kid.
And he nips up just as quick.
A face-off, Jim Ross.
[JR] A little one-upmanship there by the 1-2-3 Kid.
Bret Hart showing his strength advantage there.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Kid! Let's go, Kid!
[JR] Crowd chanting for the 1-2-3 Kid.
[Randy] That'll change.
That'll go back and forth.
Mutual respect for each other.
[JR] Nice chain wrestling move there
from the side headlock into the hammerlock.
[Rand]y I'm gonna get my paper and pencil out here
and start jotting down some moves.
I might even be able to add a couple of them to my repertoire.
[JR] Snapmare over.
Look at the concentration and tenacity of the 1-2-3 Kid
as he maintains control in the hammerlock.
[Randy] Pretty interesting, the 1-2-3 Kid is maintaining control,
just like you said right there,
and he's wrestling Hitman's game.
[JR] We know the 1-2-3 Kid will take a lot of chances.
Oh, hard elbow there by The Hitman.
Popped the Kid right in the jaw.
[Randy] Big wake-up call for the Kid.
He's gonna have to do something quick.
The Snapmare over.
As we said, the Kid will take chances, a lot of risk.
You know, they say opportunity always involves some risk.
Macho Man, you can't steal second base with your foot on first.
[Randy] You're right, but I'll tell you, the longer this match goes,
I would have to give the edge to The Hitman.
But at the same time, the Kid wants to get past that five-minute mark himself.
[JR] Good shoulderlock there by the champion.
Getting some momentum there.
The Kid avoids the contact.
And takes Bret Hart up and over!
Great quickness there by the 1-2-3 Kid,
who is out-quicking the WWE Champion--
Reverse-thrust kick! Tremendous move there!
Then another one that caught Bret Hart right in the face!
Over the top rope goes the WWE Champion!
[Randy] What is "The Hitman" Bret Hart thinking right now?
[JR] We'll find out!
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to Monday Night Raw.
We apologize for taking that commercial break.
But during the commercial break, the 1-2-3 Kid stepped back,
allowed Bret Hart to return to the ring.
Macho Man, the 1-2-3 Kid maintaining control here.
But I gotta ask you this question.
Do you think we've seen the last, tonight, of The King of Harts
and his brother-in-law Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart?
[Randy] I don't know.
How's that for a direct answer?
[JR] Well, anything can happen in the WWE, especially here on Monday Night Raw.
Bret Hart trying to free himself from the clutches of the 1-2-3 Kid.
But the Kid is so tenacious.
And his strategy surprises me somewhat here, Macho Man.
[Randy] I'm in a state of shock.
The 1-2-3 Kid is wrestling The Hitman's game.
But he's doing good, so who can knock him?
[JR] The WWE Championship on the line, ladies and gentlemen.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart, the champion, defending against the 1-2-3 Kid.
And thus far, in this contest,
I would have to give the edge to the 1-2-3 Kid.
[Randy] Exactly,
but The Pink and Black Attack is exactly what it is.
Watch this action.
[JR] Far side. Oh! Hart caught him.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Deep into the abdomen with that knee.
[cheering continues]
[JR] Bret "The Hitman" Hart slowed it down considerably there
with that high-impact maneuver.
And a flat of the foot, a legal maneuver, right to the abdomen.
[Randy] I think The Hitman's thinking now, don't underestimate the 12-3- Kid.
Keep his mind off The Rocket and Jim Neidhart,
and concentrate on his competition right now.
[JR] Scoop slam.
Hard to the canvas.
And a legdrop.
So right now, Bret "The Hitman" Hart back in control.
A very deliberate offensive game plan now for the champion.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Bret! Let's go, Bret! Let's go, Bret!
[Randy] I call this a white-hot heat atmosphere
with all the people just kind of watching.
[JR] Oh! Goodness.
[Randy] What an uplifting feeling that was for the Kid.
Another one!
[JR] You can hear the impact of those tremendous European uppercuts.
[Randy] Solid as a rock.
[JR] And he rocks it.
[Randy] I think the 1-2-3 Kid is about seven-feet four-inches right now.
[JR] Bret Hart has the Kid back in the corner.
And another hard, hard uppercut.
[Randy] The Hitman is telling the 1-2-3 Kid these are legal,
but I'm gonna tell you something,
if you're gonna beat me, you're gonna earn it.
[JR] Bret Hart using his knee for leverage there.
Has taken over firmly,
over the challenger here in this WWE Championship matchup.
Hard elbow to the back of the head.
High impact maneuvers, very deliberate.
Oh man! What an elbow!
[Randy] That'll cross your eyes. Check the Kid's eyes out right there.
[JR] Hard kick to the ribs with the instep.
That is also a legal maneuver here.
The Excellence of Execution.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart so fundamentally sound.
Front facelock into that swinging neck-wringer.
Lateral press! And a near fall.
[Randy] The first cover of the match.
The 1-2-3 Kid showing some energy signs as he kicked out.
[JR] Bret Hart now with that reverse chinlock.
He is utilizing his weight and strength advantage here.
This has been a very physically intense confrontation.
[Randy] The Hitman's not thinking about The Rocket and Neidhart right now.
He's thinking about the 1-2-3 Kid.
[JR] Elbow to the top of the head this time.
Seems as if the champion has hit his stride here.
Dragging the Kid's face into the top turnbuckle.
And kicks away with the flat of the foot.
Which, again, is a legal maneuver, ladies and gentlemen.
[Randy] The Excellence of Execution versus the gambler, the 1-2-3 Kid.
[JR] Oh!
Those hard uppercuts…
[Randy] Look at the Kid trying to shake it off.
…they just chill you to the bone here.
Irish Whip coming up.
-[Randy] Ooh! -[JR] Wow! Oh my!
[Randy] Unbelievable, the ring just moved a foot and a half away from us, Jim Ross.
I'm gonna have to take off my sunglasses so I can see the action.
[JR] 1-2-3 Kid has always been known for his resiliency.
He's really being tested here.
Hart misses the elbow.
And the Kid caught him with a crossbody, a lateral press.
The 1-2-3 Kid had a near fall.
[Randy] Just that quickly, the 1-2-3 Kid could've won the WWE Title.
If anybody out there thinks he doesn't have a chance,
well, just go think again.
[JR] He was one count away on that occasion.
But again Bret Hart in control.
Hard Irish Whip.
The Kid up and over.
He is quicker, but he couldn't get it down.
Bret Hart got him. One. Two.
-And another near fall. -[Randy] Just barely kicked out there.
[JR] The WWE Champion now in firm control.
Picks the 1-2-3 Kid up.
To the center of the ropes, far side.
Oh, the Kid trying to go for a crucifix.
But the champion blocked it.
He's got him here. Right in front of us. One. Two. Three.
-Hey, wait a minute! -[bell rings]
His foot's on the rope!
The 1-2-3 Kid…
They're right in front of us here, ladies and gentlemen.
[Randy] What a save.
His foot was definitely on the rope.
They're giving the victory to "The Hitman" Bret Hart.
It was a three-count.
[JR] The referee did not see it.
But I'm sure that Bret Hart saw it.
And he's trying to explain that to the referee right now.
[Randy] I can't believe that he's trying to, uh…
get the referee to see it.
Looks to me like, right now, The Hitman doesn't want the victory.
Which is crazy, which is nuts.
[JR] He refused to have his hand raised.
And my heart goes out to the 1-2-3 Kid.
[Randy] Here comes another referee into the ring.
Got mass confusion right here during the WWE Title match,
right here on Raw.
[JR] I know we have another commercial break coming up.
We'll keep it here as long as we can, ladies and gentlemen.
[Randy] Is Bret that nice a guy
to try to tell the referees
that he doesn't feel that he earned the victory?
-[crowd yelling] -[referee speaking indistinctly]
[speaking indistinctly]
[Randy] Listen…
[JR] What's going on here?
[Finkel] Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.
By request of Bret Hart,
this match will continue.
-[JR] We'll be right back! -[Randy] Unbelievable!
The action has been fast and furious here on Monday Night Raw.
The championship match continues.
Let us check you back to what you missed during the commercial break
in this WWE double feature.
The match was restarted,
but Bret Hart was not ready.
And the 1-2-3 Kid just about had him. Wait a minute. Right side of your screen!
Lateral press and a near fall there.
[Randy] Double feature was double exposed right there.
[JR] So Bret Hart almost had the match restarting backfire in his face.
Much like Double J did right here last week.
[Randy] Right about that, Jim Ross.
And 1-2-3 Kid looks like he's ready to check into LaLa Land.
[JR] The Kid there, being punished by Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
You can see Hart making the Kid carry the champion's weight.
[Randy] Showing some life.
[JR] He has got a great heart,
a great competitive spirit.
If he's gonna do it, he's gotta do it now.
[JR] You know, like Fleetwood Mac says, Bret Hart can take you to paradise.
Or to this kid he may be as cold as ice.
I think we're seeing that cold-as-ice feel from the champion right now.
[Randy] Two different chants going on.
"Go, Bret, Go" and "1-2-3 Kid."
Mixed emotions running high!
[JR] Kid back up to a vertical base here, releasing the pressure.
Elbows to the midsection. Goes for the ropes.
And he tried to hook into the champion.
The Kid's quicker. He's got him! He's got--
Two count.
[Randy] So close, but yet so far.
And what an elbow to the back of the 1-2-3 Kid's head.
I don't know how much more he can take.
[JR] The champion measured him.
[Randy] Man, did that land.
[JR] Lateral press. One. Two and a long half.
[Randy] It would've been nice for Hitman to hook the 1-2-3 Kid's leg right there.
Might've got him.
[JR] We have had five near falls in this confrontation.
Bret Hart with three, the Kid with two.
That's how close it is here.
-[half of crowd chanting] Let's go, Bret! -[half of crowd chanting] 1-2-3!
[Randy] Listen to these people!
[crowd continues chanting]
[JR] Kid, wobbly at best.
And a DDT by the WWE Champion.
A lateral press. This should be it.
But it's not!
[Randy] Hitman's using everything he knows on the 1-2-3 Kid.
And the 1-2-3 Kid is showing that fight that's made him so famous.
[JR] The Kid's eyes rolling back in his head.
He is in a real dazed state here.
Bret Hart showing great sportsmanship starting this match over
and now letting the Kid get back to his feet.
Macho Man, would you have shown that type of sportsmanship?
[Randy] No way!
The match would be over,
I'd be in the shower getting ready to party!
[JR] Hard slam by the WWE Champion.
Who now goes up to the second turnbuckle.
This is the first time Bret Hart has…
Oh!
…taken a big chance, and it did not pay off for him!
[Randy] Somewhere, the Kid showed a sense of where he was at,
maybe not consciously, but subconsciously,
and was able to bring his right foot up.
It caught Bret Hart flush under the chin.
[JR] Hart with a kick to the ribs.
The 1-2-3 Kid has been unable to utilize his feet
except for a couple of occasions.
Hart misses a clothesline.
-Oh my! -[crowd cheering]
[JR] Big swinging kick there.
Martial arts kick by the 1-2-3 Kid.
[Randy] That had to all but knock The Hitman out.
[JR] 1-2-3 Kid has to use the ropes to pull himself up.
Catching Bret Hart coming in.
Oh my! Look at these kicks.
And a-- Oh! He caught him in the face!
[Randy] Where does he get the energy?
[JR] Irish Whip, near side.
-Oh my! -[Randy] A dropkick in the corner!
And Bret had nowhere to go but back into the corner.
He had him trapped right there.
[JR] The Kid's going for it!
[Randy] That could be the turning point of this match right now.
[JR] Kid's gonna take a chance.
High-risk offense!
Crossbody off the top!
One! Two! And a half. A long half!
[Randy] Hitman better thank his lucky stars he kicked out of that one.
[JR] 1-2-3 Kid now.
He's got the Jackknife! Out of Diesel's playbook.
1-2-3 Kid now, he's gonna go up to the top.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we may be seeing the crowning of a WWE Champion right here!
Legdrop off the top!
This should be all!
One! Two!
No, he got a shoulder up!
I mean, barely!
[Randy] The Kid took a chance, and he hit.
But The Hitman still kicked out.
Where do we go from here?
[JR] Clothesline!
Bret "The Hitman" Hart over the top.
But the 1-2-3 Kid is not through taking chances.
[Randy] Where's he going?
[JR] Up top!
Here comes the moonsault!
But I think the champion blocked it!
[Randy] No, he deflected off The Hitman.
I think he got The Hitman a little bit,
but I think he did more damage to himself.
The 1-2-3 Kid,
I think if he had the chance to do it all over again, would have.
[JR] Bret Hart rolling back in the ring.
I don't know if the 1-2-3 Kid even knows where he is right now.
The Kid now is gonna take another chance!
Can you believe this kid?!
[Randy] He may be going to the well too many times.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] He missed the moonsault there.
[Randy] Very unfortunate.
I can't believe that both guys didn't get counted out
just a little while ago.
[JR] Well, they say that excellence can be attained
if you risk more than others.
[Randy] I smell a Sharpshooter.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] The Kid…
There's no way he can sustain this.
Wait, he's in the ropes.
[Randy] Smart move. He grabbed the rope.
Nothing's more important than the WWE Title.
Pin's right there.
Do what you can do.
If you can get it done, do it.
[JR] The Kid, I mean, almost looks to be in Never-Never Land.
Oh! Hard uppercut forearm again by Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Front facelock.
-[Bret grunts] -[JR] Where's he going?
Oh, he's taking the Kid up top.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart and the 1-2-3 Kid…
Bret-- He blocked it! The Kid blocked it!
-He's at two and a half again! -[Randy] That's it!
[JR] Oh my!
-[crowd cheering] -[JR] My, my, he was close.
[Randy] The Kid has got nothing to be ashamed of
if he doesn't win the WWE Title.
He's given a great account for himself.
[JR] He took a chance there.
[Randy] He tried to do what he did before, dropkick Hitman in the corner.
Hitman's proving why he's got the WWE Title.
[JR] On three occasions,
this kid has been within a one-count or less
of beating Bret "The Hitman" Hart right here on Monday Night Raw.
Here comes that bulldog.
All the way from the Calgary Stampede came that bulldog headlock.
[Randy] That could've been it right there. Where's The Hitman going?
-[JR] Bret Hart's gonna take a chance. -Two!
-[JR] The Hitman going up top. -[Randy] This is not The Hitman's game.
[JR] And the Kid's up quick.
He's up quick.
Slams Bret Hart right off the top.
[Randy] Hitman passed a good opportunity to turn the 1-2-3 Kid over.
-He's going again. -[JR] I can't believe it!
Hart is out of it, seemingly.
[Randy] He might as well get a condo up there
and just change his address to "The Top Rope."
[JR] 1-2-3 Kid up top. Going-- Oh!
Bret Hart stepped back. He blocked the dropkick.
-He's going for the Sharpshooter! -[Randy] He turned him!
[JR] He's got it! He's got the Sharpshooter!
[Randy] No way he'll get the rope.
-[bell rings] -[JR] The referee's called it!
-["Hart Attack" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Finkel] The winner of this match,
and still your WWE Champion,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart!
-[JR] One of the greatest-- -One of the greatest matches ever.
-One of the greatest-- -One of the greatest matches ever.
[JR] One of the greatest matches I have ever seen in my entire career.
-["Hart Attack" continues playing] -[crowd continues cheering]
[cheering intensifies]
What an awesome display of mutual respect,
and a technical showcase between the two Hall of Famers.
But not all of Bret Hart's encounters were based on friendly competition.
The most personal rivalry ever in WWE history
saw The Hitman square off against his own brother, Owen,
and this time it was no holds barred.
["High Energy" playing]
-[JR] The No Holds Barred confrontation. -["Hart Attack" playing]
[Gorilla] Wait 'til you hear this explosion, Jim.
It's coming up right now.
[JR] Everybody knows what that music means.
It means the arrival of the incomparable Excellence of Execution.
One of the most honored athletes in World Wrestling Entertainment history.
That man, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
And the ovation is thunderous here.
[Gorilla] It is electricity.
-["Hart Attack" continues playing] -[crowd continues cheering]
[JR] Feel the emotion of this tremendous confrontation.
Remember, it is no holds barred, it is no time limit,
it is no disqualification, it is no count-out.
May the best man win, as they say,
as the youngest son of Stu and Helen Hart, Owen Hart, The King of Harts,
will meet his revered older brother, Bret.
This is a match, Gorilla Monsoon, I cannot wait to see.
[Gorilla] Well, I'm not too sure, Jim Ross, that he isn't qualified--
-[JR] Oh! -[Gorilla] Look out!
Here we go.
-[bell rings] -[JR] Owen's catching Bret in the ropes.
He'll gain the early advantage here.
How long can this match last
with the intensity that we anticipate from these two men?
Both clad in pink and black.
[Gorilla] If it goes for an hour, we'll be here!
[JR] Bret back up to that vertical base.
-Reverse to the Irish Whip. Oh! -[Gorilla] Hoo-wow!
[JR] What velocity into the corner.
Right hand by Bret Hart, and another right hand.
Bret Hart stepping up on the second rope and hammering down at his younger brother.
[Gorilla] And referee just looking, nothing he can do about it.
[JR] Remember, it is no disqualifications.
Snapmare takeover.
It is no count-out.
Bret Hart with a double handful of hair.
Using it to his advantage.
This is very uncharacteristic
of the sportsmanship of Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
But that's the way this match has been dictated.
That's the way that the rules have been laid out.
[Gorilla] If he needed any provocation,
he certainly has had it over the past year or so.
Give me a break.
The Hitman saying that he taught Owen everything that Owen knows,
but not everything that Bret knows.
[JR] Owen Hart coming off those ropes.
Crawling toward the apron of the ring for some sanctuary,
but not to be this time.
[Gorilla] Look out!
[JR] Front facelock into DDT by Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
[Gorilla] The Excellence of Execution showing us where he got that name.
[JR] That drive right to the chest, driving the oxygen out of Owen Hart.
-High-impact maneuver by The Hitman. -[Gorilla] Wow!
[JR] Outside goes Owen.
This match may be contested, Gorilla, as much outside the ring as inside.
[Gorilla] It wouldn't surprise me. Of course, both combatants realize…
Oh wow, head-first.
…that you can't get counted out, so do whatever you want.
Holy mackerel.
[JR] He slammed right into the ring steps.
-[Gorilla] Those are steel! -[crowd cheering]
[JR] Bret driving the forearm right down into the forehead of Owen Hart.
A very intense, a very emotional situation we are witnessing here.
Hard right hand as they go down the aisle.
Remember, this match has no count-out.
They can fight wherever they choose in this particular contest.
[Gorilla] They can take it back to the locker room,
which it looks like they're doing.
[JR] They've gone back, uh, beyond the vantage point of our cameras.
[Gorilla] Here they come.
[JR] Bret now bringing Owen back to the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Picks him up.
-And slams him right on the floor. -[Gorilla] Oh boy!
[JR] Bret Hart scoop slamming his brother Owen
right on the floor outside the ring.
And you notice the referee walking around.
As Gorilla Monsoon pointed out,
there's absolutely nothing the referee can do about this situation
and these tactics.
[Gorilla] Well, he can go and sit at ringside, I guess, and watch.
'Cause that's about all he can do.
All he can do is count for a three-count or a submission,
[JR] Right hands.
Bret is so aggressive.
[Gorilla] You know, Jim Ross, I am so shocked and surprised
that both of these guys agreed to this match this close to WrestleMania.
[JR] That's a very excellent point.
The stakes are so high at WrestleMania,
just six days away.
Bret Hart and Bob Backlund, as we know, in the "I Quit" match.
What a humiliating situation it would be for one of those athletes.
And, of course, Owen Hart and a mystery partner…
-Who knows who. -[Gorilla] Who?
…will come to the ring
when Owen and the mystery partner take on the Gunns for the Tag Team Title.
Owen may not be in any shape for that matchup six days from now,
by the looks of things.
[Gorilla] I'll imagine if you sustain some kind of--
Look out, backbreaker coming up!
-[JR] No! Bret-- -[Gorilla] Give me a break!
[JR] Owen raking at the face of his brother Bret.
Stomping on the hand now.
Again a rake of the face by Owen Hart.
[Gorilla] He knows he's not gonna get disqualified.
[JR] He has not been on the offensive thus far,
except for the very, very early moments of this contest.
And now let's see if The King of Harts can gain some momentum,
as he rakes The Hitman's face across the top ring rope.
[Gorilla] He's right now, Jim Ross, successfully buying himself a little time.
Still holding on to that kidney area where he got slammed hard on the concrete.
[JR] Headbutt into the lower abdomen.
This match is certainly not for the weak at heart,
I can tell you that.
A real slobberknocker here on Monday Night Raw
between the Hart brothers, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
-[Gorilla] Oh! Inverted-- Look out! -[JR] Oh wow.
-Inverted Atomic Drop. -[Owen whoops]
-[JR] Compressing the vertebrae. -[crowd booing]
[JR] Right now this match belongs to the arrogant, conceited King of Harts,
Owen Hart.
Flat-foot stomping him right on the solar plexus.
[Gorilla] And he wasted some valuable moments there celebrating.
Oh, look at this.
[JR] Owen pulling those straps down.
[Gorilla] He's gonna use them, I guarantee you.
[JR] He means business, no doubt about it.
Hard headbutt staggering Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Martial arts kick to the back of the head.
It may be over here.
There's a lateral press.
We've got one, two-- And a kickout.
[Gorilla] Beautiful kick by Owen Hart,
right in the external occipital protuberance area of The Hitman,
and he went down heavy.
[JR] First near fall situation applied by Owen Hart,
as he tosses his brother Bret on the outside.
Bret Hart, the most honored WWE athlete of all time.
-Face in the steel steps! -[Gorilla] Wow.
[JR] Just as he introduced his brother to earlier in this contest.
[Gorilla] That'll give you a negative attitude.
I am The King of Harts! The only King of Harts!
[Gorilla] Again, "Rocket King" Owen Hart wasting valuable time here, Jim Ross.
[JR] Well, he's just so arrogant and so conceited.
European uppercut, very effective maneuver there.
That forearm applied by Owen Hart.
Taking his brother now… Where's he going with him?
Out here, outside the ring,
right into the steel security railing.
Both men still in that vertical base, standing on the hardwood floor.
-[Gorilla] Look out here. -[JR] Here comes that whip!
-Right into the steel! -[Gorilla] Oh boy.
[JR] Have a seat and make yourself at home.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart hitting that…
Oh!
That security railing with tremendous impact.
[Gorilla] Tremendous European-style uppercut there by Owen.
[JR] Ladies and gentlemen, this match continues when we come back.
Welcome back, everyone, to Monday Night Raw.
No holds barred, what a contest.
Gorilla Monsoon, you've been in so many great matches in your illustrious career--
I'm The King of Harts!
[JR] Have you ever successfully healed up in a few days
after a No Holds Barred contest?
[Gorilla] It's highly unlikely.
These kind of matches are so rough, take so much out of you,
because anything can happen without any disqualifications.
You can use any part of the ring, any part of the ringside,
any part of the arena!
So you're gonna come out of there, you're gonna come out of there sore,
stiff and, perhaps, with some very serious injuries.
[JR] Bret Hart trying to gain some-- He turned his body now.
Turned in to the pressure.
Back up to the vertical base.
He's using those right hands.
-[Gorilla] Deep! -[JR] Deep into the midsection.
Bending over his younger brother, Owen.
-He's got a-- -[Gorilla] Oh! Crucifix!
[JR] He's got him. One, two, and three! No.
-[Gorilla] Was that close. -[JR] Even closer than the last.
But look how quickly Owen Hart is back up.
Owen Hart back up so quickly.
In an eyelash, regaining the advantage over Bret Hart.
[Gorilla] We're seeing a lot of tremendous moves,
obviously, that both of these individuals learned as youngsters
in The Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta.
[JR] That's the basement of the Hart family.
Bret now upside down.
Owen stomping away with the flat of the foot
right to the abdomen.
And now that foot right in the face--
Again, the referee relatively helpless, cannot really do anything--
[Gorilla] On no! He's not supposed to do that!
He's trying to turn The Hitman loose.
-And he's not obliged… -[JR] Uh-oh.
Owen has taken the turnbuckle cover off the turnbuckle in the far corner.
That steel is exposed now.
The turnbuckle pad has been removed.
-There you can see it. -[Gorilla] Nice block!
[JR] Owen went into it!
Slammed him in face-first, I think.
[Gorilla] Boy, did things turn around in a hurry.
[JR] Inverted Atomic Drop!
Hard clothesline!
Tremendous impact!
Both these men feeling the punishment.
The fatigue's gotta be setting in.
[Gorilla] It certainly is.
The momentum and the pendulum has swung in the other direction now,
and it is The Hitman, the Excellence of Execution,
second turnbuckle on the inside!
Ooh.
[JR] He's got the elbow, found his mark. One, two and a half.
[Gorilla] Oh! Didn't hook a leg.
[JR] He did not neutralize a leg, did Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Owen able to kick out of that near fall situation.
This sold-out, capacity crowd on the edge of their seats!
What a hard, high-impact maneuver to the lower back!
[Gorilla] There's the Excellence of Execution
we talked about earlier on.
-[JR] Hard elbow, lateral press. -[Gorilla] No way.
Not gonna work that way, I'm sorry.
I am very surprised a technically sound individual like The Hitman
is making these kind of cardinal mistakes.
[JR] He's got Owen up, there's a piledriver!
-He stuck him with that piledriver! -[Gorilla] Oh wow.
That may just do it.
[JR] This should be all. One, two--
And Owen Hart got the right shoulder up!
I'll tell you something, you gotta hand it to Owen Hart.
What tenacity, what intestinal fortitude in this arrogant young man.
-He will not quit, but it may be too late. -[crowd cheering]
[Gorilla] We're gonna see the Sharpshooter!
[JR] He's got the Sharp-- Oh!
He poked him right in the face!
[Gorilla] Do whatever you can!
You're not gonna get disqualified.
[JR] Owen knows if that Sharpshooter's applied,
it will be all over.
Oh!
Chest-first into the exposed turnbuckle.
You saw the impact.
[Gorilla] That steel in the corner, Jim, hit him right in the esophagus.
[JR] One, two, three-- No.
He didn't get it. Owen thought he had it and so did I.
[Gorilla] He's celebrating. He thinks he's got it in the bag now.
[JR] He has got everything under control, does Owen Hart.
[Gorilla] High-risk maneuver here.
[JR] On the top turnbuckle.
And the dropkick!
[Gorilla] He stepped out of the way!
[JR] He stepped out of the way, indeed!
Bret's got him with a Boston Crab!
[Gorilla and JR] Slingshot!
-[JR] Face-first into the turnbuckle! -[crowd cheering]
[JR] May have dimmed his lights there.
[Gorilla] Right here in the exposed steel that The Rocket King himself opened up.
[JR] Bret "The Hitman" Hart now may be a Sharpshooter away
from winning this emotional confrontation with his own younger brother!
He's got the legs hooked!
He's got it turned over!
-[Gorilla] There's no counter now! -[JR] He sits back on it!
-Owen Hart's giving it up! -[bell rings]
-[Gorilla] And in a hurry! -[crowd cheering]
[Gorilla] A smart move there by The King,
realizing he was caught with a Sharpshooter.
Once he turns you over, there is no counter anymore.
He realizes what a tough match he's got coming at WrestleMania.
[JR] Bret Hart is not relinquishing the hold.
[Gorilla] No, he's not.
[JR] Bret is straining. Here comes a couple more referees.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart is not relinquishing the Sharpshooter.
I don't care who the mystery partner is at WrestleMania with Owen,
if Bret doesn't relinquish this hold, it's not gonna make any difference.
[Gorilla] Boy, is he applying tremendous pressure to that lower lumbar area,
and that's not gonna heal, I guarantee you, in a week.
[JR] I hope Mr. Bob Backlund is observing this one.
-We know that he is. -[Owen screaming]
[Gorilla] Bob, you're gonna be in there with a different,
with a new Excellence of Execution with an attitude.
An unforgettable and emotional night for the Hart family.
Bret Hart also had to keep those same emotions in check
when he took on "Sycho Sid" in a Steel Cage match
for the WWE Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Here he comes!
["Hart Attack" playing]
[McMahon] Will "The Hitman" Bret Hart…
Will he be the five-time World Wrestling Entertainment Champion?
He has fought long and hard,
he has filibustered, Gorilla Monsoon, for this opportunity.
"The Hitman" Bret Hart can make WWE wrestling history here tonight
with a victory over "Sycho Sid."
But that's easier said than done.
Although, King, I think you'd have to concur
that this Steel Cage match favors "The Hitman" Bret Hart
as far as the rules are concerned.
[King] That's right, McMahon.
You see, Bret "The Hitman" Hart doesn't actually have to pin "Sycho Sid,"
all he's gotta do is be the first man to escape this steel cage.
Either he goes out through the steel door or he goes over the top of the cage,
but the first man with both feet on the arena floor
is gonna be the champion.
[JR] Where is he? Here he comes.
[crowd cheering]
[King] Probably a little scared to come out.
[JR] I was beginning to worry that something had happened to Bret Hart.
He's had a heck of a bad string of luck.
[McMahon] Well, some say it's a bad string of luck,
some people say other things.
Nonetheless, ladies and gentlemen, "The Hitman" Bret Hart
ready for this opportunity.
And again, as the King stated earlier on, this match favors The Hitman.
All he has to do is get out of that ring, either through the door or over the top,
and have his two feet land before "Sycho Sid" can get out,
and we have ourselves a five-time WWE Champion.
[King] And don't forget the words of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
He's here tonight, and he stated,
"By hook or by crook" Bret Hart was gonna be the new champion.
-["Snapped" playing] -[McMahon] How ironic is that?
That The Hitman would actually have support
from the man whom he will face at WrestleMania in the Submission match.
The Hitman finds support from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin tonight.
Hopefully it's just moral support.
[King] Ah, don't bet on it.
[McMahon] And here he comes.
The most intimidating WWE Champion, perhaps, of all time.
Here comes "Sycho Sid."
And what will "Sycho Sid" do to retain the title here tonight?
And then face The Undertaker for the championship in less than a week.
[JR] I think that what Sid has to do here is dance with what brung him,
and that is the powerbomb.
"Sycho Sid" needs to hit the powerbomb.
He needs to hit it early, he may need to hit it often,
and that would incapacitate Bret Hart
and allow "Sycho Sid" to open the cage door,
and step out on the floor and win this matchup.
On the other hand, Bret Hart has gotta go for Sid's knees.
-Work on his legs… -[King] What?!
…and incapacitate "Sycho Sid."
Neutralize Sid.
[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Yes, and paying respect to the WWE Champion, Sid…
And Bret Hart with a smirk on his face.
What does Bret Hart have up his sleeve here tonight?
[JR] Well, Bret Hart in Nashville, the night after the Final Four,
had "Sycho Sid" beat, at least in my mind.
He had him in a Sharpshooter.
Steve Austin nails Bret with a chair,
"Sycho Sid" ends up winning the WWE Title.
Bret knows he can beat Sid.
-But Sid knows that he can beat Bret. -[McMahon] He's done it before.
[JR] He did it in December down in West Palm Beach at In Your House.
[bell rings]
[McMahon] Never before… on a level, ladies and gentlemen,
of "Sycho Sid" and Bret "The Hitman" Hart have there been so many individuals
and so much parity for the WWE Championship.
Right away the aggressor, "The Hitman" Bret Hart,
hammering away to the midsection of Sid.
Much like we saw Vader do to British Bulldog to open their match.
Look at this. How unusual is this?
Again, in a match like this, ladies and gentlemen,
there's no holds barred,
so there's no telling what you'll see from either individual.
[JR] Bret Hart keeps you off balance.
Bret Hart is a great strategist, maybe the best strategist I've ever seen.
Sid comes back again with this dimension that he brings, that nobody else does,
and that is overwhelming power and intimidation.
[McMahon] Yes, watching every second of this,
ladies and gentlemen, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
who has an avid interest in this match,
and actually is in to support the man he will face at WrestleMania,
"The Hitman" Bret Hart.
Snapmare, over goes Sid.
[King] It's amazing to think
that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would ever wanna see Bret Hart win anything.
Look at this!
[McMahon] Bret wasting no time going right upstairs.
[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Trying to get over, and Sid has an ankle.
I don't think The Hitman-- Oh, The Hitman kicks him off.
-No. -[King] Ow. [laughs]
-[Sid yells] -[King] Oh!
[McMahon] Now working to the midsection.
Sid hammering into "The Hitman" Bret Hart.
[JR] There's nothing fancy about Sid.
He's not a technical purist.
If that's what you're looking for, you're looking at the wrong place.
He's 6'9", he's 313, he can't be intimidated,
and he will get in your face and beat you up.
-That's what he does. -[McMahon] Uh-oh. Watch out.
-Sid Now… -[King] He's holding him like a feather.
[McMahon] He could use him as a battering ram, and he does!
[King] Yeah!
[McMahon] And again, that's what that steel cage is for.
It'll settle the score once and for all--
[King] Not again.
[McMahon] Both individuals knowing full well what they are getting into.
[King] Woo-woo! Here comes the train.
And the tracks-- Oh!
[JR] Bret Hart is not a small man,
but he looks that way in the arms of this monster
that is, again, almost seven feet tall, 6'9", 313.
[McMahon] Here he goes. Wait a minute, Sid…
Sid now goes out and up.
To keep The Hitman down on the canvas…
Sid goes upstairs.
Sid now… Uh-oh.
And The Hitman quickly back to his feet, grabs the ankle.
[JR] Let's see what can happen here.
Will Sid kick him off? No. Hitman coming upstairs.
They're right up there at the top. Rake of the face by Bret Hart.
[McMahon] And a right hand.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin watching every second of this match,
and I dare say, somewhere in this arena, so too is The Undertaker.
[King] Pound him down, Sid. Pound him down.
[McMahon] The Undertaker has waited so long and worked so hard
to finally get an opportunity at winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
But his opportunity may be denied with a Bret Hart victory here tonight.
[King] That's right, his opportunity could be buried.
[JR] Bret Hart had to rake the face of "Sycho Sid" to get a little separation.
[King] Whoa!
[McMahon] Right hand to the forehead.
All right, "Hitman" Bret Hart now, ramming "Sycho Sid" to the buckle.
Bret Hart with a headbutt down in the small of the back.
"The Hitman" Bret Hart, who feels he has been slighted as of late…
[King] Look at this!
There's an example of that size of "Sycho Sid."
Nearly seven feet tall.
-He doesn't even have to-- -[McMahon] Whoa!
[King] He just barely reaches up,
and he's got Bret "The Hitman" Hart right by the hair.
[McMahon] And The Hitman was-- Oh no!
Sid trying to go for the door there,
and "The Hitman" Bret Hart tripped him right down.
Sid again… Wait a minute!
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
-Austin's coming down here! -[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Oh no!
Austin is closing the door to make sure that Sid can't get out!
-Austin has the door locked! -[King] What?!
[McMahon] "Sycho Sid" wants out!
-Austin won't let him! Look at this! -[King yelps]
[McMahon] We're back, we are live, the Steel Cage WWE Title match.
"The Hitman" Bret Hart the challenger, "Sycho Sid" the champion.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin on the outside.
As we went to break,
Stone Cold absolutely prevented "Sycho Sid" from walking through that door
and successfully retaining the WWE Championship.
And that must anger The Undertaker.
The Undertaker, we are told,
is somewhere in this building watching this matchup.
[King] Oh!
-[McMahon] Sid now! -[King] Here we go!
[JR] Powerbomb. Powerbomb time!
[King] What you talked about, Ross, he's gonna do it!
-[McMahon] And… yeah! -[King] Yes!
[JR] Now "Sycho Sid" should be able to walk out the door
or climb over the top, whatever he chooses,
and retain the WWE Title.
[King] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin can't believe it.
[McMahon] Sid is going up.
-[King] Look at this! Wait a minute now! -[crowd cheering]
[King] What is the deal here?
[JR] Oh no.
Oh no!
[McMahon] Wait a minute, look at this.
Stone Cold hammering "Sycho Sid."
-Hammering him! -[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Sid retaliating!
[King] Yeah! Sid's got a hammer of his own!
[McMahon] Oh! If he falls from there…
it'll be curtains!
Sid and Stone Cold hammering it out!
And again, Stone Cold has no business being up there.
[JR] And again, the referee can't do anything about it.
It's no disqualification.
[King] Wait! Now Stone Cold is actually in the cage!
[referee yells indistinctly]
[McMahon] Stone Cold kicking the knees,
and trying to kick the legs out from underneath Sid.
[Steve] Shut up!
[McMahon] Finally, Bret Hart is back up on his feet.
And now look at this double-team effort.
-[JR] Can you believe what you're seeing? -[King] I can't!
[JR] Bret Hart and Stone Cold are double-teaming the WWE Champion!
[McMahon] And finally Stone Cold…
Right there with Bret,
continue to double-team.
Look at this, unbelievable.
-Sid being pulled back into the ring! -[crowd cheering]
[King] Oh! Look at this!
[McMahon] The Undertaker! The Undertaker!
[crowd continues cheering]
[McMahon] The Undertaker,
who has a vested interest in this matchup as well.
[King] Whoa!
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin hammered by The Undertaker.
[King] Look, The Hitman's almost out!
[McMahon] Vicious shot on The Hitman, trying to get The Hitman back in the ring!
Oh my goodness!
Again!
Who knows what's gonna happen, ladies and gentlemen.
Raw is war all right!
But who knew this was gonna happen?
[King] There's two separate matches going on here.
It's unreal. Look at this! Look out!
[McMahon] The Undertaker coming to the aid of "Sycho Sid"
after the double-team effort.
The Undertaker must do what he must do
to prevent Sid from losing the title.
Oh, down goes Austin.
-[King] Whoa! -[crowd cheering]
And maybe down goes Sid!
[McMahon] Oh no, and "The Hitman" Bret Hart…
[announcers] Oh!
Doggone superplex!
That shook the rafters of the sold-out Onondaga War Memorial!
[King] Wait, look at this!
Look at Stone Cold!
[McMahon] "Stone Cold" Steve Austin! Steve Austin with a chair!
The Undertaker coming down!
Austin with a kick! Steve Austin…
-[King] Oh! -[JR] Oh God!
A sickening thud from the steel chair on the cranium of The Undertaker!
[Steve] Get out of my fucking way!
[McMahon] And "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
has wreaked havoc here.
As "Sycho Sid" is trying to make his way back up
and retain the title!
[referees] Get out of here!
[McMahon] All hell has broken loose in Syracuse!
[crowd cheering]
[King] Austin warned everybody!
He told you, "By hook or crook."
-Oh! Look at this! -[McMahon] Wait a minute!
Here we go, Bret Hart is gonna win!
Bret Hart coming through!
"The Hitman" Bret Hart wins this in--
No! No! The Undertaker just slammed the door shut on him!
And Sid! Sid! Sid!
-Sid, can he drop? -[King] He's down!
-[bell rings] -[crowd cheering]
["Snapped" playing]
[Finkel] The winner…
[McMahon] "Sycho Sid" will go to WrestleMania
and defend the title on pay-per-view this Sunday night against The Undertaker.
"The Hitman" Bret Hart will face the man
who tried to help him win the championship here tonight.
He'll face "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in the Submission match.
[King] Look at that. The Undertaker just slammed the door
on The Hitman's chances of becoming the champion.
[JR] There's no doubt that Bret Hart had this match won.
[King] What?!
[JR] Bret Hart was a step away from stepping outside,
until The Undertaker slammed that steel door right in Bret's face.
[McMahon] Wait a minute.
"Sycho Sid" was a second away from going over the top rope…
I mean over the top of the cage.
-…had it not been for Stone Cold. -[King] Exactly. Right.
[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Nonetheless, ladies and gentlemen…
Who's the man?
[McMahon] You're the man, right there.
"Sycho Sid" the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
He will defend the title against The Undertaker
on pay-per-view this Sunday night.
[King] And there, to me, McMahon, is a beautiful sight!
[McMahon] And The Hitman…
Imagine what's going through his head.
We'll try and get a word with him.
Hopefully, ladies and gentlemen,
we'll get a word from The Undertaker as well,
when we return.
Stay with us for more World Wrestling Entertainment action,
ladies and gentlemen.
Yes, in the war zone,
live from Syracuse, New York, Raw is war!
[announcer] And now, the World Wrestling Entertainment Rewind,
brought to you by Milton Bradley's Karate Fighters,
the real hand-to-hand combat game.
[JR] There you see Austin with that chair.
-Austin-- Oh! He tattoos The Undertaker. -[King] Wow!
[JR] Austin just nailed The Undertaker,
and now Bret Hart is about to win this match.
Bret Hart is about to be the champion again!
Sid's going down the other side!
-[King] Look! -[JR] Oh no!
The Undertaker just slammed the door on Bret Hart's title chances.
[announcer] WWE Rewind was brought to you by Milton Bradley's Karate fighters.
[JR] We're back, ladies and gentlemen, a few more moments with you.
Vince McMahon is gonna try to talk to a very obviously disconsonant Bret Hart.
[McMahon] You've gotta be terribly frustrated,
extremely frustrated, over what has just happened.
[King] Whoa!
Frustrated isn't the goddamn word for it!
This is bullshit!
-[JR] We apologize, ladies and gentlemen. -You screwed me! Everybody screws me!
And nobody does a goddamn thing about it!
Nobody in the building cares!
Nobody in the dressing room cares!
So much goddamn injustice around here, I've had it up to here!
-[JR] We apologize, ladies and gentlemen. -Everybody knows it!
I know it! Everybody knows it!
I should be the World Wrestling Entertainment Champ!
[JR] Get him out of the ring.
[scattered booing]
Everybody just keeps turning a blind eye!
You keep turning a blind eye to it!
I got that Gorilla Monsoon… He turns a blind eye to it!
Everybody in that goddamn dressing room knows that I'm the best there is,
the best there was, and the best there ever will be!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Cut him off.
If you don't like it, tough shit!
[crowd cheering and booing]
Frustration was clearly boiling over for The Hitman at this stage in 1997.
And that angst would lead to Bret revealing
a darker side of the Excellence of Execution.
Blaming his troubles on the United States fan base,
the proud and bitter Canadian would become reviled in the US
and, hilariously, even more beloved in his native homeland of Canada.
Depending on what side of the border Bret was on,
he was either WWE's biggest villain
or, in this case, WWE's biggest hero.
What a time, what a moment.
-["Hart Attack" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[McMahon] Ladies and gentlemen, Bret "The Hitman" Hart!
[cheering intensifies]
[yells indistinctly]
-["Hart Attack" continues playing] -[crowd continues cheering]
[yells indistinctly]
[cheering intensifies]
[McMahon] All right!
[music fades]
Bret "The Hitman" Hart, scheduled, ladies and gentlemen, to attempt…
to attempt to take away the WWE Championship…
[crowd cheering]
…at SummerSlam on August three against The Undertaker.
We'll get to that in a moment.
First of all, considering last night,
congratulations are in order.
[crowd cheering]
[Bret] I'll say.
Hello there, eh!
First of all, I just wanna say thank you for letting me still be your hero.
[crowd cheering]
And thank you for believing in me.
A few weeks ago,
I was told, "America, love it or leave it."
[crowd yelling]
Well, I've traveled all around the world,
I've been all over the United States of America,
and the one thing I've in particular looked forward to
is loving leaving it!
[crowd cheering]
I want everybody to understand
that nobody is more proud of being Canadian than I am.
[crowd cheering]
And I'm not really sure how things have escalated,
but the one thing, I'm not so much anti-American
as I'm just very, very pro-Canadian.
[crowd cheering]
Americans think
that they're always better than us.
[crowd booing]
They think they're better than everyone.
[crowd booing]
But all you have to do is look at Donovan Bailey and you realize…
[crowd cheering]
…that they're not as great as they think they are.
America,
for me…
Canada is a country where we still take care of the sick and the old.
Where we still have healthcare.
[crowd cheering]
We got gun control.
We don't shoot each other
and kill each other on every street corner.
[crowd cheering]
[man] Americans suck!
Yeah.
[man] Americans suck! Canadians rule!
Canada… isn't riddle with racial prejudice and hatred.
Across Canada, we all care for each other.
[crowd cheering]
And I am proud to be Canadian.
And I am proud to be your hero.
[crowd cheering]
[Bret] And I promise
that I'll continue to live up to trying to do my best
and to keep my word,
and there's one promise in particular that I wanna make.
And that promise is, in the SummerSlam,
in America,
when I step in the ring
with the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, The Undertaker,
that I will not let my Canadian fans down…
[crowd cheering]
…and I will be the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion for a fifth time.
[crowd cheering]
I wanna make one promise.
If I don't come to Canada
with that World Wrestling Entertainment Championship belt,
if by hook or by crook I lose,
I will never, ever wrestle on American soil ever again.
And that is a promise.
[crowd cheering]
I wanna call out to you
the man that beat the great American scum last night,
the Intercontinental Champion,
my brother Owen,
the best technical wrestler in World Wrestling Entertainment.
-["High Energy" playing] -[cheering]
[JR] If you're just joining us,
we are live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The Slammy award-winning Intercontinental Champion, Owen Hart,
who took the deciding fall
in a great deal of controversy last night in Calgary,
against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And they will meet again at SummerSlam.
And what an ovation for another Canadian hero.
To you.
Now, I know my brother, Owen,
is gonna destroy "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in the SummerSlam…
[crowd cheering]
…but I also wanna invite out
the most powerful man in World Wrestling Entertainment today,
the European Champion,
my brother-in-law, The British Bulldog!
-[crowd cheering] -["Rule, Britannia" playing]
[JR] Here comes The British Bulldog, the European Champion,
who will put the European gold on the line
August the third in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at SummerSlam
against the undefeated Ken Shamrock.
Shamrock and The Bulldog at SummerSlam
for the European Championship.
[music fades]
We all saw what The British Bulldog did to Ken Shamrock last night.
[crowd cheering]
The so-called "World's Most Dangerous Man."
Well, he only got a taste of it last night in the SummerSlam.
The British Bulldog will annihilate Ken Shamrock.
[crowd cheering]
For the past couple months, I've had to live with the fact
that you see everything through the American television.
The commentators are American,
the cameramen are American,
the fans are American,
the wrestlers are American,
and the WWE is American.
So on behalf of all of them tonight,
I would like you all to stand up and look at the screen and listen to this.
[King] What's he talking about?
[JR] What?
-["O Canada" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[JR] Oh! Wait a minute!
-[King] Look at this! -[JR] Steve Austin!
[music fades]
[JR] Austin with a steel chair! And he's wearing out Bret Hart!
-Austin hitting and running! -[King] Whoa!
[crowd cheering and booing]
[JR] The Toughest SOB in the WWE!
With a sneak attack on Bret Hart.
[King] Right in the middle of the Canadian national anthem!
Can you believe it?!
[JR] How indignant!
Steve Austin, to interrupt the Canadian national anthem.
[crowd continues cheering and booing]
You ain't gotta worry, he ain't gonna do nothing about it.
[JR] Steve Austin interrupting the Canadian national anthem
and assaulting The Hart Foundation with a steel chair!
The utter disrespect of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
I think the Mounties still have him on their most-wanted list.
The actual Mounties, not Jacques Rougeau.
The Mountie always gets his man! [growls]
You don't mess with national pride.
Which was tested once again
when The Hart Foundation took on The Texas Rattlesnake
along with Dude Love and a mystery partner
in this unforgettable Flag match.
["O Canada" playing]
-["Hart Attack" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following Flag match is scheduled for one fall,
our TV time remaining.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the winners must be the first team to capture their own country's flag.
Introducing first, making their way to the ring,
at a combined weight of 614 pounds,
the European Champion, British Bulldog,
the two-time Slammy award-winning and Intercontinental Champion, Owen Hart,
and Bret "Hitman" Hart,
The Hart Foundation!
[crowd cheering]
[King] You know what they say, Ross,
the show must go on!
Like if I find I'm three against one!
Whoa, look at that sign.
Cut the music.
[music stops]
I think this situation calls for a different song.
This night's not gonna go any further
'til I hear the national anthem for the greatest country on Earth.
[crowd cheering]
["O Canada" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[King] You're gonna stand up, Ross?
[JR] I'm just showing respect.
[King] After what's gone on here, you're gonna stand up?
[JR] I'm…
[King] You're gonna look at that there and show respect?
♪ With glowing hearts we see thee rise ♪
♪ The True North strong and free! ♪
♪ From far and wide ♪
♪ O Canada ♪
♪ We stand on guard for thee ♪
♪ God keep our land ♪
♪ Glorious and free! ♪
♪ O Canada ♪
[King] Why don't you sit down, Ross.
♪ We stand on guard for thee ♪
♪ O Canada ♪
♪ We stand on guard ♪
♪ For thee ♪
[crowd cheering]
["I Won't Do What You Tell Me" playing]
[JR] I'm as American as anybody can be, but my mama didn't raise no heathen.
[Chimel] And their opponents,
first from Victoria, Texas, weighing in at 252 pounds…
[JR] Here comes that Rattlesnake.
…one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin!
[King] He's by himself.
That ain't gonna get it.
[speaking indistinctly]
["Dude Love" playing]
[Chimel] And his tag team partner, from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico,
weighing in at 287 pounds,
one half of the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions,
Dude Love!
[JR] Dude Love and Steve Austin, there's no Shawn Michaels.
-Michaels not physically able to compete. -[bell rings]
It's gonna be two-on-three, apparently, in this Flag match.
The USA versus Canada,
here tonight live from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
[King] We're gonna get embarrassed, Ross.
[JR] Why don't you jump up there, King, and help them out?
[King] Well, I'm in my role as a broadcast journalist right now,
or I would.
[JR] Steve Austin dominating Bret Hart in the corner.
-Dude Love… elevated over the top. -[King] Look at this. See?
It's three against one.
All Owen's gotta do is walk up there, climb up there,
and get that Canadian flag.
[JR] Inverted Atomic Drop.
And Austin clotheslined over the top.
Right now The Hart Foundation, Canada's pride, are walking tall.
The object of the match
is to capture your country's flag.
[King] Look at this!
[JR] Austin trying to climb that pole and go right up for Old Glory.
It's not about pinfalls, it's not about submissions,
it's not about count-outs and disqualifications.
It's real simple,
you capture your country's flag, you win it.
[King] That's the only chance that Dude Love and Stone Cold have.
One of them has gotta get up the pole.
[JR] Owen Hart finds a mark with the enzuigiri.
Now Owen Hart
climbing to the top.
[King] That didn't last long, did it?
Whoa!
[JR] Owen Hart almost knocked--
Owen Hart falling right to the ring.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry, we've gotta take a break.
We'll keep our cameras rolling.
-We're live in Halifax. What a night-- -["Graveyard Symphony" playing]
[JR] Wait, what?
[King] Look at this!
[JR] We're back, ladies and gentlemen, we're live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Bulldog inadvertently going for a cover.
The Undertaker has joined "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Dude Love.
There you see the WWE Champion.
The man that will meet Bret Hart at SummerSlam on August the third.
Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler here at ringside.
Vince McMahon has left.
He is back in the locker room area
attempting to attend, along with several WWE officials
and medical personnel, to Shawn Michaels.
[King] After he was attacked out here by Bret Hart earlier.
[JR] This is a Flag match, six-man tag team matchup.
[King] Ross, you know this crowd was going nuts earlier,
but they're a little bit stunned right now
after the appearance of The Undertaker.
They don't know what to make of the situation now.
[JR] Well, these fans liked that three-on-two advantage.
-[King] Yeah. -[grunts]
[JR] Dude Love with the elbow
right to the face of the Intercontinental Champion,
Owen Hart.
The first man to climb the flagpole and secure…
Uh-oh!
…his country's flag, wins it.
-[King] Whoa! -[JR] There's The Undertaker.
Business will pick up! The Phenom!
The most dominant WWE Champion in history is cooking here!
And Owen Hart is feeling it.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] The Undertaker, at 6'10" and a half,
is dominating the Intercontinental Champion.
You got the WWE Tag Champions
and the WWE Champion in one six-man combination.
-[King] Look at this! -[JR] Chokeslam! Chokeslam!
The Undertaker instinctively going for the cover.
Bret Hart in to interrupt the count, but no count is necessary.
[King] That doesn't get it done.
You gotta get up there and get the red, white and blue flag.
[JR] Can you believe Shawn Michaels?
What an announcement.
Michaels will be the special referee
when The Undertaker meets Bret Hart at SummerSlam.
If Michaels is able to make it to August the third.
[King] I would think that would please The Undertaker.
But is The Undertaker even thinking about that?
Or is his mind on his brother, Kane?
[JR] This very partisan Canadian crowd cheering on Owen Hart.
-[King] Whoa! -[JR] Austin with a clothesline.
This match, one fall, our television time remaining.
And the Toughest SOB in the WWE
letting these Canadian fans know what he thinks about it.
The front facelock right into the suplex!
[King] That Rattlesnake needs to go for Old Glory up there.
[scattered chanting] Owen! Owen! Owen!
[JR] Snapmare takeover.
-And… -[King] Oh!
[JR] Austin driving the forearm right to the clavicle.
And cinches tightly the reverse chinlock.
[King] The time! Look at the time situation!
[crowd chanting] Owen! Owen! Owen!
[JR] Ladies and gentlemen…
[King] Go for the flag!
[JR] Look at Dude Love and Austin showing a little bit of teamwork here.
Austin trying to wear down Owen Hart.
You incapacitate your opponent,
it certainly, obviously, increases your odds of climbing the pole.
Folks, we realize we're rapidly running out of time.
I can tell you this,
we are going to stay right here on the USA Network
with this matchup as long as it takes to get a winner.
No matter how long it takes,
we're gonna stay right here tonight,
live from Halifax, Nova Scotia,
until we have a winner in this matchup.
[King] What about the other programming?
With these six men in here, this could take all night.
Well, if it takes all night, we'll stay right with it.
Owen Hart now trying to fight back on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
These two men will face at SummerSlam on pay-per-view
this August the third.
And we know if Austin doesn't leave
the Continental Airlines Arena with Intercontinental gold,
we know he's gonna kiss Owen Hart's derriere.
[King] Whoa.
[JR] Tag made. Dude Love and Austin made the exchange.
Owen Hart isolated in the corner of the enemy,
as far as these Canadian fans are concerned.
[King] Whoa!
Owen Hart's going for the flag! This could be it!
All he's gotta do-- Whoa!
Oh my gosh!
[JR] Owen Hart dropped right on his head.
[JR] Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see,
La Femme Nikita will be airing right after Raw tonight.
So you La Femme fans stay with us.
-[King] I'll stay. -[JR] We're gonna keep it right here.
-Nice reversal. And a DDT! -[King] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Owen Hart countered a swinging neckbreaker into a DDT,
much to the delight of his brother,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart,
who wants to be only the second man to be the five-time WWE Champion.
[King] No tag, the referee putting Stone Cold back out.
[JR] Mankind now, again with the body scissors.
Excuse me, I should say Dude Love.
I could've said Cactus Jack, I could've said Mick Foley.
But it's Dude Love.
The alter ego.
[King] Schizophrenic, if you ask me.
But I guess schizophrenia beats eating alone.
[crowd chanting] Owen! Owen! Owen!
[JR] I don't know what's gonna be in Indianapolis this Friday night…
Look at the right hands.
…or in Cleveland Saturday,
but somewhere down the line…
It could be in Pittsburgh next Monday night.
…The Hart Foundation is gonna be in for a rude, rude welcome
when they get back in the States.
[crowd booing]
[JR] Listen to this crowd.
They hate Steve Austin in Canada.
-Austin… setting up Owen Hart. -[King] What's he doing?
[JR] A right hand right to the ear. Another one.
A right hand to the solar plexus.
And now it is Austin…
He may be right under Old Glory.
Wants to put Owen Hart down once and for all.
The Intercontinental Champion counters.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] It was Owen Hart, at the Canadian Stampede,
who scored a deciding pin on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Ladies and gentlemen, we've gotta take another break.
Here comes The Undertaker.
Whatever you do, don't go away.
We are definitely coming back.
We will be back live
here in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
as this war continues.
We're back and we're live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The six-man Flag match is still underway, folks, if you just joined us.
This is the war zone.
This is the WWE live.
The first team to climb the pole and capture their country's flag
is the winner of this matchup.
The Hart Foundation from Canada
taking on the WWE Tag Champions.
Dude Love in the ring
along with his partner, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
and the incomparable Phenom,
The Undertaker, the WWE Champion.
Dude Love with a sleeper, King, on Owen Hart.
[King] Owen's about to go.
-[JR] No! -[King] Look at this!
[JR] Owen Hart counters with a suplex on Dude Love.
[King] You gotta give Owen Hart credit, he's unbelievable. Oh! Oh!
[JR] Remember, pinfalls, submissions--
Oh! A spinning heel kick!
That caught Dude Love right across the bridge of the nose.
Oh, what a slobberknocker this has been.
[King] Has been, Ross?
We could be here for a long time, you know.
Nobody's even come close to getting a flag.
Oh wow!
[JR] Owen Hart…
misses the enzuigiri.
-Austin stepping inside. -[King] Whoa!
-He's going for a Sharpshooter! -[JR] Austin going for the Sharpshooter.
Owen Hart countered.
And a hard clothesline by the Intercontinental Champion.
These two men will meet at SummerSlam.
What a SummerSlam it's gonna be.
There's a tag. A tag made. The Hitman.
The clothesline almost beheaded Austin!
Bret Hart knocking down Stone Cold!
Stone Cold, the Toughest SOB, gets knocked down and gets right back up.
[Owen] Yeah, Bret!
[JR] Austin, double leg pickup by Hart.
[King] Here he goes!
[JR] Austin's legs around the ring post.
And Dude Love prevents the figure-four.
Dude Love saves Steve Austin
from pure agony and perhaps serious injury.
[King] He hit The Hitman like a freight train.
[JR] Austin needs to make the tag.
[King] Somebody needs to get the flag.
[JR] Tag is made! The tag is made!
The Undertaker is in.
The Undertaker is cooking on The Bulldog.
[crowd booing]
[JR] The WWE Champion sees the European Champion,
and takes him to the lights!
Phenomenal chokeslam!
And now it's a Tombstone!
Bret Hart, there in the kidneys.
And now downstairs.
Bret Hart and The Undertaker are hooking it up.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] What's it gonna be like at SummerSlam
when Shawn Michaels is the referee
when these two men are tearing each other apart?
[King] Look at this!
[JR] Double clothesline!
And they're both down!
They're both down!
And The Undertaker sits up.
[crowd booing]
These fans here in Nova Scotia don't like it one bit.
[King] He's got his sights on Old Glory now!
Here we go!
[JR] The Undertaker's gonna capture Old Glory for the USA!
Owen Hart trying to prevent it.
Bret Hart, on the right side, going up for the maple leaf.
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Wait a minute! There's Brian Pillman!
Where did he come from?
-Pillman! -[crowd cheering]
-[bell rings] -[JR] The Hart Foundation wins it!
[crowd cheering]
[JR] Brian Pillman prevented The Undertaker from capturing the flag.
[Chimel] The Hart Foundation!
[King] I can't believe it!
[JR] Where in the hell did Pillman come from?
["Hart Attack" playing]
Where was Pillman?
I hadn't seen him all day.
[King] Where is he going?
[JR] Bret Hart…
Bret Hart… here's a look.
Pillman, apparently, was under the ring!
Pillman under the ring!
And cost the USA!
The Hart Foundation wins it thanks to Brian Pillman's interference.
Oh my God, King, what a night.
[King] Look at these Canadians, they're going nuts.
[crowd cheering]
Maple leaves were flying high across Canada for the hometown heroes.
For our next Bret Moment, we jump forward in time to 2010,
as Bret Hart, 13 long years after the infamous Montreal Screwjob incident,
made his triumphant return to WWE.
[crowd chanting] We want Bret!
[Roberts] Ladies and gentlemen,
it is my honor to introduce tonight's guest host for Monday Night Raw.
He's a five-time WWE Champion
and WWE Hall of Famer,
making his first appearance on Raw in over 12 years.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Bret "The Hitman" Hart!
["Hart Attack" playing]
[King] Oh my God.
It's been 12 long years since anyone's seen Bret Hart,
including me.
["Hart Attack" continues playing]
This is amazing.
[shouting indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
[shouting indistinctly]
["Hart Attack" continues playing]
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[Bret clears throat]
Well, I guess hell froze over.
-[crowd cheering] -[King laughs]
I know there's a lot of people out there that are wondering why I'm here tonight.
And why now.
But, you know, I've had a long time to think about things.
It's been 12 years
since I've been back in the WWE.
And it's, uh…
It's an amazing feeling.
No, for the last few years
I've tried so many times to find a way to come back.
But every time I tried to come back,
Vince McMahon would always decline and tell me that it wasn't possible.
[crowd booing]
I just wanna say that I'm grateful for this moment right now,
to be here and to be able to talk to the WWE Universe.
[crowd cheering]
The most important thing I gotta say right now…
[crowd chanting] Welcome back! Welcome back! Welcome back!
It's nice to be back.
I just wanna say…
This is a chance for me to say to all my fans all around the world
thank you so much for never letting me be forgotten.
[crowd cheering]
I owe everything that I am today and I've been in my whole life
to the WWE Universe,
and I thank you from the bottom of my heart
for carrying me in your hearts for all these years.
Never to be forgotten.
[crowd cheering]
As I stand here right now,
I feel myself flooded with millions of memories.
Great memories.
In fact, I can remember being right here at the Nutter Center
and winning the very first King of the Ring.
[crowd cheering]
One of my proudest moments and one of my proudest nights.
As a matter of fact,
I think I remember at the end of it that, uh,
Jerry Lawler jumped me and, uh…
[crowd booing]
Well, hey, King, nice to see you.
-Hi, Hitman. -[Bret] Some things never change.
Anyway,
there's another reason why I'm here tonight.
And I'm gonna get right to the point.
I've got 12 years of things that I wanted to get off my chest.
And the very first thing I wanna do,
is I wanna call back there
and I wanna ask Shawn Michaels to come out here…
[crowd cheering]
…and see me face to face!
-[King] Whoa. -[crowd cheering]
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[King] Well…
♪ I think I'm cute… ♪
…The Hitman not wasting any time!
[Cole] There's Shawn Michaels,
who's always been in the eye of the storm,
and, of course, he won 12 years ago at Survivor Series.
And I can tell you, King, this is the first time…
the first time since November of 1997
that Shawn Michaels will have had any contact at all with Bret Hart.
♪ I'm just a sexy boy… ♪
[King] I don't know about you,
but I've got some goosebumps going up and down my spine right now.
What is gonna happen here?
♪ I make 'em hot… ♪
[Cole] Have they let it go? Have they let the incident go?
Or will all those emotions come rushing back
and overwhelm these two men tonight?
♪ They hear me talk… ♪
[King] I don't know, but like Bret Hart said at the beginning,
apparently hell has frozen over.
-♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪ -♪ Sexy boy ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheering and booing]
Shawn Michaels…
I'll just call you Shawn.
I think I'd like to take this opportunity right now
to bury the hatchet with you,
and call for a truce.
[crowd cheering]
First of all, Hitman,
before you come out here and get your closure,
there's something I've been waiting 12 years to say to you.
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
The fact is,
you deserved what happened 12 years ago in Montreal.
[crowd booing]
You disrespected me,
and you disrespected this business.
And yes, I did have a hand
in what Vince McMahon did that night.
[crowd chanting] You screwed Bret! You screwed Bret! You screwed Bret!
I rest my case.
And there's a part of me,
there's a big part of me,
that doesn't regret a bit of it.
[crowd booing]
But there's another part of me…
There's another part of me that knows that in the last 12 years
a lot of things have changed.
A lot of things in my life have changed.
You know, Bret…
I always respected you.
I just never felt you respected me.
And there were times
I couldn't stand the sight of you.
And I know…
I know the feeling is more than mutual.
But you know something?
When I think of Bret Hart,
I don't think of Montreal.
I think of Anaheim, California.
I think of a 60-minute Iron match.
[crowd cheering]
A 60-minute Iron match
that everybody said nobody'd wanna see.
And they certainly wouldn't wanna see it on pay-per-view.
They said nobody could do it.
Yet, Bret "The Hitman" Hart
and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels went out there
and they did do it.
And they redefined everything that this industry ever stood for.
When I think of Bret Hart,
I think of the Excellence of Execution.
[crowd cheering]
You're not the only one,
Bret,
that's been carrying this around for 12 years.
You're not the only one…
that's ready to move on.
You're not the only one that wants to bury the hatchet.
I guess all I have to say is…
are you sure?
And are you ready?
[crowd cheering]
Well…
let's be real honest,
you weren't the easiest guy in the world to love either back then.
You're a guy that certainly had his issues.
But you're right,
my career and your career
shouldn't always be tagged by what happened at Survivor Series.
I had a great career, you've had a great career.
We both accomplished so many things.
I think it's as good a time as any, right here and now,
for you and me to take this opportunity in front of all these fans,
right here in Dayton and all around the world…
[crowd cheering]
…to look each other in the eye,
and take this moment,
and say that we can be friends.
So I offer my hand to you in friendship.
Right here in front of everybody.
Right from the heart, right from the bottom of my heart,
I call for a truce and I call for you to shake my hand,
and if you wanna bury the hatchet, let's bury it right now.
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
[man] Sharpshooter!
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
And with that truly emotional return,
The Hitman was finally back home, where he belongs.
I hope you've enjoyed taking a look
at one of the greatest to ever grace the squared circle.
The two-time Hall of Famer,
The Pink and Black Attack, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Until next time,
this has been your boy, Big E, saying so long.
[lively music playing] Big E, saying so long.