In 1996, Bret “Hitman” Hart signed a 20-year deal with the WWF. However, due to WCW's success with the New World Order (nWo) and WWF's financial struggles, Vince McMahon couldn't honor the contract. With McMahon's blessing, Bret signed with WCW, and his last night with WWF would be Survivor Series '97.
Bret, a Canadian hero, refused to drop the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels in Canada, leading to tension between Hart and McMahon. The year before, Madusa had shown up on WCW Monday Nitro with the WWF Women's Championship and threw it in the trash, making McMahon fear a similar incident.
During the match, Michaels put Hart in the Sharpshooter, and Vince McMahon, sitting at ringside, signaled referee Earl Hebner to call the bell, declaring Michaels the winner. Hart was furious, spat in McMahon's face, smashed equipment, and famously traced "WCW" in the air with his finger, showing his allegiance to his new employer.
The aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob was intense. The Undertaker, screened the match in McMahon's office, visited Hart's dressing room to express his shock, and then went back to Vince's office and banged on the door, telling McMahon he had to apologize to Hart. A confrontation between Hart and McMahon later ensued in the dressing room, where Hart punched McMahon, resulting in a black eye and sprained ankle for Vince. The incident sparked a major revolt in the WWF locker room, with many wrestlers outraged and threatening to boycott Raw or leave the company. McMahon addressed a meeting to calm the situation, but it was ultimately Bret's counsel to fulfill contractual obligations that quelled the potential revolt.
The Montreal Screwjob also planted the seeds for the Mr. McMahon character, which became one of the greatest heels in wrestling history. Vince McMahon's portrayal of a ruthless, power-hungry boss resonated with audiences and paved the way for memorable storylines and feuds.
In 2005, Bret Hart collaborated with WWE on a DVD project celebrating his two-decade career, initially titled "Screwed: The Bret Hart Story" before being renamed "Bret 'Hit Man' Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be." Hart's first WWE appearance since the Montreal Screwjob came on the November 16, 2005, edition of Byte This!, where he discussed the DVD with Todd Grisham. Years later, Hart returned to Raw on January 4, 2010, and buried the hatchet with Shawn Michaels, with both men confirming their reconciliation was genuine. Hart and Michaels shared a heartfelt moment, putting their legendary Ironman match and the Montreal Screwjob into perspective. Later that night, Hart began a storyline feud with Vince McMahon, which culminated in their match at WrestleMania XXVI, where Hart emerged victorious. Hart would go on to make periodic WWE appearances, including a brief reign as WWE United States Champion in May 2010, marking his first championship win in WWE since the Montreal Screwjob.
The origin of the idea behind the Montreal Screwjob remains unclear. Some, like Jim Cornette, claim to have inspired McMahon with a story about a similar incident in the old days, though Cornette himself has stated he didn't think McMahon would actually go through with it. Others, like Vince Russo, take credit for the concept but express regret over its execution. Regardless of its origin, the Montreal Screwjob's impact on professional wrestling is undeniable.
The question remains whether the Montreal Screwjob was a work or a legitimate screwjob. While those close to Bret Hart, including his then-wife Julie and many WWF talent, believe the screwjob was legitimate, the presence of cameras for the documentary "Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows" has fueled ongoing debate about the extent to which it might have been staged.
Interestingly, George "The Animal" Steele, a road agent for the WWF at the time, claimed in a shoot interview that the screwjob was a work. However, given Steele's era and reputation for intense in-ring performances, it's possible he might have been maintaining kayfabe.
Personally, I'm convinced the Montreal Screwjob was the real deal – staging it would've benefited WCW more than the WWF. That being said, if it was indeed a work, it was masterfully executed, leaving an indelible mark on professional wrestling history.
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