Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Bret Hart DVD cover

Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be (also known as The Bret Hart Story) is a documentary film released as part of a three-DVD set on November 15, 2005, by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The documentary chronicles the career of popular WWE wrestler Bret Hart. Hart collaborated with WWE to make the documentary, contributing hours of interview content to the film. This collaboration marked the first time Hart had worked in an on camera capacity with WWE since the Montreal Screwjob, which was Hart's last in-ring appearance with the company until his return on January 4, 2010.

Overview

The documentary chronicles Bret Hart's wrestling career, from how he broke into the business as a member of the Hart family to his run in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Highlights of matches from his days in his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion, as well as his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and WCW are shown while insight is provided from Hart about what went on behind the scenes.

This is the second documentary about Bret Hart, the first being Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (which was produced with cooperation by the WWF, but not released by WWF/E Home Video) which chronicles Hart's last days wrestling in the WWF and talks about his relationship with his brother Owen.

History

Originally, the DVD was to be named Screwed: The Bret Hart Story, and would be a film focusing on the negative aspects of Hart's career, much like WWE's The Ultimate Warrior DVD, The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. It originally featured derisive interview comments from former opponents like Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Jerry Lawler, with whom Hart had real-life personal issues (he has since made amends with Michaels and Lawler). Hart said of the project: "It was kind of a smear. It was basically a platform for guys to express their dislike for me and their jealousy." Hart was not slated to contribute to the documentary, but later agreed to participate, claiming that WWE essentially told him: "Get on board or we'll run you over."[1] Negative interviews were thereafter deleted, and replaced with positive appraisals from alternate former opponents like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Chris Benoit, who held Hart in high regard.[2] Hart has said that a major factor in his agreeing to participate in the project was an encounter with a small child in a dentist's office. The child had a Bret Hart action figure, but he had no knowledge of Hart's actual work and was only familiar with WWE video games in which Hart was featured as a "WWE Legend." After a promotional photo with WWE chairman Vince McMahon, Hart contributed over seven hours of new interview footage and was allowed full creative input in the project. McMahon noted Bret's participation with a message before the main program in which he thanked Bret for putting aside the various personal and professional differences the two men had in order to produce the DVD for the fans. It has been suggested that the Screwed DVD was conceived by McMahon as a ploy to persuade Hart to the project.[2] Noticeably missing from the match list is most of 1997 (Rock, GoldDust, Patriot) and WCW (Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T, Lex Luger, Sting, Randy Savage)

After the DVD's release, Hart was interviewed for WWE.com's show ByteThis! and promoted the DVD with a series of appearances to meet, and greet fans. He also appeared at the next year's WWE Hall of Fame to be inducted by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Bonus content

Matches

The bonus matches span the last two DVDs of the three-DVD set and part of the first DVD. Hart himself chose all the matches presented on the DVD.

  • The Hart Foundation vs. The British Bulldogs (Madison Square Garden, July 13, 1985)
  • Hart Foundation vs. The Killer Bees (Madison Square Garden, February 17, 1986)
    • Another match from the Hart Foundation's heel run, this time against the popular tag team The Killer Bees.
    • Jimmy Hart briefly joined the commentary team at ringside.
  • Bret Hart vs. Ricky Steamboat (Boston Garden, March 8, 1986)
    • A rare match featuring Hart representing the Hart foundation against the popular Steamboat.
  • Bret Hart vs. Ted DiBiase (Odessa, TX, March 8, 1989)
    • The original commentary was edited out of the match.
  • Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers (Saturday Night's Main Event, April 28, 1990)
    • A tag team match in which Hart faces real-life rival Shawn Michaels, then a part of the popular tag team The Rockers.
    • This match is missing the original commentary by Jesse "The Body" Ventura, due to an early 1990s lawsuit involving videotape royalties filed by Ventura against the WWF.
  • WWF Tag Team Championship Match
    • Hart Foundation vs. The Nasty Boys (WrestleMania VII, March 24, 1991)
    • The face Hart Foundation are tag team champions going against former manager Jimmy Hart and his Nasty Boys. The Hart Foundation's loss in this match set up Hart's successful singles career.
  • WWF Intercontinental Match
    • Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (SummerSlam, August 26, 1991)
    • Hart credits Hennig with helping put him over the top in this, his first Intercontinental title win.
  • WWF Intercontinental Match
    • Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (SummerSlam, August 29, 1992)
    • At his 2006 WWE Hall of Fame induction, Hart mentioned this match as his favorite of all time.
  • Bret Hart vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (Barcelona, Spain, April 24, 1993)
    • A rare match from Spain, featuring Spanish commentary.
  • King of the Ring Semi-Final Match
  • Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (Opening match, WrestleMania X, March 20, 1994)
    • Bret faces his brother Owen in a match with a surprise ending.
  • WWF Championship Match
    • Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (White Plains, New York, September 29, 1994)
    • Hart's favorite match with his brother.
  • Bret Hart vs Hakushi (In Your House 1, May 14, 1995)
    • Hart has credited two Japanese wrestlers, Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada, with teaching him during his early wrestling career. Here he faces off against WWF newcomer Japanese Hakushi.
  • WWF Championship Match
    • Bret Hart vs. Diesel (Survivor Series, November 19, 1995)
    • Hart ends the 358-day WWF title reign of Diesel, the longest of the 1990s.
  • Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (In Your House, December 17, 1995)
    • Hart faces a heel Bulldog, who is accompanied by Hart's sister Diana and new manager Jim Cornette.
  • Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13, March 23, 1997)
    • A match known from its double turn by both wrestlers, credited with helping launch the career of Austin as a face. The special referee for the match is Ken Shamrock, who would later wrestle for the WWF.
  • WWF Championship Match
  • Owen Hart Tribute Match
    • Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (WCW Monday Nitro, October 4, 1999)
    • Hart's tribute to his late brother Owen in the same arena Owen fell to his death. He faces one of his and Owen's friends, Chris Benoit.

References

  1. ↑ Bret Hart feature. Power Slam. Issue 140. March 2006.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Martin, Fin. "Q&A". Power Slam. Issue 212. April 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Bret_%22Hit_Man%22_Hart:_The_Best_There_Is,_the_Best_There_Was,_the_Best_There_Ever_Will_Be&oldid=441692"