Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a man who exemplified excellence. One of the greatest Wrestlers to ever step goot in the Squared Circle. His super technical style and cool attitude made him a hit with the fans. He's a multi-time champion and has main-evented WrestleMania 3x., was the Leader of WWF's the New Generation, Was crowned King of the Ring Twice, and ihad some of the best feuds in Wrestling.
Sadly, due to early injuries, Bret was forced to retire in 2002.
Now, as we all know, Bret Hart jumped ship to WCW in November of 1997, due to a failed contract re-negotiations with the WWF.
But..what if Hart and McMahon came to an agreement. What if The Hitman Didn't jump ship to the competition. What would Bret Hart's career be like had he stayed with the WWF? Well... let's find out. This is MY Personal take on the What-If Scenario of Bret Hart in the World Wrestling Federation past 1997.
Disclaimer/Note: The Majority of Angles and Feuds in WWF that happened in Our Reality, still happen in this Alternate One.,except now, Bret Hart, The British Bulldog, and later, Owen Hart. are involved. Now that we cleared That up, let's get started.
Chapter 1 - The Alternate Course
In late-spring of 1997, due to financial issues, The Federation couldn't honor the big pay in Bret Hart's contract. So, it was agreed that he would go to WCW to make more money. Bret never really wanted to go and even wanted to renegotiate his contract with the WWF, but Vince McMahon wouldn't budge and Bret was forced to sign with WCW.
Well..in This New Reality, Vince McMahon allows Bret to renegotiate his contract and they make a deal. Because of this, The Hitman never signs with WCW and remains in the WWF.
For the most part everything in 1997 goes on as as normal,even the Montreal Screwjob. That's right, despite Bret remaining with the WWF, the Infamous event Does still happen. Only in This reality, it's part of a feud He'll have with Vince McMahon.
As you're all well aware that in Our Reality, at the Survivor Series, the initial plan for the WWF Championship match was that Bret was gonna win the match by DQ via a run-in, but Shawn Michaels forced McMahon to change things behind the Hitman's back, thus The Montreal Screwjob.
Well, that all happens in This Alt-Reality, except it's all part of a big work to re-ignite the feud between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon. and Bret is informed about the changed finish at the last minute, but is promised that he'll get the title back before WrestleMania 14, the next year.
Bret doesn't like it and is furious with McMahon for not telling him earlier, but agrees to go though with it.
Note: With Bret Hart remaining with the WWF, The British Bulldog and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart do to. So, they never go to WCW and get wasted...and in The Bulldog's case, badly injured. Plus, Owen Hart never becomes the "Black Hart" OR Joins the Nation of Domination.
The Montreal Screwjob happens and Bret resumes his feud with Vince McMahon. The next night, Bret takes aim at Corporate America, while praising Corporate Canada for having more oversight and limitations than their American Counterparts. He also blames Corporate America for the Country's moral decay and declares War on it. He then promises to eradicate that "Rotten Corporate Scumbag" Vince McMahon, owner of the WWF.
While, The Hitman reaffirmed his hatred Corporate America, Vince McMahon defends it. He also defends his actions at the Survivor Series, stating that he didn't think Bret was worthy or fit to represent the WWF in the New Era.
This all leads to a backstage altercation between The Hitman and The WWF's Head Hancho. After heated words, Hart beats up McMahon,which leads to him getting suspended for a month.
Other than this, November and December go on as it was in Our Reality.
At In Your House: D-Generation-X, Own Hart and The British Bulldog face the New Age Outlaws for the WWF Tag Team Championships, along with the Legion of Doom and The Godwinns, making the match a Fatal 4-Way. Other than this change, the event goes on as normal.
Note: In Our Reality it was just the Outlaws and LOD.
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Chapter 2 - Into the Sunset.
January '98 goes on as normal, except for the Hart / McMahon feud and the Royal Rumble.
At the Royal Rumble in This Alt-Reality, The British Bulldog is in the Royal Rumble match, replacing Tom Brandi. And Bret Hart fights Vince McMahon's hand picked fighter, Tiger Ali Singh at the event, replacing the Mini Wrestlers on the card, which is moved to the next night on RAW.
The feud between Hart and McMahon ends with the Hitman winning.
As part of a stipulation from his match with Tiger Ali Singh at the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart is granted a WWF Title Shot against Shawn Michaels on the first RAW in February. During that episode, Hart challenges Michaels to a Quebec Rules Match. BTW, had Bret lost his match at the Rumble, he would've been forced to retire.
Note: For those Not in the know a Quebec Rules wrestling match, popularized by WWF's The Quebecers in 1993, are unique
stipulations where the championship can change hands on a
disqualification or count-out, and specific high-risk moves like
piledrivers, top-rope attacks, and throwing opponents over the top rope
are illegal, leading to a DQ or title loss.
Anyway, thanks to Chyna, Bret wins the match by DQ and the Hart Foundation keeps D-X at bay, Bret is now a WWF Champ for the 6th Time.
Note: This was the Only type of match Michaels would allow Bret to beat him in. Also, He was suffering from back problems, so this match not only protected his mega ego, but also his back. It's also worth noting that Michaels took a big bribe to let Hart win. McMahon offered Half of his Own Weekly Salary as a Bonus...for a Whole Month.
In Your House: No Way Out of Texas goes on as normal, except there are 2 changes. 1 - Bret defends his title successfully against Goldust. And The British Bulldog and Jim "Anvil" Neidhart battling Jose Estrada Jr. and Miguel Perez of Los Boricuas.
Note: In this Alt-Reality, The Bret / Goldust Match replaces Taka Michinoku / Pantera and The Buldog and Anvil / Los Boricuas Match replaces The Godwinns / Quebecers.
Anyway, The Build for WrestleMania XIV is different in this Alt-Reality too, with Bret Hart, as the Champion renewing his rivalry with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Mike Tyson is thrown into the mix, whom Bret dislikes as a person and whom Stone Cold just hates for invading the Wrestling World.
Plus, Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog restart their feud.
At this Alt-Reality version of WrestleMania XIV, it's a Double Main Event. First it's "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith taking on Shawn Michaels in a grudge match. Then in Main Event #2 it's "Stone Cold" Steve Austin taking on Bret "Hitman" Hart for the World Wrestling Federation Championship. With "Iron" Mike Tyson being the Special Enforcer.
Shawn Michaels defeats the Bulldog and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeats Bret Hart in a clean finish and becomes the WWF Champion. Bret shows some post-match sportsmanship by handing the belt over to Austin and then applauding him as he leaves the ring.
At a Post-WrestleMania press event, Bret decides to take a hiatus from Wrestling to rest and be with his family. He then officially passes the torch to Austin, as the new face of the Company.
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Chapter 3 - Meanwhile, Back in Dubya-Cee-Dubya!!
Without Bret Hart, the WCW signs on a Hot New Talent from the WCW PowerPlant (remember that?). Replacing Jim Neidhart and The British Bulldog is a fresh New Tag Team (again, straight from the powerplant.).
The Names of these 3 men are unimportant,but in This Alt-Reality,they'll be filling the same rolls as Bret, Jim, and Davy did.
The 3 Talents would have varying success in the Company,with the Tag Team becoming jobbers in late-98. Plus, one of.the Tag Team Members gets a bad back injury at Fall Brawl '98, when he was slammed on the Warrior's Trap Door....Just like how The Bulldog was in This Reality.
The Singles Dude wins the TV Title, the US Title, The Tag Team Titles (with Goldberg) and The WCW Championship. Sadly, like with Bret in This Reality, suffers a near-career ending injury at the hands of Goldberg at Starrcade '99 in a match for the WCW Championship.
Unlike Bret, though, The Singles Dude sticks around until the Summer of 2000, where he was fired due to budget cuts and inability to preform.
WCW Still goes under in March of 2001, so that hasn't changed.
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Chapter 4 - Hart Family Fortunes
After WrestleMania XIV things go on as it was in This Reality, except The
British Bulldog is still working for the Company and is an occasional
Tag Partner for Owen Hart, replacing Jeff Jarrett,who was Owen's partner in Our Reality.
Owen Never becomes the Black Hart or joins the Nation of Domination in This Alt-Reality, as stated earlier. As for Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, he became a commentator for the Weekend Shows, like Heat and Shotgun Saturday Night. Owen and and the Bulldog resume their Anti-American shtick, this time against American Culture and how perverted it has become. They eventually form an alliance with Right to Censor in Late-1999.
Also, due Bret being there, Owen and the Bulldog were allowed to renegotiate Their contracts for a bit more creative freedom with their characters
and booking...which They get. This allows Owen to opt out of doing that infamous stunt at the 1999 Over The Edge PPV, which resulted in his death.
So, Owen lives. He Also becomes the 1999 King of the Ring in This Alt-Reality, replacing Billy Gunn, who won the Crown in Ours.
Also, with Bret and Bulldog in the WWF, they never sustain Their respective severe injuries they got in WCW, so It's all good.
Bret would make speratic apprentices throughout '98, '99, and 2000, including at SummerSlam '99, where he served as the Special Referee in the WWF Title match between Mankind, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and Triple H, replacing Jessie "the Body" Ventura in this Alt-Universe.
Sometime in 2000, Owen's contract was coming up, and after serious thought and consolation with his Family, He decided not to renew it. Once his contract expired, Owen left Wrestling to pursue a career as a Fireman, a dream he had since he was a boy.
In This Alt-Reality, Owen Hart gets the Happy Ending he deserved.
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Chapter 5 - The Hitman Joins the War
Bret Hart returned on an October 2001 edition of RAW, right in the middle of the the Invasion. In his promo, Bret talks about his career, blasts the entire McMahon Family, but re-affirms his loyalty to the WWF. He then offers to Coach Team WWF to prep them for the high stakes Survivor Series Match.
Vince McMahon confronts Bret, and after some words, agrees to let him Coach the WWF Team. Meanwhile, Shane McMahon elects himself as the Coach of the WCW/ECW Alliance Team. And because of that, he can't participate in the match itself, so in his place he selects Tommy Dreamer of ECW.
Note: In Our Reality, Shane was part of the Alliance Team as a Wrestler, In this Alt-Reality, however, He's just the Coach and in his spot - Tommy Dreamer.
Anyway, as part of the Training, Bret takes Team WWF into the Legendary Hart Dungeon. This brings out the potential in each of the Superstars.
Note: The WWF Team is Still made up of The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Chris Jericho, and The Big Show. So, no change there.
At The 2001 Survivor Series, Bret and Shane get into an altercation during the Match, so both men are ejected from Ringside. Other than this, all goes as it did in This Reality.
After the Survivor Series, Bret Hart begins a feud with Shane McMahon, who he fights at Vengeance in December....and Wins.
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Chapter 6 - Hitman 2k
At the 2002 Royal Rumble, Bret Hart enteres the Match itself as a surprise entrant, but fails to win it. Soon after, Bret announces his Full-Time return as an active wrestler.
From there, Bret's career would begin to revitalize, thanks to great matches with Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, Kane, Triple H, Chris Jericho, and The Rock. And in both 2003 and 2004, He battles the Ruthless Aggression's Main Players - Batista, Edge, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, And John Cena.
Also in 2004, Bret renews his rivalry with Hulk Hogan and in 2005, his rivalry with Shawn Michaels. In Late 2005, Bret sustains a near-career ending injury at the hands of Brock Lesnar. Thanks to this, Bret is forced to take a long hiatus from Wrestling.
In 2006, Bret is inducted into the WWF (Now WWE) Hall of Fame. In Early-2007, Bret returns to the Company, but announces that, thanks to the lasting effects of the injuries he sustained by Brock Lesnar, he is forced to into being a Part-Timer.. Later in the Year, he reconciles with Shawn Michaels in 2007...Years Earlier than he did in Our Reality.
Even as a Part-Timer, Bret continued to have good matches, including ones with The Miz, William Regal, and The Big Show. He even becomes U.S. Champion during that time (Twice!!).
He even helps guide the Carrers of His Niece Natalya, as well as Tyson Kidd.
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Chapter 7 - The Living Legend.
Still unable to fully recover from his injuries, Bret Hart announces his retirement in Late-2010, but wants one more match before he "Rides off into The Sunset". He chooses John Cena as his Final Opponent.
The 2 meet at TLC in the Main Event, with Cena winning. After the match, Cena and Hart shake hands and bro-hug.
Note: In Our Reality, The Main Event at TLC was a Chairs Match between John Cena and Wade Barret.
The next night on Raw is a celebration of Bret Hart and his career. Bret gives his farewell speech and leaves the arena to a thunderous pop.
After all of the ceremony and pomp, Bret returns to Calgary to enjoy the rest of his life, alongside his family...including His Brother, Owen and Brother-in-Law, "British Bulldog" Davey Smith, who in This Alt-Reality, are still alive and well.
And the Wrestling World will Always remember Bret "Hitman" Hart as a True Living Legend.
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Well, This took me longer than expected, but it's Finally done. This has been My Personal Scenario of what it would've been like if Bret Stayed with the WWF, instead of jumping ship to WCW. What a difference, huh?
So, Until Next Time, Punch Nazis, Kick Commies, Resist Modern Attitudes, and Stay Gold.
