Bret Hart

Early Life and Family

Bret Hart was born on July 2, 1957, in Calgary, Alberta, the eighth of twelve children to wrestling patriarch Stu Hart and his wife Helen. Growing up in the sprawling Hart family mansion, he was immersed in professional wrestling from a very young age. He witnessed his father training future stars like Superstar Billy Graham in the basement training room known as the Dungeon, an experience that combined awe with a disciplined, sometimes harsh, introduction to the craft. As a child, Hart helped his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion by pulling lucky numbers and selling programs at events, often competing for customers with his younger brother Ross. The household was non denominational Christian, and Hart was particularly close to his older brother Dean, who was nearest to him in age. His maternal grandfather was the long distance runner Harry Smith, and through his mother, who was born in New York, Hart holds dual Canadian and American citizenship, a fact he has stated he is equally proud of.

Amateur Wrestling Background

Following in his father's footsteps, Bret Hart began training as an amateur wrestler at age nine and developed into a standout competitor. At Ernest Manning High School in Calgary, he won significant tournaments throughout Alberta, including the city championship in 1974. A key moment came when he defeated Bob Eklund, a future Canadian Interuniversity Sport national champion, en route to a title, and presenting the medal to his father marked a clear turning point in their relationship. Hart continued his success at Mount Royal College, where he was studying filmmaking, and his coaches believed he had the promise to compete in the Commonwealth Games. However, Hart found the grind of amateur wrestling, with its injuries and weight fluctuations, increasingly unrewarding. He felt the only path to leave the amateur ranks without disappointing his father was to transition to professional wrestling, a decision that led him to dedicate himself fully to training in his father's promotion. Hart has often credited his amateur background with providing invaluable fundamentals and building the self confidence that fuelled his professional career.

Stampede Wrestling and Early Career

Hart's professional career began in 1976 within his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary, where he initially worked as a referee. He made his in ring debut in 1978 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, teaming with Hubert Gallant in a loss. He quickly became a regular contender, forming a successful tag team with his brother Keith to win the Stampede International Tag Team Championship four times. Hart gained crucial experience working with Japanese trainers Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada and had intense matches against the Dynamite Kid, Tom Billington. Despite being part of the promoting family, Hart took pride in being a believable performer who could "take a shit kicking" as well as he could give one. He overcame a dread of interviews to become one of Stampede's top stars, capturing the British Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight Championship twice, the International Tag Team Championship five times, and the North American Heavyweight Championship six times. His success in Calgary lasted until August 1984, when the WWF acquired Stampede Wrestling and several of its talents, including Hart.

Rise to Stardom in the World Wrestling Federation

Hart joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, initially refusing a proposed cowboy gimmick. He found his greatest early success in 1985 when he partnered with his brother in law Jim Neidhart to form the Hart Foundation, managed by Jimmy Hart. Hart's technical, fluid style, dubbed "The Excellence of Execution" by commentator Gorilla Monsoon, perfectly contrasted with Neidhart's power, making them a premier tag team. They won their first WWF Tag Team Championship in February 1987. The team's dissolution as a heel act began after a battle royal at WrestleMania IV, turning Hart into a fan favourite and sparking a feud with Bad News Brown. This period saw Hart's first major singles opportunities, including an Intercontinental Championship match against The Honky Tonk Man. A key moment in his singles development was a 1989 match in Milan against André the Giant, whose post match praise Hart considered highly significant. Throughout the late 1980s, Hart began high profile singles rivalries with opponents like Mr. Perfect and Shawn Michaels, laying the groundwork for his ascent to the top of the company.

World Championship Reigns and the New Generation

The early 1990s marked Bret Hart's emergence as the face of the WWF's New Generation Era. Hart's technical mastery and believable character work made him a major draw, and he spent more combined days as WWF Champion in the 1990s than any other wrestler. He won the Royal Rumble match in 1994, albeit controversially as a co winner with Lex Luger, and won the first King of the Ring pay per view in 1993, making him the only two time King of the Ring. His championship reigns included successful defences against a wide array of challengers, and he became the second wrestler to complete the WWF Triple Crown. Hart headlined multiple WrestleMania events during this period, solidifying his status as the company's top star. His rivalry with his brother Owen Hart also produced critically acclaimed matches, including the opening bout of WrestleMania X. Hart's work during this era is widely credited with bringing a renewed focus on technical wrestling and compelling storytelling to mainstream North American audiences.

The Montreal Screwjob and Move to WCW

Hart's legendary feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1996 and 1997 produced some of the most celebrated matches in WWF history, including their Submission match at WrestleMania 13, which was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2025. However, contractual tensions between Hart and the WWF came to a head in November 1997. Despite being the reigning WWF Champion and in negotiations to stay with the company, Hart had also received a lucrative offer from rival promotion World Championship Wrestling. The situation culminated at the Survivor Series event in Montreal. In the match's finish, which became infamous as the "Montreal Screwjob," the referee called for the bell while Hart was in his own submission hold, awarding the championship to Shawn Michaels without Hart's consent. The controversial incident led directly to Hart's departure for WCW. In WCW, Hart won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, becoming the first champion born outside the United States, and completed the WCW Triple Crown. His tenure there was ultimately cut short due to a severe concussion suffered in a match with Goldberg in December 1999, which forced him into inactivity and led to his official retirement in October 2000.

Post Retirement and Later Endeavours

After retiring, Bret Hart remained a prominent public figure. He returned to WWE for a brief in ring run from 2010 to 2011, winning the United States Championship, headlining SummerSlam, and serving as the general manager of Raw. His legacy has been honoured with multiple WWE Hall of Fame inductions, first individually in 2006, then as a member of the Hart Foundation in 2019, and a third time in 2025 for his WrestleMania 13 match. Outside the ring, Hart co founded the major junior hockey team the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League. He has authored two autobiographies, written a long running weekly column for the Calgary Sun, and made appearances in television and film, including The Simpsons. Hart has also been deeply involved in charitable work focused on stroke recovery and cancer awareness, publicly announcing he was prostate cancer free. In 2026, his contributions to professional wrestling were recognized with the prestigious Lou Thesz Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club.

Style and Legacy

Bret Hart's in ring style was defined by technical precision, logical sequencing, and a strong ability to tell a compelling story within a match. He moved with a deliberate, heavy physicality that made every action seem consequential, earning him the nickname "The Excellence of Execution." His signature moves, including the Sharpshooter submission hold, became widely recognized. Hart is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, credited with changing the perception of mainstream wrestling in the early 1990s by proving that technical skill could engage a mass audience. He held championship titles across five decades and was a major draw in both the WWF and WCW. His legacy is not only that of a performer but also of a standard bearer for in ring excellence. The enduring acclaim for his rivalries, particularly with Steve Austin and his brother Owen, and his multiple Hall of Fame inductions underscore his permanent place in wrestling history.

Questions about Bret Hart

What amateur wrestling achievements did Bret Hart have?

Bret Hart was a standout amateur wrestler at Ernest Manning High School. He won significant championships in tournaments throughout Alberta, including the 1974 city championships in Calgary. He also scored a victory over Bob Eklund, who later became a national champion. By 1977, he was a champion at Mount Royal College and was encouraged to train for the Commonwealth Games.

What is Bret Hart's connection to the Calgary Hitmen?

Bret Hart helped found and lent his name to the major junior ice hockey team the Calgary Hitmen. The team is named after his famous nickname, 'the Hitman'. This is one of his notable endeavours outside of professional wrestling. He has also been involved with the team in various capacities over the years.

What health issues has Bret Hart publicly discussed?

According to a 2026 article, Bret Hart announced that he is prostate cancer free. After his retirement, he spent much of his time on charitable efforts concerning stroke recovery and cancer awareness. These efforts are due to his personal experiences with these health issues. He has been open about these challenges to help raise awareness.

What award did Bret Hart receive in 2026?

Bret Hart was announced as the 2026 CAC Lou Thesz Award honoree. He received the prestigious Lou Thesz Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club at their 60th annual reunion. The award was presented to him in Las Vegas. Nattie Neidhart, who received the award in 2025, was the presenter for the event.

How many times has Bret Hart been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame?

Bret Hart is the first wrestler to be inducted three times into the WWE Hall of Fame. His first induction was in 2006 individually. He was inducted again in 2019 as a member of the Hart Foundation. His third induction came in 2025 when his match with Stone Cold Steve Austin was inducted into the Immortal Moments category.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.