Owen Hart

Early life and amateur background

Owen Hart was born on May 7, 1965, in Calgary, Alberta, the youngest of the twelve children of Stampede Wrestling founder Stu Hart and his wife, Helen Hart. His siblings included fellow wrestlers Bret, Bruce, Keith, Dean, and Smith Hart, as well as Diana Hart. The Hart family was of diverse ancestry, with Greek, Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish, and German roots. Hart attended Ernest Manning High School in Calgary, where he first took up amateur wrestling and met his future wife, Martha. He continued his amateur career at the University of Calgary, wrestling for the Dinos and placing fourth in the 76 kg weight class at the 1984 Canada West championships. Despite his family's deep ties to professional wrestling, Owen initially sought a career outside the sport, but after other ventures proved unsuccessful, he began training in his father's infamous basement facility, known as the Hart Dungeon.

Early professional career in Stampede and Japan

Hart began his professional career in 1983, wrestling incognito as the original British Bulldog during his university years and later as "Bronco" Owen Hart at London's Royal Albert Hall. After graduating, he worked for his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion, where he quickly found success. In August 1986, he teamed with his brother-in-law Ben Bassarab to win the Stampede International Tag Team Championship from the Masters of Disaster. That October, he defeated Les Thornton for the British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship. In January 1987, he added the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship to his collection by defeating Makhan Singh, briefly becoming a double champion. He lost and regained the North American title from Singh in April before losing it again in May, and he lost the Commonwealth title to Gama Singh in August 1987. That same year, Pro Wrestling Illustrated named him their Rookie of the Year.

His work with Japanese wrestler Hiroshi Hase in Stampede led to an invitation to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he made his debut in August 1987 during the "Sengoku Battle Series." Hart returned for the inaugural Top of the Super Juniors tournament in early 1988, placing fourth out of twelve competitors. His breakthrough in Japan came on May 27, 1988, when he defeated Hiroshi Hase in Sendai to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold that title. After a single successful defence against Keiichi Yamada, he lost the championship to Shiro Koshinaka on June 24, 1988, in Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. His final match of that tour was a disqualification victory over Yamada in Nagoya before a crowd of more than 10,000 spectators.

First WWF run and global touring (1988 to 1991)

Hart's success in Japan and Stampede's working relationship with the WWF led to a contract in the summer of 1988, following a pair of dark matches in March. The WWF introduced him with a masked superhero gimmick called the Blue Angel, which was soon tweaked to the Blue Blazer. He made his pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series '88, teaming with Ultimate Warrior, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Brunzell, and Sam Houston. His team won though Hart was eliminated by Greg Valentine. He wrestled at WrestleMania V, where he lost to Mr. Perfect, and left the WWF in June 1989. Hart then returned to Stampede Wrestling for its final months, feuding with North American Champion Larry Cameron and facing opponents like Dynamite Kid and Johnny Smith. He also resumed his international schedule with extensive tours.

He returned to NJPW multiple times between 1989 and 1991, competing in the #1 Contender's League in 1989 with partner Pat Tanaka, where they placed sixth out of seven teams. His final NJPW tour was in April 1991 for the second Top of the Super Juniors tournament, where he placed second out of ten competitors, with wins over Dave Finlay, Flying Scorpio, and Pegasus Kid before losing to tournament winner Jushin Thunder Liger in his last match for the promotion on April 28. During this period, Hart also wrestled for promotions in Mexico, Europe, and a brief stint with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He debuted in the Mexican Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) in March 1990 as the Blue Blazer, teaming with Enrique Vera and Villano III. In November 1990, he unsuccessfully challenged Villano III for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, and in May 1991, he lost a mascara contra mascara match to El Canek in Naucalpan, which meant he did not wear the Blue Blazer mask again until 1998. For the Catch Wrestling Association (CWA) in Europe during 1990 and 1991, he participated in "World Cup" series events, facing opponents like Fit Finlay, Dave Taylor, and Larry Cameron, and losing a street fight to Finlay in Bremen, Germany in November 1991. His WCW run in March and April 1991 was short, featuring televised matches on WCW Pro and World Wide Wrestling against enhancement talent and a brief tag team with Flyin' Brian against the Fabulous Freebirds at house shows.

Return to WWF and rise to prominence (1991 to 1994)

Hart returned to the WWF in November 1991 after contract talks with WCW fell through because he was unwilling to relocate his family to Atlanta. He was first paired with his brother-in-law Jim Neidhart to form the New Foundation, a team that had its only pay-per-view match at the 1992 Royal Rumble, defeating the Orient Express. After Neidhart's departure in February 1992, Hart teamed with Koko B. Ware as High Energy, a colourful duo that feuded with the Beverly Brothers and the Nasty Boys. At WrestleMania VIII in April 1992, Hart defeated Skinner in a singles match. The team challenged for the WWF Tag Team titles in June and October 1992, winning by count out and disqualification respectively, before disbanding after a loss to the Headshrinkers in March 1993. Hart then resumed his singles career and became involved in his brother Bret's feud with Jerry Lawler, wrestling in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). In June 1993, he defeated Papa Shango in the Mid-South Coliseum to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, a title he held until losing it to Lawler in July.

The defining turn in Hart's career came at the 1993 Survivor Series. Teaming with his brothers Bret, Bruce, and Keith against a team led by Shawn Michaels, Owen was eliminated after an inadvertent collision with Bret. After the match, he confronted Bret angrily while their parents and siblings watched, setting the stage for a sibling rivalry. The feud fully ignited at the 1994 Royal Rumble during a WWF Tag Team Championship match against the Quebecers. When the referee stopped the match due to Bret's kayfabe knee injury, Owen kicked his brother's leg and walked out, delivering a furious promo backstage. This act turned him into a villain. He then faced Bret at WrestleMania X and scored a clean pinfall victory. Later that same night, he watched from the ramp as Bret won the WWF Championship from Yokozuna. In June 1994, Hart won the King of the Ring tournament, defeating Razor Ramon in the finals with an elbow drop and an assist from Jim Neidhart. After this victory, he dropped "The Rocket" nickname and adopted "The King of Harts."

Main event feuds and championship reigns (1994 to 1999)

The feud with Bret Hart continued intensely throughout 1994. They faced off in a steel cage match for the WWF Championship in the co-main event of SummerSlam, a match Bret won that later received a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer. On August 17, 1994, they had a lumberjack match where Owen was initially announced as champion before Bret won after the match was ordered to continue. At the 1994 Survivor Series, Owen executed a plot that cost Bret the WWF title, convincing their mother Helen to throw in the towel during Bret's match against Bob Backlund. Hart also prevented Bret from regaining the championship from Diesel at the 1995 Royal Rumble when he interfered in their match. Later that evening, he entered the Royal Rumble match but was eliminated by the British Bulldog. Following this rivalry, Owen established himself as a consistent championship contender. He won his first WWF Tag Team Championship with Yokozuna in 1995 by defeating The Smoking Gunns. His singles success included two reigns as WWF Intercontinental Champion and one as WWF European Champion.

Hart was a highly successful tag team competitor, capturing the WWF World Tag Team Championship four times with three different partners. His tag title reigns demonstrated his adaptability and skill in different pairings. Throughout the late 1990s, Owen Hart remained a reliable upper-midcard performer for the World Wrestling Federation. He engaged in notable feuds with top stars of the era. At that event, he teamed with his brothers Bret and Bruce, his brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith, and family friend Brian Pillman in a victorious ten-man tag team match against a team led by Steve Austin. In 1998, Hart revived his old Blue Blazer persona as a parody character.

Final match and fatal accident

On the evening of May 23, 1999, Owen Hart was scheduled to compete at the WWF Over the Edge pay-per-view event at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. He was booked in an Intercontinental Championship match against The Godfather. For his entrance, a stunt was planned where Hart, in his Blue Blazer gear, would be lowered from the arena rafters to the ring. During the live broadcast, as Hart began his descent, the quick-release mechanism on his harness accidentally activated prematurely. The event was briefly taken off the air as medical personnel attended to him. Hart was transported to Truman Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from internal injuries from blunt force trauma. The WWF proceeded with the remainder of the pay-per-view after announcing Hart's accident to the live audience, a decision that was later widely criticized.

Personal life and citizenship

Owen Hart was a dual citizen of Canada and the United States through his Canadian-born father and American-born mother. He married Martha Patterson, whom he met in high school, and the couple had two children. Hart was known within the wrestling industry for his playful sense of humour and was often described as a devoted family man who valued his privacy. Despite being part of the large, public Hart family dynasty, he maintained a reputation for being down-to-earth and approachable. His interests outside wrestling were varied, and he had made several attempts early in his life to establish a career outside of the sport before committing to wrestling full time. His death had a major impact on the wrestling community and on the city of Calgary, where he was a local hero.

Championships and accomplishments

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Rookie of the Year (1987).
• Stampede Wrestling: International Tag Team Championship (1 time), North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times), British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time).
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time).
• United States Wrestling Association: USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time).
• World Wrestling Federation: Intercontinental Championship (2 times), European Championship (1 time), World Tag Team Championship (4 times), King of the Ring (1994).

Career match record in major tournaments

Owen Hart participated in several round-robin tournaments during his tours with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. These tournaments were designed for technical and junior heavyweight talent. His performances in these events demonstrated his consistent high-level skill against international competition. For example, he competed in the inaugural Top of the Super Juniors tournament in early 1988, where he placed fourth out of twelve wrestlers.

Questions about Owen Hart

Was Owen Hart related to Bret Hart?

Yes, Owen Hart was the younger brother of Bret "The Hitman" Hart. They were two of the twelve children of Stu and Helen Hart of Calgary, Alberta. Their famous sibling rivalry was a central storyline in the WWF during 1993 and 1994, culminating in a match at WrestleMania X which Owen won. Other wrestling siblings included Bruce, Keith, Dean, and Smith Hart.

What championships did Owen Hart win in the WWF?

Owen Hart won multiple championships during his WWF career. He was a two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, a one-time WWF European Champion, and a four-time WWF World Tag Team Champion. His tag team title reigns were with Yokozuna, The British Bulldog (twice), and Jeff Jarrett. His most significant singles accomplishment was winning the 1994 King of the Ring tournament.

Did Owen Hart wrestle in Japan?

Yes, Owen Hart wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He made multiple tours for the promotion between 1987 and 1991. On May 27, 1988, he defeated Hiroshi Hase to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold that title. He also placed second in the Top of the Super Juniors tournament in 1991.

What was Owen Hart's Blue Blazer gimmick?

The Blue Blazer was a masked superhero gimmick created for Owen Hart during his first WWF run in 1988. It was designed to highlight his high-flying style without initially associating him with his famous brother Bret. He briefly revived the character in 1998 as a parody of an overly serious, moralizing athlete. It was in this Blue Blazer persona that he was performing during the entrance that led to his fatal accident.

Where is Owen Hart from?

Owen Hart was from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was born there on May 7, 1965, and was the youngest child of Stampede Wrestling promoters Stu and Helen Hart. He was a product of the city's wrestling scene, trained in the famous Hart Dungeon, and maintained strong ties to Calgary throughout his life. He held dual Canadian and American citizenship.

How did Owen Hart die?

Owen Hart died on May 23, 1999, during the WWF's Over the Edge pay per view event. During his entrance from the rafters of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, the equipment that was lowering him to the ring malfunctioned and he fell to his death in front of a live audience. This tragic accident occurred while he was performing under his Blue Blazer persona. His death was a significant event in professional wrestling history, marking a deep loss for the sport and his family. He was a celebrated wrestler who had headlined multiple pay per view events for the WWF.

Sources and further reading

• Owen Hart (Wikipedia)
• The loss of Owen Hart and the family, friends and fans who ... (cbc.ca)
• Owen Hart Foundation, Helping people today and for ... (owenhartfoundation.org)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.