WWE Hall of Famer Brett “The Hitman” Hart has once again criticized top WWE superstar Gunther, known for his hard-hitting in-ring style, especially his frequent use of chops. Hart expressed his belief that wrestling should create the illusion of reality without causing real injury.
Discussing the masked man’s show, Hart was blunt in his critique. He stressed that the essence of great wrestling is to simulate reality without actual harm. “The best wrestling has to pretend to be real, that’s what I did,” Hart remarked. He openly condemned Gunther, saying, “I hate wrestlers who intentionally hurt each other,” and told Gunther to his face, “That’s bullshit. When you hurt a real person, you’re not an expert.”
Hart also criticized his former rival Ric Flair for popularizing chops, questioning their effectiveness in fights. “Who wins with the chop? It’s a waste of time,” Hart said. “They look hurt, they look awful. They slap hard, but they cause pain… I don’t always respect those who hurt each other.”
This critique comes after Gunther delivered several physically demanding and critically praised matches recently. Last weekend, Gunther lost the World Heavyweight Championship to CM Punk in a brutal main event. Prior to that, he defeated Goldberg in another intense main event. Gunther’s hard-hitting style has become a signature aspect of WWE’s current product.
Fan Take: This confrontation between wrestling philosophy and physicality highlights a crucial debate in WWE about performer safety versus maintaining intense, realistic action. For fans, it spotlights the evolving nature of wrestling and how differing styles contribute to the sport’s changing identity.
