Bret Hart was candid about his feelings toward winning the WCW World Title in 1999, stating that it ultimately meant nothing to him. In an interview with Inside the Rope, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed that after knocking out Vince McMahon following the Montreal Screwjob, he mentally checked out of wrestling. When asked if finally claiming the WCW World Championship after years of creative frustration renewed his hope, Bret quickly dismissed the notion.
He explained, "When I knocked out Vince McMahon, I realized that was it for me; I decided I would never take wrestling seriously again." From that point, his motivation shifted from passion to paycheck: "I had a guaranteed contract and got paid every week, but I didn’t care anymore."
Despite this detachment, Bret still cared about his fans, acknowledging their support even if he no longer believed in the WCW system: "I knew I had a lot of fans who cared about me, but I felt it was out of my hands." His focus became fulfilling his contract and maximizing what little WCW offered: "I wanted to make the money I signed for, and if I could undermine WWE while helping WCW get ahead, I would do everything I could."
Even after winning WCW’s top title in front of his hometown crowd in Toronto, Bret was convinced the system wouldn’t improve, bluntly calling them "really stupid." His time in WCW is widely regarded as a major missed opportunity in wrestling history. Although his passion remained, WCW’s environment quickly extinguished it.
What might Bret Hart have achieved if WCW had managed things better? Was it internal politics, poor timing, or just incompetence? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Fan Take: Bret Hart’s experience is a stark reminder of how backstage politics and mismanagement can derail even the most talented wrestlers. For WWE fans, it highlights the importance of creative freedom and strong leadership to nurture true wrestling legends and keep the sport thriving.
