Both the title and story line tag for this episode of "Dark Side of the Ring" seem to be somewhat melodramatic given the mechanics of a 'sport' built on deception and duplicity. The World Wrestling Federation actually changed it's name to World Wrestling Entertainment in recognition of the fact that's it's matches are scripted and the the top stars work angles to get the fans worked up in order to build house crowds. The Montreal Screwjob refers to the world heavyweight title match held at the WWE's Survivor Series in 1997 between champion Bret Hart and challenger Shawn Michaels. When backstage friction erupted between the two, Hart set his sights on leaving the WWE for Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling promotion. The Montreal match was intended to pass the title belt to Michaels, but Hart refused to put him over in any kind of angle. The 'screwjob' aspect of the story involved deliberations between WWE owner and promoter Vince McMahon, and scripters Vince Russo and Jim Cornette trying to come up with a way for the title belt to change hands.
During the contest, Michaels applied his 'sharpshooter' hold on Hart providing an opportunity for a quick count by the referee to end the match on a submission. Only thing is, Hart didn't submit and broke the hold, but the bell ending the match was rung anyway. The title was awarded to Michaels and Hart left the ring fuming. The remainder of this program goes on with folks like Russo, Cornette, and referee Earl Hebner all sort of passing the buck on who made the decision to end the match that way. Cornette in particular comes across as entirely incensed and calling Russo a liar regarding the outcome of the match.
What I don't understand about this circumstance is why the outcome has this nasty connotation of a screwjob. The following evening after the match, Vince McMahon gave an on-screen interview of why the belt changed hands, citing Hart's intention to leave the WWE. In fact, after he lost the match, Hart circumscribed 'WCW' in the air in large letters to the ringside and television audience in an outright snub to his employer. McMahon's willingness to break 'kayfabe' is perhaps what the tag line of the program represents. In other words, the unwritten code among wrestlers to present their performance as genuine or authentic was now undermined for good.
Personally, I share wrestler Scott Hall's assessment near the end of this program. Anyone watching the match that night would have accepted the outcome as par for the course and moved on from the result. It was just another title change in a long string of title changes that no one really takes seriously because of the scripted nature of the events. It was going to happen one way or another.
As for Bret Hart, who appeared throughout the program, he still nurtures resentment over the outcome of the match, particularly since he never really 'got over' as a top star in WCW. I never really cared for Hart as a wrestler, his contention that he was 'the best there is, the best there was, and the best that ever will be' rings awful hollow to this former fan. I can think of at least ten men off the top of my head who were better. Ready? - Bruno Sammartino, Lou Thesz, Vern Gagne, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Fred Blassie, Nick Bockwinkle, Ricky Steamboat, Antonio Inoki and Shohei Baba. There, and I wasn't even trying.
During the contest, Michaels applied his 'sharpshooter' hold on Hart providing an opportunity for a quick count by the referee to end the match on a submission. Only thing is, Hart didn't submit and broke the hold, but the bell ending the match was rung anyway. The title was awarded to Michaels and Hart left the ring fuming. The remainder of this program goes on with folks like Russo, Cornette, and referee Earl Hebner all sort of passing the buck on who made the decision to end the match that way. Cornette in particular comes across as entirely incensed and calling Russo a liar regarding the outcome of the match.
What I don't understand about this circumstance is why the outcome has this nasty connotation of a screwjob. The following evening after the match, Vince McMahon gave an on-screen interview of why the belt changed hands, citing Hart's intention to leave the WWE. In fact, after he lost the match, Hart circumscribed 'WCW' in the air in large letters to the ringside and television audience in an outright snub to his employer. McMahon's willingness to break 'kayfabe' is perhaps what the tag line of the program represents. In other words, the unwritten code among wrestlers to present their performance as genuine or authentic was now undermined for good.
Personally, I share wrestler Scott Hall's assessment near the end of this program. Anyone watching the match that night would have accepted the outcome as par for the course and moved on from the result. It was just another title change in a long string of title changes that no one really takes seriously because of the scripted nature of the events. It was going to happen one way or another.
As for Bret Hart, who appeared throughout the program, he still nurtures resentment over the outcome of the match, particularly since he never really 'got over' as a top star in WCW. I never really cared for Hart as a wrestler, his contention that he was 'the best there is, the best there was, and the best that ever will be' rings awful hollow to this former fan. I can think of at least ten men off the top of my head who were better. Ready? - Bruno Sammartino, Lou Thesz, Vern Gagne, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Fred Blassie, Nick Bockwinkle, Ricky Steamboat, Antonio Inoki and Shohei Baba. There, and I wasn't even trying.
