There are a lot of people who had the best match of their career against Bret Hart and Sean Waltman is one of them.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently appeared on the No Contest Wrestling podcast. He talked about things such as DX invading WCW, the effect of the Curtain Call on the wrestling world, and more.
They also talked about Waltman’s famous 1994 match with Bret Hart. Waltman who was very new to the business still, challenged Hart for the WWF World Heavyweight Title. While he did not win the match, Sean gave an incredible performance and many believe the bout to be his star-making moment.
Sean Waltman, known as The 1-2-3 Kid at the time noted how Bret Hart worked the match as a heel despite being a babyface at the time to make sure the fans got behind him:
“Bret was so giving in that match man. I mean he didn’t turn heel, but like he was the heel in that fucking match. He was on me. He made sure that people were behind me. That was like, you know, I mean he’s the top babyface in the company so it’s like – thank you.”
The former WWE star discussed how despite being a veteran by that point, Bret Hart took all the offense Sean Waltman threw at him. Per the former DX member, it was the greatest match he ever had:
“He let me do all my shit man. He put it in the proper place but yeah, he let me do everything I wanted to do. Some of that shit I never even used to…like I jack-knifed him and yeah. That’s the greatest match I’ve ever had. For sure. There’s like seven minutes missing from the actual match itself. They chopped it up a little bit to fit it into, to fit it into that segment.”
Sean Waltman had recently revealed that he was also diagnosed with diverticulitis in 2024 and noted that Kenny Omega helped him through the disease. You can check out his comment on the matter here.
Triple H played a crucial role in the Montreal Screwjob, going as far as to put forth the idea, according to WWE’s current Chief Content Officer.
The infamous moment at Survivor Series 1997 saw Bret Hart lose the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels, despite not submitting to the Sharpshooter. The plan, as shared to Hart, was for the match to end in a no-contest, and the Canadian would vacate the title the next night on WWF Raw before departing for WCW.
On The Roommates podcast, the Game recalled the meeting backstage between Michaels and Vince McMahon, who feared Hart would refuse to give up the gold. With Hart refusing to lose to Michaels in Canada, it was Triple H who put forward that Hart should do ‘business’ one way or another.
“I was the least important person in the room at the time, but I just said, ‘F*** that, if he won’t do business, do it for him.‘ That started a conversation that led to the Montreal screw job.”
The act would sour Hart’s relationship with WWE, which would also be damaged following his brother Owen’s tragic passing at Over the Edge 1999. Outside of a Hall of Fame appearance in 2006, it wouldn’t be until January 2010 that Hart would make a return.
Nowadays, Hart makes occasional appearances for WWE, including earlier this year in his native Canada. Nevertheless, the Montreal Screwjob will forever be a mark on the Hitman’s career, for which he has WWE’s Chief Content Officer to thank.
WWE Hall of Famer Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart is heading to Langley Falls as part of an episode of the hit animated series American Dad. On X, Hart shared a clip of himself on the latest episode of the show. Not only does Bret’s appearance include his iconic WWE theme song, but show-regular Klaus makes reference to Hart being Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Most Hated Wrestler of the Year in 1997.
The Hitman is no stranger to being recreated in animated form, as he appeared in The Simpsons in 1997. That episode sees Hart purchase the mansion of Mr. Burns after the evil billionaire falls on hard times. Not only does Hart voice himself in the episode (though was reportedly originally going to play a Russian,) but he is delighted that the ‘Shrieking Sheik,’ a nod to the Iron Sheik, lives in the same neighborhood.
The two-time WWE Hall of Famer also provided the voice of the pro wrestler character “The Hooded Fang” in Jacob Two-Two. Now, Hart has added American Dad to his animated repertoire, as the legendary wrestler continues to be celebrated decades after the end of his in-ring career.
Posted November 25th, 2024 in News. Tagged: Bret Hart.
Bret Hart may go by ‘The Excellence of Execution’ but ‘Hitman’ himself may give that designation to the late great Leo Burke.
Burke, a pro wrestling legend out of Canada, sadly passed away on July 24, 2024 and Hart shared a beautiful tribute on his social media, noting of the legacy Leo left on the industry and on himself.
Less than a week ago, I got to speak with Bret Hart in detail about Burke’s influence on not just him, but other wrestlers who have left an impact on the business
How Bret Hart Learned From Leo Burke
Burke made a pro wrestling name for himself wrestling for the likes of Stu Hart, The Funks, Jim Crockett and so many other names across the globe. Hart was familiar with Burke when Leo first got his start in 1966. Bret was just a kid at the time, but remembered Burke came into Calgary with a ‘Batman’ gimmick, and while the memory stuck with Bret, the gimmick didn’t for Burke, who became a big star for Stu Hart and a good in-ring rival for Bret while in Stampede. Bret noted what a master of ring psychology Burke was. He credited both Leo and the late Dynamite Kid for helping him become in-ring legend he is today.
“Like I learned so much from both Dynamite and Leo, that when I think of like my style and my career, and how I maybe blossomed as a wrestler in WWF, it was all because of both those guys.”
“”I picked up the ring bell and I’ m gonna take it over the apron and take it in the ring and I’m gonna brain Steve Austin with the bell, and I walk over and I set it on the apron and then I change my mind and then I go over and get a chair, I pick up one chair and I go, ‘Ah this one’s not good enough, it’s got padding on it,’ or something. I pick up a metal chair and go, ‘This is perfect,’ and I forget all about the bell, slide under the bottom rope and I’m going to the ring and I’ m working Steve over with a chair.
“I mean everyone forgets about the the bell then, and the bell is the key right sitting on the apron for the whole thing … that’ s a real Burke type of [move]. You know he would tell you, ‘They’ll forget all about the bell.’
“those are the kind of things that Leo taught me like to think ahead and how to think, imagine things. He WAS SUCH A MASTER CLASS.”
The ‘Master Class’ Of Leo Burke With Adam Copeland
Bret mentioned how historic names like Harley Race and Terry Funk would revere Burke’s talent in god-like fashion and Burke eventually got to instill that knowledge into major names of the late 1990s. Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Ken Shamrock and Mark Henry all learned under Leo Burke up in Calgary while Bret worked in WWE.
“Leo would train them, and Leo got paid the same every day, he got a certain check every week, and he would just have classes. He would tell everyone what time to come, and Test was another one that was there.
“He was one of those guys I met him in Toronto; he was a bouncer at a club, and I remember the next day he was sitting in my living room.
“And Leo was training all these guys, and I remember I would come home from being on the road, and then Leo would say, ‘ Could you just work with one guy?'”
That one guy was Copeland.
“I did it with Edge, I remember wrestling Edge, I did it with a couple of guys, I remember, it might have been Mark Henry, and I remember, I’ m like, ‘I am so beat up.’
“I’ ve been on the road for six weeks or something, and I come home and Leo’ s like, ‘Can you just come in for a couple of weeks? Just a couple.’ I didn’ t even care, you know? I was the one that would do it, I’ d be so sore I’ d spend the afternoon in there taking arm drags and stuff, like that, working stuff out.”
Hart commented on how much he garnered from working with and being around Leo, who had a great sense of humor and was a big factor at making life on the road fun, pulling light-hearted, yet memorable ribs on his brothers and other workers. However, if there was one thing Hitman would want wrestlers today to take note of by studying Burke, it would be the best thing he was known for.
“I would you think if there’s a big aspect you want them to take away from him, I would say Leo was most famous for his psychology.”
On the January 4, 2010, edition of WWE Raw, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels reconciled in the ring, over a dozen years after the events of Survivor Series 1997. The pair had been at odds both before, and long after the events of that fateful November night in Montreal, and TJ Wilson played a role in the reconciliation, according to WWE veteran Natalya.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Natalya shared that it was Wilson who helped bridge the gap between Michaels and Hart years after the Montreal Screwjob.
“TJ had said something to Bret like, ‘I had a really great talk with Shawn and he was awesome and he was so nice to me and he was so nice to Nattie and he was just such a cool guy. He was giving me advice and being really helpful.”
Shawn disclosed that he felt “so bad” about his past issues with Bret, Natalya added, and that it was Wilson who “opened up the conversation” between the two WWE legends.
“We can all thank TJ for being the person that opened up that door because TJ is somebody that Bret really respects, and (he) trusts his word.”
During the interview, Natalya spoke about Michaels in his current role as WWE SVP of Talent Development and head of NXT. The Showstopper has been praised by many for his work with the silver brand and the former Divas Champion is no exception.
“Shawn is so encouraging to everyone. He makes you feel so good after you get back, so happy and so good about yourself. I honestly just had the best experience at NXT. And I’m always excited about the opportunity of going back.”
As for Hart, he appeared on Monday Night Raw last month in his native Calgary, where he unsurprisingly got a hero’s welcome from the Canadian crowd. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Bret and Shawn as the two icons of the ring have been able to put their differences aside and move forward with their lives.
During the conversation, Bret was asked which current WWE superstars he would have liked to face in a match. While many would have expected him to name a raising star like Gunther, the WWE Hall of Famer went the other route and named a fellow legend who he never got to share the ring with.
“If I could pick one guy it would be Rey Mysterio. I always forget Rey Mysterio but I think Rey Mysterio is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
He’s right up there [in the conversation for] the best there is, best there was, best there ever will be. He’s really good. He’s really special. Nobody can do what Rey Mysterio does.”
Bret Hart also talked about the recent rivalry between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. The two paid tribute to Hart’s classic encounter with Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 during their SummerSlam match. When asked about it, Bret said that he took it as a node of respect:
“Yeah, I did notice it. I thought it was…I always take those as a sort of a node of respect. so I like it and appreciate it but it still wasn’t as good as my Austin match.”
The Canadian wrestling veteran defeated Steve Austin in a No Disqualification submission match at the Show of Shows in 1997. In the interview, Hart claimed that it is his favorite match ever because there was no wasted spot in it.
Outside of the world of wrestling, John Cena has made a name for himself in Hollywood with his various movie projects taking the WWE icon around the world. This week, Cena, or rather an animated version of him, landed in Good Ol’ Springfield, USA, as part of the Season 36 premiere of The Simpsons.
The episode in question ‘Bart’s Birthday‘ tells a meta-story of The Simpsons writers using ChatGPT to craft the perfect series finale for the show. This leads to multiple characters receiving grand send-offs including Comic Book Guy and his wife Kumiko saying goodbye to the comic store after welcoming their child into the world.
As Kumiko goes into labor inside the store, Cena, who notes that he is “the only licensed midwife to win 16 WWE Championships” is on hand to help the couple welcome their baby into the world. When asked what he’s doing in Springfield, John shares that he’s around for the launch party of Otto’s new brand of energy drinks, an off-screen send-off to the school bus driver.
John Cena aparece en Los Simpsons!
Y no solo eso, sino que en el episodio, Cena atiende una emergencia y ayuda a traer a un bebé al mundo solo para decirle "You Can't See Me" pic.twitter.com/CMZq1DtR2Z
Cena is the second WWE Superstar to appear on the iconic animated show and follows in the footsteps of Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart who was in season eight’s The Old Man and the Lisa. The Hitman buys the mansion of Mr. Burns in the episode, after the crotchety billionaire falls on hard times and borrowing a line from Freddy Blassie, refers to Burns as a “pitiful, pencil neck geek.”
John Cena’s time in Springfield comes ahead of his WWE retirement tour which will kick-off next January when WWE Raw moves to Netflix. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the WWE icon and his work in and out of the ring.
John Cena is heading to Springfield. The 16-time WWE World Champion will guest star on The Simpsons Season 36 premiere, airing this Sunday on FOX.
We have a first look at Cena’s animated character, which has been anticipated ever since his guest spot was announced back at San Diego Comic-Con. He joins an already star-studded season, with Danny DeVito, Tom Hanks, and former Simpsons writer and late-night host Conan O’Brien also making returns.
Cena’s guest spot on The Simpsons continues a longstanding tradition of celebrity cameos in the series. Notably, he’s not the first WWE Superstar to visit Springfield.
That honor goes to Bret “The Hitman” Hart, who appeared in Season 8’s The Old Man and the Lisa (air date: April 20, 1997). In the episode, Hart purchases Mr. Burns’ mansion after the billionaire loses his fortune, despite his initial hesitation due to the “old man stink!” lingering in the house.
For Cena, this animated appearance is another milestone in his post-WWE career, where he has successfully transitioned into film and television.
Best known for his role as Peacemaker and as Jakob Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise, Cena continues to expand his entertainment footprint with this stop on one of the most beloved television shows in history.
In 2024, kayfabe is a fluid entity in professional wrestling, with many wrestlers acting out of character out of the ring and on social media. In 1996 though, kayfabe was strictly maintained, until a quartet of wrestlers decided to ‘kill’ professional wrestling in the eyes of Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart’
The Curtain Call – What Happened?
On May 19, 1996, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall wrestled their final WWF matches before leaving for WCW with Hall beating Triple H while Nash lost to Shawn Michaels. After the latter match, the four friends embraced and posed in the ring, despite Nash and Triple H being heels while Michaels and Hall were faces. The incident was dubbed ‘The Curtain Call’ as it pulled back the curtain to fans, shattering kayfabe for the live crowd in MSG.
Bret Hart – The Kliq Killed Wrestling
Appearing on Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries, Hart makes his views clear on the actions of The Kliq, who he believes changed the perception of wrestling on that night in New York.
“They killed wrestling that day. That was when wrestling wasn’t real anymore. We’d pulled the curtain back and said, ‘This is how it works.’ That was the unveiling of the new direction that wrestling would be. It’s not wrestling anymore. It’s entertainment.”
The Hitman Punches McMahon
Hart’s feelings on The Kliq are similar to those of McMahon, who opted not to punish Michaels, the newly-crowned WWF Champion at the time. In the docuseries, Hart recalls attacking McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob and makes his current feelings on the former WWE Chairman crystal clear.
“[Punching McMahon was] Probably the best thing I ever did and he deserved every bit of that.”
Netflix’s Mr. McMahon has proven to be a captivating watch and offers insight from those who know the controversial billionaire best. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Bret Hart as the Hitman isn’t holding back with his views on the world of wrestling.
Former WWE Intercontinental Sami Zayn wants to honor the legacy set by WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart by winning the world title.
Bret Hart returned on Raw but he was interrupted by the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. ‘The Ring General hurled insults at ‘The Hitman’ before Canada’s own Sami Zayn walked out wearing a Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames jersey. He paid tribute to Gaudreau, who tragically passed away along with his brother Matthew.
Zayn spoke on Raw Talk about the emotional night in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He spoke about Johnny Gaudreau’s passing as well as sharing the ring with Bret Hart. He said:
“You actually caught me at a really strange time because I’m feeling really emotional, to be honest. I’m wearing this jersey, not because I’m a Flames fan, everyone knows I’m a Canadiens guy, but to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who tragically passed away. I don’t know, it just makes you think about the time you have here and what you do with it, and to be able to share the ring with [Bret Hart], he was my hero growing up. To share the ring with him in Calgary, the significance, it’s not lost on me. So I’m in a really strange kind of head space.”
Zayn said that listening to Hart speak about being a champion and Canadian champion in particular has “lit a fire under me.” The 40-year-old wrestler wants to honor Hart’s legacy as he aims to become the World Champion. He said:
“But listening to him talk also kind of lit a fire under me. To hear him talk about what it meant to be a champion, and a Canadian champion. Listening to him, I realized, man, we haven’t had that in a long time, and I want it to be me. I want it to be me. I want to honor his legacy. I want to honor the template that he laid out for guys like me. So Gunther’s got something that, as far as I’m concerned, it’s on borrowed time because I’m coming. I’m coming for the World Heavyweight Championship.”
Zayn challenged Gunther for the World Championship, but the latter turned him down. Hart called Gunther “a gutless yellow coward” for backing down. A brawl broke out between Zayn and ‘The Ring General’ before the officials intervened.
While it is not official yet, it seems that Sami Zayn and Gunther will collide at next month’s Bad Blood PLE for the title. At WrestleMania 40, Zayn ended Gunther’s Intercontinental title run and now he has an opportunity to dethrone him again.
WWE’s September 9 episode of Monday Night RAW emanated from Calgary, Alberta, so it was only fitting that Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart made a rare appearance. Not only did the two-time WWE Hall of Famer have a segment in the ring, but the Canadian also had a special moment backstage with Triple H.
Hart’s entrance was met with a thunderous ovation from the passionate Calgary audience and he spoke of representing Canaidan Wrestling. His segment was swiftly interrupted by World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER who proclaimed that Bill Goldberg is his favorite wrestler, an individual Bret has had issues with for decades. Sami Zayn would appear shortly after, once again making his claim to a title match against the man he beat at WrestleMania 40.
"You will always be a close second to my actual favorite. And my all-time favorite is none other than Bill Goldberg!" 😅😳🫢#WWERawpic.twitter.com/JadM5NkGrp
Following the segment, Triple H shared a heartfelt backstage moment with Hart. The Game praised Hart for the reaction he got from the Canadian crowd while Bret shared his gratitude for being a part of the show.
Bret’s appearance on WWE Raw was a treat for wrestling fans, and the promotion will return to Canada later this year. WWE Survivor Series 2024 will take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on November 30, marking the third time the show has come to the Great White North.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bret Hart as well as WWE’s impending return to Canada later this year for the 38th annual Survivor Series Premium Live Event.
The September 9, episode of Monday Night Raw will be the red brand’s season premiere and WWE is doing all it can to deliver a stacked three-hour show. Raw will take place from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada so it’s fitting one of wrestling’s greatest Canadians will be on the show.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart will be a part of the season premiere of Raw from his beloved Great White North. The arrival of the Excellence of Execution was confirmed by Jackie Redmond.
BREAKING: I can officially confirm that Canadian LEGEND, Bret The Hitman Hart, will be in attendance this Monday for the season premiere of #WWERAW at the Saddledome in Calgary !!! Break out your pink and let’s rock! @wwe@BretHart@TripleH#wwepic.twitter.com/1aloTkqL3d
WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has no regrets over punching Vince McMahon following Survivor Series 1997 and the Montreal Screwjob. Speaking with the Attitude Era podcast, the Hitman made his views on McMahon abundantly clear.
“I knocked him [McMahon] out with one punch and it was the greatest punch I ever threw. [It was an] absolutely beautiful uppercut. I lifted him about a foot off the ground, [and] broke my hand. It was the sweetest punch I ever threw. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Vince McMahon can rot in hell.”
After being ‘screwed’ by McMahon in his native Canada, an infuriated Hart made his way to the back. It has been reported for years that McMahon hid in his office after the match, and only emerged after The Undertaker made him appear and apologize. Bret and McMahon reportedly discussed what had happened and Bret warned McMahon to leave immediately or risk being punched.
McMahon allegedly told Bret “I’m gonna give you one” and Hart clocked the billionaire. McMahon was floored by the punch and was later seen with a black eye and a sprained ankle, the latter being cause by his fall to the floor, Hart has claimed.
What Came Next?
Bret would make a one-night return to WWE in 2006 for the Hall of Fame ceremony before returning in January 2010 to WWE programming. In 2019, Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time for his role in the Hart Foundation.
The deeply personal match between Drew McIntyre & CM Punk at WWE SummerSlam 2024 paid tribute to a match at the same event from 1997. For the match, McIntyre arrived wearing a dark, spiked attire while Punk wore a pink and black get-up that fans may have found familiar.
The pair’s choice of wardrobe was a nod to the SummerSlam 1997 main event between Bret Hart & The Undertaker. For that match, the Phenom arrived in a dark, spiked attire while the Hitman wore his signature pink and black. While it was Bret who won on that night (winning his fifth WWF World Championship in the process), Punk would not have the same luck as his role model and he’d come up short against the Scottish Warrior.
CM Punk, Seth and Drew paying homage to Bret, Taker and HBK from Summerslam 1997. All wearing similar attire ? pic.twitter.com/uUD1dq2wEu
The attires worn for the Punk-McIntyre showdown wasn’t the only nod to 1997. Both matches featured a charismatic guest referee with Shawn Michaels officiating in 1997 and Seth Rollins in charge this week. During the Punk-McIntyre match, Rollins took a chair from McIntyre and swung for the Scotsman who ducked and Seth nearly hit Punk. This spot was also a tribute to the previous match, as Shawn would swing for Bret’s head but would accidentally hit The Undertaker.
McIntyre emerged victorious at SummerSlam and said after the show that he is ready to move on from CM Punk, who shared a similar sentiment before SummerSlam. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest coming out of an explosive WWE SummerSlam.
Former WWE and WCW champion Bill Goldberg recently sat down with wrestling journalist Chris Van Vliet on Insight for a wide-ranging interview. The 57-year old legend discussed his relationship with former WWE boss Vince McMahon, his infamous match with The Undertaker and of course, Bret Hart.
Here are some of the key takeaways of what Goldberg said about:
Vince McMahon’s Broken Promise
Goldberg maintains that Vince McMahon broke a promise for him to receive a proper retirement match:
“If that match was still on the table, it would have been done, I would have thought. But hey, man, I was thinking about it this morning in the shower, right? And I thought, Man, I had one of the best wrestling careers ever and don’t think for one second that I don’t understand that and I don’t appreciate it. And so to sit here and cry over a person not keeping his word in a business, that’s as cutthroat as humanly possible and he gets cast out.”
His Dud Match With The Undertaker
Goldberg discussed his disappointing match with The Undertaker at WWE Super Showdown 2019, which he blames on giving himself a concussion before he even made it into the ring.
“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring. You know, when I came back, intensity is something very hard to replicate and I had forgotten my sequence to the ring. I had forgotten my preparation.”
His Relationship With Bret Hart
Goldberg and Bret Hart’s bitter feud is well-documented. Hart blames Goldberg for cutting his career short due to injures he sustained during their match at WCW Starrcade 1999. For all that’s been said about it, Goldberg admits mistakes were made.
“It was a screw-up in the match and it’s live on national television. There’s two people that have to dance and you can only do so much and I mean, things went awry. It is what it is.”
Goldberg says it’s time to move on and leave the bitterness behind them, especially since he claims Hart accepted a favor from him after he got injured.
“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I couldn’t care less. You know Louis, right? All I can tell you is this. Louis and I know and [Brian] Knobbs knows, through Legends of Wrestling that shortly thereafter all that sh*t that happened. I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”
Bret Hart had a lot of respect for the late Leo Burke, calling him one of the top five wrestlers he had ever stepped in the ring with.
Burke unfortunately passed away earlier this week but left a great legacy in a squared circle, most notably up in Canada. Bret Hart mentioned in his Hitman biography that he learned a great deal from Burke in the ring and Hart wrote a heartwarming trible to his friend on social media.
“Words cannot describe how saddened I was to hear of the recent passing of Leo Cormier, better known to the wrestling world as Leo Burke. I consider him to be one of the top 5 workers I ever stepped in the ring with. I learned the basics of pro wrestling from my two teachers Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada, but the most valuable lessons I ever learned came from Leo. He taught me pacing and storytelling. There was no one better at building a match and, as a young wrestler working with him, he opened up his vault of finishes and I soaked up all I could.”
Hart mentioned that Burke was the originator of the fantastic finish between him and Davey Boy Smith back in 1992.
“The great finish at Wembley Stadium SummerSlam 1992 with The British Bulldog was Leo Burke’s. We did the same finish in Edmonton back in my old Stampede days and I never forgot it. He taught me so much about ring psychology, the ability to visualize scenes in your mind and then do them. When people compliment me on my style and work rate, they should be thanking Leo Burke. He was my greatest teacher. On top of being a consummate professional in and out of the ring, he was a kind and happy man who loved what he did. Leo Burke was a true friend and one of the most incredible wrestlers there ever was and I’ll miss him dearly. Rest in peace, Leo.”
Bret Hart is one of the most brutally honest professional wrestlers in history.
— The Straight Shooters (@ShootersRadio) July 27, 2024
Burke not only influenced Bret but fellow WWE Hall Of Famer Mark Henry learned greatly from Leo. Following his passing Henry also took to X to pay tribute to his former teacher.
Wrestling in peace, Leo! I’m going to miss him. He was very good to me. https://t.co/0boux0XHsP
Leo Burke, a Stampede Wrestling staple, has passed away. Burke, real name Léonce Cormie, who also wrestled under the name Tommy Martin was 76. Details behind his passing are currently unknown.
Burke was born in New Brunswick, Canada and competed under the NWA affiliate up north known as Central States Wrestling, teaming with his brother Romeo before later joining up with Stu Hart’s Stampede promotion in Calgary. While there, he won the promotion’s Tag Team Titles and also became a notable singles wrestler, winning Stampede’s North American Championship on several occassions. While there, he caught the eye of a young Bret Hart who in his Hitman autobiography, said he resembled late actor Burt Reynolds.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report the news, also adding further context to Burke’s legacy left in the squared circle.
“Very sad to report the death of Leo Burke/Tommy Martin of the famous Cormier family of New Brunswick at the age of 76. He was a major star in Eastern Canada and an eight-time North American champion with Stampede Wrestling. Very well respected in the ring. Bret Hart considered him one of the best.”
Very sad to report the death of Leo Burke/Tommy Martin of the famous Cormier family of New Brunswick at the age of 76. He was a major star in Eastern Canada and an eight-time North American champion with Stampede Wrestling. Very well respected in the ring. Bret Hart considered…
Wrestling trainer and veteran Rip Rogers also took time to pay tribute to Burke, noting of his star power in Canada.
“Just heard my friend Leo Burke passed away.. he was a legend in the Maritimes .. I wrestled him in Calgary for Stu Hart and all over the Maritimes in summers of 88, 90, 97 ., Pr in 89,.. his brothers Rudy Kay , Bobby Kay , and the Beast proceeded him in death ..”
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry also credits learning a lot from Leo Burke as he began honing his skills as a wrestler.
We at SEScoops would like to extend our prayers, thoughts and condolences to Leo Burke, his friends and family at this time.
Mike Santana has garnered a lot of inspiration from the legendary Bret Hart. The former AEW star and current House of Glory Champion has been one of the top names in the company after returning to his old stomping grounds back at TNA Rebellion. Santana made an immediate impact by defeating former World Champion Steve Maclin and did sign a deal with the promotion.
I recently spoke with Santana for SEScoops about his wrestling career, including where he’s been, where he is now and where he’s going. We got talking about what inspired him to lace up a pair of boots in the first place. The reigning House of Glory World Champion said it all comes down to the pink and black.
“I’ve always made it known Bret Hart is like an icon to me. He’s the reason why I got into wrestling.”
Santana said he was never into the big, over-the-top cartoon characters and in a time where there was a lot of big personas in WWE, Bret was an understated talent.
“Bret stood out to me because he was real, he was honest, he was himself, you know? What you saw is what you got. He spoke about his family, his values, where he came from and what he’s here to do so that always stood out to me.
I’ve always said that’s the kind of performer I want to be, you know? Just pretty much put myself out there and put a lot of my own personality into what I do.”
The ‘Excellence of Execution’ is widely considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Some have won more championships and some have drawn more money, but few have inspired more people to get into wrestling than Bret Hart.
Santana did cross paths with Bret Hart years back when both were at an event in New York City. Hart’s agent knew Santana was a big fan and took him to meet The Hitman. Bret had a big line in front of him, but the WWE Hall of Famer made sure to make time for Mike Santana.
“He literally stopped the line and sat there with me for it felt like forever and we just talked. The fact that he knew who I was, it was awesome. It was a humbling experience. I felt like a kid. It was great.”
Mike Santana recalls meeting wrestling legend Bret Hart
Hart knew that Santana was apart of LAX at the time and made mention that it was Konnan, LAX’s manager, who actually taught him how to execute The Sharpshooter. Santana said growing up in New York, he never got star struck, but getting to meet his childhood hero in the squared circle hit a different tone for him. Patterning his mentality after Hart is something that is paying off for Santana behind the microphone and inside the ring.
“I always say that Mike Santana is an extension of myself. It is myself, but just turned up. That intensity and that level of violence that I bring sometimes, it’s just I attribute it to what I used to be when I was younger. Like I still have that dude trapped inside and wrestling allows me to bring them out and not get arrested or not get into trouble or anything.”
With Santana planting his flag into TNA soil, one would think he’s going to play a big factor when the promotion has Slammiversary this forthcoming July.
Check out my other recent interview with fellow TNA star Hammerstone:
Owen Hart would have turned 59 years old on May 7, and his older brother Bret Hart wanted to be sure to share his love for the late King Of Harts.
The Hart Family are one of pro wrestling’s greatest families, but they are also a family mired in tragedy. The wrestling world was forever shaken on May 23, 1998 when Owen fell from the rafters and passed away at WWF Over The Edge.
Owen however, will forever been known for his amazing wrestling skill, but also his fun-loving sense of humor and his innate good-natured ability to rib “the boys.” Bret Hart took to social media on his younger brother’s birthday, telling fans how Owen happened to visit him in a dream and it warmed ‘The Hitman’s’ heart.
“I had a wonderful dream two days ago, Owen came to me briefly and it was that big smile that quickly brought about a bigger smile of my own. He was ribbing me and I was surprised that he almost got me again. I woke up smiling. I think of you in my happy thoughts, I often see you in the highest and farthest corner of a room. Those warm blue eyes and expressions of amusement and reflection. Sometimes I hear your voice often behind my right ear, or just driving down the highway. Hey Oje’, just so you know, that I know that it’s you.”
Owen is still honored in pro wrestling today in many ways. Kevin Owens took his last name in WWE in homage to Hart and AEW annually runs the Owen Hart Memorial Cup that involves his wife Martha Hart.
Steve Austin still holds one of his WrestleMania matches in the highest regard, and it didn’t happen to have the WWE Title at stake. During an interview with Justin Barrasso, Stone Cold named his classic match against Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13 as an all-time favorite.
“If it wasn’t for Bret Hart, I don’t know that I would be having this interview right now,” said Austin. “My feud with Bret changed everything.”
Two years ago, Hart claimed that him and Austin clashing at WrestleMania 13 were like “two asteroids hitting at the right time.”
“The match with Steve, that’s the greatest song I ever sang. When I watch it back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I still love seeing that spot where I’m punching the daylights out of Steve in the corner and he kicks me in the groin. It was a beautiful, violent piece of art. Working with Steve was easy, it was fun, and it was memorable.”
Austin talked about how he and Hart delivered on arguably the greatest double-turn ever executed in pro wrestling and that was due in great part to what both men did in the ring that evening.
Stone Cold & The Hitman
After 19 years, Austin finally returned to in-ring action at WrestleMania 38 in Los Angeles. He faced Kevin Owens and came out victorious. Steve has some fond memories of that, but it still won’t shake off his number one with Bret.
‘I have a lot of fond memories of WrestleMania, but whenever I have to pick one, it’s always going to WrestleMania 13 with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.”
Bret Hart has never forgiven Bill Goldberg for the career-ending kick at Starrcade 1999 and the wrestling legend continues to be outspoken about his issues with the former rival. However, there are always two sides to the story, and the former NFL star has broken his silence on the continued prosecution.
The former WCW star recently spoke to Tim Green for his Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. He discussed things such as his issues with Triple H, Asuka breaking the record for his undefeated streak and more.
When asked to speak on the Bret Hart story, Goldberg mentioned how he was very green at the time he was paired with the Canadian Star and he learned a lot from him:
“Bret Hart, I was a baby in the wrestling business. I was in WCW. They had a rocket in my butt as far as trajectory is concerned character-wise. Bret Hart had just left WWE and we all know about Bret Hart being one of the best wrestlers in the history of the world. I obviously was looking for as many mentors as humanly possible.
This guy was, he was one of the best ever and so I was enthralled with him. I didn’t idolize him by any stretch, I don’t idolize anyone, but I put him up on that pedestal as to be someone to very much learn from. They put us together and I did learn a lot from the guy. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
It Was A Complete Accident: Goldberg
Speaking about the infamous incident, Goldberg took the blame for the accident but noted that he would never do something like that intentionally. The WWE Hall of Famer also objected to the continued animosity from Bret Hart and explained that he can only be remorseful for so long:
“Then we had a match and unfortunately, during the match, something went wrong. I kicked him in the head. It was very stiff, and it was an accident. I never maliciously would try to hurt anyone. Well, let me rephrase that. I would never hurt anyone in a situation like that where they give me their trust.
Because wrestling is like a dance. You can’t perform properly if both people aren’t doing their thing and I didn’t do the thing right. He caught it in the head and it ended his career. I’ve never lived it down. I’m not a malicious person and I would never take advantage of anybody, especially in a physical sense like that.
So it was a complete accident, but to this day, he thought or he thinks that either I did it on purpose or I was so horrible at what I did that it just happened. So that’s the Bret Hart story. I’ve heard it for 15 years and I’ve heard about him bitching and moaning about me kicking him on the head. I can only say I’m sorry so many times and I can only be remorseful for so long. So that’s where we are. I still want to kill him.”
You can check out Goldberg’s full interview where he talks about his time in Japan, his football career and much more below:
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Rita Chatterton claimed that Vince McMahon sexually assaulted her in his limousine in July 1986. She departed from WWE that year amid conflicting narratives, with WWE’s attorney at the time stating that she was “terminated for cause.” Bret Hart has something to say about Chatterton now, since so much has gone down.
Bret Hart Speaks on Vince McMahon’s Victim
Recent weeks have seen disturbing revelations about Vince McMahon’s conduct during his tenure as head of WWE. The allegations surfaced following reports by former WWE employee Janel Grant and the resurfacing of claims made by Ashley Massaro before her death in 2019. Massaro alleged that McMahon encouraged her to remain silent about a sexual assault she endured at a WWE event in Kuwait in 2006, among other grievances.
“I always had a respect for him,” Hart admitted in an interview with Slate. “Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”
The conversation also revisited the 1992 allegations by former WWE referee Rita Chatterton accusing McMahon of rape. Hart expressed disbelief at first, given the potential harm it could cause the company. However, as more information emerged, his perspective shifted. Hart apologized to Chatterton, acknowledging his previous skepticism and expressing sincere regret.
While reflecting on McMahon’s recent controversies, Hart expressed deep disappointment, stating, “I think, despite all of the issues I ever had with Vince, I know, deep down, I always respected him, but now, knowing what kind of a weirdo he became, I have absolutely zero respect for him.”
Vince McMahon and Bret Hart
Bret Hart and Vince McMahon share a long and complex history. Their relationship took a sour turn at the 1997 WWE Survivor Series in Montreal, where McMahon controversially orchestrated Hart’s loss of the WWE World Championship to Shawn Michaels before his departure to WCW. This resulted in the infamous Montreal Screw Job. Despite that terrible exit, Hart returned to WWE in 2006 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and reignited his feud with McMahon.
Bret Hart thinks that the Vince McMahon allegations are “too sick and disgusting to really imagine.”
Hart discussed the lawsuit filed by former WWE employee named Janel Grant, accusing McMahon of sexually assaulting, coercing, and trafficking her to others in WWE, during an interview with Slate’s Abraham Josephine Riesman.
Despite Hart’s previous respect for McMahon, his opinion of the former promoter changed drastically.
“I’m going to speak my truth. I’m not worried about Vince’s feelings. He’s never cared about mine,” Hart told the outlet. “I don’t have any problem with everybody kicking his head around the parking lot. I’m OK with the truth coming out.”
‘Sounds Like Vince’
Hart also revealed that a few months ago, he was “warned” by “wrestling insiders” that McMahon “was in big trouble that he wasn’t going to be able to sweep under the rug.”
Speaking about the heinous acts committed by McMahon described in the filing, Hart said, “When you get that vision in your head, you go, ‘That’s messed up.’ It’s too sick and disgusting to really imagine.”
Hart even remarked that the screenshots of the text messages included in the suit, which are alleged to have been sent by McMahon after committing the acts, “sound like Vince.”
Corrupt Culture
Hart also mentioned that this is not the only instance of “predatory behavior” in the company, acknowledging that he had heard about sexual abuse incidents throughout his time in the wrestling industry.
“I think you’ll find that it’s everywhere in [WWE],” he added. Hart admitted that he never spoke against it because McMahon was “kind of like The Godfather,” who would “be your enemy again” over something you say or do, besides being extremely powerful and wealthy.
The Hitman likened McMahon to Jeffrey Dahmer, Harvey Weinstein, and Jeffrey Epstein.
“Vince will be a joke.. He’ll be used for humor, and you’ll shake your head at the shock value of some joke about, ‘What did Vince McMahon do?’ He’ll always be associated with this story, especially as it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”
Hart admitted that he used to think that whatever wrong McMahon did, it was for the wrestling industry and for promoting it as an art form. However, these accusations had nothing to do with the business, which made Hart reflect back on his thinking.
“I always had respect for him,” Hart said. “Now it’s tainted. I’m embarrassed that I thought so highly of him.”
Later this month, WWE will head to the land down under as they host the 2024 Elimination Chamber premium live event from Perth, Australia. While no matches have been announced, this officiail poster indicates that this event will serve as a major homecoming for WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, a native of Adelaide, Australia.
Ripley has seen a significant rise in her stock over the last two years. As she continues to wreak havoc with her fellow Judgment Day members, Ripley has also kept a firm grip on the WWE Raw women’s division and the WWE Women’s World Championship — a title she has successfully defended against the likes of Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, Ivy Nile, and Zoey Stark.
High Praise From ‘The Hitman’
Outside of her in-ring accomplishments, Ripley’s menacing character has also attracted the attention of many viewers, one of whom is WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Hart issued praise for Ripley’s character, specifically pointing toward the realism that she conveys through her on-screen portrayal.
“I really like her a lot. I really like her poise, her staying in character and sort of living her.. she seems like she’s adapted a character that’s fun to play, and she’s playing into that, full tilt,” Hart said.
“She’s putting that realism into it; that’s what I miss in a lot of wrestling today, just making it feel more real, and she makes it feel pretty real all the time.”
With Elimination Chamber on the horizon, Rhea Ripley is not only thrilled about returning to her home country, but also about the possibility of defending her title in front of them.
During a recent interview with Sam Roberts, Ripley noted that she would embrace the opportunity to defend her WWE Women’s World Championship inside the grueling Elimination Chamber structure.
Bret Hart still has a bone to pick with Goldberg, and he hasn’t forgotten about that concussion that he alleges ended his career in the squared circle.
Bret Hart Shoots Hard on Goldberg
At WCW Starrcade 1999, Bret Hart and Goldberg faced off in a match that was one of The Hitman’s final outings in the ring.
While speaking to Fox Sports Australia, Bret Hart stated that Goldberg’s style of pro wrestling is not how it’s done. He actually hurt people in the ring, blacked eyes, broke bones, knocked out teeth, and Hart isn’t okay with it being that real in the ring.
While reflecting on his wrestling style, Hart emphasized his commitment to technical proficiency, ensuring that holds like the headlock looked genuine. He contrasted this with contemporary wrestlers, citing instances where they find themselves in the wrong position after a move and have to readjust, which he views as a failure in his wrestling academy.
Additionally, he criticized the trend of wrestlers diving over the top rope onto multiple opponents, deeming it unrealistic. Hart expressed disdain for the prevalence of chops in matches, considering it a deviation from the true artistry of wrestling. That led him into burying Goldberg a bit.
“There’s a lot of great wrestlers out there that can deliver great matches. But there’s so many wrestlers out there that are subpar in my opinion, that don’t know what they’re doing out there. And they allow themselves to rely on things like chops, which I think is sort of like cheap heat – you get a reaction, but what’s your reaction? You’re whipping a guy across the chest with your hand? Okay, so you’re hurting some guy for real, for some stupid reason. And the crowd sort of reacts to it.
“In my understanding of pro wrestling, anytime anyone does anything to you that hurts, for real – chopping, putting blisters on your chest when you go to your room or bed, anytime anyone does things to you for real, they’re in the wrong business. They’re doing it wrong. Because you’re not supposed to get hurt. You’re not supposed to come back to your dressing room that night, or to your hotel room and have a big lump on your head and a black eye and your teeth are knocked out. That’s Bill Goldberg wrestling. That’s not how it’s done.”
The kick to the head resulted in a severe concussion, but Bret Hart believes he experienced an additional concussion during the match, particularly when he applied the ringpost figure four. Furthermore, Hart believes he suffered two more concussions in matches over the subsequent week. In the end, he holds a ton of resentment toward Goldberg to this day.
Hart wrestled 9 matches in WCW after that Starrcade match with Goldberg. On June 24, 2002, Hart suffered a stroke. Then, he participated in a handful of matches for WWE in 2010 and 2011. Sadly, he hasn’t wrestled since, but he definitely has a lot to say about the business.