THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA
ARTICLE #48
AUGUST 5, 2002
Full Circle III: Bret Hart's Tumultuous WWF Tenure 1995-1997
Although Bret's final phase of his WWF career actually began with his Wrestlemania 12 match vs Shawn Michaels, the Surviror Series title win vs Diesel four months earlier laid the groundwork. When he became a three time champ in 11/95, it didn't take long to see the writing on the wall. Unlike the first two go-arounds, this time Bret was merely a transitional champ in order to give Michaels the big push. After Wrestlemania, Bret disappeared from the WWF for several months, apparently unhappy with the company's direction as well as the direction of his character. After entertaining offers from WCW, he signed a 20-year contract with the WWF in 10/96 and returned for less money he would have made had he gone to WCW. His return at the 1996 Survivor Series was a memorable one, defeating Steve Austin in a match considered a classic by many and the 1996 match of the year by some. Their rematch was even better, a near-***** classic that was one of the most historically significant matches of the 1990s because it marked the face turn of Austin and the heel turn for Bret, a major change in his character's direction. Bret became the focus of a great Canada-USA feud, and emerged as the top heel in the WWF by winning the title at the 1997 Summerslam. Things were going well until the WWF's financial trouble caused the front office to reneg on their 20-year contract with Bret. All of a sudden a few days later Bret would have his final match of a WWF tenure that lasted more than 13 years. You know the time. You know the place. You know the story. Certainly my account couldn't do it justice, so I won't even try to explain. This article takes a look at seven of the most important matches of this roller coaster ride.
Survivor Series 11/1995: WWF Title, No DQ: Diesel (c) vs Bret Hart
Diesel undid one of the turnbuckle pads and Bret did the same in the opposite corner. Bret backed Diesel into a corner but Diesel overpowered him and landed several blows in the corner. Diesel landed some punches and forearms and Bret bailed out of the ring. Diesel attacked Bret in the aisle and dropped him neck first onto the barricade. Diesel dominated Bret for a couple more minutes. Bret tried to fight back but Diesel won a slugfest. Diesel knocked Bret out of the ring with a punch and whipped him into the ring steps. Diesel rammed Bret back first into the ringpost. He hit Bret with a chair. Back in the ring Diesel whipped Bret hard into the corner and gave him a short clothesline. Diesel went for a jackknife but Bret held on to his leg. Bret bit Diesel�s arm and applied an armbar. He attacked Diesel in heelish fashion and applied a sleeper while raking his eyes. Bret repeatedly kicked Diesel�s left leg and attacked it with an elbowsmash and a kneedrop. Bret continued to attack Diesel�s leg and applied a figure 4 leglock. Diesel reached the ropes but Bret didn�t break the hold due to the no-DQ rule. Bret attempted to apply a sharpshooter but Diesel poked his eyes. Bret grabbed Diesel�s legs but Diesel pushed him into the corner and Bret�s head crashed hard into the top turnbuckle. Diesel landed a couple shots but Bret grabbed his legs and rammed his left leg into the ringpost twice. Bret tied a cord to the ringpost. He tied Diesel�s leg with the cord but Diesel drove his leg onto Bret�s face and broke the leglock Bret had applied. Bret hit a second rope elbow strike. He went to hit Diesel with a chair but Diesel gave him a high kick with the leg that wasn�t tied. Bret recovered and hit Diesel repeatedly with the chair, especially Diesel�s leg. Bret elbowsmashed Diesel and gave him a backbreaker. Bret went to the top rope but Diesel punched him and crotched him on the top rope. Diesel slammed Bret off the top rope to the mat and untied his leg from the cord. Diesel limped but was able to side suplex Bret for a near fall. Diesel whipped Bret hard into one of the corners with an exposed turnbuckle bolt. Diesel dominated Bret, giving him a snake eyes in the corner but continuing to limp. Diesel barely lifted Bret and went for another snake eyes but Bret escaped and rammed Diesel�s head into the exposed turnbuckle bolt. Bret landed a number of punches and clotheslined Diesel for a near fall. Bret gave Diesel a bulldog off the second rope for a near fall and a Russian legsweep for another near fall. Bret landed more punches and clotheslined Diesel over the top rope to the floor. Bret missed a tope when Diesel moved. Bret got up on the apron but Diesel knocked him off the apron and, in a spot that would be repeated so many times in future PPVs, through the Spanish announcers� table. Diesel threw Bret back into the ring and went for a jackknife but Bret collapsed out of his grip. Diesel tentatively picked Bret up and Bret rolled him up for the pin at 24:52 to win the title. After the match Diesel attacked Bret and gave him a jacknife powerbomb. He also struck several referees. While this was very similar to their Royal Rumble match, I enjoyed this match more. The pacing was often methodical, but the pacing and flow were a bit tighter here. They again worked a smart match, within their physical limitations, and with some very good and sometimes subtle psychology. A very good match. ***1/4
Wrestlemania XII 3/31/96 WWF Title Ironman Match: Bret Hart (c) vs Shawn Michaels (w/Jose Lothario)
Michaels took down Bret early but Bret countered. Bret applied a headlock but Michaels escaped with a takedown. Michaels tried to escape a headlock by taking Bret down but Bret maintained the headlock this time. Bret gained a couple near falls with the headlock as Michaels made several failed escape and counter attempts. The action picked up but Bret then went back to the headlock. Michaels scored a takedown but Bret immediately got on top of him with a front facelock. Michaels armdragged Bret twice and applied an armbar. Michaels continued to attack Bret�s left arm. Bret tried to escape with an armdrag of his own but Michaels maintained the armbar. A series of counters ended with Michaels applying a hammerlock on Bret as he continued to work on his left arm. Bret scored with some punches in the corner but Michaels responded with some blows of his own. Michaels knocked Bret out of the ring with a headscissors takedown. Michaels used a fireman�s carry and went back to the armbar on Bret�s left arm. Bret went to throw Michaels over the top rope but Michaels held on, got back in the ring and reapplied the armbar. Bret fought back with a knee to Michaels�s stomach. Bret legdropped Michaels and applied a chinlock but Michaels escaped with a jawbreaker. Michaels legdropped Bret and applied a Fujiwara armbar. Bret fought back with a spinebuster but failed in an attempt to apply a sharpshooter. Bret clotheslined Michaels over the top rope to the floor. Michaels shoved Bret into the ringpost. Michaels attempted a superkick but Bret moved and Michaels hit the timekeeper. Bret fought back and applied a chinlock for a very lengthy period of time. Michaels fought back with an armdrag and a lariat. Bret scored with a lariat of his own and went back to the chinlock. Michaels dropkicked and armdragged Bret, then went back to an armbar on Bret�s left arm. Bret tried to counter with a headlock but Michaels stayed on top of him and continued to weaken his left arm. Bret fought back with a couple elbows but Michaels recovered and threw Bret hard into the corner with Bret crashing shoulder first into the ringpost. Michaels gave Bret a shoulderbreaker and a second rope double axehandle to Bret�s left shoulder. Michaels gave Bret a hammerlock slam and whipped him left arm-first into opposite corners. Bret fought back with some punches but Michaels gave him what amounted to an armbar DDT. Michaels applied a cross armbreaker on Bret. Bret tried to escape and did when he reached his feet. Michaels continued to attack Bret�s left arm and shoulder. Bret fought back by giving Michaels a stun gun on the second rope. Bret catapulted Michaels into the corner and Michaels hit his head on the ringpost. Bret gained the first near fall of the match at 28:12. Michaels fought back but missed a corner splash and Bret kicked him on the top rope three times. Bret gave Michaels a lariat for a near fall. He gave Michaels a bulldog and went to the top rope, coming off with a knee drive that also sent the ref to the canvas. Michaels powerslammed Bret for a near fall. Bret piledrove Michaels for a near fall. Michaels caught Bret on the top rope and slammed him to the mat. Michaels hit a huracanrana on Bret. He gave Bret a backbreaker for a near fall and went for a superkick but Bret bailed out of the ring. Michaels hit a spectacular plancha for a pop. Michaels hit a flying bodypress but Bret rolled through and gained a near fall. Michaels blocked a backslide attempt and gave Bret a small package for a near fall. Michaels gained a near fall with a cradle suplex and applied a sleeper. Bret tried to back Michaels into the corner but Michaels shoved Bret into the corner. Michaels whipped Bret hard into the corner and went for a corner splash but Bret backdropped him over the top rope to the floor. Michaels took a great bump and nearly took out a cameraman. Bret rammed Michaels back first into the ringpost. Bret whipped Michaels hard into the corner and came off the second rope with an elbow to his weakened back. Bret gave Michaels a backbreaker and a legdrop, and continued to work on Michaels�s back. Bret whipped Michaels into the corner and Michaels took a flip bump. Bret hit a back superplex on Michaels for a heated near fall. Bret applied a modified camel clutch. Michaels fought back and sunset flipped Bret for a near fall. Bret recovered and continued to work on Michaels�s back. Bret gained a near fall with a Russian legsweep. He whipped Michaels into the corner and Michaels, in taking a spectacular fall over the top rope to the floor, kicked Lothario. Bret whipped Michaels into the steps and Michaels again accidentally knocked down Lothario. Bret belly to belly suplexed Michaels for a near fall. Michaels fought back with a series of strikes but Bret continued to attack his back. Bret scored with some forearm strikes. Michaels countered a suplex with a rollup for a near fall but Bret�s momentum upon kicking out sent Michaels clear out of the ring. Bret hit a tope suicida on Michaels. Bret attempted to suplex Michaels back into the ring, Michaels countered but Bret German suplexed him for a near fall. Bret aborted an attempted Michaels comeback and applied a rear chinlock for a lengthy period of time. Both men clotheslined each other at 52:23. Bret gave Michaels a top rope superplex and went for the sharpshooter but Michaels kicked him. Bret applied a half crab instead. Bret gave Michaels a backbreaker and attempted a second rope elbow but Michaels kicked him in the face. Michaels dropkicked Bret and whipped him hard into the corner. Michaels came off the top rope with a flying forearm and hit a flying elbow. Michaels gained a near fall after a top rope double axehandle. Michaels suplexed Bret and hit a top rope elbow for a near fall. Michaels gave Bret a doctor bomb and a moonsault bodyblock for a near fall. Michaels came off the second rope with a sloppy huracanrana for a near fall. Bret caught a diving Michaels and applied a sharpshooter but time expired at 60:00 before Michaels gave up. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon came in and ordered an overtime period with sudden death rules. Bret attacked Michaels�s back and gave him a backdrop. Bret gave Michaels a backbreaker but Michaels recovered and sweet chin music for a pop. Michaels hit sweet chin music again and pinned Bret 1:54 into overtime to win the title. An excellent match, but also a disappointment. You had the two best workers in the WWF, and many expected a match that reached or approached the ***** plateau. It seemed like Bret dictated the pace for much of the match, and that definitely hurt the pacing, which was slow for a higher percentage of time than was necessary. The booking also hurt, as there were no pinfalls in regulation to pop for and fans seemed to tire of the build as the match progressed. Adding a few falls in the first hour would have helped the flow greatly while not detracting from the planned finish at all. ****1/4
Survivor Series 11/7/96: Bret Hart vs Steve Austin
Not much action early as they mainly teased the tension between them. Austin grabbed a wristlock and pulled at Bret's arm. Bret countered and attacked Austin's arm. They traded hammerlocks, and Bret took Austin down with an armbar. Bret hammerlocked Austin and kneedropped his arm twice. Austin gave Bret a drop toehold but Bret regained his bearings and went back to the hammerlock. Austin elbowed Bret repeatedly in the neck and gave him a short clothesline. Austin punched Bret but Bret fought back and attacked his arm again. Bret applied an armbar. They did a criss cross and Austin gave Bret a stun gun. Austin elbowed Bret and choked him in the ropes. Austin stomped Bret on the apron and catapulted him with Bret hitting neck first on the bottom rope. Austin choked Bret again and elbowed him across the apron, causing Bret to slump to the floor. Austin drove Bret's neck down across the top rope, snapmared him and applied a chinlock. Austin kneedropped Bret and went back to the chinlock. They exchanged punches but Austin won the exchange with a kick. Austin kicked Bret in the corner and choked him. Bret whipped Austin into the corner and clotheslined him. Bret atomic dropped and clotheslined Austin. He punched Austin in the gut and rolled him up for a near fall. Bret gave Austin a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Austin countered a bulldog by shoving Bret hard into the corner. Austin attempted a superplex but Bret countered and slammed him to the mat. Bret hit a top rope elbow for a near fall. Austin countered a backbreaker by raking Bret's eyes. Austin threw Bret out of the ring and pummeled him at ringside. Austin shoved Bret back first into the ringpost. Bret fought back and shoved Austin over the barricade, then stomped him in the front row. Bret rammed Austin into the barricade, knocking down that barricade section in the process. Bret threw Austin back into the ring but Austin bailed out on the other side. Bret jumped off the apron and elbowed Austin. Austin grabbed Bret and catapulted him into the Spanish announcers' table in a neat move. Austin slammed Bret onto the table and jumped off the apron with an elbow. Austin suplexed Bret back into the ring. He gave Bret a second rope elbowsmash for a near fall and elbowed him for another near fall. Austin whipped Bret hard into the corner and choked him in the ropes again. Austin pounced on Bret in the ropes and gained a near fall. Austin applied an abdominal stretch and used the ropes for leverage. Bret fought back with a series of punches and gave Austin a stun gun of his own for a near fall. Bret piledrove Austin for a near fall. He gave Austin a backbreaker but Austin caught him on the top rope with a punch. Austin gave Bret some punches and chops, then gave him a top rope superplex. Bret caught Austin off guard with a rollup for a near fall as both men were hurt from the superplex. Austin gave Bret a stunner for a near fall. Austin attacked Bret with punches and gained another near fall. Austin applied a Texas cloverleaf on Bret, who reached the ropes after about 30 seconds. Bret tried to avoid a whip into the corner but instead slid hard back first into the ringpost underneath the bottom rope. Austin gained a near fall and applied an over the knees surfboard. Bret escaped and tried to apply the sharpshooter but Austin reached the ropes. Bret attacked Austin with punches and applied a sleeper. Austin countered with a jawbreaker and applied the million dollar dream (cobra clutch). Bret kicked off the ropes in the corner and fell on top of Austin, and pinned him at 28:33. Great finish in that Austin looked strong while Bret returned from a lengthy absence with a win. Much like the first time I saw this match, I'm trying to decide whether I enjoyed it or not. The intensity early was fairly weak, while the work itself wasn't often spectacular. They chose to do a slow build, and for a moment it looked almost like a poor man's All Japan Budokan Hall main event. The slow build was very solid, but not perfect (such as the chinlocks) and could not work in today's WWE excapt for maybe in an ironman match. The brawling they did was really sharp which was an incication of things to come for their Wrestlemania classic 4 months later. Plenty of near falls in the last 9 minutes or so, and most had meaning. Actually almost everything they did had meaning, which was a positive of the slow build of the match. This just didn't get my blood flowing often enough for me to call it a classic, but it was pretty close to that level and still an excellent match. More fundamentally solid than their rematch at Wrestlemania, but not nearly as dramatic or spectacular. ****1/4
In Your House Final Four 2/23/97: WWF Title: Bret Hart vs Vader (w/Paul Bearer) vs Undertaker vs Steve Austin
The rules were weird, as a wrestler could be eliminated either by pin, submission, or by being thrown over the top rope to the floor. Undertaker gave Vader a flying clothesline as Bret fought with Austin. Undertaker also attacked Bret and Austin and did the ropewalk into a punch on Austin. Vader belly to belly suplexed Undertaker and knocked him out of the ring (but not over the top rope). Vader rammed Undertaker into the barricade as Bret dominated Austin in the ring. Vader missed a chairshot on Undertaker and struck the ringpost. Austin whipped Bret hard into the corner. Vader went for a chairshot but Undertaker kicked the chair into his face as Austin gained a near fall on Bret. Austin elbowed Bret for a near fall as Undertaker whipped Vader into the ring steps and apparently busted him open in the process. In the ring Bret gave Austin a backbreaker. Vader gave Undertaker a series of clubbing shots as Bret applied a sleeper on Austin but Austin escaped with a jawbreaker. Austin gained a near fall on Bret. Undertaker chokeslammed Vader but Austin then gave Undertaker a modified stunner for a near fall. Vader steamrolled through Bret and gained a near fall. Undertaker got the better of Austin as Vader took his fight with Bret to the floor. Austin gave Undertaker a neckbreaker for a near fall and Vader hit Bret repeatedly with a chair. Austin attempted to piledrive Undertaker in the aisle but Undertaker backdropped him. Back in the ring Bret clotheslined Vader. Undertaker suplexed Bret from the apron back into the ring for a near fall. Vader went to hit Austin with the ring steps but Austin kicked him and rammed him into the steps. Austin then dropped the other half of the steps on Vader. Vader fought back with a series of clubbing shots on Austin as Undertaker gained a near fall on Bret. Bret attacked Undertaker�s leg as Vader dropped Austin head first on the barricade. Austin whipped Vader into the barricade but Vader fought back. Undertaker clotheslined Bret and crotched Austin on the top rope. Vader rammed Bret into the barricade in the aisle but Bret then whipped Vader over the barricade and into the crowd as Undertaker gained a near fall on Austin in the ring. Vader rammed Bret into the steps as Undertaker tried to throw Austin over the top rope. Austin gave Undertaker a top rope clothesline for a near fall. Vader applied a sharpshooter on Bret on the floor briefly. Austin rammed Bret into the steps but Bret fought back. Undertaker and Bret double teamed Austin until Vader intervened. Austin gave Vader a Thesz press and a barrage of punches to Vader�s wound on his head. Vader fought back but Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker whipped Vader into the corner but Vader responded with a clothesline. Bret piledrove Austin for a near fall. Vader missed a moonsault on Undertaker. Undertaker choked Vader with a camera cable at ringside as Austin got the better of Bret in the ring. Vader fought back and choked Undertaker with the cable as Austin tried to dump Bret over the top rope. Bret fought back against Austin as Undertaker gained a near fall on Vader. Bret gave Austin a second rope elbow for a near fall. Austin then rolled up Bret for a near fall. Bret and Vader had a slugfest but Bret knocked Vader down with a kick to the crotch. Austin rammed Undertaker�s leg into the ringpost and Bret gave Vader a Russian legsweep for a near fall. Vader clotheslined Bret as Undertaker nearly eliminated Austin over the top rope. Austin tried and failed to dump Undertaker over the top rope and Undertaker nearly eliminated Austin moments later. Undertaker gave Vader a short clothesline for a near fall. Vader won a slugfest against Undertaker and Bret dumped Austin over the top rope to the floor for the first elimination. Vader clotheslined Bret and gave him several clubbing shots in the corner. Undertaker whipped Vader into the corner and gave him a corner splash. Bret and Undertaker exchanged punches until Vader clipped Undertaker�s knee. Vader suplexed Bret and went to the top rope but Bret caught him there and gave him a remarkable top rope superplex. Bret applied a sharpshooter on Vader but Undertaker then clotheslined Bret from behind. Vader powerslammed Undertaker as Austin returned and attacked Bret at ringside. Vader went for a Vader bomb but Undertaker moved, got up, and gave Vader a low blow that sent him crashing over the top to the floor for the second elimination. Austin continued to attack Bret until Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker chokeslammed Bret and went for a tombstone but Austin grabbed Bret�s leg, and in doing so crotched Bret on the top rope. Bret rolled up Undertaker for a near fall and punched Austin. Bret clotheslined Undertaker over the top rope to the floor at 23:59 to win the title. Another super match with all four men contributing. However, Vader stole the show with one of the best performances of his career, both on offense and defense. He was fired up as evidenced by the stiffness of much of his offense, and he took the kind and volume of bumps that turned back the clock to 1993 when Vader was one of the top 10 workers in the world. In other words, this was Vader�s best performance in the WWF. None of the other three were nearly as memorable, but kept the match moving and contributed when they had to. ****1/2
Submission Match: Steve Austin vs Bret Hart 3/23/97 Wrestlemania XIII
Ken Shamrock was the guest referee for this match. Austin tackled Bret before the bell but Bret held his own. Both men tumbled out of the ring and traded blows at ringside. Bret rammed Austin into the ringpost and tried to suplex him on the floor but Austin countered and crotched Bret on the barricade. Austin then clotheslined Bret into the front row. Austin rammed Bret into the barricade and the fight moved through the crowd on the floor. Austin dropped Bret on a barrier in the crowd but Bret fought back and dominated Austin as the fight moved into the stands. Austin fought back and attempted a piledriver in the stands but Bret countered with a backdrop. Bret dominated Austin as the action finally returned to ringside. Bret tried to whip Austin but Austin reversed the whip and Bret crashed into the ring steps. Austin gave Bret the dreaded double bird and hit an elbow strike off the apron. Austin went to hit Bret with the steps but Bret kicked him. Austin recovered and rammed Bret into the ringpost. Back in the ring Bret gave Austin a swinging neckbreaker and a second rope elbow. Bret attacked Austin�s left leg in various ways for an extended period of time. Austin fought back and gave Bret a stunner. Bret fought back by kicking Austin�s leg. Bret then applied a figure 4 leglock on Austin around the ringpost. Bret grabbed the ring bell and then a chair and trapped Austin�s leg in the chair. Bret climbed to the top rope but Austin recovered and hit Bret with the chair. Austin scored with another chairshot and whipped him hard into the corner. Austin suplexed Bret and hit a second rope elbow. Austin gave Bret a Russian legsweep and applied a modified armbreaker while bending Bret�s head sideways with his leg. Austin then applied a Boston crab on Bret. Austin tried to apply a sharpshooter but Bret poked his eyes. Bret landed several blows but Austin threw him out of the ring. Bret whipped Austin into the timekeeper�s table, knocking him over in the process. Bret rammed Austin into the barricade and Austin was busted open. Bret rammed Austin into the steps and then the ringpost. Bret dropped an elbow and attacked Austin�s wound. Bret gave Austin a backbreaker and a second rope elbow. Bret repeatedly hit Austin�s left leg with a chair and attempted to apply a sharpshooter but Austin raked his eyes. Austin fought back with a kick to Bret�s crotch and whipped Bret hard into the corner. Austin repeatedly kicked Bret in the corner. He superplexed Bret and threw him out of the ring. Austin choked Bret with a cable but Bret hit him with the bell. Bret then applied a sharpshooter on Austin for a huge pop. The classic scene took place with Austin screaming in pain a blood poured down his face. After over a minute Austin briefly broke the hold but Bret quickly reapplied the sharpshooter. Austin passed out and Shamrock stopped the fight at 22:05. After the match Bret attacked Austin and had to be restrained by Shamrock. I can see why this was the 1997 Observer Match of the Year, but I didn�t think it was a ***** match. Perhaps they could have done more work centered around Austin�s stunner down the stretch. Otherwise, this as a classic match and one of the top three matches in Wrestlemania history. The intensity was great from start to finish and everything they did contributed to the match well. Some might say that Austin�s excessive bleeding was a cheap way to draw heat, but it actually contributed to a somewhat legendary scene with him in the sharpshooter. It also added to the impact of Austin�s face turn and Bret�s concurrent heel turn. ****3/4
Summerslam 8/3/97 WWF Title: Undertaker (c) vs Bret Hart
Shawn Michaels was the guest ref, leading many to expect Bret to be screwed at the end. Bret hit Undertaker with the title belt before the bell and attacked him with punches. Undertaker threw Bret into the corner and gave him a ton of punches of his own. Undertaker whipped Bret into the opposite corner and clotheslined him. Undertaker rammed Bret into the barricade and the ringpost. Undertaker missed a clothesline and hit the ringpost with his arm. Bret whipped Undertaker into the ring steps. He jumped off the apron but Undertaker caught him and backed him into the ringpost. Undertaker rammed Bret's back into the post again and pummeled him back in the ring. Undertaker gave Bret a backbreaker and bent him over his knee. Undertaker punched Bret and rammed him into the corner. Undertaker caught Bret in a bearhug, which Bret escaped by biting his nose. Undertaker gave Bret a high kick but missed an elbowsmash. Undertaker recovered but missed a high kick and Bret kicked his left knee repeatedly. Bret placed Undertaker's leg across the bottom rope and pounced on it. Undertaker landed a couple punches but Bret raked his eyes. Bret kicked Undertaker's leg again and elbowsmashed it. Bret continued to attack Undertaker's leg and applied a figure 4 leglock as Paul Bearer walked to ringside. Undertaker reversed the hold but Bret reached the ropes. Undertaker rammed Bret's leg into the canvas and then punched Bearer at ringside. Undertaker continued to confront Bearer but Bret clipped his leg from behind. Bret applied a figure 4 leglock on Undertaker around the ringpost. Michaels made Bret break the hold and Bret threatened him. Owen Hart and Brian Pillman appeared at ringside as Bret went back to attacking Undertaker's leg. Undertaker tried to fight back but Bret raked his eyes. Bret rammed Undertaker's leg into the ringpost. Bret kicked his leg and elbowsmashed it again before applying a leglock. Undertaker countered and dropped his leg down on Bret's neck. Undertaker left the ring and attacked Pillman and Owen at ringside. Back in the ring Undertaker caught Bret and chokeslammed him for a pin but Michaels was distracted by Owen and Pillman. Undertaker confronted Michaels long enough for Bret to roll him up for a near fall. Undertaker clotheslined Bret and confronted Michaels again. Bret dragged Undertaker out of the ring and rammed his back into the apron. Bret rammed Undertaker's back into the ringpost. He jumped off the second rope with an elbow and gave Undertaker some headbutts to the back. Bret gave Undertaker a backbreaker for a near fall and suplexed him. Bret hit a second rope elbow for a near fall and a DDT for another near fall. Bret gave Undertaker a couple headbutts but Undertaker lifted him and sent him head first into the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Bret won an exchange of blows and gave Undertaker a Russian legsweep. Bret kneedropped and legdropped Undertaker. Bret went for the sharpshooter but Undertaker grabbed his neck. Undertaker pummeled Bret and whipped him into the corner but ran into his boots. Undertaker attempted a chokeslam but Bret kicked his leg. Undertaker recovered and gave Bret a ton of punches. Bret missed a clothesline and Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker whipped Bret hard into the corner for a near fall. Undertaker gave Bret a high kick and a legdrop for a near fall. He chokeslammed Bret from the apron into the ring for a near fall. Undertaker went to the top rope but Bret kicked his leg and crotched him on the top rope. Bret gave Undertaker a top rope superplex and applied a sharpshooter. Undertaker broke the hold by pushing Bret away with his legs and sent Bret tumbling out of the ring. Bret landed some punches but Undertaker clotheslined him. Undertaker went for a tombstone but Bret countered and then applied a sharpshooter around the ringpost. Undertaker escaped and pushed Bret away, causing Bret to crash into Michaels at ringside. Bret hit Undertaker with a chair for a near fall. Michaels confronted Bret after finding the chair. Bret spat at Michaels, who went to hit him with the chair but instead hit Undertaker when Bret ducked. Bret then pinned Undertaker at 28:09 to win the title for a 5th time. Very heated and controversial finish as lots of garbage was thrown into the ring. A very good match for the most part because it was a very long match but didn't feel as such. I'd say both men worked to the higher end of their usual work, with Undertaker turning in one of his better performances to date against someone other than Mankind. The figure 4 and sharpshooter around the ringpost were two of the sweeter spots that appeared to be lost with the retirement of Bret Hart. Funny seeing Bret spit at Michaels, little did anyone (including Bret) realize that he was perfecting his "aim" for the match and screwjob that would ultimately end his WWF tenure. ***1/2
Survivor Series 11/9/97 WWF Title: Bret Hart (c) vs Shawn Michaels
Michaels attacked Bret before the bell but Bret fought back with a ton of punches. Bret clotheslined Michaels out of the ring and rammed him into the ringpost. Bret rammed Michaels into the ring steps and gave him more punches. Bret dumped Michaels over the barricade into the front row and rammed Michaels into the barricade. Bret took the fight through the ringside crowd before returning to ringside. Michaels fought back and rammed Bret into the French or Spanish (couldn't see who was announcing, it was in Montreal) announcers' table. Michaels rammed Bret into the steps and choked him with an American flag. Michaels dumped Bret over the barricade and rammed him into the barricade. Michaels went for a piledriver but Bret countered and backdropped Michaels over the barricade back to ringside. Bret kicked Michaels in the crotch and knocked him for a loop with a punch in the aisle. Michaels punched Bret and attempted a piledriver in the aisle but Bret countered with a backdrop again. Bret suplexed Michaels in the aisle on the concrete floor. Bret landed some punches but Michaels shoved him into a ref, taking the ref out in the process. Bret rammed Michaels into the barricade as the fight moved closer to the entrance. Bret dumped Michaels over a table or podium of some sort and hit him with a fire extinguisher. Bret punched Michaels inside the entrance and punched a ref as well. Bret continued to dominate Michaels as the action moved closer to the ring. He rammed Michaels into the barricade and dumped him back into the ring. Bret returned to the ring as the bell finally rang and choked Michaels with a Quebec flag. Bret legdropped Michaels and gave him an atomic drop. Bret missed a clothesline and Michaels scored with a flying forearm. Michaels punted Bret's face and stomped his face. Michaels then choked Bret with the Quebec flag. He gave Bret a fistdrop and rammed him into the corner. Michaels threw Bret out of the ring and gave him a couple punches. Michaels gave Bret a face front suplex right onto the ring steps. He broke the Canadian flag's pole and hit Bret with a half of the pole. Michaels punched Bret and threw him back into the ring. He gave Bret a top rope axhandle and applied a front facelock as the pace finally slowed. Bret fought back and threw Michaels to the mat. Bret attacked Michaels's leg but Michaels raked his eyes. Michaels telegraphed a backdrop and Bret kicked him. Bret kicked Michaels's leg but Michaels raked his eyes again. Michaels rammed Bret into the corner and slammed him. Michaels hit a flying bodypress but Bret rolled through and gained a near fall. Bret repeatedly kicked Michaels's leg and applied a figure 4 leglock around the ringpost. Bret placed Michaels's leg on the bottom rope and pounced on it twice, then applied a figure 4 leglock. Michaels turned the hold over but Bret quickly grabbed the ropes. Bret punched Michaels and whipped him into the corner, with Michaels taking a flip bump in the process. Bret gave Michaels a Russian legsweep for a near fall and suplexed him for another near fall. Bret gave Michaels a backbreaker. He came off the top rope but took out the ref when Michaels used him as a shield. Michaels applied a sharpshooter and then the bell rang, and Michaels won the title about 12:19 after the opening bell rang. Bret spat at Vince McMahon, who was at ringside and often visible during the pre-bell action. Michaels grabbed the belt and left the arena immediately. The screwjob in Montreal. What a way for a great tenure, which made Bret Hart a hall-of-famer, to end. It was a very good match, actually excellent if you include the pre-match fight, which was electric and began the match better than the early minutes of Bret-Austin from Wrestlemania. It's a shame that circumstances cut this one short, because they were on their way to a classic match to some extent. ***1/2 (****+ including the pre-bell action)
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