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| You deserved that loogie, Vince Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Survivor Series, for better or worse, will be forever defined by an infamous moment that everyone involved would simultaneously like to have back and don't regret in the least. Bret Hart was leaving for WCW in 1997 and held the WWF Championship. Vince McMahon wanted him to drop the title to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series in Montreal. Hart invoked the creative control clause in his contract for which he rightfully negotiated to block losing the title at that specific moment in time.
What happened in that chaotic moment in time would end up changing wrestling dramatically. Hart would end up lost in the morass of WCW, behind the same people in the pecking order he was in the WWF in 1993. Michaels' fate was never tied to that incident, but soon after, an injury would send him into semi-retirement and towards Jesus. McMahon would use the opportunity to remake his in-character self into the infamous Mr. McMahon, and behind the scenes, Hart's departure would force his hand to put the title on Steve Austin and push guys like Triple H, Mick Foley, and especially Rocky Maivia.
Rather than post the match or the moment, the following is an excerpt from a WWE documentary, which was made at quite the fortuitous time when they had access to an important figure in the entire proceedings - Eric Bischoff. And if I may add some commentary to the whole thing, I'm glad this segment gave Hart the most forum to talk, because he really was screwed. I don't care what McMahon thought Hart was going to do or what Hart was really going to do beyond what he said. He successfully negotiated creative control. McMahon was in breach. Lord knows if the roles were reversed, not only would McMahon have orchestrated some kind of double-cross, but he would've sued Hart on top of it all after he left. Don't trust the bosses. Never trust the bosses.
What happened in that chaotic moment in time would end up changing wrestling dramatically. Hart would end up lost in the morass of WCW, behind the same people in the pecking order he was in the WWF in 1993. Michaels' fate was never tied to that incident, but soon after, an injury would send him into semi-retirement and towards Jesus. McMahon would use the opportunity to remake his in-character self into the infamous Mr. McMahon, and behind the scenes, Hart's departure would force his hand to put the title on Steve Austin and push guys like Triple H, Mick Foley, and especially Rocky Maivia.
Rather than post the match or the moment, the following is an excerpt from a WWE documentary, which was made at quite the fortuitous time when they had access to an important figure in the entire proceedings - Eric Bischoff. And if I may add some commentary to the whole thing, I'm glad this segment gave Hart the most forum to talk, because he really was screwed. I don't care what McMahon thought Hart was going to do or what Hart was really going to do beyond what he said. He successfully negotiated creative control. McMahon was in breach. Lord knows if the roles were reversed, not only would McMahon have orchestrated some kind of double-cross, but he would've sued Hart on top of it all after he left. Don't trust the bosses. Never trust the bosses.