Montreal Screwjob Avoidance

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I think there are faults on both sides. Vince never should have left himself in a position where the WWE champion was leaving for another company. He had ample opportunity to have Bret drop the belt to whomever (possibly even HBK) in the timeframe between informing Bret he wanted out of their contract and Montreal, and even 30days after that. He panicked and decided to make an example of Bret - be that to Hart himself and the locker room at large ,i.e. don't cross the boss. Yet, he had so many possible other scenarios to get out of the situation in an amicable way.

That said, Bret was told to lose a match by the promoter he worked for. Be that in Canada or wherever, be that to a guy he disliked or not, I think there is no excuse for Bret refusing to lose to HBK that night. He had an element of creative control in his contract perhaps, but he should have used that to ensure he lost in a manner that still made him look credible, i.e. not to his own finishing hold. I just cannot see where he was coming from refusing to job that night, when it seems so out of character looking over his career.

The whole thing should have been avoided. Ego and paranoia blinding both sides in my opinion.

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Bischoff mentioned Bret the following night on Nitro. I think that is what Vince was afraid of. He knew Bischoff would mention the signing and didn't want Bret to be champion when he did.

Regardless, it was avoidable. I agree with Carless about creative control. It's like a no trade clause in sports. Fans give players a hard time for not waiving a NTC but it's in their contract. They are allowed to use it for whatever reason they want to. Bret had creative control and used it. If Vince didn't want a situation like that, then don't give him the contract in the first place. All a wrestler has is his name and character. If Bret thought his name and character would be hurt by doing a job on that night, then you can understand his point, even if it was for selfish reasons.

However, Bret is a hypocrite, because he vows to this day that Hogan refused to job to him in 1993. Even if that were true, if Hulk felt his character would be hurt by doing that job, then he was just as justified to decline the job than Bret was in Montreal. Of course, Bret only sees what Bret wants to see.

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When you look back the whole thing was ridiculous. Because WCW was going to go belly up regardless. Bret could of literally showed up on nitro with the WWF title and took a dump on it in the middle of the ring, and WCW would of still screwed up and lost the war.