I have to admit...

[Steve Corino Mark]

Even though I don't like HBK, he is great at what he does. I don't think there is anyone who was born for this business as much as he was. The guy just OOZES charisma. Anyone think he doesn't get as much credit as people like Flair?

[Loki]

Sadly, many older fans won't forgive him for Montreal..

He's ready to step into Flair's Territory now, but in terms of respect, he'll always pay the toll to Montreal and to his assholeness.

Flair did a better job hiding it for all these years.

[The Thread Barbi]

I am/was a Bret Hart mark. Having said that, I will never deny Michaels' phenomenal ability and charisma. As for Montreal, as far as I'm concerned, its all forgiven, maybe not forgotten.

He deserves to retire Flair, although the WCW fan in me wants it to be Sting somehow.

[Steve Corino Mark]

I agree that he did a lot of dumbass things back in the 90's/80's and acted like a total dick. I just firmly believe Montreal was a work.

[TheMediocreWarrior]

I'm okay with what Michaels did in Montreal. Hart brought it on himself by not agreeing to do the job. Yes, Michaels was a jerk at the time, but show you are the bigger man by being a professional instead of believing too much in your own hype just like he does.

[Steve Corino Mark]

hulkamania85 said:

I'm okay with what Michaels did in Montreal. Hart brought it on himself by not agreeing to do the job. Yes, Michaels was a jerk at the time, but show you are the bigger man by being a professional instead of believing too much in your own hype just like he does.

Well, Bret did agree to do the job, just not in Montreal. I honestly can't blame him for it, and if Vince would've waited 24 hours this whole thing never would've happened.

[ellisdee]

I've been an HBK mark since i was a little kid and his Rockers days and it just got better from there.I personally don't care about Montreal or any of his ass hole ways backstage because when it comes down to it,the guy can go 110% in the ring better than anybody can.

[Veladus Jobs To Dead Computers]

avonbarksdale said:

hulkamania85 said:

I'm okay with what Michaels did in Montreal. Hart brought it on himself by not agreeing to do the job. Yes, Michaels was a jerk at the time, but show you are the bigger man by being a professional instead of believing too much in your own hype just like he does.

Well, Bret did agree to do the job, just not in Montreal. I honestly can't blame him for it, and if Vince would've waited 24 hours this whole thing never would've happened.

To be fair, if I remember right his contract was up that night. Or his contract with WCW started the next night. Or something. In any case, I've heard Vince did it because he didn't want to risk his champion showing up on WCW by surprise. I'm sure Bret wouldn't have done it, but after Luger and Savage (and Rude, if he was before Hart left) you can't blame him for not risking it.

[Lance Uppercut]

let's not start a Montreal Debate. Bottom line is we got two gigantic Assholes in Shawn and Vince, and one guy who has an obsession with his legacy and when you all those three together on a send off match where the guy's still champion and the rival company's going to gloat about it hte next day (the news broke out days before the ppv ala Lesner) things are going to end badly.

O and I'd just like to add that I too have been a Shawn Michaels mark since childhood.

I loved him in the Rockers, although he wasn't my favorite wrestler at the time, hated him as midcard heel hbk (to be fair I was 10) loved him since he turned face and haven't been off the bandwagon since. I think he was the first heel I rooted for because I liked the heel not hate the face.

[Phosphor Glow]

ellisdee said:

I've been an HBK mark since i was a little kid and his Rockers days and it just got better from there.I personally don't care about Montreal or any of his ass hole ways backstage because when it comes down to it,the guy can go 110% in the ring better than anybody can.

Agreed completely on this. Shawn is my favourite of all time and nothing will ever change that.

[Macho Dude Handy Damage]

veladus said:

avonbarksdale said:

Well, Bret did agree to do the job, just not in Montreal. I honestly can't blame him for it, and if Vince would've waited 24 hours this whole thing never would've happened.

To be fair, if I remember right his contract was up that night. Or his contract with WCW started the next night. Or something. In any case, I've heard Vince did it because he didn't want to risk his champion showing up on WCW by surprise. I'm sure Bret wouldn't have done it, but after Luger and Savage (and Rude, if he was before Hart left) you can't blame him for not risking it.

Didn't Bret manage to get Bischoff to hold off the announcement till after he lost the title the following night on RAW?

anyway, I'm a Bret Hart mark. He's my all time favourite, but nothing changes the fact that Shawn Michaels is one hell of a performer. He's definately a future hall of famer and I enjoy his work. Regardless of what happened in Montreal or not.

[saggyboyflair]

I lost alot of respect for Shawn and trips after montreal. Im sure if the situation was reversed, bret wouldnt have screwed shawn or trips over on the finish. He even said it himself in a shoot interview.

Anyways, as far as shawn goes with his runs, his DX days circa 97-98 were his best IMO. I never liked him as a sissy face as the rockers, boyhood dream shawn in 96 or even now. He always best as a cocky jerk heel.

[Jay Peas 42]

Look, anyone who can come back from his injuries in 1998 and basically pick up where he left off deserves anyones respect. Oh, and when I entered markdom, Bret was a heel, so Montreal isn't that big of a deal.

I'm still torn on Montreal being a shoot or a work.

[@TenaciousBe]

I'm of the belief that Shawn and Hunter both deserve all the accolades in the world for doing what they do. Backstage pull or not, they're a couple of the all-time greats and they work their asses off for what they have.

[Marvelously Mediocre]

Well HBK has always been my 2nd favourite wrestler

Montreal made me mark for him more since at that point i was sick of Bret Hart

[Professor Chaos]

HBK is the greatest wrestler of all time. Flair's got nothing on him.

[doytch]

hbk stands for horrible boring kling-on. he only gets to win becuse he is friends with triple h who is vince mcmahons stepson. if he was so good why has he getting to fight a 900 year old octopus at wrestlemania named ric flair who bleeds if its windy?

[BR329]

doytch said:

hbk stands for horrible boring kling-on. he only gets to win becuse he is friends with triple h who is vince mcmahons stepson. if he was so good why has he getting to fight a 900 year old octopus at wrestlemania named ric flair who bleeds if its windy?

900 year old octopus FTW

[NOwave]

I'm still torn about Montreal, but overall think Vince was more justified than Bret.

Bret should have done as he was told. He's an employee. He got the title only because Vince wanted him to get it. The same has to apply to losing it.

However, Vince didn't handle it well. He could have just pulled Bret off the show and stripped him of the title if they couldn't come to an agreement.

I don't think it was a work. I do think Vince realized in the aftermath that he could take advantage of the situation to create his "evil boss" character that feuded so successfully with Steve Austin.

[The G.O.A.T.]

doytch said:

hbk stands for horrible boring kling-on. he only gets to win becuse he is friends with triple h who is vince mcmahons stepson. if he was so good why has he getting to fight a 900 year old octopus at wrestlemania named ric flair who bleeds if its windy?

Are you serious??? Im hoping this was posted during an alchohol induced stupor...