Post by Sephiroth on Dec 24, 2009 1:47:52 GMT -5
Okay, so it is common knowledge that Bret Hart will almost certainly be making a return to WWE television sometime in the near future, perhaps the VERY near future. He will probably guest host RAW, I could see him as a surprise entrant in the rumble, and he may even wrestler a headline match.
And inevitably, this news has created a lot of buzz. Most of it is centering around the possibility of some sort of on-air reference to the legendary Montreal screwjob. The feud that seems to be developing between the Hart Dynasty and DX has only fueled this speculation. It seems that every fan who remembers how stunned they were when it happened back in the day are salivating at the idea of seeing some sort of on air closure about that infamous event.
BUT, I think there is one problem with this. Namely that on the air is the only place that the three men most involved-Bret, Vince, and HBK-have not gotten closure. Or to be more precise, they have gotten closure aplenty, it is we, the fans, who have never gotten over it. From all the interviews, books, and stories I have absorbed it sounds to me like all three men have gotten over it and done their best to put it behind them, the way that any grown, mature adult tries to do with a very messy, unpleasant experience.
For fans Montreal was the day that kayfabe died. All the illusions about heroes and villains in wrestling died forever, and another major page was written in the then ongoing drama between the WWF and WCW. But for those three men, I do not think it was the same experience. It was a major clash of three overinflated ego's. And in the heat of that moment, all three men acted very much like spoiled children, demanding to have their own way. I think everyone experiences moments like that, and usually we do not remember them fondly and prefer to put it as far into the past as possible.
And added to that, all three of those men have undergone great personal changes in the many years since then. Bret, as far as I can tell, is enjoying life outside the ring. His family tragedies have probably given him a greater appreciation of life, and perhaps also taught him to put the needs of others ahead of himself. HBK has of course undergone a well noted change from rampant egomaniac to a devoted Born Again Christian and devoted family man. Once he virtually demanded to ALWAYS be at the top of the card, now he is doing skits in the Little People's Court. I think it is safe to say he has put his own ego in check as well. And despite the general image of Vince as a bloodthirsty corporate monster, I would not be amazed if he actually does feel some regret for some of the things he did back in the heat of the ratings wars with WCW. The ferocity of competition can make all of us get pretty desperate and vicious at times, and I think its totally possible Vince looks back on some things like Montreal and regrets having done it, and perhaps wishing he had thoroughly thought it through before he did it.
With those things in mind, I think that everyone should keep their expectations of some sort of big ref to Montreal pretty low. Given DX's recent comedy oriented gimmick, I could perhaps see some sarcastic one liner about "that thing in Montreal" but that is about the extent of it. Lest we forget, Vince and HBK have both gotten "you screwed Bret" chants in Montreal, and generally just ignore it. Why should we believe this will be any different?
Sorry if I offended anyone with this long rant. But it has just amazed me to see the smark in so many of my fellow crappers come out since the Bret teasers first started getting dropped. I suppose it proves that in some ways, kayfabe never actually did die out.
And inevitably, this news has created a lot of buzz. Most of it is centering around the possibility of some sort of on-air reference to the legendary Montreal screwjob. The feud that seems to be developing between the Hart Dynasty and DX has only fueled this speculation. It seems that every fan who remembers how stunned they were when it happened back in the day are salivating at the idea of seeing some sort of on air closure about that infamous event.
BUT, I think there is one problem with this. Namely that on the air is the only place that the three men most involved-Bret, Vince, and HBK-have not gotten closure. Or to be more precise, they have gotten closure aplenty, it is we, the fans, who have never gotten over it. From all the interviews, books, and stories I have absorbed it sounds to me like all three men have gotten over it and done their best to put it behind them, the way that any grown, mature adult tries to do with a very messy, unpleasant experience.
For fans Montreal was the day that kayfabe died. All the illusions about heroes and villains in wrestling died forever, and another major page was written in the then ongoing drama between the WWF and WCW. But for those three men, I do not think it was the same experience. It was a major clash of three overinflated ego's. And in the heat of that moment, all three men acted very much like spoiled children, demanding to have their own way. I think everyone experiences moments like that, and usually we do not remember them fondly and prefer to put it as far into the past as possible.
And added to that, all three of those men have undergone great personal changes in the many years since then. Bret, as far as I can tell, is enjoying life outside the ring. His family tragedies have probably given him a greater appreciation of life, and perhaps also taught him to put the needs of others ahead of himself. HBK has of course undergone a well noted change from rampant egomaniac to a devoted Born Again Christian and devoted family man. Once he virtually demanded to ALWAYS be at the top of the card, now he is doing skits in the Little People's Court. I think it is safe to say he has put his own ego in check as well. And despite the general image of Vince as a bloodthirsty corporate monster, I would not be amazed if he actually does feel some regret for some of the things he did back in the heat of the ratings wars with WCW. The ferocity of competition can make all of us get pretty desperate and vicious at times, and I think its totally possible Vince looks back on some things like Montreal and regrets having done it, and perhaps wishing he had thoroughly thought it through before he did it.
With those things in mind, I think that everyone should keep their expectations of some sort of big ref to Montreal pretty low. Given DX's recent comedy oriented gimmick, I could perhaps see some sarcastic one liner about "that thing in Montreal" but that is about the extent of it. Lest we forget, Vince and HBK have both gotten "you screwed Bret" chants in Montreal, and generally just ignore it. Why should we believe this will be any different?
Sorry if I offended anyone with this long rant. But it has just amazed me to see the smark in so many of my fellow crappers come out since the Bret teasers first started getting dropped. I suppose it proves that in some ways, kayfabe never actually did die out.