Bret Hart on Punching Vince, Being Lied to in Montreal, and Wrestling Goals

Canadian newspaper Calgary Herald held a recent interview with Bret Hart discussing punching Vince McMahon after Survivor Series 1997, being lied to by those he trusted that night, and his original goals as a wrestler.

On the topic of punching Vince McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob incident, Hart stated it was the best punch he ever threw in his life. He believed Vince wanted to ridicule him some more after the event and it was pleasant to embarrass Vince instead backstage.

“It was only one punch but it was such a beautiful punch. Of all the things I’ve ever done in my life, it was the sweetest, most beautiful punch anyone could ever throw. It was just amazing. The whole memory of it brings a smile to my face. I just maybe wish that I’d mopped the floor with Triple H and Shawn Michaels both at the same time right after. That would have been ideal. … I think what it really amounted to was a case of Vince — and he’s a very macho kind of guy — he wanted to back me down in front of everybody in the dressing room and show that he was the boss and save face. So he took it upon himself to put himself in a physical situation, which was laughable. But he put himself in that situation and I knocked him out.”

On the topic of being lied to by those he trusted the most during the night of Survivor Series 1997, Hart stated the incident will always be a “black eye” on their reputations and not on his own. He also still stands by the comments he made towards certain individuals and by his side of the story regarding the infamous night.

“To be lied to and screwed over legitimately by people that I had worked so hard for, I think it’s always been a black eye on them, not me. Everything I said was true, everything that I said happened, it happened the way it did.”

On the topic of his original goals in wrestling, Hart stated his initial goals included traveling around the world and making a lot of money for his career.

“I got into wrestling to make some money, see the world, and meet girls. I accomplished that. Those were my initial goals. When I look back on everything, I’m really amazed by my career. I had so many wonderful guys that I worked with and great matches, that’s what was most important to me — and the fans. I had a great fan base across the country and around the world.”