The Montreal Screwjob refers to a real-life incident that
took place during a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event on November 9,
1997. The event, Survivor Series, was held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and
featured a match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship.
The match ended unexpectedly when the referee called for the bell to signal the
end of the match, despite Hart not submitting to Michaels' Sharpshooter
submission hold. This caused Hart to lose the championship, and led to a
real-life dispute between Hart and WWE owner Vince McMahon. The incident has
been described as one of the most controversial moments in professional
wrestling history and had a lasting impact on the industry.
November 9, 1997 – The Day of the Montreal Screwjob
On November 9, 1997, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
held the Survivor Series event in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. One of the main
matches of the event was between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for the WWE
Championship. The match was supposed to end with Hart winning, as Hart was
leaving WWE for WCW and Vince McMahon did not want to lose the championship
belt. However, during the match, Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE, ordered the
referee to end the match and award the victory to Michaels, despite Hart not
submitting to Michaels' Sharpshooter submission hold. This caused Hart to lose
the championship and led to a real-life dispute between Hart and McMahon. The
incident became known as the Montreal Screwjob and is considered one of the
most controversial moments in professional wrestling history. It had a lasting
impact on the industry, particularly in how contracts and creative control are
handled in wrestling promotions.
Booking the Match that Led to The Montreal Screwjob
The Montreal Screwjob was the result of a complicated set of
circumstances surrounding Bret Hart's contract with the World Wrestling
Entertainment (WWE) and his eventual departure to rival promotion World
Championship Wrestling (WCW). Hart had signed a 20-year contract with WWE in
1996, but by 1997, he had grown unhappy with the direction of the company and
had decided to leave for WCW. However, Hart still had several months left on
his contract and was unwilling to drop the WWE Championship to Shawn Michaels,
his scheduled opponent at Survivor Series, before leaving the company.
Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE, wanted to avoid losing the
championship belt to WCW and came up with a plan to have Hart lose the
championship in a controversial manner at Survivor Series. McMahon and Michaels
worked together to come up with a finish for the match that would involve Hart
losing without submitting to Michaels' Sharpshooter submission hold. Hart was
not made aware of the planned finish and was surprised when the referee called
for the bell, signaling the end of the match. The incident led to a real-life
dispute between Hart and McMahon and has become known as one of the most
controversial moments in professional wrestling history.
Who Really Knew about the Montreal Screwjob before It Went Down?
The Montreal Screwjob was orchestrated by Vince McMahon, the
owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and Shawn Michaels, the
wrestler who was scheduled to face Bret Hart in the match for the WWE
Championship. It is believed that only a small number of individuals within the
company were aware of the plan to have Hart lose the championship in a
controversial manner before it occurred.
It is known that Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels, referee Earl
Hebner and the timekeeper were aware of the plan and were involved in executing
it. Some other wrestlers and WWE officials may have had some suspicions or were
informed of the plan but were not actively involved in the execution. However,
Hart himself was not made aware of the plan and was surprised when the referee
called for the bell during the match, signaling his loss. The incident caused a
rift between Hart and McMahon and was considered one of the most controversial
moments in professional wrestling history.
Whose Idea Was the Montreal Screwjob?
The Montreal Screwjob was orchestrated by Vince McMahon, the
owner of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The idea behind the incident was
to prevent Bret Hart, who was leaving WWE for rival promotion World
Championship Wrestling (WCW), from taking the WWE Championship with him. Vince
McMahon did not want to lose the championship belt to WCW and came up with a
plan to have Hart lose the championship in a controversial manner at Survivor
Series. He worked together with Shawn Michaels, Hart's scheduled opponent, to
come up with a finish for the match that would involve Hart losing without
submitting to Michaels' Sharpshooter submission hold. The match's referee Earl
Hebner and the timekeeper were also aware of the plan and were involved in
executing it. The incident became known as the Montreal Screwjob and is
considered one of the most controversial moments in professional wrestling
history.
Was the Montreal Screwjob All A Work?
The Montreal Screwjob is a matter of debate, some people
believe that the incident was a "work", meaning that it was a
pre-planned and orchestrated event, while others believe that it was a
legitimate shoot, meaning that it was an unplanned and real event.
Vince McMahon, the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) has stated publicly that the incident was a work, and that Bret Hart was
aware of the plan to have him lose the championship in a controversial manner.
However, Hart has stated that he was not made aware of the plan and was
surprised when the referee called for the bell during the match, signaling his
loss.
It is widely believed that the incident was a work, as the
match's finish was designed to have a controversial outcome, and the WWE has
used the incident as a storyline in the past. However, the specific details of
what was planned or agreed upon before the match, and the level of involvement
of the participants, are not known for certain. It is a controversial incident
that left a long-lasting impact on the wrestling industry.
Not The First Time Vince McMahon Crafted a Screwjob
The Montreal Screwjob is not the first time that Vince
McMahon, the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has orchestrated a
controversial finish to a match. McMahon has been known to use
"screwjob" finishes in the past as a way to create drama and
storyline for his company.
One example of this is the "I Quit" match between
Mick Foley and The Rock in 1999. The match was designed to end with Foley
saying "I quit" into a microphone, but the microphone did not work,
so Foley continued to get beaten. McMahon then instructed the referee to stop
the match and declare The Rock the winner, even though Foley never said "I
quit".
Another example is the "Deadly Game" tournament in
1998. McMahon orchestrated a controversial finish to the final match between
Steve Austin and Mankind, where McMahon himself was the special guest referee.
McMahon stopped the match and declared Mankind the winner, even though Austin
had not submitted or been pinned.
These examples demonstrate that Vince McMahon has a history
of using controversial finishes as a way to create drama and storylines for his
company. The Montreal Screwjob is considered one of the most controversial
moments in professional wrestling history, but it's not the first time that
McMahon has used a screwjob finish.
The Immediate Aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob
The immediate aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob was one of
shock and confusion. Many of the wrestlers and officials at ringside were not
aware of the plan to have Bret Hart lose the WWE Championship in a
controversial manner, and were surprised when the referee called for the bell
during the match. Hart was visibly upset and angry, and he confronted Vince
McMahon and Shawn Michaels in the locker room after the match.
Bret Hart, who was leaving WWE for rival promotion World
Championship Wrestling (WCW), felt that his integrity and credibility as a
wrestler had been damaged by the incident. He publicly denounced the WWE and
Vince McMahon, and his departure from the company became much more acrimonious
than it would have been otherwise.
The incident caused a rift between Hart and McMahon, and
many of Hart's fans felt that he had been wronged. The incident was widely
covered by the media and was considered one of the most controversial moments
in professional wrestling history. The aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob had a
long-lasting impact on the WWE, as well as on the careers of the individuals
involved.
The Fallout
The fallout of the Montreal Screwjob was significant and
long-lasting.
Bret Hart, who had been one of the biggest stars in the WWE,
was deeply hurt by the incident and felt that his integrity and credibility as
a wrestler had been damaged. He publicly denounced the WWE and Vince McMahon,
and his departure from the company became much more acrimonious than it would
have been otherwise. Hart would go on to WCW where he would have a successful
run but would never fully regain the same level of popularity he had in WWE.
The incident also caused a rift between Hart and McMahon,
and many of Hart's fans felt that he had been wronged. The incident was widely
covered by the media and was considered one of the most controversial moments
in professional wrestling history. The WWE, for its part, would use the
incident in storylines and as a way to garner sympathy for Shawn Michaels.
The incident also had an impact on the relationship between
WWE and its fans, as many felt that the company had treated one of its most
beloved stars unfairly. It also had an impact on the relationship between the
WWE and its wrestlers, as many felt that the company could not be trusted to
keep its promises.
Overall, the Montreal Screwjob was a major incident that had
a long-lasting impact on the wrestling industry and the individuals involved.
It remains one of the most controversial moments in professional wrestling
history.