Bret Hart Declares Punching Vince McMahon as His Greatest Achievement

Bret Hart is a WWE Hall of Famer and his in-ring skills earned him all the fame and recognition a pro wrestler would ever want. However, he truly changed after what transpired during The Montreal Screwjob. In fact, he made a very interesting claim about punching Vince McMahon following the incident.

Bret Hart was at the center of the infamous Montreal Screwjob, an event that fueled animosity between him and those involved for many years. The incident occurred at Survivor Series 1997, with the event themed “Gang Rulez,” and it created significant tension between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart.

Hart was so incensed by the situation that he ended up punching Vince McMahon in the face, resulting in a black eye for McMahon. This altercation took place in the locker room shortly after the screwjob unfolded.

On the Attitude Era Podcast, Bret Hart talked about his feelings about the Montreal Screwjob, a moment that deeply affected him. He expressed frustration over the deceit and betrayal he experienced, highlighting that despite his contributions to the company, he was treated poorly. Hart disagrees with claims that there were no alternatives, noting that he still had six weeks left on his contract and believes there were other ways to resolve the situation.

”The Montreal Screwjob and all the lies and things they did to me. I have so much respect for what I did. If you were in my shoes, after everything that I did for them, for them to do what they did to me. I always hear this crap like I heard Undertaker say, ‘they had to do what they were going to do. There was no other option.’ Bullshit. I had another six weeks left on my contract. There were a million things that could have been done. It was a case of liars, cheaters, backstabbers, and guys that made that moment happen. Shawn, Triple H, Vince McMahon. I wish I knocked them all out. I have no regrets. It was the single greatest thing I ever did.”

Hart recalled a conversation with Jimmy Snuka three years after the incident. Snuka praised Hart for standing up to Vince McMahon, acknowledging that while many had talked about confronting McMahon, Hart was the only one who actually did it. This recognition was important to Hart, as it validated his actions and character.

Hart also described his confrontation with McMahon. When McMahon tried to provoke him, Hart chose to engage in a wrestling-like stance rather than rushing at him. He delivered a powerful uppercut, which he considered his best punch. This act, which resulted in a broken hand for Hart, was something he wouldn’t change. Hart remains resolute in his stance against McMahon, expressing strong negative feelings towards him.

“All I’ll say is this. Jimmy Snuka came up to me about three years after the Montreal Screwjob. He came up to me and shook my hand. He goes, ‘I want to shake the hand of the man that knocked out Vince McMahon. Everybody talked about doing it.’ He lied and screwed over so many guys. ‘Everybody talked about doing it, but the one guy who did it was you.’ That’s why he shook my hand. I think it says more about my real personality. I was never a hot head or a guy that acted out and went off and punched everybody that I wanted to. If you were in my shoes that day, Vince was calling my bluff. He was going to confront me and wanted me to back down and take the high road.

It was a gamble that he made and he thought he was going to try and get into a little altercation with me. He wanted it to be a pull apart. Everybody pulls us apart and he can act like he stood his ground against me. In those fleeting seconds of having to think about this, ‘I can’t believe Vince McMahon is actually going to confront me.’ I didn’t charge him. We actually walked up to each other and locked up like a wrestling match. Then I knocked him out with one punch and it was the greatest punch I ever threw. Absolutely beautiful uppercut. I lifted him about a foot off the ground, broke my hand. It was the sweetest punch I ever threw. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Vince McMahon can rot in hell.”

Things are clearly better between the two now, as Bret Hart eventually made his way back to WWE. The incident will forever be etched in the minds of pro wrestlers in general, and that’s unlikely to ever change.

Are you glad about Bret Hart punching Vince McMahon? Do you feel he should have done more to him? Sound off in the comments!