WWE RAW Coverage: Bret Not Allowed to Hit Back

“WWE Raw” opened this Monday with a blast from the past. Viewers tuned in to see the return of former champion Bret “the Hitman” Hart, who was scheduled to host the program.

Hart exited the company in 1997 under great controversy, sparked by an event known to wrestling fans as the “Montreal Screw Job.” During the incident, which occurred in a match at Survivor Series between then champion Hart and challenger Shawn Michaels, Michaels applied Hart’s finisher, the Sharpshooter, to Hart. Fans were glued to their seats, waiting to see if Hart would tap and relinquish the title; though Hart never tapped, referee Earl Hebner, under instructions from chairman Vince McMahon, sounded for the bell, and Michaels was abruptly awarded the title. Enraged over being uninformed of the match’s decision in advance, Hart spat in McMahon’s face and destroyed camera equipment before returning backstage, where the conflict continued. (Hart eventually punched McMahon in the face, as a matter of fact.)

This week’s show opened with a montage of past moments and accomplishments of Hart’s career with the company. After the video, Hart was introduced by the announcer, his music sounded and he appeared live on “Raw” for the first time in 12 years. After making his way down the ramp and into the squared circle, he remarked, “Well, I guess hell froze over.”

Hart addressed the audience by thanking everyone for never letting him be forgotten, and for carrying him in their hearts over the years. He then switched gears and focused on the incident that has stayed in the minds of many fans for over a decade.

He called out Shawn Michaels, and the two stood together in the ring. After exchanging words, they decided that it was best to put the past behind them, and that neither of their careers should be defined by what happened at Survivor Series over a decade ago. Hart extended his hand to Michaels, burying the hatchet once and for all. Michaels turned to exit the ring, but hesitated. He walked toward Hart and they hugged – the exchange between the two former rivals got a somewhat mixed reaction from the audience.

After Michaels exited, Hart stated that he had one more person to confront, Vince McMahon, foreshadowing a confrontation between the two later in the program.

In terms of matches, the rest of the program went by rather routinely. Maryse defeated Brie Bella to advance to round two in a tournament that would eventually crown a new Divas Champion. The previous champion, Melina, was forced to give up the title after suffering an injury at a house show. MVP defeated Jack Swagger, Mark Henry and Carlito in a Fatal Four Way match, while United States Champion, the Miz, watched from ringside.

Hart was also featured in a brief segment with Chris Jericho, who approached him with an idea to strip Michaels and his partner, Triple H, of the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship and ensure Jericho’s stay on “Raw.” This idea was rejected by Hart, and Jericho and his partner, the Big Show, lost to DX, ending Jericho’s time on “Raw.”

In another match, Randy Orton pinned Kofi Kingston after connecting with the RKO to seal the victory, while WWE Champion Sheamus quickly defeated challenger Evan Bourne in the final match of the broadcast.

After the match, McMahon made his way to the ring and said there was no need for Hart to join him because the issue had been resolved, and quickly began to discuss next week’s host, Mike Tyson. Much to McMahon’s dismay, Hart made his way down the ramp and into the ring. As the two men stood together, McMahon insinuated that Hart should apologize for his actions at Survivor Series by beginning with two words: “I’m sorry.” Hart said that the two words he was thinking of were far different from the two words favored by McMahon.

After saying that he wanted to kick Hart in the guts, McMahon began to reminisce about the potential he saw in Hart during his first WrestleMania.

McMahon attempted to make amends by stating that he planned on inducting Hart’s father, the legendary Stu Hart, into this year’s Hall of Fame. Vince then thanked Hart for all of the contributions he has made to the WWE Universe, and thanked him for being “the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.” McMahon raised Hart’s hand, and the two posed before the audience. McMahon ended the reconciliation by suddenly kicking Hart in the gut and exiting up the ramp, leaving Hart lying in the ring. As the show went off the air, Hart stood bewildered by being duped by McMahon yet again.

Many fans might find the ending of the program disappointing. To see such a long-awaited confrontation end so trivially might make viewers wish that the writers developed a more dramatic way to end the rivalry. Fans would have probably preferred to see McMahon leaving kicking and screaming in anguish after Hart locked in the Sharpshooter, but once again, McMahon and the powers that be ended another broadcast with McMahon having the upper hand.