The Artist and His Life’s Work

During his controversial, but iconic career in professional wrestling, which spanned over two decades, Bret Hart kept an audio diary.

One day he hoped to write a book based on all those long nights away from home and nearly a decade later, he did. Although Hart’s autobiography “Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling” is far from a perfect work, it’s ultimately an entertaining ride through what professional wrestling used to be, to what it is today, through the eyes of one of the most important people to ever step in a ring.

The worst part of this book is probably Hart’s indifference to the actions of certain people and the labeling of others committing the same offenses. Even though he never stands up for them, Hart, rarely, if ever, says anything overtly negative about people such as Jim Niedhart, Dynamite Kid and British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith, for doing drugs and causing trouble for the business with their antics. However, at the same time, wrestlers the likes of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, according to Hart, have either ruined the business and are drug-addict low lives.

In Michaels’ case, it’s both.

Even if you agree with Hart’s ideas, it’s disturbing that he still defends his road mates the same way a wrestler today would. While it’s every one of his fans biggest dream come true to hear him open up like this, it’s fair to say that he’s not the most dependable narrator.

Another problem present is that while Hart should be hailed for creating art while in the ring and expecting his co-workers to think of the industry as more than just entertainment, he takes it too far on several occasions. In one instance of this, he’s facing off with Steve Austin, with former UFC tough guy and MMA legend Ken Shamrock serving as guest referee. During his description of the match, Hart says that Shamrock was in awe of how well Hart and Austin worked.

Highly doubtful.

For one, this is one of many times that it feels like Hart thinks the sport is real. Often times while reading, you’ll have a hard time picking up what’s going on in the ring because of it. Secondly, at that time, Shamrock was one of the best real fighters in the world. The fact that Hart never recognizes Shamrock for what he really is and has trouble deciphering between the reality and art of the business also hurts his credibility.

If that wasn’t enough, Hart even discusses at another point that he refused to let Dino Bravo pin him, even after he cracked his sternum and was having trouble breathing, all because he felt it would hurt his character.

Now ask yourself if you could trust anything from someone who had ever willingly put themselves in a situation like that.

But then again, that wasn’t the real world: it’s professional wrestling and situations like Hart’s are commonplace there. These guys work so hard to establish a character and after a while, it becomes a huge part of them, or even takes over.

The question remains as to where the wildly emotional road Hart’s career took him when it was all over.

If you can take all of that with a grain of salt, Hart’s book is a blast. Thorough, you learn about all of his demons, including his many affairs and his dealings with Vince McMahon. In love with the business, Hart put his heart into the ring every time he stepped in it and the same thing can be said about this book. In too many other books like this, you get a writer that has something to lose by being so honest, but Hart delivers and gives his fans something that they’ll never forget.

Again, while he could have been a bit more blunt about his comrades and even some of his family, he’s honest enough to let the reader make up their own minds about them.

While he’s made his fair share of mistakes in his life, he admits to enough of them to ultimately redeem himself. Simply put, Hart is arguably the best ring technician of his time, maybe all time and gives his fans want they want here, a well-written tell-most.

Is it the best there is, was and ever will be of wrestling autobiographies? Not exactly, but if you’re a fan of the industry and have a soft spot in your heart for the Hitman’s work, it’s a worthwhile read that exposes Hart and the industry in ways that will change your opinions of it for the rest of your life.

For that reason alone, it belongs on your bookcase.