In the more than twenty years since the infamous Montreal Screwjob, there have been many theories that it was a work, rather than a shoot. So I started wondering: what if it really was a work? How might that have changed things?
This open collaboration will attempt to answer that question.
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Montreal
November 9, 1997
So far, so good, Bret thought to himself.
He had spent much of the match's aftermath acting betrayed and outraged. Now that he wasn't around cameras or people not in the know, however, he couldn't help but smirk. Everything was going according to plan.
It had all started when news of Hart's impending departure to WCW had leaked to fans. He'd known what would inevitably happen - vitriol and accusations of selling out. This would make it harder to leave WWF on good terms with its fans. So he approached Vince McMahon to discuss possible ways for him to leave the company with a better reputation.
That was when Vince had suggested a worked shoot that would allow Bret to claim victimhood, and wash away the controversy of him jumping ship. Not only would it make him look like a hero, it would also hand WCW an ideal starting angle, and even plant the seeds for him to return to WWF further down the road if he wanted to. To top it all off, it dovetailed nicely with some ideas Vince had to not only cement image changes the company was going through, but also leave the commentary table and play a new heel character: a sleazy, egotistical businessman.
Of course, that was like Gary Busey playing a lunatic. But Bret was willing to overlook McMahon's personal failings, at least for now.
The day before the match, Bret had met with McMahon and Shawn Michaels in a hotel room to plan the work. While Bret was reluctant to drop the belt to Shawn due to previous bad blood, the fact that he would no doubt be met with an enormous backlash assuaged him, knowing his rival would be sacrificing as well. Bret even had the idea of incorporating the film crew for his documentary into the work to better sell it as a shoot.
So far, everything had gone as Bret, Vince, and Shawn had planned it. Well, aside from McMahon's sprained ankle, but that would only make the work more convincing. Honestly, Bret was touched by the support other wrestlers had shown, especially Mick Foley and the Undertaker.
If only they knew, he thought. If only they knew.
This open collaboration will attempt to answer that question.
----
Montreal
November 9, 1997
So far, so good, Bret thought to himself.
He had spent much of the match's aftermath acting betrayed and outraged. Now that he wasn't around cameras or people not in the know, however, he couldn't help but smirk. Everything was going according to plan.
It had all started when news of Hart's impending departure to WCW had leaked to fans. He'd known what would inevitably happen - vitriol and accusations of selling out. This would make it harder to leave WWF on good terms with its fans. So he approached Vince McMahon to discuss possible ways for him to leave the company with a better reputation.
That was when Vince had suggested a worked shoot that would allow Bret to claim victimhood, and wash away the controversy of him jumping ship. Not only would it make him look like a hero, it would also hand WCW an ideal starting angle, and even plant the seeds for him to return to WWF further down the road if he wanted to. To top it all off, it dovetailed nicely with some ideas Vince had to not only cement image changes the company was going through, but also leave the commentary table and play a new heel character: a sleazy, egotistical businessman.
Of course, that was like Gary Busey playing a lunatic. But Bret was willing to overlook McMahon's personal failings, at least for now.
The day before the match, Bret had met with McMahon and Shawn Michaels in a hotel room to plan the work. While Bret was reluctant to drop the belt to Shawn due to previous bad blood, the fact that he would no doubt be met with an enormous backlash assuaged him, knowing his rival would be sacrificing as well. Bret even had the idea of incorporating the film crew for his documentary into the work to better sell it as a shoot.
So far, everything had gone as Bret, Vince, and Shawn had planned it. Well, aside from McMahon's sprained ankle, but that would only make the work more convincing. Honestly, Bret was touched by the support other wrestlers had shown, especially Mick Foley and the Undertaker.
If only they knew, he thought. If only they knew.