Under the spotlight of WrestleMania IX, Bret Hart, carrying the crown of WWE Champion, was slated to safeguard his title in a face-off with Yokozuna. The high-stakes duel saw Mr. Fuji bringing Bret to his knees by throwing salt in his eyes. This tactic allowed Yokozuna to pin him down and snatch away the title. In the chaotic aftermath, Hulk Hogan emerged in the ring. At Bret’s behest, Hogan took on Yokozuna, and in a swift match, emerged as the successor to the WWE Championship.
In a further revelation on WrestleMania IX: Becoming A Spectacle, Bret unveiled that Vince McMahon had given him assurances of a protracted hold on the championship title, advising him to disregard Hogan’s comeback. However, Bret was caught off guard when he discovered the abrupt transition of the title to Hogan merely days before the event took place.
This event is commonly perceived as a prototype instance of McMahon’s undermining tactics against Bret Hart, an episode that precipitated the notorious “Montreal Screwjob” at Survivor Series 1997. In this match, McMahon initiated an early ringing of the bell during Bret’s match against Shawn Michaels, consequently causing him to lose the championship.
In Bret’s own words, “I never felt more betrayed by Vince McMahon than I did that day.”
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