On a recent edition of his “Tuesday with The Taskmaster” podcast, former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan expressed his doubt over the truth about the infamous Montreal Screwjob between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart at WWE Survivor Series 1997.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the Montreal Screwjob: “I have my doubts about Bret’s screwjob. The documentary people, they [gave them] free access everywhere … except when Bret came back from the ring and went in to see Vince. Wouldn’t they [have] pushed in the camera just to get that?”
On how WWE never should’ve let the company be put in that position: “I go back and forth with that, but I also say to myself, they never should’ve got in that position. They knew he was leaving and here’s the thing that I question about this: Vince helped him get that contract with Turner.”
The Montreal Screwjob was featured in the documentary, “Wrestling With Shadows.” The event was also highlighted in the first season of “Dark Side of the Ring.”
The Montreal Screwjob: A Controversial Moment in Wrestling History
The world of professional wrestling is no stranger to controversy and behind-the-scenes drama. One of the most infamous incidents in wrestling history is the Montreal Screwjob, which took place at WWE Survivor Series in 1997. This event has been the subject of much speculation and debate among fans and industry insiders alike. Recently, former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan shared his doubts about the truth behind the Screwjob on his podcast, “Tuesday with The Taskmaster.” Let’s delve into this controversial moment and explore the different perspectives surrounding it.
The Montreal Screwjob refers to the incident involving wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart during their match at Survivor Series. Hart, who was leaving WWE (then known as WWF) for rival promotion WCW, was the reigning champion at the time. The plan was for Hart to retain his title in his home country of Canada before dropping it to Michaels at a later date. However, things did not go as planned.
According to the widely accepted version of events, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, fearing that Hart would take the title to WCW and diminish its value, decided to change the outcome of the match without Hart’s knowledge. As the match neared its end, McMahon instructed referee Earl Hebner to ring the bell and declare Michaels the winner, even though Hart had not submitted or been pinned. This unexpected turn of events shocked both Hart and the audience.
Sullivan’s doubts about the Screwjob stem from the lack of footage capturing the crucial moment when Hart confronted McMahon backstage after the match. He questions why the documentary crew filming “Wrestling With Shadows” did not capture this pivotal interaction. Sullivan suggests that if they had free access everywhere else, they should have been present during this significant moment.
Another aspect that Sullivan raises is McMahon’s role in helping Hart secure a lucrative contract with WCW. He questions why McMahon would assist Hart in obtaining a contract with a rival company if he had planned to screw him over in such a public manner. This raises doubts about the authenticity of the Screwjob and whether it was a carefully orchestrated work rather than a shoot (a real-life incident).
The Montreal Screwjob has been extensively covered in various documentaries and wrestling retrospectives. “Wrestling With Shadows,” a documentary that followed Hart during his final days in WWE, shed light on the events leading up to the Screwjob and captured the raw emotions of the wrestlers involved. The incident was also featured in the first season of “Dark Side of the Ring,” a docuseries that explores the darker side of professional wrestling.
Despite Sullivan’s doubts, the majority of wrestling fans and insiders believe that the Montreal Screwjob was indeed a legitimate incident. The fallout from the Screwjob had a lasting impact on both Hart and Michaels’ careers. Hart’s trust in the wrestling industry was shattered, leading to his bitter departure from WWE and subsequent legal battles. Michaels, on the other hand, faced backlash from fans who viewed him as complicit in the Screwjob.
Whether the Montreal Screwjob was a carefully orchestrated work or a shoot remains a topic of debate among wrestling enthusiasts. While Sullivan’s doubts raise interesting questions, the overwhelming evidence and testimonies from those involved suggest that it was a real-life incident that forever changed the landscape of professional wrestling. The Screwjob continues to be remembered as one of the most controversial and talked-about moments in wrestling history, leaving fans to speculate about what truly transpired that fateful night in Montreal.