WWE History Vol. 8: The Day that Kayfabe Died

Pro Wrestling has endured its share of scandals over the many decades of its existence. From the steroid scandals of the 1980s to the drunken antics of men like Ken Patera - who once threw a boulder through a fast food restaurant window - the industry has weathered its share of controversy.

Even if the pro wrestling industry takes an occasional hit of bad publicity, it often manages to recover and return to a relatively normal state. But the Montreal Screwjob, arguably the biggest wrestling controversy of all time, is different for a number of reasons.

The biggest difference was when it happened. In 1997, the world wide web had become enormously popular. Failed wrestling talents and bitter former wrestlers openly shared industry secrets on the internet. For the first time in history, a majority of wrestling fans were aware they were watching scripted entertainment, which presented itself as legitimate competition.

Kayfabe, that 'acknowledged fakery' upon which pro wrestling was traditionally relied upon, was already taking heavy shots. Fans began to speculate not just about which wrestlers might win which titles, but what type of contracts they had, and with which specific companies they would sign with.

Another big difference was that the Monday Night War was in full swing, and for the first time since the beginning of modern pro wrestling the WWE was in danger of losing to a rival. WCW had defeated WWE week after week in the ratings war.

When the Montreal Screwjob took place, the curtain wasn't just peeking behind; it was torn asunder, revealing the inner workings of the wrestling business in a way fans had never experienced before.

Here is the step-by-step breakdown of the Montreal Screwjob - the day that Kayfabe died.

#1. The seeds are planted.

In 1997, Bret Hart was a fourteen-year stalwart of the WWE, having started in the 80s as a member of the Hart Foundation before transitioning into the singles competition. Hart did the classic 'climbing the ladder' in WWE, first defeating midcard heels, then winning the IC title. Eventually he started defeating main event heels and was soon WWE World Champion.

In an era when Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, "'Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, and countless other WWE Superstars had jumped ship to rival WCW, Hart became the biggest star in McMahon's promotion. While the midcard was mired in ridiculous gimmicks, the main event scene was rife with technical wrestling wizardry courtesy of Hart and others such as Shawn Michaels.

In 1996, Hart took time off from the WWE to heal and revitalize his spirit. During this time, he received contract offers from both WCW and WWE. WCW offered Bret five million dollars over five years, but then WWE countered with an unheard of twenty million dollar twenty year contract. Under the WWE contract, Hart would wrestle for several more years and then transition into a managerial role with the company, as well as training young wrestlers.

Hart accepted the WWE contract, and it seemed as if he would be with the WWE for the rest of his career, if not his life.

But things would not work out that way.

#2. Bret refuses to shake HBK's hand

Bret refuses to shake HBK's hand. The two would carry their rivalry outside of the ring.

In 1997, the WWE was feeling the pinch from rival WCW. They had lost many of their big name stars, like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. When Savage departed, he also took with him his lucrative Slim Jim endorsement deal. With floundering ratings and attendance, the WWE was struggling to make ends meet financially.

McMahon conferred with Hart and admitted that he could not afford to pay his contract. In an unprecedented move, McMahon said he would allow Hart to use "The Hitman" character in WCW, and encouraged Hart to see if the contract WCW had offered was still on the table.

Hart accepted the contract with WCW, though with some trepidation. Hart felt as if he were being disloyal to the WWE, but Vince McMahon's encouragement was all the prodding he needed.

Hart remained a man of ethics and contemplated his move to the WCW.

But Hart's planned departure would not be graceful. Not by a long shot. It would go down in wrestling history as one of the most shocking moments of all time.

#3. The plan is hatched.

This shot contains all of the principals of the Montreal Screwjob: Vince, Bret, HBK, and Earl Hebner (referee.)

Bret was leaving WWE. That was a fact. The Hitman was about to depart on good terms with the WWE, but there was a catch.

The first day WCW could legally announce that Hart had signed a contract would be November 10, 1997. The only problem was that Hart was still the WWE World Champion.

McMahon wanted Hart to drop the belt to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series, which was to take place on November 9th. That way, Hart would no longer be the champion when WCW made their announcement, sparing the WWE bad publicity.

Unfortunately, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were rivals both on and off screen. Bret felt as if Shawn disrespected him and his long tenure with the company. Michaels felt that Hart believed his own hype. Because of the tension, Hart refused to lose the title to HBK, especially since the event would take place in his native Canada. While Hart offered to lose the belt to Ken Shamrock or Steve Austin instead, McMahon was adamant it would be Michaels.

A plan was hatched. Hart was told the match would end in double disqualification. But Vince McMahon, Earl Hebner, and Shawn Michaels himself (Shawn admitted to as much on Hart's return episode of Raw) all plotted to remove the title from Bret at the Pay-Per-View without the Hitman's prior knowledge.

It was a deeply rooted conspiracy that would end up straining Bret Hart's relationship with both the WWE and Vince McMahon for over a decade.

#4. Kayfabe is shattered in Montreal.

Bret Hart was dejected and betrayed at the end of Survivor Series 1997

In order to avoid a public relations SNAFU, where his champion would be officially signed to another company, Vince McMahon took extraordinary measures - measures unprecedented in pro wrestling history.

Since Bret Hart had refused to lose to Michaels in Canada, the plot was put into motion to take the belt off of him. The match itself was a classic HBK/Hart affair. There were reversals, technical acumen, and mat wrestling galore. The two slowly built up the match like the master craftsmen they were.

Then, Shawn Michaels managed to lock Bret into his own submission hold, the Sharpshooter. HBK could be seen 'feeding' his leg to Hart for a planned reversal. But then, Vince McMahon leapt up from the announce desk and demanded the time keeper ring the bell. When the confused keeper didn't respond immediately, McMahon rang the bell himself.

Referee Earl Hebner called for the bell and announced Michaels as the winner by submission. Hart and Michaels both seemed confused and angry at the sudden finish. Shawn was given the title and ordered to leave the ring.

Hart, no longer a WWE employee, went on a tirade on the House mike. When the mike was cut off, he formed the letters WCW in the air with his fingers.

The fans in attendance were equally confused on what transpired before their eyes. Bret Hart was visibly upset and spat at Vince McMahon, who stood at ringside looking guilty as hell.

#5. The aftermath.

Vince McMahon during the infamous "Bret Screwed Bret" interview.

Backstage at Survivor Series, an angry Bret Hart confronted Vince McMahon. Details are murky, but Vince claims that Bret Hart punched him and gave him a black eye, and Hart does not dispute this at all. In fact, he can be seen bragging about in on the documentary Wrestling with Shadows.

Kayfabe had taken its biggest hit yet. In order to address the Montreal situation, Vince McMahon appeared in an interview on Raw. For the first time, he publicly acknowledged that he was the owner and chief executive officer of the WWE.

A year earlier, McMahon had already kicked kayfabe in its ribs during an interview where he unofficially started the Attitude Era. On the night after Survivor Series 97, he cut kayfabe's throat.

Vince aired the dirty laundry that Hart had refused to lose the belt in Canada. McMahon compared this to Shawn Michaels refusing to lose in America. McMahon asserted that he had not screwed Bret, but that "Bret screwed Bret."

The fans were now privy to the inner workings of the wrestling industry in a way never conceived of. As an added effect, Vince's days at the announce desk were done. He would use the heat he garnered from the Screwjob to become the villainous Mr. McMahon authority figure.

#6. Reconciliation.

In 2005, Bret Hart unexpectedly buried the hatchet with the WWE. He helped work on a DVD collection featuring his best matches. He then accepted an offer to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Bret returned to Raw, live, for the first time in over ten years. He buried the hatchet on screen with Michaels, and even became the Raw general manager for a time.

He also engaged in an on-screen feud with Mr. McMahon. This was a pure fabrication, however, as the two men had long since reconciled their differences.

Time heals all wounds, it seems, and the long, twisted relationship between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon came full circle, with the two being associates and even friends.

So many years after the Montreal Screwjob, the incident is still clouded with legend and mystery. It was the day that the curtain was pulled back on the wrestling industry. It was the day that kayfabe died.

The Montreal Screwjob became an incident that defined the era and it changed the face of the industry forever.

What do you think? Did the Montreal Screwjob really kill kayfabe, or does it still exist in some fashion? And if you were in Vince McMahon's shoes in 1997, would you have done the same thing or something different?

Please comment and let us know, and as always thanks for reading.

Edited by Kevin Christopher Sullivan