Feud: Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart

When Shawn Bret screwed Bret

The moment that changed the industry, for better or worse?

The final year of Bret Hart in WWE was interesting and tumultuous, to say the least. A refreshing heel turn at the onset of the attitude era brought with it fresh angles to his rivalries specifically with Austin, but more importantly with Shawn Michaels.

Michaels by now would lose his boys Diesel and Ramon to the ever-growing power of WCW. He still had Triple H to back him up and so the backstage Kliq became the on-screen Degeneration X. A furthering of ideas and instances brought Shawn and Bret clashing head on for the title at Survivor Series 1997.

That iconic night is remembered more for its final moments than the great match that preceded it. Bret Hart was on his way to WCW but refused to put over Michaels in Canada. Fearing for his reputation, Vince McMahon did the unthinkable having the bell rung despite Bret never tapping out.

Bret was livid backstage, he even punched Vince McMahon. Michaels feigned knowing anything, though most now agree he was in on the plan discussed in a backstage meeting and supposedly suggested by none other than Triple H.