10 shocking moments from WWF (WWE) 1999

#10 The death of Owen Hart

R.I.P

In the midst of all the excitement and fanfare surrounding the WWF throughout 1999, the year will ultimately be remembered for a tragic event that took the life of one of wrestling's most talented and beloved superstars of all time.

At WWF Over the Limit on May 23rd of that year, Owen Hart suffered internal bleeding from a fall during a botched entrance stunt. Owen had been portraying the comedy, Super-hero persona 'The Blue Blazer' at the time, and was due to arrive in the ring for his match in spectacular fashion, descending from the top of the building, similar to Shawn Michael's entrance at Wrestlemania 12.

One small amount of grace in this otherwise tragic incident was that Owen's fall happened whilst a vignette was playing on people's screens. While thousands did, unfortunately, have to witness the awful occurrence, millions more were spared. As footage cut back to the arena, the cameras were scanning the audience in an obvious attempt to hide what was happening at ringside.

JR and Jerry Lawler then appeared on screen, with Jim Ross having to announce that a serious incident had just taken place involving Owen Hart, all the while reiterating that this was not a part of the kayfabe storytelling of the event. Later on, JR then had the unenviable task of announcing to the world that Owen had died from his injuries.

The WWE's handling of Owen's death was highly criticised at the time. Despite putting together a fitting tribute to Owen the next night on RAW, the WWE decided that the PPV itself had to continue, and the rest of the wrestlers involved were told to carry on as planned.

Looking back at the PPV now, you can tell that wrestling was the last thing on a lot of people's minds. In Vince's words, continuing with the event was what 'Owen would have wanted'. This has been strongly refuted by Bret Hart, Owen's brother, over the years.

Owen Hart, in many people's opinion, was the greatest wrestler never to hold the WWF Championship. Perhaps being a member of the Hart family, and all the controversy that came with their relationship to the McMahons, Owen may never have gotten the chance to hold the title, even if Over the Edge had never have happened.

One thing is for sure, however, despite what Vince believed, "The King of Harts" would have made one hell of a champion in any wrestling company across the world and the business as a whole is a lesser place without him in it.