5 onscreen WWE rivals who disliked each other in real life

#1 Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had real-life heat with each other in WWE

#OnThisDay in 1990: WWF Wrestling Challenge airs: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels. This is the first ever singles meeting between the pair.Download GIF: https://t.co/BrwVMid9i9 pic.twitter.com/qCeshFC5Rt

— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) February 11, 2021

Arguably the greatest rivals in WWE history, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart had a series of era-defining matches during their rivalry in the 90s. However, the two stars disliked each other backstage. Hart was a wrestling purist who believed in the traditions of the business. Meanwhile, Michaels was his cocky counterpart who brought a kind of edginess into WWE that was desperately missing.

One of the earliest high-profile clashes between the two occurred at Survivor Series 1992, where Hart retained his WWE Championship. However, after this event, Michaels became extremely popular. Subsequently, the two started having different takes on the outcome of their matches against each other.

It all added up to the infamous Montreal Screwjob incident at Survivor Series 1997. Michaels was secretly booked to win at the PPV without Hart having any knowledge of this outcome. It was the final time Hart appeared in WWE for years.

Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. The two rivals reunited when Hart returned to RAW in 2010. Though they aren't the best of friends, both of them have made peace with each other.