Why did Vince McMahon continue the show despite Owen Hart's death? Former WWE Chairman reveals

Owen Hart's death in WWE and the following events is one of the darkest moments in wrestling history, and Vince McMahon gained a lot of negative comments by handling the situation.

At the 1999 Over the Edge Premium Live Event, Owen Hart's in-ring character, Blue Blazer, was set to face The Godfather for the Intercontinental Championship. The former's entrance would see him descend from the arena through the rafters using a harness and grapple line. Unfortunately, the equipment malfunctioned that night, resulting in the former European Champion falling 78 feet from the roof to the ring. After medical personnel attended to the superstar, it was later announced that he had passed away due to the accident. Despite the grim news, Vince McMahon decided to continue the show.

On Netflix's Mr. McMahon docuseries surrounding Vince McMahon, the former WWE Chairman stated that he decided to continue the show as the live audience didn't see what happened since it was a "blackout," pertaining to the fact that a promo was playing on the screen at the time. The live audience only saw medical personnel working on Hart. If they had seen him fall, the show would have ended.

Bruce Prichard noted that although former commentator, Jim Ross, announced the superstar's death to the fans at home, the live audience didn't know what happened. Vince reasoned that it wasn't right to announce what happened to the crowd as they "didn't come to see somebody die," so, as a businessman, he decided to continue the show.

Owen's family sued Vince afterward, and McMahon settled the lawsuit with Hart's wife, Martha. The former chairman added that they later learned it wasn't their fault and that the manufacturers knew that the apparatus Owen used that night was defective. As a result, the 79-year-old sued the manufacturer.

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What would Vince McMahon have wanted if he had been in Owen Hart's place that night?

Another star interviewed regarding the 1999 accident was Owen's brother, Bret Hart. The Hall of Famer even said that initially, he thought this was WWE's way of revenge, but Vince explained what happened was an accident. Bret then questioned if Vince had continued it as well, if his son, Shane McMahon, would have "splatted on the mat."

Vince McMahon said Bret had every right to say anything negatively about the promotion, as Owen Hart was his brother. The former chairman said that if it had been him, not his son, who "splatted on the mat," he would have wanted the show to go on.

Owen Hart's legacy and career continue to live on in the wrestling industry, through his family and the wrestlers he inspired.