WWE in the 1990s: 10 iconic, era-defining photos and the stories behind them

#2 Sharpshooting into singles stardom

Bret Hart captures the Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart

Countless millions of fans remember WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart's career for the stellar matches he helped produce as one of the best singles stars of the 1990s.

From his battles with brother Owen, to a bitter rivalry with Shawn Michaels, to a war on virtually any American he could find by the time the Canadian hero turned heel in 1997, his work on a solo basis was incredible.

It's worth remembering, then, that Hart originally found fame in WWE as a tag team wrestler alongside the late, great Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart as The Hart Foundation. They were former tag team champions and put on some absolute clinics with the likes of The Rockers. Bret needed, therefore, a way to transition from tag team wrestling into singles stardom once it was decided he was to go it alone. Arguably, the above pictured encounter with Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam in 1991 was the very match that solidified his status as a genuine singles star.

Bret crunched in the Sharpshooter to ensure Perfect gave up, surrendering the Intercontinental Championship in the process. At Madison Square Garden no less, it was the perfect battle between two absolute masters of their craft. Perfect was, well, perfect in so many ways and was the perfect foil for Hart in this match, ensuring the newly-crowned champ was made to look a million dollars.