WWE: Owen ‘The Rocket’ Hart – 14 years later

“I think there is a special place in heaven for Owen Hart” – Mick Foley

There are some people who leave an impact on everyone’s life even long after they’re gone. These are the few who’re fondly remembered, for being a great friend, a great father and a great human being. No matter how long they live, they leave a lasting impression, which makes it easier as the days go by. In the world of professional wrestling, making a good impression is the hardest thing to do. In a cut throat business, more often you see people stepping on someone else to take their spot, and by doing so, they make more enemies than friends. Although people pretend to be close, they’re more distant than one can imagine. In professional wrestling, there are very few friends, and even fewer performers who’re liked by everyone. One such performer was the son of the legendary Stu Hart, from Calgary, Alberta Canada, who was known as ‘The King of Harts’, Owen Hart.

Owen was arguably the most humorous individual in the business, past and present. His antics are legendary, and his are some of the famous road stories in professional wrestling. A couple of days ago marked 14 years since the unfortunate passing of Owen Hart, and the world of professional wrestling once again remembered its fallen crown jewel. Owen Hart was the younger brother of Canada’s favorite son, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, and was the youngest of the Hart brothers. Owen was passionate about the business, and along with his brothers, trained in the famous Hart Dungeon with his father, and when he decided to turn professional, he competed in the Canadian Stampede and then went to Japan to hone his skills, where he became ‘The Blue Blazer’.

It didn’t take Owen much time to sign up for the WWF and join his brother, Bret Hart, in the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world. Owen Hart was arguably much more talented than his older brother, but the fact that his elder brother was already an accomplished grappler in the company made it difficult for Owen to get out of his brother’s shadow. Owen joined his brother in law, Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart, to form the New Hart Foundation, and for the first two years, was involved in the tag team division. But big things were still to come for ‘The Black Hart’, and it all started when he got into a feud with Bret Hart, which was arguably one of the greatest feuds in the history of the company, as not only did it involve two of the greatest technical wrestlers in the industry, but it also echoed the opinions and voices of thousands of fans, who related themselves with the storyline the two brothers were involved in.

This led to Owen taking on his brother in many memorable encounters. At WrestleMania 10, both the brothers opened the show and put on a 5 star classic! At the end of the match, Owen emerged victorious, but by the end of the night, Bret defeated Yokozuna to capture the WWF title! Owen watched with envy as Bret was paraded around the ring by the other wrestlers, and before long, Owen too made a name for himself in the history of the company when he won the ‘King of the Ring’ tournament in ’94, thus taking on the monicker of ‘King of Harts’. Many believed this was Owen’s time in the main event, as not only was he a solid in–ring worker, but he was sensational on the mic. Owen Hart climbed through the ranks, and by ’94, he was a legitimate threat to the WWF champion. At Summerslam, these two were involved in yet another classic confrontation which also received a 5 star rating, making their matches a treat to watch. Although Owen was never able to win the ‘big one’, he would always bring his A – Game, and deliver when it mattered.

After this, Owen was paired with The British Bulldog, as he went back to the tag team division and won the WWF tag team titles on multiple occasions. Owen had also won the WWF Intercontinental title and the European title, and before long, Owen Hart joined forces with his brother, his brother–in–laws and Brian Pillman, and formed the most dominant stable in the history of professional wrestling, the Hart Foundation. After the infamous Montreal Screwjob, the Hart Foundation disbanded, and Owen Hart joined a new stable, called the Nation of Domination, where he was the co– leader of the stable. During the final days of his tenure, Owen Hart went back to the Blue Blazer gimmick, after teaming up with Jeff Jarrett for a while.

“All I have to say about Owen Hart is that I wish I could be as good a man as he was, so I can see him again, someday” – Jim Ross

During Over The Edge PPV in ’99, at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Owen Hart was scheduled to face The Godfather for the WWF Intercontinental title, and was rumored to win the title. While being lowered down the rafters, as a part of his ‘Super hero’ gimmick, the harness snapped, throwing Owen Hart nearly 80 feet from the rafters to the ground. Owen hit his chest to the turnbuckles and collapsed in the ring, and within seconds, the crowd realized there was something wrong. Jim Ross was lost for words for the first time in his illustrious career, as the medical personnel tended to him in the ring, and he was stretchered out. Before long, the most disturbing news came along that Owen Hart passed away. The next night on RAW, every performer was reduced to tears, as they remembered the gentle soul Owen was. Before the night ended, the crowd and the superstars gave Owen one last toast for taking them on a memorable journey.

Owen Hart will not be remembered the way the Takers and Austins will be remembered. Owen was never the ‘headline’ of the company, neither was he ever given the chance to prove himself. But Owen stands apart from everyone else, solely because of the way he made everyone’s life that much better. Owen was the reason the superstars could afford a smile on their faces, whether it was due to his pranks on others, or because of his sense of humor. Owen Hart found a place in all the fans’ hearts. In the end, Owen wasn’t just the ‘King of Harts’, but he truly became the ‘King of Hearts’ of the millions of fans, who will be grateful to Owen for leaving his everything inside the squared circle.