Wrestling Rivalries Revisited: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels

Saturday Night’s Main Event (28/4/90)

The first of two SNME bouts between the Rockers and the Hart Foundation ended as most of their televised matches did: in a non-finish. Prior to the double DQ––caused by Demolition getting involved––there were further tantalizing glimpses of what Bret and Shawn could do together. It was becoming abundantly clear that both men had long outgrown the tag ranks and were ready for singles pushes.

The Main Event IV (30/10/90)

This was the famous phantom title switch that never aired, with the Rockers beating the Harts in a two-out-of-three falls match to seemingly lift the gold. After the match, Vince McMahon decided to reverse the decision and not show the bout, with the most commonly touted reason for the annulment being due to the top rope breaking during the encounter.

There was another factor: NBC canceled a proposed edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event––a 90-minute show––and replaced it with 60-minute special The Main Event IV. Due to the shortened run time, something had to be cut. Because the Harts-Rockers match went over 25 minutes, it received the chop. The match finally saw the light of day on the Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak and Triumph DVD.

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WWF/SWS Wrestlefest (30/3/91)

One week after WrestleMania VII, the Harts and Rockers met for the final time in the unique setting of Japan’s famous Tokyo Dome. The Harts scored the clean win when Bret pinned Shawn, perhaps a surprising result given the Hart Foundation were winding down.

Invasion of the Bodyslammers VHS (29/4/92)

A lot had changed since Bret and Shawn last locked horns. Hart was now the reigning Intercontinental Champion, enjoying his second stint with the gold, whereas Michaels had turned heel on Rockers partner Marty Jannetty in a famous Barber Shop angle. A match recorded exclusively for a CHV release (the wonderfully-named Invasion of the Bodyslammers) was never likely to showcase both men at their best. Sure enough, the bout never really got going before it ended in a count-out win for Michaels courtesy of assistance from his meddling manager Sensational Sherri.

• wrestling rivalries
• bret hart
• shawn michaels
• wwe

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