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Bret Hart Bravely Discusses Stroke Recovery

Bret Hart

Bret Hart has lifted the lid on suffering a stroke, and how grateful he is to have been able to do as much as he has since.

On 24th June 2002, it was reported by The Calgary Herald that Bret Hart had been involved in a motor cycle accident, hitting a pothole which sent him flying over the bike and led to him suffering a stroke.

At the time ‘The Excellence Of Execution’ was left paralysed down his left side, and whilst he has recovered somewhat still has lasting effects from the incident. Incredibly, he has still managed to compete inside the squared circle since it happened.

Taking to his official Facebook page, Bret Hart reflected on the fact that it was twenty years since he had face Vince McMahon at WrestleMania XXVI and that even the act of walking down the ramp would have seemed too much of a challenge to him at one point.

Walking down the aisle at Wrestlemania 26 in Phoenix. Today marks 20 years since I suffered a stroke. I chose this photo because there was a time when I didn’t think this moment would ever happen again, especially when I was struggling to turn my hand over, unable to walk or stand, and struggling to talk. When you suffer a stroke, the doctors never promise that you’ll have a full recovery.

I still have some weakness on my left side to this day, but I’m very fortunate to be here today having recovered what I did. I will forever be grateful to the doctors and therapists at the Foothills Hospital here in Calgary and my fans around the world for their prayers. While the match itself will never be in anyone’s top 10, this moment represents one of my greatest victories.

Since having the stroke, Bret Hart has been able to compete in eleven matches including the contest at ‘The Showcase Of The Immortals’ previously mentioned. The last time he laced up the boots was in September 2011 when he teamed with John Cena to defeat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez.