Bret Hart Criticises Modern Wrestling; With One Noteworthy Exemption

WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has sparked controversy with his comments on the current state of professional wrestling.

Speaking candidly in an interview with talkSPORT, Bret Hart expressed his dissatisfaction with the modern WWE product, particularly criticising the storytelling abilities of today’s wrestlers. According to Hart, while contemporary wrestlers exhibit remarkable athleticism, they struggle to effectively convey a compelling narrative in their matches, leading to a notable absence of drama in today’s wrestling. He highlighted his disappointment after watching WrestleMania, stating:

I think I was a better storyteller than any of the wrestlers they’ve got today. I watched WrestleMania this year and there’s no drama anymore. They do some amazing stuff, there are some incredible athletes, but people don’t know how to tell a story.

Hart also reflected on the cyclical nature of wrestling, suggesting that it will change again as people tire of what he referred to as “phoney” wrestling. He recounted an anecdote about watching his historic match with Davey Boy Smith at SummerSlam 1992 in Wembley Stadium with journalists who were almost convinced of its authenticity, emphasising the potential for a return to more authentic storytelling.

Wrestling has its flows, and it will change again as people get tired of the ‘phoney’ wrestling, I watched my match with Davey Boy at Wembley with some journalists in a bar and they almost bought into it like it was real.

Additionally, Hart expressed concern over the potential dilution of the dramatic element in professional wrestling due to the constant output of WWE’s programming. Despite his critique, he offered hope for a shift back towards more dramatic storytelling, citing the strong fan reaction to British wrestlers Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate as evidence of a potential swing in the other direction.

The fact that fans reacted so strongly to those two British Wrestlers (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) shows you it might be going back in the other direction.

What Else Has Bret Hart Said About Modern Wrestling?

This isn’t the first or the last time Bret Hart has criticised modern wrestling, Hart has labelled the modern style as more like ballet or dancing with lots of leaping and twirling and has stated that he doesn’t enjoy this style of wrestling.

H/t to itrwrestling.com