New Details On Triple H’s Role In The Montreal Screwjob Involving Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels
There have been some new details revealed about the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” with Bret Hart losing the WWE Title to Shawn Michaels and how Triple H was involved.
It was 25 years ago this month when Bret Hart lost the WWE Title to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series 1997 due to Vince McMahon telling the timekeeper to “ring the f’n bell” even though it wasn’t the finish that was agreed upon before the match. The incident has been referred to as the “Montreal Screwjob” ever since then since it took place in Bret’s home country of Canada in Montreal.
In a recent of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (available via subscription), Dave Meltzer revealed that he was part of a re-release of the “Wrestling With Shadows” documentary in honor of 25 years of the “Montreal Screwjob” taking place. Meltzer revealed some information from when they taped the re-release.
“The basic story is that the Wednesday before Survivor Series Vince called Hart up and suggested that if Michaels was to put over Hart in Montreal, would he then put over Michaels clean and Hart agreed to it. Vince called Michaels, who was with HHH. In the conversation, HHH told Michaels not to put Hart over because Hart was leaving. After the conversation, which took place while Vince was with Vince Russo and Jim Cornette, Vince brought up doing the Moolah-Richter screwjob finish where Moolah cradled Richter, held on tight although Richter actually still kicked out and the ref counted three. Cornette noted that if that happened, Hart may have gotten up and beat up Michaels for real knowing Michaels had screwed him and the worst thing for the company would be Hart going to WCW after beating up Michaels for real. He suggested the finish that they did because the idea was that Michaels would pretend he also didn’t know what happened. The movie showed Hart talking to Michaels who swore to God that he didn’t know.”
“Very few people did ahead of time, limited to the Hebner brothers being told at the last minute since Earl was referee, HHH, Michaels and Gerald Brisco all knew, since Brisco the night before was trying to give Michaels last minute coaching in defensive fighting in case Bret attacked him; Bret also talks candidly about why his thoughts on some of his friends and the biggest names in the modern industry that he feels never fully understood the situation.”
The 2022 version of WWE Survivor Series will take place on Saturday, November 26th in Boston.