WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart was once outspoken about his views on the current state of professional wrestling, offering pointed criticism of what he believes is missing from today’s product.
Speaking with talkSPORT in 2018, Bret Hart said that while modern wrestlers are undeniably athletic, they fall short in one crucial area: in-ring storytelling. According to Hart, the ability to create drama and emotionally engage an audience has been lost, something he felt was particularly evident when he watched WrestleMania 34.
“I think I was a better storyteller than any of the wrestlers they’ve got today,” Hart said. “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 suggested that wrestling tends to move in cycles, predicting that the style currently dominating the industry will eventually give way to something more grounded. He said fans will ultimately grow tired of what he described as “phoney” wrestling, leading to another shift in how matches are presented.
To underline his point, Hart recalled watching his SummerSlam 1992 match against Davey Boy Smith at Wembley Stadium alongside journalists years later. He said the storytelling in the bout was strong enough that some were nearly convinced they were watching a legitimate sporting contest, something he believes is far rarer in modern wrestling.
When Did Bret Hart Leave WWE?
Bret Hart left WWE in November 1997, following the infamous Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series. The incident marked the end of Hart’s run with the company that started in 1984, bringing a controversial close to one of the most significant eras of his WWE career.
With Hart already committed to joining WCW, WWE management opted to take the championship off him at Survivor Series without his knowledge, a decision that led to the real-life controversy and fallout that continues to be discussed decades later.
