Bret Hart has claimed Vince McMahon originally planned for him to defeat Hulk Hogan in the main event of SummerSlam, only for Hogan to reject the match.
The WWE Hall of Famer said Vince McMahon had already outlined the entire finish before speaking to Hulk Hogan, who Bret Hart alleges refused to lose the WWF Championship or even wrestle him.
Speaking with Inside The Ropes, Hart recalled receiving a phone call from McMahon shortly before King of the Ring, during which the then-WWF chairman detailed the company’s plans.
“Vince tells me within about 2 minutes that he’s going to have me wrestle Hogan at SummerSlam and I’m going to put him in the Sharpshooter and he’s going to tap out right in the middle of the ring,” Hart said. “I remember looking at my wife and going, ‘This is like a big call.'”
According to Hart, McMahon told him to keep the plans quiet while he discussed the proposal with Hogan. However, Hart said he received another call the following day informing him that the match would not be happening.
“Vince calls me the next day and says you’re never going to believe what Hogan said,” Hart recalled.
Bret Hart then claimed Hogan refused to work with him or lose the WWF Championship.
“Hogan said word for word is that I was never in his league and that he wouldn’t drop the belt to me under any circumstances and that he wouldn’t even work with me, period, and refused to work with me.”
Bret Hart Said Hulk Hogan Refusing To Lose The WWF Championship To Him Cost Him A Lot Of Money
Bret Hart said missing out on the match cost him more than just a marquee opportunity, explaining that being WWF Champion represented the biggest financial reward in the company at the time.
“The world champion at that time was the highest paid guy in the company. He got the biggest check every week, whoever the champion was,” Hart said. “Hogan refused to work with me, refused to put me over, refused to do anything with me and basically changed my destiny.”
Hart also revisited the aftermath of WrestleMania IX, where he lost the WWF Championship to Yokozuna before Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna moments later to win the title. Hart claimed Hogan later told him he would “return the favour,” a promise he says was never fulfilled.
“The first thing Hogan said to me in the dressing room was uh just want you to know I’m happy to return the favor. I looked at him and said I’m going to remember that Terry. I’m going to remember that.”
