WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett has spoken about Bret Hart and his brief stint with WCW following his WWE exit after the Montreal Screwjob.
Bret Hart’s move from WWE to WCW following the Montreal Screwjob came with enormous expectations, but his run with the company ultimately became one of the most disappointing chapters of his career. Despite arriving as one of wrestling’s biggest stars, Hart’s two-year stint in WCW ended abruptly and was capped by injury, creative frustration, and an early retirement.
Speaking on his My World podcast, AEW star Jeff Jarrett, a long-time friend of Hart, reflected on that period and said it was clear things were not working for Hart behind the scenes. Jarrett recalled that Hart was unhappy with the creative direction, including discussions about reviving the nWo at a time when the faction had already been heavily overused.
“I knew things weren’t going right for him creatively on so many deals.”
Jarrett also noted that Hart’s mindset had changed during his WCW run, in part due to injuries and a lack of passion for what he was being asked to do. He said Hart was not eager to take bumps and was still recovering physically, which only added to the sense that his heart was no longer fully in it.
“I knew that he wasn’t going to be taking many flatbacks, so his heart wasn’t in it–I could probably rephrase that. His heart wasn’t into it. He was injured, he was on the mend coming back, but not a lot of passion into it.”
Hart’s WCW career effectively came to an end after suffering a concussion during a match with Goldberg at Starrcade 1999. He wrestled only a handful of times afterwards and made sporadic appearances in 2000 before being released as WCW implemented cost-cutting measures. Hart would retire from professional wrestling later that year.
Jarrett said Hart’s release caught much of the locker room off guard, noting that many assumed Hart would remain under contract while recovering. According to Jarrett, the situation unfolded quietly, without most people realising Hart’s time in WCW had come to an end until after the fact.
“I knew things weren’t going right for him creatively on so many deals. Bret being released and all that, it went so far under the radar of most folks, it happened without a lot of us even knowing.”
How Long Has Jeff Jarrett Been Wrestling For?
Jeff Jarrett has been active in professional wrestling for more than four decades. He made his in-ring debut in 1986, following in the footsteps of his father, promoter and wrestler Jerry Jarrett, and has remained a regular presence across multiple eras and promotions ever since.
Over the course of his career, Jarrett has competed for major promotions including WWE, WCW, TNA, and AEW, winning multiple world and tag team titles along the way. His longevity has also extended beyond the ring, with Jarrett serving in executive and creative roles, making him one of the longest-tenured and most versatile figures in modern wrestling history.
