Career Timeline of Bret Hart: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Bret Hart built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Bret Hart, a Canadian-American retired professional wrestler from the Hart wrestling family, is celebrated as one of the greatest of all time. Known as "The Hitman," he popularized technical wrestling in North America during the early 1990s. His background includes amateur wrestling, and he became a major international draw, significantly impacting the perception of mainstream professional wrestling. Hart's legacy emphasizes his exceptional skill and contributions to the sport.
11 hours ago : Bret Hart reveals dream opponent for one more match, wishes for WWE return.
Bret Hart expressed his desire for one more match, naming late WWE Hall of Famers as dream opponents. He also identified a wrestler he would love to face if he could return.
1976: Started with Stampede Wrestling
In 1976, Bret Hart began working for his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary, starting as a referee.
1977: Collegiate Champion at Mount Royal College
In 1977, Bret Hart was a collegiate champion at Mount Royal College while studying filmmaking, leading to encouragement to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
1978: In-Ring Debut at Stampede Wrestling
In 1978, Bret Hart made his in-ring debut at a Stampede Wrestling event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as a replacement for a wrestler who couldn't perform.
1978: In-Ring Debut
In 1978, Bret Hart made his in-ring debut for Stampede Wrestling.
August 1984: Acquisition by WWF
In August 1984, Stampede Wrestling, along with several wrestlers including Bret Hart, was acquired by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
August 29, 1984: WWF Televised Debut
On August 29, 1984, Bret Hart made his televised WWF debut in a tag team match, teaming with the Dynamite Kid.
1985: Joins The Hart Foundation
In 1985, Bret Hart requested to join Jimmy Hart's heel stable, The Hart Foundation, and began teaming with Jim Neidhart.
March 8, 1986: Singles Match Loss to Ricky Steamboat
On March 8, 1986, Bret Hart lost a singles match to Ricky Steamboat at the Boston Garden.
July 28, 1986: Loss to Ricky Steamboat
On July 28, 1986, Bret Hart lost again to Ricky Steamboat on Prime Time Wrestling.
November 3, 1986: Televised Main Event Win
On November 3, 1986, Bret Hart headlined his first televised WWF card, beating Ray Rougeau on Prime Time Wrestling.
February 7, 1987: WWF Tag Team Championship Win
On February 7, 1987, The Hart Foundation won their first WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating The British Bulldogs on Superstars of Wrestling.
November 28, 1987: Match Against Randy Savage
On November 28, 1987, Bret Hart faced "Macho Man" Randy Savage on Saturday Night's Main Event XIII, in a losing effort.
January 1988: Royal Rumble Participation
In January 1988, Bret Hart was the first entrant in the inaugural Royal Rumble match, lasting 25 minutes and 42 seconds before being eliminated by Don Muraco.
August 1988: SummerSlam Betrayal
At SummerSlam in August 1988, Jimmy Hart assisted tag team champions Demolition in a successful defence of their belts against the Harts.
1988: Turning Heel
In 1988, Bret Hart turned heel for the first time since 1988 after assaulting Steve Austin after their match.
1988: Face Turn and Sunglasses
In 1988, following his face turn, Bret Hart started giving away his signature mirrored sunglasses to young audience members before matches.
January 1989: Royal Rumble Victory
In January 1989, at the Royal Rumble, The Hart Foundation teamed with Jim Duggan to achieve a victory against The Rougeaus and Dino Bravo.
August 1989: Loss at SummerSlam
At SummerSlam in August 1989, The Hart Foundation faced The Brain Busters in a non-title match and were defeated.
November 6, 1989: Loss to Mr. Perfect
On November 6, 1989, Bret Hart lost to Mr. Perfect on Prime Time Wrestling. Perfect pulled Hart's tights during a roll-up to secure the victory.
January 1990: Royal Rumble Participation
In January 1990, The Hart Foundation participated in the Royal Rumble.
February 11, 1990: Singles Match Against Shawn Michaels
On February 11, 1990, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart's first ever singles match ended in a double countout on Wrestling Challenge.
June 1991: Start of Calgary Sun Column
In June 1991, Bret Hart began writing a weekly column for the Calgary Sun.
September 7, 1991: King of the Ring Tournament Win
On September 7, 1991, Bret Hart won the 1991 King of the Ring tournament at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
1991: King of the Ring Winner
In 1991, Bret Hart won the King of the Ring tournament.
1991: SummerSlam match with Curt Hennig
In 1991, Curt Hennig stated that the best match he ever had was with Bret Hart at SummerSlam, noting that he'd have a good relationship with Bret forever.
January 1992: Feud with The Mountie Begins
In January 1992, Bret Hart began feuding with Jacques Rougeau, wrestling as "The Mountie." The feud started when The Mountie's manager threw water on Hart, and The Mountie shocked Hart with a cattle prod.
January 17, 1992: Loss of Intercontinental Championship
On January 17, 1992, Bret Hart lost the Intercontinental Championship to The Mountie.
July 21, 1992: First WWF Ladder Match
On July 21, 1992, Bret Hart defeated Shawn Michaels in the WWF's first ever ladder match at a Wrestling Challenge taping, with the Intercontinental Championship belt suspended above the ring.
August 1992: Intercontinental Championship Loss at SummerSlam
In August 1992, Bret Hart lost the Intercontinental Championship to Davey Boy Smith at SummerSlam in a match later voted "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers.
1992: SummerSlam 1992
In 1992, Wade Barrett named the Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog match at SummerSlam as his all-time favorite match.
October 1993: Radio interview criticizing Ric Flair and WCW
In October 1993, Bret Hart gave a radio interview in which he said Ric Flair "sucks" and described WCW as "minor league."
1993: Feud with Jerry Lawler
In 1993, Bret Hart engaged in a feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler, which was named "Feud of the Year" by Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers.
1993: First King of the Ring PPV Winner
In 1993, Bret Hart won the first King of the Ring pay-per-view event.
1993: King of the Ring 1993
In 1993, Scott Dawson stated that Bret Hart's work at King of the Ring made him want to become a professional wrestler.
July 1994: WWF Championship Bout
In July 1994, Sean Waltman said that Bret Hart gave him the best singles match of his career, and one of the best matches that has ever been on Monday Night Raw.
1994: Royal Rumble Co-Win and WWF Championship Victory
In 1994, Bret Hart co-won the Royal Rumble with Lex Luger and later defeated Yokozuna to win his second WWF Championship.
1994: WWF Championship Loss to Bob Backlund
In 1994, Bret Hart lost his WWF Championship to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series in a submission match.
1994: Natural Born Killers Deleted Scene
In 1994, Bret Hart played a prison inmate in a deleted scene from Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, which was later restored for the director's cut.
1994: Royal Rumble Winner
In 1994, Bret Hart was a Royal Rumble match winner along with Lex Luger.
1994: Family Feud with Owen Hart
In 1994, Bret Hart's disagreements with his brother Owen escalated into a family feud.
1994: Match against Sean Waltman
In 1994, CM Punk's first match in All Elite Wrestling against Darby Allin included several sequences that mirrored Bret Hart's 1994 match against Sean Waltman.
1995: Lonesome Dove: The Series Appearance
From 1994 to 1995, Bret Hart appeared in the Lonesome Dove: The Series television show playing "Luther Root".
1995: Focus on Outside Projects and Feuds
In 1995, Bret Hart focused on outside projects like acting, and engaged in feuds with Jerry Lawler and Jean-Pierre Lafitte, regaining the WWF Championship at Survivor Series by defeating Diesel.
September 8, 1996: Victory over Davey Boy Smith in South Africa
On September 8, 1996, Bret Hart returned to action in Durban, South Africa, defeating Davey Boy Smith.
1996: Rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin
From 1996 to 1997, Bret Hart headlined multiple pay-per-view events as part of an acclaimed rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
1996: WWF Championship Defense and Iron Man Match Set
In 1996, Bret Hart defended his WWF Championship against Diesel and The Undertaker. He was later scheduled to face Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII.
1996: Re-signing with the World Wrestling Federation
On October 21, 1996, Bret Hart elected to re-sign with the World Wrestling Federation with an unprecedented 20-year contract.
November 1997: Montreal Screwjob and Departure to WCW
In November 1997, Bret Hart left the WWF for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) following the controversial "Montreal Screwjob".
December 15, 1997: WCW Debut
Bret Hart made his WCW debut on Nitro on December 15, 1997, after Eric Bischoff announced that Hart was going to be coming to WCW and joining the nWo.
1997: WWF's Biggest Star
Corey Erdman of Vice noted that 1997 was one of the hottest periods in professional wrestling, and Bret Hart was the WWF's biggest star.
1997: Rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin
From 1996 to 1997, Bret Hart headlined multiple pay-per-view events as part of an acclaimed rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
1997: MADtv Appearance
In 1997, Bret Hart guest starred on the sketch comedy series MADtv, acting as an enforcer at a fan's house while appearing with his WWF Championship belt.
1997: The Simpsons Guest Spot
In 1997, Bret Hart made a guest appearance on The Simpsons as himself in "The Old Man and the Lisa".
1997: Survivor Series and Montreal Screwjob
In 1997, Bret Hart refused to lose his final WWF match with Shawn Michaels at the Survivor Series event, culminating in the Montreal Screwjob.
1997: Most Hated Wrestler of the Year
In 1997, Bret Hart was voted as the "Most Hated Wrestler of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers due to his anti-American persona and the Hart Foundation's actions.
1997: Financial Position and Contract Negotiations
In late 1997, due to the WWF's rough financial position, Vince McMahon encouraged Bret Hart to approach WCW about a contract, despite Hart's willingness to renegotiate with the WWF.
April 1998: Turning Heel in WCW
In April 1998, Bret Hart turned heel in WCW by interfering in a Nitro main event between Hollywood Hogan and Randy Savage, helping Hogan recapture the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, becoming an associate of the nWo.
1998: Release of Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows documentary
In 1998, the documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows was released, showcasing many behind-the-scenes events leading up to the Montreal Screwjob.
February 8, 1999: Losing the United States Heavyweight Championship
On February 8, 1999, on Nitro, Bret Hart lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to Roddy Piper.
July 1999: Start of Autobiography Writing
In July 1999, Bret Hart began writing his autobiography with Marcy Engelstein.
September 13, 1999: Tag team match with Hulk Hogan against Sting and Lex Luger
On September 13, 1999, Bret Hart returned to wrestling, teaming with Hulk Hogan against Sting and Lex Luger on Nitro. This re-established Hart as a face.
December 1999: Concussion
In December 1999, Bret Hart suffered a concussion, leading to inactivity in in-ring competition.
1999: MADtv Feud with Will Sasso
In 1999, Bret Hart appeared on MADtv in an angle with actor Will Sasso where they feuded on the set.
1999: Malcolm in the Middle Opening Credits
In 1999, a clip of Bret Hart applying the sharpshooter to Chris Benoit at WCW Mayhem was featured in the opening credits of Malcolm in the Middle.
January 2000: In-Ring Inactivity
Due to a concussion he got in December of 1999, Bret Hart had been inactive from in-ring competition since January 2000.
September 6, 2000: Confrontation with Goldberg on Thunder
On the September 6, 2000, episode of Thunder, Bret Hart made his final WCW appearance, confronting Goldberg about an injury he sustained nine months prior.
October 2000: Retirement
In October 2000, Bret Hart officially retired from in-ring competition shortly after his departure from WCW.
October 20, 2000: WCW contract termination
On October 20, 2000, WCW terminated Bret Hart's contract via FedEx letter due to his ongoing incapacity.
October 26, 2000: Retirement from professional wrestling
On October 26, 2000, Bret Hart announced his retirement from professional wrestling.
2000: WCW Monday Nitro Grudge Match
In 2000, Bret Hart's feud with Will Sasso culminated in a grudge match on WCW Monday Nitro, which Hart decisively won.
2004: Aladdin Stage Production
In 2004, Bret Hart donned his "Hit Man" singlet and executed wrestling maneuvers as the Genie in a stage production of Aladdin.
2004: WrestleMania Match Voted Greatest
In 2004, WWE fans voted the WrestleMania match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels as the greatest in the history of WrestleMania.
November 15, 2005: Release of Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
On November 15, 2005, WWE released a three-disc DVD collection originally named Screwed: The Bret Hart Story, but renamed Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be, featuring over seven hours of interview footage with Hart.
February 16, 2006: WWE Hall of Fame Announcement
On February 16, 2006, it was announced on Raw that Bret Hart would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2006.
April 1, 2006: WWE Hall of Fame induction
On April 1, 2006, Bret Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2006 by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
July 15, 2006: Induction into George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
On July 15, 2006, Bret Hart was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa.
2006: Reprising Role in Aladdin
In 2006, Bret Hart reprised his role as the Genie in the stage production of Aladdin.
June 11, 2007: Raw appearance for Vince McMahon Appreciation Night
On June 11, 2007, Bret Hart made his first appearance on Raw since 1997 in a pretaped interview voicing his opinions on Vince McMahon as part of "Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night".
September 2007: Completion of Autobiography
In September 2007, Bret Hart and Marcy Engelstein completed the writing of his autobiography, eight years after starting it in July 1999.
October 16, 2007: Release of Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling in Canada
On October 16, 2007, Bret Hart's autobiography titled Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, was released in Canada by Random House Canada.
2008: U.S. Release of Hitman Autobiography
In 2008, Bret Hart's autobiography, Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, was released in the United States by Grand Central Publishing, accompanied by a U.S. book signing tour.
December 28, 2009: Announcement as Raw guest host
On December 28, 2009, Vince McMahon announced that Bret Hart would be the special guest host on the January 4, 2010 episode of Raw.
January 2010: Release of Bret Hart – Survival of the Hitman Documentary
In January 2010, The Fight Network produced a documentary titled Bret Hart – Survival of the Hitman, chronicling Bret Hart's rise, his 1997 split with WWE, and his road back to the company, featuring interviews with Hart and his family.
November 2010: Expiration of WWE contract
In November 2010, Bret Hart's WWE contract expired.
2010: Feud with Vince McMahon and WrestleMania XXVI match
In 2010, Bret Hart engaged in a feud with Vince McMahon that mirrored the Montreal Screwjob, culminating in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania XXVI where Hart defeated McMahon, following a double-cross by the Hart family.
2010: Return to WWE
In 2010, Bret Hart returned to sporadic in-ring competition with WWE, where he won his final championship and headlined the SummerSlam event.
August 23, 2011: Guest General Manager on SmackDown
On August 23, 2011, Bret Hart served as the guest general manager on SmackDown (aired August 26).
November 2011: Release of Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries DVD
In November 2011, WWE released a DVD entitled Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries, focusing on their on-screen rivalry and real-life conflicts, particularly the Montreal Screwjob.
May 27, 2013: "Bret Hart Appreciation Night" in Calgary
On May 27, 2013, Bret Hart was honored by the city of Calgary and WWE with a "Bret Hart Appreciation Night", celebrating his career achievements.
2016: Starring in Nine Legends documentary film
In 2016, Bret Hart starred in the documentary film Nine Legends.
April 6, 2019: Two-time WWE Hall of Famer
On April 6, 2019, Bret Hart became a two-time WWE Hall of Famer as a member of The Hart Foundation, during Hart's speech, an audience member attacked him and Natalya, but was quickly apprehended. Hart continued and finished his speech.
May 25, 2019: AEW Double or Nothing appearance
On May 25, 2019, Bret Hart made a surprise appearance at All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) inaugural pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, to unveil the AEW World Championship.
2019: Donation to Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre
In 2019, Bret Hart and the Calgary Hitmen Team donated $16,300 to the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre.
2021: Induction into Canada's Walk of Fame
In 2021, Bret Hart was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame by Chris Jericho and The Rock.
February 2023: Opening of Hitman's Bar in Calgary
In February 2023, Bret Hart opened Hitman's Bar in Calgary, displaying his most iconic memorabilia, including the world heavyweight championship belt he won in 1992.
July 2023: AEW Agent offer declined
In July 2023, it was revealed that Bret Hart offered his services to AEW as an agent, but was turned down.
2024: American Dad! Episode Appearance
In 2024, Bret Hart played himself in the American Dad! episode "Under (and Over, and Beside) the Boardwalk".
April 11, 2025: Wrestlemania IX: The Spectacle release on Peacock
On April 11, 2025, Bret Hart appeared in the documentary film Wrestlemania IX: The Spectacle, which was released on Peacock.
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