The Blame Game!

The most controversial day in the history of professional wrestling has to be November 9, 1997. That was the night of the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob” that saw Vince McMahon secretly change the predetermined outcome of World Title match between The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels and Bret Hitman Hart.

Technically this shouldn’t be considered that controversial, since this was typical in wrestling in the 40’s and 50’s; forcing promoters to put their championships on legit workers so the title could not change hands in such a manner. You ever wonder why Lou Thesz held the NWA strap for over 10 years?

Regardless if it was the most controversial, it definitely was indeed the most publicized and shocking moment in wrestling history. After all these years the question still remains.

Who is to blame?

Let’s break it down. First up.

Eric Bischoff

Why- Well for starters he was probably the most hated person in the industry from 1996 until WCW folded, so when it comes to blaming stuff on people Eric Bischoff is usually at the top of most peoples list. Think about it, if Vince McMahon wasn’t petrified that Bret Hart would show up on WCW Nitro with the World Wrestling Federation Championship over his shoulder, chances are the screwjob would have never been necessary. Eric Bischoff used every dirty trick in the book to get a neck up in the ratings, why wouldn’t he sign WWF’s franchise player…and bring his belt along for the ride.

There is no way to know the truth about EZ E’s intentions during 1997, but from reading both his and Bret Hart’s book…Eric Bischoff had no intention of using the WWF title on WCW television, nor did Bret Hart have any intention of bringing it over. Bischoff explains that he was in the middle of an expensive law suit from the WWF Women’s Championship being shown on Nitro and didn’t want or need anymore legal trouble. Besides it’s pretty convenient for Vince to cry foul on this, when he did the same exact same thing six years earlier with Nature Boy Ric Flair.

Sure Bischoff is sort of to blame, but the obvious person to point the finger at is…

Bret Hitman Hart

Why- It is a known tradition that when leaving ‘town’, or companies in this era of the sport, you job for whoever the company wants to get over and more importantly, you lose the championship. Bret Hart refused to do that thus putting Vince McMahon in a situation that could permanently damage his already crumbling empire. Regardless of Bret Hart’s personal feelings for Shawn Michaels, or the country he happened to be performing in, at the time he was still an employee of the WWF. And as an employee, you do what you’re told. Especially for a company who has done so much for The Hitman.

There is a fatal mistake that Vince McMahon made when trying to keep Bret Hart from jumping ship. He gave Bret Hart creative control in the final couple of weeks of his contract. Why do you think Bret and his lawyers thought of this clause for his contract? For a situation just like the one Bret found himself in during 1997. Under those terms, Bret had the right to do whatever he wanted and more importantly leave how he wanted, so he did. If you don’t want your talent to control the creative aspect of your show….don’t give them creative control. Bret may have been morally wrong, but from a contractual standpoint he was well within his rights.

Compare it to an athlete who has a no trade clause in their contract. Are they wrong for not waiving it even when it would improve their franchise for the future? Well no, if you don't want a player to turn down your trades...don't give them an option!!

So Hart is to blame…well guess who else was!!

Shawn Michaels

Why- Let’s just get straight to the point. I’m a huge Shawn Michaels fan and I rank him as one of the top 3 wrestlers of all time. But from 1996 to 1997, Shawn Michaels was an asshole. Simply put, almost everybody that wasn’t apart of his ‘klique’ despised Shawn Michaels for his childish behavior and attitude. You have all heard the stories of the drug abuse (pills), the temper tantrums, and the cockiness. I have a strong belief that if Vince asked Bret to drop the title to Mankind or The Undertaker, he wouldn’t have cared. Shawn Michaels also refused to lose his World Title against Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 because he ‘lost his smile’. Why he would be surprised that Bret wouldn’t do the favor for him…is beyond me. If Shawn Michaels acted like a grown man during his prime in WWF, I don’t think the screw job takes place.

Ironically enough, the few times Shawn Michaels was a good employee was during this screwjob fiasco. Shawn Michaels was looking after the WWF and knew Bret Hart leaving with the championship was a potential disaster. Now again if Vince was having this issue with Foley or Undertaker, I don’t think he would have cared as much. But Shawn Michaels, in November of 1997, was looking after his company. He put his own personal health on the line to keep the belt in house. So believe it or not, Shawn Michaels was only listening to his boss. Was it his idea for the screwjob? Yes, but it only benefited his employer.

This leaves us to the blame game finale. Who is MOST to blame for the notorious Montreal Screwjob?

Vincent Kennedy McMahon of course.

Vince McMahon created his own problem. First he gives Bret Hart creative control in a contract that was worth 20 million dollars over 20 years. Big contract huh. Then Vince McMahon, the powerful businessman, the man who created a wrestling kingdom, realized he couldn’t afford such a contract. How he did not realize that at the time of negotiations, I have no idea. Vince McMahon could have avoided the entire situation if he just let Bret Hart walk the first time WCW threw 9 million dollars in the Hitman’s face. This happens all the time, a worker gets a better offer from another job, and he leaves for more money. The currently employer does not hand over a better contract…that he can’t afford. Vince couldn’t afford Bret, so let him go.

Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart did not have a private feud. Everybody in the locker room and everybody in the profession knew of their bad blood. Why Vince continued to pair them up in the storylines was just asking for trouble. If Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen are fighting at practice, you don’t throw fuel on the fire so they can compete better in the game and try to one up each other. Vince McMahon let things get out of hand between the two for no real good reason. You can argue that it added more drama to the on screen rivalry which created more money…but if you look at the ratings, house show numbers, and ppv buy rates in 96-97...it obviously wasn’t working.

I’ve read both HBK and Hart’s books and I can never once recall Vince sitting both guys down and saying enough is enough. Either you get along or you’re jobbing to Papa Shango for the next two years. You create peace between your two most talented and popular investments. Not sitting back and watching your locker room split in half.

Vince did not trust Bret Hart when he assured him Bischoff has no interest in the WWF Title, and he would never do that to the company. In this whole situation, Bret Hart was the only person who was honest. It was not as if Bret Hart wanted to leave and was going to turn the screws to Vince by taking the belt with him on Nitro. When Flair did it in the early 90’s, it was only because Jim Herd had fired him. There was no heat between Vince and Bret Hart at the time, and there was really no reason to think Bret would pull something off like that. As I stated earlier, he was the only one honest during this time. He didn’t hate WWF and wouldn’t have left the company with the championship. Bret hated Shawn, not WWF.

Besides, are you telling me there were no shows before or after the Survivor Series where Bret couldn’t drop the belt? How about the Raw before, you take a page out of Nitro’s book and actually have a big marquee match. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, with Shawn winning the belt. That way you go into Survivor Series with Shawn already the champion, and you have the planned ending with Hunter running in and the Hart Foundation making the save. Bret Hart wins by DQ, he’s still a hero in Canada, and the belt is off your leaving wrestling. Was that so hard?!?!

I personally believe Vince had to do what he ended up doing, but it was only after the circumstances HE created for himself. If he acted as a more professional boss, he wouldn’t of had to screw arguably his greatest performer out of his company.