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Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
The Hitman versus ‘The Wrestler’
by Bret Hart
The Wrestler is being lauded as the definitive portrayal of pro wrestling, but I submit that’s only because no one has asked a real wrestling champion about it—until now. In the movie, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was a main-eventer who sold out Madison Square Garden. So was I. The movie opens with a montage of clippings and event posters eerily similar to the ones in my personal collection. I lived that life for real. I liked the movie, and I’m disturbed by it.
In director Darren Aronofsky’s astutely layered vision there are glimpses into a shrouded world considered fake by all but those who live in it—for them, it’s the only reality they know. Nuggets of truth make the story believable. Mickey Rourke’s clairvoyant performance makes it compelling.
The film isn’t so much an exposé of the wrestling business as it really is; rather, it shows us what a lot of people outside the business think it is. With this dark misinterpretation presented in such a plausible and dramatic way, many wrestlers who’ve sacrificed so much to entertain their fans—their bodies, their families—now feel embarrassed by the film’s unbalanced portrayal in which there’s no respect for our art or our dignity. I’m uncomfortable that audiences will unconsciously assume every wrestling has-been comes to a tragic end.
Traditional sports have an off-season but me and the boys were on the road 300 days a year. As a former WWF (now WWE) champion I travelled the world for 23 years straight, 1978 to 2000, wrestling every night, sometimes more than once, plus promotional appearances and working out. It takes over your life 24/7 and, especially before cellphones and email, no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible not to become distant from my family, my kids. Most, maybe all, the boys suffered the same isolation, and soon strangers became family and family became strangers. Almost all who escaped came back, having no clue how to make it on the outside.
Pro wrestlers don’t have medical benefits, a pension plan, or a union. I’m not complaining. Wrestling has been very good to me, despite heart-wrenching disappointments, betrayals, and too many deaths to want to count any more—including my youngest brother, Owen, who fell to his demise from the rafters of an arena on a WWF pay-per- view during an ill-conceived stunt.
I was retired from the ring by an errant kick to the head, on live pay-per-view, which resulted in a concussion so brutal my doctor used the word hamburger to describe the back of my brain. That was followed by a stroke that paralyzed the entire left side of my body. Battling back was the toughest fight of my life by far, and, although I’m left with permanent effects, I’m grateful that when people meet me I can still measure up to their memory of the hero I’d long pretended to be. I still sign autographs all over the world and my fans still come out in droves. I’m humbled when they tell me, time and again, that my wrestling character inspired them in some way to make positive changes in their lives.
Wrestling has given me a great life and for that I thank Vince McMahon. Vince and I have had major differences, but I’ve not minced words and my autobiography (Hitman) is a testament to that. When evaluating the impact of The Wrestler on the wrestling business it’s only fair I give the devil his due, because it’s Vince who succeeded in taking pro wrestling out of back alleys and dingy halls like those in the movie and made it marketable, mainstream and just plain fun to watch. He couldn’t have done it without a talented roster of wrestlers. To go out there and tell a credible and dramatic story with no retakes, in front of a live audience, with nothing but your body, your opponent, and a 20- by 20-foot ring, is an art form that takes dedicated training, physical and mental stamina, athletic agility, charisma and ring psychology to create what I always thought of as mini-movies. Those who perform this art old-school take pride in creating the illusion of realism without actually hurting our opponents.
We don’t know what wrong turn brought Randy the Ram to subsist in desperation on the lowest fringes of some perverted putrefaction that barely resembles the wrestling business I know. Although the film speaks superbly to the speed bumps all pro wrestlers navigate, I’m happy to report most of us don’t swerve off the road quite so severely.
Source: BretHart.com
I still haven't seen The Wrestler and our only thread about it is buried in the GNR section. Gonna have to check it out, and Hitmans bio when it comes out over here. If he does UK book signings I'd be rounding up old friends to go meet our childhood hero 
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
Bret lives in a semi kayfabe world. Him and Arne Anderson should do lunch....
The film(you should definitely download the screener which can easily be found on pirate bay) gives us a pretty accurate portrayal of the era Bret is from. There is a mile long list of casualties from that era. You literally cannot watch an old school PPV event without seeing a bunch of dead wrestlers, most of whom died in their late 20s-early 40s. Last time I checked, that wasn't the average life expectancy. Also, they all didn't make millions like Bret did. Yeah, alot of them did eventually get rich during that late 80s/early 90s boom, but people such as the Andersons(specifically Ole) talk about getting measly checks that had to be split about three ways. How you gonna send that money home when you need an eight ball of coke?
People like Bret can try and sugarcoat this shit until the cows come home, but the facts and the tragedies do not lie. There were massive problems in the industry then, none of which he brings up in this statement.
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
Mabye he views certain things as personal failings and choice rather than industry failings.
Its unsurprising that fans look at the film as being accurate but people who have real life experience look at it as sensationalised, as gritty as the film is its still Hollywood.
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
Bret lives in a semi kayfabe world. Him and Arne Anderson should do lunch....
The film(you should definitely download the screener which can easily be found on pirate bay) gives us a pretty accurate portrayal of the era Bret is from. There is a mile long list of casualties from that era. You literally cannot watch an old school PPV event without seeing a bunch of dead wrestlers, most of whom died in their late 20s-early 40s. Last time I checked, that wasn't the average life expectancy. Also, they all didn't make millions like Bret did. Yeah, alot of them did eventually get rich during that late 80s/early 90s boom, but people such as the Andersons(specifically Ole) talk about getting measly checks that had to be split about three ways. How you gonna send that money home when you need an eight ball of coke?
People like Bret can try and sugarcoat this shit until the cows come home, but the facts and the tragedies do not lie. There were massive problems in the industry then, none of which he brings up in this statement.
On the subject of money, look at Mick Foley. He's addmited many times that during the first 5-10 years of his career he was pretty poor.
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
I think The Wrestler is a very accurate portrayal of a wrestler's life. I think what Bret doesn't realize is the majority of his career, he was built from day one to be a main eventer. Not everyone gets that. The Wrestler is pretty accurate, except for the fact most people with that poor life, are not main eventers.
That's the only real difference.
It sends a cold chill down my spine to look at the fuckin' BODY COUNT, yep that's right, like it's a goddamn Friday The 13th movie, the body count compiled by professional wrestling... suicides, drug OD's, both, murder-suicides, heart attacks, strokes, car wrecks, house fires, etc.
Not that i'm placing blame, but I almost ready to break out the word - "curse".
I also want to say, it's amazing how time heals wounds. I would've never thought i'd see Bret Hart praising Vince McMahon, and being honest, ever again. For years he lived in the mind of his own legend, denying truth, and never realizes the mic was off.
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
I agree with James. Brett Hart is full of shit and The Wrestler is a great movie. Heartbreaking stuff. If anything, I think it tries to sympathize with how rough life can be for wrestlers.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
I dont really understand this article..he's saying how not everyone ends tragicly and the movie is overdone but then breaks into how tough the life is, how he's lost count of his dead friends, how his brother died on live TV and how his own injuries have perminant effects....
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
I dont really understand this article..he's saying how not everyone ends tragicly and the movie is overdone but then breaks into how tough the life is, how he's lost count of his dead friends, how his brother died on live TV and how his own injuries have perminant effects....
Exactly. He's full of shit. He can't even keep his own story straight.
Re: Bret Hitman Hart on 'The Wrestler'
Bret is and will always be one of the most talented in the ring but when he opens his mouth that is one problems start. Like many said this movie is very close to certain wrestlers around the time of Bret's golden age. I mentioned this before but if you haven't seen it you should watch Beyond the Mat. It's scary how similar Mickey's character is to Jake the Snake's real life.
