KayfabeMan
05-23-2005, 03:55 AM
There are moments in one's life, both good and bad, that you never forget. No matter how much time passes or how many trivial things are erased from memory, you just don't lose them. I want to share a bit of both the good and the bad, in hopes that others will follow in suit with their memories - never to forget someone who is missed each and every day.
Growing up, I had watched Owen Hart wrestle on TV quite often. With The New Foundation, with High Energy, as the Blue Blazer, as 'Bret's little brother', and into his transformation into one of the best heels in the business. Owen always had something about him that just drew me into whatever character he was playing, heel or face, and had me hoping that he'd win in whatever match he was in.
In the early/mid-1990's, I used to go to the local WWF shows [which took place quite often here back then]. Showtime was 7 or 8 PM, however, my family would take me early in the day and we would wait outside for the wrestlers to arrive. Back then, you weren't separated by guardrails and security guards and such - and often the wrestlers parked in the same lot as the fans would. I remember one such time, shortly after Owen's heel turn on Bret in 1994, that we arrived early to meet wrestlers. Owen arrived along with Jim Neidhart, and instead of keeping kayfabe as most heels did at the time, they were both polite and took the time to sign autographs and talk with fans.
Owen was having a bit of fun with it, as while signing autographs and such he'd make heel like faces - as if he despised doing what he was doing. I remember walking right up next to him to hold my book up for his signature, and he signed it and looked down at me - I remember this the most, and will never forget it, as he seemed larger than life at the time, being so young - and he smiled at me, and then returned to making the heel faces. I will never forget him smiling at me. Every time I pass the arena, I always see myself in the parking lot as a little kid - meeting the wrestlers. Thanks to Owen I'll have that memory forever.
From then on, I was hooked on Owen. Later down the road, I even got my grandparents to buy me a trophy that was similar to the infamous 'Slammy Award' that Owen carried around. He was the total heel, and inspired me not only as a fan, but later as a wrestler. Those are the good moments that I will never forget.
A bad moment that I'll never forget happened on May 23, 1999 - six years ago, I still can't believe it's been six - during WWF's broadcast. I'd returned home from another local show here in the area to settle in and watch the PPV. I was looking forward to seeing Owen that evening. I remember watching his promo earlier in the PPV and thinking how ridiculous he looked in that outfit now, but being entertained at how he pulled it off. The next thing I can remember about it was later in the evening - seeing the camera pan wildly and then them cutting back to other things. I found it really strange. When Jim Ross broke the situation, I was completely ill. I felt my stomach rumble, and my head started to hurt - I just had this odd feeling that something really bad was going to come of it.
When Jerry Lawler returned to the broadcast position from being at ringside, I knew that that was it for Owen; despite what I assume to be an effort, the look on Jerry's face said that it was over. I had tried to keep my mind off of that, praying that Owen would be OK. When they broke the news of his passing, I cried. Even knowing that it was bad from before, it truly didn't sink in until it was 'made official' by them saying it. That's a bad memory I'll never forget.
The RAW that followed made it even harder to forget about what happened - and in a way I am glad about that. I am glad that Owen will never be forgotten. After reading his widow's book about their lives, and everything that took place, it makes it that much more important for Owen's life to be remembered. He was a true man, and a real man - who NEVER put the business before his family as most of us often do. Who NEVER ignored a request to help someone who needed it. Who NEVER mistreated someone, or looked down on them as if he were better; and who hopefully, will NEVER be forgotten.
I thank you Owen, for entertaining and inspiring - not only me - but countless others. I thank Owen, for being a kind and generous guy - who even after your death, continues to help through charities established in your name as you wanted. I thank you Owen, for inspiring me to be willing to be a heel - one who like you did, always has a smile behind that mean face. And I thank you Owen, for smiling at me that day - just as I'm smiling thinking about you now.
I hope that today, even six years later, that everyone might stop for a second - and say not only a prayer [or if you don't pray, think a thought about] for Owen, but also for his wife and children, and his entire family - who I am sure are sharing their thoughts of Owen today as well. Let's use this thread to discuss memories of Owen, and keep his memory alive.
Growing up, I had watched Owen Hart wrestle on TV quite often. With The New Foundation, with High Energy, as the Blue Blazer, as 'Bret's little brother', and into his transformation into one of the best heels in the business. Owen always had something about him that just drew me into whatever character he was playing, heel or face, and had me hoping that he'd win in whatever match he was in.
In the early/mid-1990's, I used to go to the local WWF shows [which took place quite often here back then]. Showtime was 7 or 8 PM, however, my family would take me early in the day and we would wait outside for the wrestlers to arrive. Back then, you weren't separated by guardrails and security guards and such - and often the wrestlers parked in the same lot as the fans would. I remember one such time, shortly after Owen's heel turn on Bret in 1994, that we arrived early to meet wrestlers. Owen arrived along with Jim Neidhart, and instead of keeping kayfabe as most heels did at the time, they were both polite and took the time to sign autographs and talk with fans.
Owen was having a bit of fun with it, as while signing autographs and such he'd make heel like faces - as if he despised doing what he was doing. I remember walking right up next to him to hold my book up for his signature, and he signed it and looked down at me - I remember this the most, and will never forget it, as he seemed larger than life at the time, being so young - and he smiled at me, and then returned to making the heel faces. I will never forget him smiling at me. Every time I pass the arena, I always see myself in the parking lot as a little kid - meeting the wrestlers. Thanks to Owen I'll have that memory forever.
From then on, I was hooked on Owen. Later down the road, I even got my grandparents to buy me a trophy that was similar to the infamous 'Slammy Award' that Owen carried around. He was the total heel, and inspired me not only as a fan, but later as a wrestler. Those are the good moments that I will never forget.
A bad moment that I'll never forget happened on May 23, 1999 - six years ago, I still can't believe it's been six - during WWF's broadcast. I'd returned home from another local show here in the area to settle in and watch the PPV. I was looking forward to seeing Owen that evening. I remember watching his promo earlier in the PPV and thinking how ridiculous he looked in that outfit now, but being entertained at how he pulled it off. The next thing I can remember about it was later in the evening - seeing the camera pan wildly and then them cutting back to other things. I found it really strange. When Jim Ross broke the situation, I was completely ill. I felt my stomach rumble, and my head started to hurt - I just had this odd feeling that something really bad was going to come of it.
When Jerry Lawler returned to the broadcast position from being at ringside, I knew that that was it for Owen; despite what I assume to be an effort, the look on Jerry's face said that it was over. I had tried to keep my mind off of that, praying that Owen would be OK. When they broke the news of his passing, I cried. Even knowing that it was bad from before, it truly didn't sink in until it was 'made official' by them saying it. That's a bad memory I'll never forget.
The RAW that followed made it even harder to forget about what happened - and in a way I am glad about that. I am glad that Owen will never be forgotten. After reading his widow's book about their lives, and everything that took place, it makes it that much more important for Owen's life to be remembered. He was a true man, and a real man - who NEVER put the business before his family as most of us often do. Who NEVER ignored a request to help someone who needed it. Who NEVER mistreated someone, or looked down on them as if he were better; and who hopefully, will NEVER be forgotten.
I thank you Owen, for entertaining and inspiring - not only me - but countless others. I thank Owen, for being a kind and generous guy - who even after your death, continues to help through charities established in your name as you wanted. I thank you Owen, for inspiring me to be willing to be a heel - one who like you did, always has a smile behind that mean face. And I thank you Owen, for smiling at me that day - just as I'm smiling thinking about you now.
I hope that today, even six years later, that everyone might stop for a second - and say not only a prayer [or if you don't pray, think a thought about] for Owen, but also for his wife and children, and his entire family - who I am sure are sharing their thoughts of Owen today as well. Let's use this thread to discuss memories of Owen, and keep his memory alive.