[Dave Youell]

Setup and execution

On the Wednesday before Survivor Series (to be held on Sunday), McMahon met with Michaels, Triple H and a close coterie of advisors in a hotel room in Montreal and planned the screwjob.[1] It is unclear how many people knew of the impending screwjob, but McMahon's close aides Gerald Brisco and Sgt. Slaughter had been involved in the planning. In addition, McMahon and Michaels had contrived to keep Pat Patterson in the dark, owing to his close relationship with Hart.[12] Hart and Michaels had met with Patterson to discuss the match setup and plan, during which Hart agreed to allow Michaels to put him into the sharpshooter hold while the referee would be unconscious.[9] The rest of the match would proceed as thus: Hart would grab Michaels' foot and reverse the hold, putting him in the sharpshooter. Michaels would tap out, but the referee would still be unconscious. Hart would let go of the hold to try to revive the referee, but Michaels would hit Hart with his finisher, Sweet Chin Music, and make the cover. A second referee would then run to the ring with Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith following close behind. The second referee would then start to make the count, but Hart and Smith would break up the pin. The original referee would then recover and start to make the count, but Hart would kick out, setting up about five more minutes of brawling that would result in a disqualification.[1]

Michaels later suggested to McMahon that the screwjob be executed when he was holding Hart in the sharpshooter, with the referee getting up and calling for the bell, making it appear as if Hart had submitted to the hold. According to Michaels' account of the events in his 2005 autobiography Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story, match referee Earl Hebner had been informed (by Michaels) of the plans only on Sunday evening, just as Survivor Series was about to commence.[9]

Tensions and excitement were high as the wrestlers and officials congregated for Survivor Series. Hart was anxious over the match finish and had been warned of the prospect of a screwjob by his brother-in-law and Hart Foundation member Jim Neidhart as well as Leon White (known as Vader), who had experienced similar situations in his career. Neidhart and White advised Hart to be alert, not lie on his back for too long, kick out from pinfall counts immediately so as to avoid a fast count, and not allow himself to be placed in submission holds. In his 1998 documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, Hart said that his fears were largely assuaged because he was close friends with referee Earl Hebner and trusted him implicitly. Asked by Hart, Hebner reportedly swore by his children that he would never double-cross Hart and that he would rather quit his job than participate in a screwjob.[1][13]

The Molson Centre in Montreal had been sold out, with more than 17,000 fans in attendance. Rumors of Hart's imminent departure from the WWF had leaked and consequently heightened the fan interest in the match. The mixed signals and a war of words between Hart, McMahon, Michaels and WCW further heightened anticipation.[1] Emotions were also running high due to the Hart-Michaels rivalry and the "U.S. vs. Canada" storyline. WWF officials ordered the deployment of a large number of agents around the ring. Highly unusual for any wrestling match, the deployment was explained on television as a necessary precaution in wake of the intense animosity between Hart and Michaels, which was incorrect as both men had been cordial with each other backstage.[1] There was also some legitimate concern that Michaels, owing to his actions of demeaning the Canadian flag could actually be attacked by angered fans. Michaels' entrance was greeted by loud booing and upon entering the ring, he proceeded to rub the Canadian flag against his crotch, picked his nose with it and later humped it — Michaels maintains that this flag desecration was actually suggested by Hart as an effective way to draw heat and emotion.[9] The palpable outrage of the fans was converted into rancorous cheering as Hart entered the ring carrying the Canadian flag and wearing the championship belt. However, Hart was visibly disturbed when segments of the crowd that were aware of his move to WCW jeered him with chants of "you sold out!" as the match progressed.[1]

As the match began, Hart and Michaels fought outside the ring and into the crowd, while being followed by McMahon and WWF officials. As the climax of the match approached, the two wrestlers returned to the ring while WWF officials continued to order more personnel to ringside. Michaels pushed Hebner in front of him as Hart jumped from the top turnbuckle, sending all three men to the canvas. Michaels and Hart both got up, but Michaels raked Hart's eye, sending Hart back to the mat. Michaels then proceeded to grab Hart's legs to put on the sharpshooter. At this point, the match director was heard shouting instructions into his headset for Hebner to get up, but Hart did not notice anything amiss. Mike Chioda, the referee who was supposed to run in after Hebner was unconscious, began yelling back that Hebner was not supposed to be up yet. Pat Patterson reacted in a similar way, and Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, who were waiting for their cues to run in, remained backstage in a state of confusion. Michaels was then seen by many viewers as having glanced at Hebner as he put Hart in the sharpshooter, which some saw as proof that he was in on the scheme.[1] Contrary to their agreed plan, Michaels tightened the hold and refused to offer his own leg to Hart for the latter to break out of the hold.[14] At that moment, Hebner got to his feet, looked toward the timekeeper, and shouted, "Ring the bell!" McMahon then elbowed the timekeeper hard and yelled, "Ring the fucking bell!" The timekeeper rang the bell just as Hart reached forward and grabbed Michaels' leg, which broke the hold and caused Michaels to fall.[13][1] Michaels' theme music then began playing and the ring announcer declared him the winner and the new WWF Champion. Hebner had already exited the ring and the arena for the hotel, from where he left for the airport to fly home. Despite initial shock, Hart immediately turned and spat directly onto McMahon's face, while Michaels feigned anger.[14][13] Michaels was ordered by McMahon to '"pick up the fuckin' belt and get the fuck out of here!" Acting as if he were angered, Michaels left the arena with Brisco and Triple H. McMahon and most other WWF officials also quickly made their way backstage as an angry Hart ransacked cameras, monitors and ringside equipment.[15] Fans in attendance also began to vent their fury on McMahon and WWF officials; a few even heaped garbage on and accosted Michaels as he hurried backstage. Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart and Davey Boy Smith came out to the ring and had a conversation with Hart after calming him down. Hart proceeded to sign "W-C-W" and "I love you" to the cheering fans before returning backstage.[1]

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Reactions

Hart, destroying WWF television equipment in anger.While most of the live Montreal audience immediately understood what had happened and responded angrily, television viewers had been left largely confused as Survivor Series went off the air four minutes ahead of schedule with the parting image of Michaels holding the belt aloft as he disappeared backstage. Rumors and expressions of surprise and shock pervaded the Internet almost immediately after the match ended. Many fans and observers considered it a creative and all-time great "worked" match finish.[1] Subsequent WWF shows saw large numbers of fans loudly chanting "we want Bret," holding up pro-Hart signs and booing Michaels, McMahon and others believed to be responsible for the screwjob. Observers of professional wrestling speculated whether the entire episode would result in WCW becoming the dominant brand in Canada, where a large majority of fans had remained loyal to the WWF, especially as the Hart family was working with the company.[1]

As seen on Hart's documentary, Hart proceeded to the dressing rooms and confronted Michaels, who pleaded that he knew nothing about what had taken place and was equally outraged.[15] As recounted in Michaels' autobiography, he offered his assurance that he would not carry the title out the next day on RAW and would refuse to say anything derogatory about Hart.[14] Hart proceeded to the dressing room to shower and change after discovering that McMahon, Brisco, and Sgt. Slaughter had locked themselves in his office. Other wrestlers watching the match had been shocked at what had happened; Mark "The Undertaker" Calaway proceeded to confront McMahon and demanded that he go and personally apologize to Hart. When McMahon went to Hart's dressing room and tried to explain himself, Hart angrily rebuffed him and warned him to leave immediately or risk a punch.[1][16] A physical altercation ensued, with Hart punching McMahon in his face and dropping him to the floor. Although Vince's son Shane McMahon and Brisco struggled briefly with Hart and Davey Boy Smith, Hart told them to take McMahon and leave or risk similar consequences.[16] Hart angrily asked McMahon if he was going to screw him on the pay he was still owed, to which a groggy McMahon replied in the negative.[1] In the hallway outside the dressing rooms, Bret Hart's then-wife Julie confronted Triple H and others angrily about the finish.[9] McMahon would be seen the next few days with a black eye and a broken ankle, which had resulted when one of the men had accidentally stepped on his ankle during the scuffle.[1] Michaels and Triple H were later confronted and assailed by angry fans outside the Molson Centre and in the lobby of their hotel.[9] While Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, and Owen Hart had flown out of Montreal with Bret Hart, McMahon faced a major revolt in the WWF locker room. Most wrestlers were outraged at him and threatened to boycott RAW or leave the company altogether.[17] McMahon addressed a meeting in an effort to calm the wrestlers down and mollify their anger. The wrestlers had been outraged that a WWF veteran had been double-crossed by McMahon — many feared for their own future and were suspicious of McMahon.[1] McMahon sought to explain that Hart was disregarding the company's interest. By refusing to drop the title in Montreal, McMahon claimed Hart was jeopardizing the company's future by creating a potentially embarrassing situation that could affect the company's fortunes. The revolt was also quelled by Bret Hart's counsel to wrestlers who asked him about boycotting RAW or leaving the company altogether. Hart advised them to fulfill their contractual obligations and not risk their own future over the episode.[1] Mick Foley did not attend the next night's Raw show, but he returned to work after that due to his contract stipulations.[17][18] Of the Hart family, only Owen Hart continued to work with the company, being unable to terminate his contract.[19]

At the RAW taping in Ottawa, Michaels appeared carrying the WWF title and performing a segment where he boasted before the audience of how he beat Hart with his own trademark move in his own country. McMahon gave a televised interview to commentator Jim Ross, explaining his version of events and making the now-famous statement "Vince McMahon didn't screw Bret Hart. Bret Hart screwed Bret Hart."[1] On another RAW show, Michaels performed a skit badgering a midget dressed up as Hart. On WCW Nitro, Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels were criticized by commentators Mike Tenay and Tony Schiavone. Eric Bischoff announced on the show that Hart had signed with the New World Order stable while Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall stood with Canadian flags and sang the Canadian national anthem.[1] Appearing on WCW Nitro, former Michaels ally Rick Rude also criticized Michaels by name. Despite the television shows and considerable antagonism from the fans, both Michaels and Triple H continued to deny any knowledge or involvement in the screwjob for several years when discussing the episode in real-life interviews.

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