Bret Hart speaks on the least favorite of his WrestleMania singles outings.
In 1995, Bret Hart faced Bob Backlund in an "I Quit" Match at WWE WrestleMania 11. This was a rematch from their match at the WWE Survivor Series 1994, where Backlund defeated Hart for the WWE Title. This match at WrestleMania was the first of the traditional "I Quit" Matches in WWE, where one opponent needs to make the other verbally surrender in order to pick up the victory. For added flair, this match even featured Roddy Piper as the referee. Despite all of that, it's not one of Hart's favorite matches.
During an appearance on The Ringer's Masked Man Show, Hart explained why he didn't like his match with Bob Backlund at WrestleMania XI.
" I love Bob Backlund, he’s one of my favorite guys, but the match I had with Bob Backlund, the “I Quit” match I had with him at WrestleMania 11, I knew it was going to be a disaster and I always thought that was my least greatest match. I don’t blame Bob, I don’t blame myself, I blame Vince, the guy who came up with the concept for the match. It was a dud before we walked out. I feel bad we didn’t have a great match. In fact, I love the match I had with Bob Backlund at Survivor Series. If people question my greatness, I’d like to have seen Hulk Hogan wrestle Bob Backlund. I’d like to have seen Shawn Michaels wrestle Bob Backlund or Triple H wrestle Bob Backlund the way that I did. Throw anybody you want in there, put them in there with Bob Backlund, and see what they can do. "That’s not a knock on Bob. Bob was just a very old-school, a champion wrestler and great wrestler, but try to find the right balance of how to wrestle Bob Backlund. I don’t think very many guys could pull off the match I did with Bob Backlund. It was a beautiful match. I love Bob and the fact that I gave him that moment. It’s just one that I think you can name all kinds of wrestlers, throw them in against Bob Backlund, and see what they can do. Bob was a challenge to figure out the right ingredients and measures to tell a story and have a great match. I think we did that, and I’m very proud of that match."
Two years later, Bret Hart would have a Submission Match with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin that was so good, it's become the first match to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. That induction will take place during WWE WrestleMania 41 weekend. Learn more here.
Unlike his positive remarks about Bob Backlund, Bret Hart doesn't have as many nice things to say about Hulk Hogan. Read his latest comments on Hogan here.
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