Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows

Bret Hart had spent his entire career perfecting the art of professional wrestling, from his early days in the National Wrestling Alliance to his rise to superstardom in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). By the early 1990s, Hart had become one of the most respected and beloved wrestlers of his generation, known for his technical skill, charismatic presence, and unwavering dedication to his craft. As he approached the apex of his career, however, Hart found himself at the center of a maelstrom of controversy that would shake the foundations of the WWF and alter the course of his personal and professional life. The year in question was 1997, and Hart was on the cusp of achieving his lifelong dream of becoming the WWF Champion. Having just defeated Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship, Hart's sights were set on the WWF Title, which was currently held by Bret's long-time rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin. As Hart prepared to embark on his championship run, however, tensions began to simmer beneath the surface of the WWF locker room. At the heart of the controversy was Vince McMahon, the mercurial and intensely driven CEO of the WWF. McMahon was a perfectionist who demanded absolute loyalty and dedication from his wrestlers, and he had a reputation for being willing to do whatever it took to protect his interests and protect his company. As the year wore on, it became increasingly clear that McMahon had a particular bone to pick with Bret Hart, who had recently begun to speak his mind on issues related to the WWF's creative process and the treatment of its wrestlers. Hart's outspokenness had not gone unnoticed by McMahon, who saw the wrestler as a threat to his authority and control over the WWF. In an effort to assert his dominance and maintain his grip on the company, McMahon began to conspire with various members of the WWF roster, including Shawn Michaels and WWF Vice President Bruce Prichard. The goal of this conspiracy was clear: to remove Bret Hart as champion and maintain a semblance of control and order within the WWF. The stage was set for a dramatic confrontation, one that would go down in history as one of the most infamous moments in professional wrestling lore - the Montreal Screwjob. In October 1997, Hart was set to defend his WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels at the storied Montreal Forum in Quebec, Canada. The event was the culmination of months of carefully orchestrated tension, as Hart and Michaels had been feuding in a highly anticipated rivalry. But just hours before the match, Hart was informed that he was to lose to Michaels, a scenario that went directly against the planned storyline. Confused and enraged, Hart was told that the decision to change the outcome had come down from the top - in other words, from Vince McMahon himself. In a stunning and unprecedented move, McMahon, along with Michaels and several other officials, deliberately manipulated the event behind Hart's back, effectively stealing the championship from him in a deliberate and calculated act of treachery. The aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob was chaotic and emotionally charged, as Hart, Michaels, and McMahon struggled to come to terms with the consequences of their actions. The incident sparked widespread outrage among WWF fans, who felt betrayed and deceived by the company's top management. Hart, in particular, was devastated by the loss of his championship, which had been taken from him in a manner he deemed to be both unprofessional and humiliating. Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows is a documentary that provides an intimate and unflinching look at this pivotal moment in professional wrestling history. Through exclusive interviews with Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon, and others, the film sheds new light on the events leading up to the Montreal Screwjob, exposing the complex web of motivations, rivalries, and power struggles that lay beneath the surface of the WWF. As the documentary explores the emotional turmoil that enveloped both Hart and McMahon in the aftermath of the incident, it is clear that the Montreal Screwjob left an indelible mark on the lives of all involved. For Hart, it marked the beginning of a long and arduous journey towards redemption and healing, as he grappled with the legacy of a career that had been cut short in a most unceremonious manner. For McMahon, the Montreal Screwjob marked a turning point in his relationship with his wrestlers, as he grappled with the consequences of his own actions and began to reevaluate the company he had built on the back of his own reputation. And for the fans, the Screwjob served as a stark reminder of the darker side of professional wrestling, where the lines between reality and fiction often blurred and the stakes were higher than ever. Throughout Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows, the tone is one of reflection and introspection, as the participants, including Hart, Michaels, and McMahon, grapple with the long-term impact of their actions on the sport they love. In the end, the film leaves viewers with more questions than answers, a poignant reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of the professional wrestling world.