PWP’s Bruce Hart gives his thoughts on the new WWE DVD, “Owen: Hart of Gold.”
Greetings, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. I recently received from the WWE a copy of the new DVD, “Owen: Hart of Gold” and it brought back a lot of memories and perspectives – some good and some not so good.
First off, it was really heartwarming to see so many of Owen’s old wrestling cronies, like Scott Hall, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Chris Jericho, Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy, Edge, Christian and Triple H paying their respects to Owen Hart and fondly remembering some of the “Owen stories,” including his penchant for practical jokes.
I also thought it was a nice touch to have several of today’s biggest superstars stars, like Daniel Bryan and Kevin Owens, most of whom weren’t even on the scene when Owen was alive, but all of whom were big fans of his, offering their reflections on him and paying tribute to him in a sincere and respectful manner, which would have meant a lot to him.
I was also pleased that the WWE saw fit to dwell not just on Owen’s career as a wrestler, but took time to look at the human side of Owen, as a devoted father and family man and someone who went out of his way for the fans, especially kids in hospitals and others who had a lot to deal with.
Not to be raining on anyone’s parade, but, I didn’t find that the DVD really did justice to Owen Hart, the wrestler. That’s probably because, in many ways, the WWE, itself, didn’t really do justice to Owen Hart, as a wrestler either.
In watching the video, one would almost think that prior to his arrival in the WWF in 1989, Owen’s body of work in the wrestling business was pretty nominal, which was far from the truth. For those unfamiliar with Owen’s pre-WWF career, he had been one of the most sensational superstars in the history of Stampede Wrestling, ranking right up there with the likes of Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Billy Robinson, Les Thornton and Jushin Liger, as a cutting edge star of the highest order. I can recall how, back in 1986, when Owen was just launching his career in Stampede Wrestling, how Wrestling Observer publisher, Dave Meltzer, raved about him, stating unequivocally, that Owen was the best rookie he had ever seen, bar none.
As such, one would have figured that the WWE (or WWF, as they used to call themselves back then), would have seen fit to use him accordingly, as a bonafide up and coming superstar with an impeccable pedigree. That, unfortunately, didn’t pore to be the case though, as for most of his ten year career in the WWE (1989-1999), he was treated like some kind of unproven, nondescript jabroney, almost like an earlier day version of Heath Slater, in laughable roles such as the Blue Demon and the Blue Blazer, or in lame tag teams, such as High Energy (with Koko B. Ware), none of which took advantage or served to get him over or give the fans any indication of how good he really was.
Ultimately, Owen’s most memorable role during his WWF career was playing a heel, as the jealous, little brother of the Hitman – who resented Bret Hart’s success and having to play second fiddle to the “best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.” I could perhaps have seen the point if that had been, say, Lanny Poffo, having to play the understudy to his brother, Randy Savage, but that really wasn’t the case with Owen though, as guys who worked with both Bret and Owen, including Davey Boy, Dynamite Kid, Brian Pillman, Mike Shaw, Bad News Allen and Curt Hennig would unequivocally tell you that they rated Owen a better worker, than the Hitman, which, I might add that, is in no way a knock on Bret, who was a hell of a worker in his own right, but is more intended to give you some idea of just how good Owen really was.
Anyway, in 1997, when Bret, Owen, Davey Boy, the Anvil and Brian Pillman formed a pro-Canadian/anti-American heel faction and feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), Ken Shamrock and Goldust, drawing sellout crowds and rave reviews, it appeared that Owen’s star was finally rising, however their momentum was abruptly ruined, with the untimely death of Pillman that October and the infamous Montreal Screw Job, which resulted in Bret, Davey Boy and Neidhart leaving the WWF and even though Owen chose to remain in the WWF, his career was compromised as a result of all the fallout.
I’m told that in 1999, the WWF was finally planning to give Owen his long awaited push, which, in a sad irony, was to commence with his winning the Intercontinental Championship on the May 23, Over The Edge pay-per-view in Kansas City. That, as most of you know, turned out to be the night he was tragically killed in an ill-conceived entrance stunt that went horribly wrong.
Some poet once poignantly lamented that the saddest words in the English language are, “what might have been.” That tends to sum up Owen’s career in the WWF. I have no doubt that if he had finally been given his “run,” as they call it in our business, he would have lived up to my dad’s and everyone else’s expectations, but he, unfortunately, never got that chance and all we can do now, is wonder, “what might have been.”
Given that the WWE has seen fit to market the, “Owen: Hart of Gold” DVD, I’m hopeful that they might also see fit to induct Owen into the WWE Hall of Fame, something I’ve proposed to Vince McMahon several times over the years, but thus far haven’t obliged. If they ever do see fit to induct Owen, it would be nice to see a few of Owen’s other former Stampede Wrestling colleagues, such as the Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith and Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart also given due consideration, as they’re all more than worthy candidates, as well, wouldn’t you agree?
In closing, in last week’s Hart Murmurs column, I paid tribute to some of the wrestling legends whom we bid farewell to in 2015, however I was remiss in failing to mention a few other dearly departed icons from our sport: Don Fargo, a cutting edge heel who’s best remembered for his legendary tag team matches in the 60’s and 70’s. Percival A. Friend, better known to most of his wrestling cronies, as Al, who was one of the most respected and dynamic managers in the 70’s. Finally, Bob Kelly, who dedicated his heart and soul to this business.
All of those guys will be fondly remembered.
Thanks, once again, for all your comments and feedback. Until next time, best wishes for a happy and fulfilling New Year!
