New Bret Hart Commentary

[Guest Damn You Helmsley]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/0.../07/106054.html

 

People often ask me which match was my all-time toughest? Well, let me tell you about it.

 

During the past few weeks, I've done several speaking engagements, two in Australia, one in New Zealand and one in Thunder Bay, Ont. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible.

 

Last June, when I had my stroke, I never quite understood that it was nearly fatal. I've only recently realized that. Now I count my blessings that not only am I alive but that I've actually recovered enough to enjoy life.

 

I remember a nurse who stopped in my room at night to puff my pillow when the entire left side of my body was completely paralyzed and I lay there struggling to comprehend what had happened to me. She told me, "You must find the good in all this. It happened for a reason. Now is your time to show your greatness by overcoming all of this -- and you will, Bret Hart, you will!" I've not forgotten her kind words and I think of her often.

 

I spent last summer in a wheelchair dismissing so many things from my life, unsure if I'd ever be able to do them again -- or if I'd even feel like doing them. For my entire adult life, I'd been a professional athlete striving for perfection. Now, I couldn't even smile or wink. Even my acting ambitions were dashed and the thought of simply posing for a picture made me want to hide my head in the ground. There was no guarantee I'd ever get any of it back.

 

A resolve built up in me, slow but steady, to rise up from the wheelchair! I set goals for myself ... to move my hand, my arm, to stand, to walk ... to ride my bike again (with a damn helmet this time and forever after!), to drive my car ... And I did! The best part of my recovery came in the first six months.

 

Now approaching the one-year anniversary of my stroke, I look back and I cannot believe the things I pushed myself to do. At the same time, there were things I declined doing, such as many offers for various appearances. I just didn't feel much like the Hitman. I always thought the last image fans have of you is the one that remains -- and I didn't like this visual one bit.

 

A lot went into rebuilding my super-hero-sized confidence. Just in the past few months, being treated like one of the boys by Tie Domi and the Toronto Maple Leafs certainly went a long way. Encouraging words from Muhammad Ali couldn't help but sink in. I went to the New Orleans Jazz festival with my close friend Aaron Neville and he introduced me to none other than Bob Dylan. A few days later, I accompanied Aaron to the funeral of blues great Earl King. I saw musicians dressed in black, carrying open black umbrellas, parade through the streets of New Orleans playing soulfully. It made me reflect on so many of my wrestling friends who have lately gone. At that moment, it dawned on me how lucky I was to even be alive -- let alone out and about making more memories.

 

Next thing you know, I was riding a bike along the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. A year ago, I would not have thought it possible in my wildest dreams. A wrestling promoter asked me if I'd like to come over and sign some autographs -- and maybe say a few words from the ring. Like being in some hazy time warp, I found myself hanging out with some of my old wrestler pals -- and it was good!

 

But, the big question on my mind was if I was ready to get in the ring and say a few words? It may not sound like much to you but to me, it was huge. Just walking to the ring -- climbing through the ropes -- that alone was a very big thing. I was worried my limp would be noticeable. What would people think of The Hitman? What if I got so choked up that I couldn't talk? Strokes do that to you, they make you wear your emotions on your sleeve sometimes -- and usually at the worst times!

 

In Sydney, on May 21, my music played and my heart pounded as I gingerly walked down the ramp. My mind adjusted to the idea that I was once again walking to a ring and my fans were screaming. By the time I climbed into the ring, memories of every great match I'd ever had spun through my head and my emotions hit me -- hard. My throat clamped shut and my chest grew so tight I could barely get out something like, "Thank you for having me. It's too hard for me to talk. Good bye."

 

I lost my first match back. As understanding as everyone was, I was so disappointed in myself.

 

Two days later, I was back in Melbourne, backstage again. I was terrified. I feared I was not the Hitman the fans knew and loved any more. I was uplifted by many of the wrestlers, especially by a merry band of midgets -- who insisted I'd do fine.

 

There it was again, my music. The long, hard walk to the ring -- and the chanting crowd. I took my time. I sat down on a stool in the centre of the ring and told the crowd this moment was my toughest challenge ever. I stayed cool and spoke from the heart, asking them to give some thought to some of my wrestling friends who recently departed. The British Bulldog. Mr. Perfect. And Miss Elizabeth. It was just about the fourth anniversary of my brother Owen's death and I told them I knew he would be proud to see me sitting there talking to them.

 

And in that moment, I saw it ... I was a survivor!

 

Bret (Hitman) Hart wasn't a character invented by a bunch of writers. I'm a real person who has endured! Unlike too many of my peers, I'm still here to talk about it. Amazingly, people are still listening!

 

I had just won my first big match since having a stroke -- and it was the toughest bout I'd ever had!

 

I left the ring and high-fived my way back to the dressing room where I was congratulated by the rest of the wrestlers.

 

I eventually ended up in Thunder Bay at a sports celebrity charity dinner. I stood at a podium in front of 500 people in a banquet hall and found myself saying how people will always remember me pulling myself up off the mat when taking a beating from some much bigger foe and then courageously fighting back -- with my fans cheering me on to victory. Almost one year after my stroke, I can see that part of my life really hasn't changed.

 

I'm beginning to realize God gave me this challenge so I could become the hero I always portrayed myself to be.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Yeah.........he still fuckin rules.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

awesome read

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Bret Hart is an inspiration. This makes me, more than ever, want him to show up at the Saddledome next time the WWF is there and have one big Bret Hart Appreciation Night. Of course, Vince would have none of that, and the uncreative team's idea of a Hart Appreciation Night would involve the Hitman getting beat up by 3-Minute Warning. But it's nice to think about it.

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

nice

[Guest Nanks]

I was at that show in Melbourne. It was so cool to see him in the ring again. The crowd went nuts. He did seem pretty emotional about being there, he wasn't really able to address the crowd, he sat down on the stool and faced back up the ramp throughout his whole segment. I was essentially being addressed by his back, but it was Bret Hart's back, so I didn't mind.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Damn Bret still rules. He's one of the few wrestlers who was real in character and out. Still my all-time favorite too.

[Guest croweater]

Bret Hart = my alltime favourite wrestler and idol.

Every time I read an article of his I get choked up, thinking about all that the man has gone through recently. It is a credit to his charachter that he still manages to push on, still learns and still overcomes all of his obsticals. I would have loved to be there in Melbourne. I probably would have flown over there if I had have had notice that he was going to be there..... even if he didn't say anything, it is my dream to just be in the presence of him. And yes, I would have cried like a 8 year old girl.

[Guest HellSpawn]

Bret Hart = my alltime favourite wrestler and idol.

Every time I read an article of his I get choked up, thinking about all that the man has gone through recently. It is a credit to his charachter that he still manages to push on, still learns and still overcomes all of his obsticals. I would have loved to be there in Melbourne. I probably would have flown over there if I had have had notice that he was going to be there..... even if he didn't say anything, it is my dream to just be in the presence of him. And yes, I would have cried like a 8 year old girl.

Agreed.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

He's still talking about himself. Unbelievable.

 

Why is this even WWE news? This ought to be Indies or something.

[Guest nWoCHRISnWo]

He's still talking about himself. Unbelievable.

It's HIS column.

[Guest Austin3164life]

I've been checking out Bret's archives at Slam Sports, and I've noticed that he is a very good writer, but tends to dwell on certain things. This doesn't change the fact that his columns are good reads.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

He's still talking about himself. Unbelievable.

It's HIS column.

What do you think the Sun was hoping for when they hired him?

 

"Well, who better to report on what's going on in wrestling than a wrestler?"

 

It's great to know the guy is overcoming adversity and all with everything that's happened to him, but come on. Most this stuff sounds like an online diary or blog where someone rambles about what's going on in their lives.

 

Sometimes he does talk about what's currently happening in wrestling (the Jericho/Goldberg thing, although there was some pot calling the kettle black in his Goldberg flaming, and the WM XIX article) and of course I'd expect him to discuss his serious injury once he started writing again, but the man's interest in himself is amazing.

[Guest The_BiG_C]

Hey if you guys like Bret Hart so much like me then go vote for him on the Who would you like to see sign a WWE contract the most? on wwe.com!!! Here's a faster link but it goes through the edgeucation thingy http://www.wwe.com/news/commentary/edge/1225104 copy paste it i dont know how to use this html shit

[TheFranchise 0]

Dude, will you stop advertising that? Even if bret gets 100%, he'll not be signed right now!

[Adam 0]

I don't care what anyone says, Bret Hart is an inspiration, and he can write whatever he damn well pleases. He can write 'apofdsh bea;gjaebf gkjdsabfkj absjkfdb akjsbfjaks bnkfjbas dfbaskjbf', and I will still find it entertaining.