For wrestling fans the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’ remains one of the most divisive and talked about moments of the ‘attitude era’ of professional wrestling in the 90s.
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
For wrestling fans the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’ remains one of the most divisive and talked about moments of the ‘attitude era’ of professional wrestling in the 90s.
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
