WNS Home
WNS on X WNS on BlueSky WNS on Discord WNS on Facecbook WNS on Instagram WNS on Threads WNS on Google News Navigate up
RSS Feed

Bret Hart Says Vince McMahon Lied About Long WWE Title Reign

Posted By: Ben Kerin on Apr 10, 2025

WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart recently opened up on The Ringer Wrestling Podcast about the betrayal he felt during his first WWE Championship reign, citing broken promises by Vince McMahon, disrespect from Hulk Hogan, and the fallout at WrestleMania IX.

Hart described the state of WWE when he first became champion as “like an elevator falling,” with business declining and the company under heavy scrutiny. “Vince was being investigated. A lot of dark, gloomy things… It was almost like, ‘Who can we put the belt on that’s not going to screw everything up’, and it’s like, ‘Oh, let’s put it on Bret Hart.’”

Hart recalled being promised a lengthy run as champion. “Vince told me that I would be champion for, they were looking long term, kind of like Bruno,” he shared. “He said, ‘You’re going to be champion for six years. You’re going to be champion for a long time, so do not worry about your position.’” McMahon also assured Hart that Hogan’s return would be brief: “‘He is here to promote a movie. He is short term.’”

That reassurance gave Hart confidence. “The reason I became the champion that I did was because I believed that I was going to be champion for a long time, and I am going to be like Bruno… I think I am the best guy to carry it going forward.”

But when Hogan returned, things changed. “He would not even shake my hand in the dressing room,” Hart said. “I always thought he would be an advocate for me.” Instead, Hart sensed envy: “He had no respect for me. He could not believe that I was the champion.”

The final blow came at WrestleMania IX. Hart found out the night before that he would lose the title to Yokozuna, who would then immediately drop it to Hogan. “I felt so betrayed,” Hart recalled. “I think that is when I went, this guy is a total liar. Vince is a liar. Hogan is a liar. I was really mad.”

Despite the betrayal, Hart stayed professional. “I made a promise to myself… that I would do whatever was asked of me,” he explained. “I kind of bit my tongue, and it is like, all right, whatever you want.”

Before Hogan’s surprise match, he told Hart, “‘Happy to return the favor.’ I remember I looked at him and said, ‘I am going to remember that’, and he would not return the favor.”

The incident permanently damaged Hart’s trust in McMahon. “My whole relationship with Vince was never the same,” he said. “As far as integrity and honesty, I never felt that Vince was honest with me after that.” On Hogan, Hart concluded, “Hogan never had any respect for me,” adding, “They are not talking about Hulk Hogan today.”

⚡ Explore WNS


Jump To Comments
Load Popular Hashtags
Popular Tags

Popular Articles
Discord
Join WNS Discord

IWC ChatBot

Become WNS Member

Member Login

AEW Dynamite

May 14, 2025 at

Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA

Hashtag: #dynamite

📣 WNS Member Discussion

⚡ Events

AEW Dynamite

Hoffman Estates, Illinois

May. 14th 2025

#dynamite

WWE Friday Night SmackDown

Greensboro, North Carolina

May. 16th 2025

#smackdown

WWE Monday Night RAW

Greenville, South Carolina

May. 19th 2025

#raw

WWE NXT

Orlando, Florida

May. 20th 2025

#nxt

AEW Dynamite

Rio Rancho, New Mexico

May. 21st 2025

#dynamite

TNA Under Siege 2025

Brampton, Ontario, Canada

May. 23rd 2025

#under siege

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

Tampa, Florida

May. 24th 2025

#snme

AEW Double Or Nothing 2025

Glendale, Arizona

May. 25th 2025

#double or nothing