While plenty of fans and superstars grew up with their favorite wrestlers and superstars, it is an almost incontrovertible fact that Bret The Hitman Hart is possibly the greatest technical wrestling storyteller to ever lace up a lot of boots. The way he worked in the ring, he was able to make anyone and everyone believe that “those other guys might be fake, but Bret Hart is real.”

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More and more the body of work The Excellence Of Execution doesn’t just age like fine wine. More fans and superstars alike are appreciative of all of Bret Hart’s hard work. Whether you wear your pink and black on your sleeve like the unofficial “Sons Of The Hitman,” or your love for Bret is a little more overt, there are plenty of stars influences by The Pink And Black Attack.

10 Drew McIntyre

Bret Hart And Drew McIntyre Cropped

You don’t need to be a technical wrestling marvel to be inspired by The Hitman. If you’re The Scottish Warrior, Drew McIntyre all you need is that Bret Hart quiet type of swagger. The hardworking Scot, much like Bret before him worked harder than anyone on the roster, and garnering respect and love from fans all around the world. They also both had their first title reigns during dark times for the company.

9 Roman Reigns

Bret Hart And Roman Reigns Cropped

At the moment, The Head Of The Table is the farthest thing from The Big Dog that the WWE once tried to shove down our collective gullets. But during that time as a babyface and all throughout his career, Roman has looked towards the Hitman for inspiration and loved the fact that Bret was a “blue collar sports entertainer.”

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Early on during the Tribal Chief’s huge reign, Bret had said it meant everything to him to be an inspiration to someone who was at the top of their game.

8 FTR

Bret Hart And FTR Cropped

In AEW, where the Superstars have seemingly more creative freedom, the wrestlers get to show off some of their idols more clearly and wear their umm…”Harts” on their sleeves. Considering their wrestling styles as a tag team is evocative of teams of yesteryear like The Midnight Express, it’s not a huge shock that Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler are huge fans of The Hitman. In fact, they have both adapted The Sharpshooter during their matches. They also have gotten the pleasure of being seconded by Bret himself at various Independent events over the years.

7 CM Punk

Bret Hart And CM Punk

Before his presumable less than acrimonious exit from AEW, CM Punk and the aforementioned FTR were the three biggest Hitman disciples there were in the promotion. They even had T-Shirts made up, emblazoned with “Sons Of The Hitman.” Punk has donned the pink and black before in his career.

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But his biggest inspiration was his return match against Darby Allin. Their match had several spots that were complete recreations of the Raw classic between The Hitman and the 1-2-3 Kid.

6 Sheamus

Bret Hart And Sheamus Cropped

Much like his bestie, Drew McIntyre no one is ever going to accuse Sheamus of being a master technician in the ring. But the leader of The Brawling Brutes not only grew up in an area of the world that Bret Hart was practically idolized for years, he was inspired by The Hitman. The Celtic Warrior would spend countless hours on watching tapes of The Hitman, marveling at his technical prowess.

5 Kurt Angle

Bret Hart And Kurt Angle

If there was just one dream match that feels as if fans and participants alike truly got robbed of it would be The Wrestling Machine against The Excellence Of Execution - Kurt Angle Vs. Bret Hart. Both men were as real as it could get in the ring and have always been highly respectful towards one another. When Kurt had started out learning the craft, he would study tape of all kinds of superstars but gravitated towards the master technician. It’s easy to see why.

4 Johnny Gargano

Johnny Gargano NXT

It’s no secret that Johnny Gargano is a disciple of Good ol’ HBK. You might be asking yourself what’s Johnny Wrestling doing on a Bret Hart list? Well A. because why wouldn’t anyone be inspired by the Hitman? And B. More specifically, when Gargano was running as a heel in NXT, he looked to Bret’s epic 1997 heel run as a guide.

3 Beth Phoenix

Bret Hart And Natalya And Beth Phoenix Cropped

During her Hall Of Fame Induction speech, both The Glamazon and her inductor, Natalya wore their hearts on their sleeve when it came to the love of the Hart Family. Beth Phoenix recounted stories of watching the shows with her petite but mighty grandmother. The match that inspired Beth the most to enter the squared circle was the opening contest at WrestleMania 10. The instant classic between Owen and Bret Hart.

2 Natalya

Bret Hart And Natalya Cropped

It’s easy to see in a just a few more years a list like this being done where Nattie is the subject. Listen to nearly any member of the ladies’ locker room talk about The BOAT, and she is their inspiration for her toughness and willingness to be a company woman, despite all of them believing she should always be featured way more than she does.

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That kind of work ethic was handed down from Bret and all of Nattie’s uncles. When you can ring up the Hitman on speed dial anytime you want, how can he not be an inspiration.

1 Edge

Bret Hart And Edge

While The Rated R Superstars childhood fandom and hero was inspired by Hulkamania, it would be Bret that was able to inspire and help Edge’s early in ring career. He was able to pick The Hitman’s brain on a talk show and was one of the rare few who got to train with Bret at his home in 1997. Like many who adore The Hitman, that respect is shone anytime Edge locks on The Sharpshooter.