There might not be a wrestling fan on this planet that doesn’t love or at least appreciate the greatness of Hall Of Famers, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Their different paths to the WWE led them both to very similar career paths. The rough and rugged Canadian hero Bret Hart came in with his brother-in-law, Jim the Anvil Neidhart, and got to work carving out a niche for themselves in the tag team division.
Nearly four years later, Shawn did the same thing with Marty Jannetty as the Rockers. When it was time to go out on their own, both men won the Intercontinental title before moving onto the world title and having epic and influential Hall Of Fame careers. Their paths had always intertwined and are forever linked by the events of Montreal. But more than that, their matches together should always be studied as master’s classes for fans and aspiring wrestlers alike. Here’s Every Bret Hart Vs Shawn Michaels Match, Ranked From Worst To Best.
10 Honorable Mention - Together Against The Blu Brothers 07/24/1995
While most matches involving the two legends have them on opposite sides of the ring, this dark match from a Raw taping had the legends together. They took on the Harris brothers, who at this time were The Blu Brothers. While not up to par of watching them against each other, it’s interesting to see two guys who were taught in the old school but transcended work that style of a match.
9 Saturday Night’s Main Event 10/13/1990
It what was supposed to be a crowning achievement for both teams, finally clashing on the national stage. The Rockers were supposed to go over on the Harts and win the Tag Team Titles. The top turnbuckle did both teams in, and any Rockers tag reign.
You can actually see the guys try to stall so the referee could fix it, but for whatever reason that didn’t happen. The Rockers won the match and sort of celebrated winning, but the match was stricken from the broadcast and away went their titles.
8 Survivor Series 1993
This is a classic for “Bret vs. Shawn.” This match was more about getting the Owen / Bret feud started and Shawn was an eleventh-hour fill-in for Jerry Lawler but the match still featured HBK take a licking from all of the Harts. Shawn took a powder, but it’s always fun watching him get bounced around.
7 At MSG 11/25/1989
No titles on the line, just two great babyface tag teams going at it for a higher spot in the rankings and a matter of respect. The Harts and the Rockers each showcased their unique skill sets against each other for nearly twenty minutes before tensions boiled over and the teams had to be separated. These teams brought it in a way that you just don’t see today, the Rockers having a hard time matching power with the Anvil, Neidhart getting flummoxed by their speed, and Bret balancing it all out.
6 At The Tokyo Dome 03/30/1991
The two teams seldom crossed paths in their early days, but when they did, it was usually in grand arenas all over the world. The Tokyo Dome might not have had the kind of prestige in 1991 that it does almost thirty years later. Despite being similarly sized to Bret, the Rockers got tossed around by both members of the Foundation this time. The commentary is in Japanese, but right away as the Rockers come to the ring, it’s interesting to hear the commentators mention the AWA, despite Shawn and Marty being long gone from the promotion.
5 Steel Cage, Coliseum Video Exclusive
One of the great things about the Network is getting all sorts of specials previously unreleased or seldom released. One of the Coliseum video packages features this steel cage match between HBK and the Hitman. From Germany, the two future Hall Of Famers clawed and scratched at each other, doing the old school dives towards the door and the races over the top that fans have been accustomed to for the drama. In the end, HBK and the Hitman both climbed over, but Shawn was left hanging as Bret’s feet hit the floor.
4 Survivor Series 1992
Bret recently won the WWE title. Shawn recently became the Intercontinental champion. While the match wasn’t title for title, these two men had finally cracked the glass ceiling and now it is was time to see what they were capable of at the top of the card. Barely a few months into his first title reign, Bret Hart got to show the world on PPV that he fought through all of the ranks to get to the top and he wasn’t about to relinquish the World Title anytime soon.
3 First Ever Ladder Match
Despite Shawn being thought of as the innovator of the Ladder Match, it was actually Bret who brought the old Stampede Concept to Vince McMahon. As the story goes, Bret explained it to McMahon and made him promise to not use it with anyone but him. Vince asked him to show it off and Bret picked Shawn to do it with. The match clearly lived up to the hype, since Vince would use it again at WrestleMania and history was made.
2 WrestleMania XII
For most fans, numbers one and two on this list are always one and two on any list involving these two or the New Generation in general. The Iron Match main event at WrestleMania XII is a testament to just how amazing these two men were in the ring.
They held fans’ interests and kept us on the edge of our seats for an hour. Then Gorilla Monsoon ordered the match restarted for a definitive winner. For some, it’s one of the best ‘Mania main events of all time.
1 Survivor Series 1997
The ending of this match and the events surrounding the whole ordeal will forever be the wrestling’s equivalent to “who shot JFK?” But casting aside any conspiracies real or imagined, these two men tore all of Montreal down up until the Screwjob. From proverbial pillar to post and all around the arena, the WWE was right on the cusp of the Attitude Era and these two men were ushering it in with their feud and real-life disdain for each other. The professionalism both men exhibited in not trying to hurt one another speaks volumes to real respect they did have for each other and the business. Yes, the ending taints it, but the prior twenty minutes puts any match you’ll see to shame.