"Bret did not have the same charisma" - WWE legend on why Bret Hart differed from other megastars
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. recently weighed in on why Bret Hart didn't become a major star in WWE.
The Hitman is known for his technical prowess and in-ring abilities. He made a drunk British Bulldog look like a million dollars during their match at SummerSlam 1992. Hart won several world championships, and in his pomp, he was one of the faces of the company, like Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin in their respective eras.
However, Ted DiBiase Sr. thinks The Hitman's stardom was a notch below his aforementioned peers. Speaking to Inside the Ropes’ Kenny McIntosh, he said:
“I don’t really know. I will put it this way: I have all the respect in the world for Bret Hart. We only had a couple of matches together, and they were great—he was a great wrestler. But Bret did not have the same charisma. Bret is average size, Hogan is like 6’8″, blonde, great body and was great on the microphone. Bret’s work in the ring was great and came across very believable, but I don’t think Bret Hart, like myself, became as big of a star as Hulk Hogan. He was the guy at the time. Who would you say came after him?” [H/T - ITR]
SNEAK PEEK: @WWESheamus, @DMcIntyreWWE, @VinceMcMahon & more reflect on @BretHart's iconic @WWE career during @Biography: @BretHart TOMORROW at 8/7c. #WWEonAE https://t.co/aVvjr63QfB
It would have been interesting to see how Hart's career would have unfolded had he competed in WWE's Attitude Era.
Bret Hart recently signed a merchandise deal with WWE
After weeks of speculation, The Hitman has reportedly signed a merchandise deal with Vince McMahon's company. Now, Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer has confirmed the exact nature of Hart's deal, and it's not what fans expected.
In a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer claimed Bret's only deal with WWE was for merchandising. The Hitman could still appear on AEW as he currently has no TV commitments with WWE:
"Bret Hart said that his only deal with WWE is a merchandising deal and not any other deal," Meltzer wrote.
Bret Hart has signed a merchandising contract with WWE wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/bret-… https://t.co/EyxQWhtgX4
It was recently confirmed that Hart would manage FTR at an independent wrestling event on June 10. It will be interesting to see if The Hitman goes back to AEW to manage FTR. Hart was last seen in AEW when he unveiled the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing in 2019. Hart's return to wrestling in any capacity will definitely excite the fans.