WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has strongly criticized the current state of professional wrestling, specifically targeting the lack of realism in today’s product. Speaking on the Johnny I Pro Show, Hart admitted that he struggles to watch modern wrestling because he finds the presentation “too fake.” He contrasted this with his preference for the style of the 1990s and even earlier eras.
Hart explained that when he watches past matches, including obscure Stampede Wrestling bouts, he appreciates the emphasis on realism. He highlighted the execution of punches and kicks, as well as the overall presentation, which he feels placed a greater burden on the workmanship and craft of being a wrestler.
Hart said, “I’ll be honest, I have a hard time watching today’s wrestling. I just can’t really watch it. It’s too fake for me. But I love watching the old 90s wrestling. I really do. When I watch my matches back, or in almost any match, even obscure Stampede Wrestling matches, there’s something about the realism, the punches and the kicks, and even just the way the presentation is. It just seems to me to be more onus put on the workmanship of learning the craft of being wrestlers.”
The “Hitman” did not mince words when talking about the current generation of talent. He categorized many modern performers as “actors” who are merely playing the role of wrestlers. Hart specifically pointed out a reliance on “high spots” over basic maneuvers like headlocks.
Hart stated, “I think that today’s wrestlers are actors—most of them are actors pretending to be wrestlers—and they don’t actually know how to wrestle and they don’t even know what a headlock is. Everything is a high spot. Everything is high spots, ‘I want to get my move in.’ I always thought wrestling needed to actually pretend to be wrestling. I miss the wrestling aspect and the psychology of the ’60s and ’70s wrestling, the presentation of trying to, you know, pretending that it’s a real sport.”
Hart cited Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat as a prime example of the style he admires. He praised Steamboat for his ability to make matches feel like legitimate contests through his expressions and in-ring work. Hart noted that he always strove to emulate that level of reality in his own performances.
Hart ended, “If you watch Rick Steamboat, that’s what I like about Ricky Steamboat as an example. He was always a guy that he always wanted in his eyes and his expression and the way he wrestled, that it was like a contest, and he made wrestling to me seem real. There was so many different wrestlers that always made it seem real. But I always tried to be real. I always try to keep it real.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit the Johnny I Pro Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. Check out the full interview on the Johnny I Pro Show YouTube channel.
