WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart did not mince words when discussing the current state of professional wrestling during an appearance on the Johnny I Pro Show. The “Excellence of Execution” criticized the modern style, stating that he has a hard time watching today’s product because it lacks the realism and craftsmanship of previous eras. Hart specifically took aim at the prevalence of “high spots” over basic wrestling logic.
Hart believes that many current performers prioritize choreography over believability. He specifically cited the quality of strikes, noting that he sees wrestlers slapping their own legs or pulling punches in ways that expose the business. He contrasted this with his own style, which he described as “rubber hammers”—punches that looked devastating but were completely safe.
“I have a hard time watching today’s wrestling… It’s too fake for me,” Hart stated. “I think that today’s wrestlers are actors. Most of them are actors pretending to be wrestlers. And, you know, they don’t actually know how to wrestle, and they don’t even know what a headlock is… I see guys throwing punches, and they open their hand at the last second and slap the guy… Why don’t you take 10 minutes and go down have someone teach you how to throw a punch instead of throwing that embarrassment of a punch?”
Despite his criticisms of the modern era, Hart listed several superstars he wishes he could have stepped into the ring with. He named Kurt Angle, Lance Storm, and Rey Mysterio as top choices, reserving special praise for Mysterio, whom he called one of the greatest of all time. Interestingly, Hart also named John Cena as a dream opponent, comparing Cena’s attention to detail to his own.
“I would love to have wrestled Dwayne Johnson a lot more times… John Cena would be up [there],” Hart said. “I found John Cena was very comparable or similar to me in the sense that he was a serious professional, that he was a detailed guy that went over every little detail in the match.”
Hart also took the opportunity to praise Brock Lesnar while taking a shot at his longtime nemesis, Bill Goldberg. When discussing heavyweights he would have liked to face, Hart noted that Lesnar is a safe worker, unlike the man who ended Hart’s career.
“I would like to wrestle Brock Lesnar,” Hart said. “I’ve always heard from different guys that Brock Lesnar is a professional… He’s not like Goldberg. He knows what the wrestling is all about, and he does it right. And some guys like Goldberg never understood it.”
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.
