During an interview with Ariel Helwani, WWE Hall of Famer Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart shared his complex perspective on Vince McMahon’s enduring legacy following McMahon’s departure from WWE. Hart acknowledged McMahon’s undeniable creative impact but balanced it with sharp criticism of his leadership methods and perceived disregard for the artistry of wrestling.
“I feel that as great as he was, as great as far as ideas and imagination, and, in a lot of ways, there’s nobody like him,” Hart conceded, recognizing McMahon’s unique contributions. However, he quickly countered this praise: “At the same time, I feel that he governed things in a shady way. I’ll feel that he didn’t care necessarily about the craft.”
Hart personalized this critique, reflecting on his own tumultuous history with McMahon. “I always thought about the fact that what he did to me, I like to think I was his greatest artist, and in the end, I was just another, you know, get rid of him. Boom. He’s done,” Hart lamented. He believes McMahon’s influence had a downside: “I think as much greatness as Vince brought to wrestling, he also brought a lot of negative, kind of corrupted thinking to it.”
Looking at the current WWE landscape without McMahon at the helm, Hart senses a positive shift. “It’s kind of hard to explain. I think there’s a little more integrity right now,” he observed, suggesting a potential change in priorities. “That the guys that are being pushed are being pushed because they’re talented and not because they are Vince’s favorites.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Ariel Helwani with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
