A recent exchange, facilitated by “The Ariel Helwani Show,” highlighted the immense mutual respect between wrestling icons CM Punk and Bret “Hitman” Hart, reinforcing Hart’s status as a benchmark for technical excellence in the industry.
Helwani shared prior comments made by CM Punk during a conversation with Roots of Fight, where Punk unequivocally praised the WWE Hall of Famer. Punk drew parallels to sporting legends, stating, “Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Bret Hart. Bret Hart is the Wayne Gretzky of professional wrestling, and it’s an empirical fact. It’s not just an opinion… Obviously we know Bret Hart as the best WWE champion of all time.”
Punk elaborated on Hart’s influence, particularly on wrestlers who couldn’t rely solely on physique. “He was a guy who like Piper, I looked at and I said, I can’t look like the Ultimate Warrior. Nor do I want to, but this guy’s legit, and that’s achievable to somebody like me,” Punk explained. He emphasized Hart’s aspirational quality, calling him the standard to strive for: “Bret is the measuring stick. I believe that all professional wrestlers should hold themselves to. Nobody better ever.”
Reacting to these comments on Helwani’s show, Bret Hart expressed his gratitude. “I really appreciate that,” Hart began. He then recalled a remark from Hulk Hogan, sharing, “You know, I heard like something a few months ago where Hulk Hogan was talking about me, and he said, ‘The problem with Bret Hart is that he really does think he was the greatest wrestler of all time.’ And I remember thinking about that and going, yeah, maybe. That’s might be the most truthful thing he’s ever said.”
Hart further reflected on his enduring influence by observing the current wrestling landscape. “When you watched a lot of the wrestlers today, you don’t see anybody imitating Hulk Hogan or the Ultimate Warrior,” Hart noted. “You see a lot of the wrestlers today really trying their best to capture my style, or some of the guys that I worked with, like Dynamite Kid, or Curt Henning and my brother Owen… yeah, they’re wrestling my style, and that’s the biggest compliment they can get from today’s generation.”
The exchange underscores the lasting impact of Hart’s technically proficient, believable style, lauded by influential figures like Punk and acknowledged by Hart himself as a key part of his legacy being carried forward by today’s wrestlers.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
