Bret Hart: Hitman – My Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling

Bret Hart once represented the best that wrestling had to offer. As a true athlete and a great worker, he strove to put on outstanding matches that are still to this day considered classics; all the while never seriously injuring a fellow wrestler. He is a multi-time champion having won numerous titles from several different organizations and regarded as one of the best in the history of the business. It is for these reasons that the darkness that has plagued his life in and out of the ring is that much more poignant.

Hart’s story is unlike any other, tracing his life as a youth growing up in the world of wrestling; being raised in the fabled Hart house under the parentage of the legendary Stu Hart. Bret details what it was like being so close to the business to the business with his family’s monetary woes being a central issue. Before long, he proves that wrestling runs deep within his veins as he joins his father’s territory, quickly rising through the ranks until ultimately being crowned champion.

With time, Bret is given the chance to shine on a grander stage in the form of the World Wrestling Federation. There he is paired with Jim Neidhart and Jimmy Hart to form the popular tag team, the Hart Foundation.

Of course, Bret’s exceptional skill guaranteed that he was destined for greatness as he embarked on a singles career that would earn him many accolades such as the intercontinental championship, the world championship, and the moniker “the excellence of execution”.
It seemed as though his future was secure until jealousy and betrayal reared their ugly heads resulting in the now infamous “Montreal screw job”.

What made the book such a fascinating read was Bret’s unrepentant honesty and eye for detail. Never once does he go out of his way to insult anyone to satisfy his own ego. While he does take shots at those who have wronged him, he gives credit where its due; to Vince McMahon for his genius despite orchestrating the screw job; to Shawn Michaels for his gifted athletic ability despite having the attitude of a spoiled child.

Unsurprisingly, the book goes into startling detail, giving insight into the bleaker side of pro wrestling; chiefly the much reported abuse of pain killers by wrestlers. It truly is shocking just how many legends have been brought down by their demons. Bret’s firsthand account only serves to remind us of the stigma that comes from being associated with wrestling and the heavy cost it carries.

It’s a grim reminder of the tragedy that has echoed throughout his life from the betrayal of his boss, to the catastrophic death of his brother, finally culminating in a career ending injury that still torments him to this day. Through it all Bret perseveres, taking solace in the fact that he will always be remembered by fans and his peers for all his accomplishments. His story transcends wrestling, showing that its impossible to kill the legacy of a man so long as someone remembers what he once symbolized.

Bret’s book proves he embodied everything wrestling had the potential to be and that despite everything, he will always be considered an honest man in a business filled with backstabbers.

Bret Hart: Hitman- My Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling – A+