WWE: Bret Hart Forgives Earl Hebner For Part In Montreal Screwjob

Bret Hart has publicly forgiven Earl Hebner for his role in the “Montreal Screwjob,” which was the controversial moment that led to the legendary wrestler’s departure from the WWE.

According to Wrestle Zone, both Hart, who is now a WWE Hall of Famer, and Hebner, a legendary referee who worked for the company between 1988 and 2005, were at a “Big Time Wrestling” promotion show in Prince George, Virginia, over the weekend when the incident happened.

Hart decided to take this moment to forgive Earl and his brother, Dave, and the best there is, the best there was and the best ever will be made his comments directly from the middle of the ring in front of a hoard of adoring fans.

“Whatever happened in Montreal certainly is no reflection on the character of Earl Hebner or Dave Hebner,” Hart declared, before then asking the duo to come from the backstage area down to the ring. Hart then warmly embraced both Dave and Earl, all to a rapturous applause from the crowd, before he carried on his diatribe by concluding, “there is still a lot of love left in wrestling, and it’s right here.”

Earl Hebner then added to Hart’s comments, and he admitted that he “was a little chocked up” by what the wrestling icon had to say. Earl noted that Bret was the one man that he really wanted to see at the event, which was being held in his hometown, and when Dave tried to talk he was unable to speak because of how emotional Hart’s comments had left him, and they then hugged.

You can check out footage, which was recorded by none-other than Matt Hardy, of the trio in the ring below.

Hardy’s description for the clip can be read below.

“One of those magical moments in pro wrestling happened last night. It’s been 17 years since the infamous WWE ‘Montreal Screwjob’ of Bret Hart. For the very first time since then, Bret Hart & Earl Hebner, along with brother Dave, face The Hitman in the ring. It happened at a Big Time Wrestling event in Prince George, VA on October 11th, 2014. It was a touching moment to see two of the most famous characters in pro wrestling bury the hatchet & find peace & closure.”

Hebner was the referee during the “Montreal Screwjob,” which is when Shawn Michaels used Bret Hart’s infamous finishing manoeuvre, the Sharp-Shooter, on Hart, while WWE owner, Vince McMahon, as well as several other employees covertly manipulated the result so that Michaels won instead of Hart.

Hart didn’t submit despite being put in the hold, but McMahon insisted he had and told Hebner to call for the bell to be rung. This was because Hart was set to leave the WWE for WCW and McMahon didn’t want him to do so as champion.

You can check out a clip of the “Montreal Screwjob” here.

[Image via The Sports Domain]