Bret Hart, a seven-time world champion and wrestling icon, publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of professional wrestling, asserting it feels “too fake” and criticizing the abilities of contemporary performers. Hart leveled his critique during a recent appearance on the “83 weeks” podcast with Eric Bischoff, released November 22, 2023 (EST).
The comments from Hart, 66, arrive amid ongoing debate among fans and industry observers regarding the evolving style of wrestling, which increasingly emphasizes athletic spectacle over storytelling and in-ring psychology. His remarks carry significant weight given his legacy as “The Excellence of Execution,” renowned for his technically sound and realistic wrestling style during the 1990s. The shift in wrestling presentation impacts the perception of authenticity for long-time fans and perhaps hinders the development of compelling narratives for new audiences.
Hart specifically lamented the prevalence of moves performed simply for visual impact, rather than as logical progressions within a match. “It just feels like everybody’s trying to do the flashiest move they can do, and it doesn’t really tell a story,” he stated on the podcast. “It’s just… too fake.” He contrasted this with the wrestling of his era, where matches were built around establishing dominance and strategically targeting opponents’ weaknesses.The wrestling legend also questioned the overall skill level of today’s talent, suggesting many wrestlers prioritize athleticism over fundamental wrestling techniques.”I don’t see a lot of guys that can really wrestle,” Hart explained. “They can do all these crazy moves, but they can’t really wrestle.” He acknowledged the increased athleticism but argued it frequently enough comes at the expense of believable character work and compelling match dynamics.
Hart’s career spanned decades, achieving prominence in both the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and world Championship Wrestling (WCW). He is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, and his opinions continue to resonate within the industry and among its fanbase. The podcast appearance is available on all major podcast platforms.