“It’s not easy fighting someone you love, but sometimes, in this business, it’s what tells the best story.”
— Bret Hart
In professional wrestling, rivalries come and go. Some are built on pure competition, others on personal vendettas.
But few rivalries in WWE history were as emotionally charged, technically sound, and storytelling-driven as the feud between Bret “The Hitman” Hart and his younger brother, Owen Hart. It wasn’t just about winning matches—it was about family, pride, and stepping out of the shadows.
This is the story of the Bret vs. Owen rivalry: how it began, the moments that defined it, the emotional highs and lows, and how two brothers told one of the greatest stories in WWE history.
Bret Hart and Owen Hart – The Foundation: Brothers in Arms
Before the split and the animosity, Bret and Owen Hart were just brothers—both inside and outside the squared circle. Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, under the watchful eye of the legendary Stu Hart.
Both boys learned the craft of wrestling in the infamous Hart Dungeon. While Bret had already established himself as a singles star and former WWF Champion by the early ’90s, Owen was still working to carve his niche, often overshadowed by his older brother’s success.
In late 1993, the seeds of their eventual split were planted. Bret had been riding high after winning the King of the Ring in June, but by Survivor Series in November, a family-centered storyline emerged.
Bret and Owen teamed up with their brothers Bruce and Keith in a classic Survivor Series match against Shawn Michaels and his Knights. It seemed like the perfect platform to showcase family unity, but it became the catalyst for the feud that would follow.
The Spark of their Feud: Survivor Series 1993
During the match, a miscommunication between Bret and Owen led to Owen being eliminated. Frustrated and feeling disrespected, Owen returned to the ring post-match and shoved Bret, storming off in anger. Though Bret and the rest of the Hart family downplayed the incident, the tension was palpable.
This friction came to a head on WWF Superstars when Owen cut a scathing promo, revealing his deep-seated frustration with always being in Bret’s shadow.
He proclaimed,
“I’m sick and tired of living in the shadow of you, Bret! I’m better than you, and I’m going to prove it!”
It was the ultimate betrayal—not from a rival, but from blood. The storyline had fans hooked. It wasn’t just another heel turn; it was a brother’s desperate cry to be recognized.
Bret Hart and Owen Hart – The Feud Ignites: Royal Rumble 1994
Despite their animosity, Bret and Owen agreed to team up at the 1994 Royal Rumble against The Quebecers for the WWF Tag Team Championships. It was framed as a chance for the brothers to reconcile, but the underlying tension was impossible to ignore.
During the match, Bret injured his knee but refused to tag Owen, trying to finish the match himself. Eventually, the referee stopped the match due to Bret’s injury, awarding the victory to The Quebecers.
That’s when Owen snapped.
In one of the most shocking heel turns of the era, Owen viciously attacked Bret’s injured knee post-match, cementing himself as the villain in this family drama.
Standing over his fallen brother, Owen uttered the now-infamous line: “That’s why I kicked your leg out of your leg!”—a slip-up in delivery, but one that oddly added to the rawness of the moment.
Owen was no longer just the “little brother.” He was a man on a mission—to destroy Bret and prove he was the better Hart.
Bret Hart and Owen Hart – The Showdown: WrestleMania X
The culmination of months of tension led to one of the most iconic opening matches in WrestleMania history: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart at WrestleMania X in Madison Square Garden.
The match was a technical masterpiece. Both brothers displayed their mastery of chain wrestling, submissions, and psychology, blending personal storytelling with in-ring excellence. The crowd was torn—supporting the beloved Bret but acknowledging Owen’s sheer skill.
In a shocking result, Owen countered a victory roll from Bret, sitting down into a pin for the clean win. The younger Hart had done the unthinkable—he pinned the former WWF Champion on the grandest stage.
But the night wasn’t over for Bret. In the main event, Bret went on to defeat Yokozuna to reclaim the WWF Championship.
The closing image of the night was bittersweet—Bret hoisted on the shoulders of fellow babyfaces while Owen stood in the aisle, staring on in disbelief and seething jealousy. He had beaten Bret earlier, yet Bret stood tall as the champion. It was a masterstroke in storytelling.
Family Ties Torn Apart
The rivalry intensified in the following months, with the Hart family now divided. While most sided with Bret, including his parents Stu and Helen, others—like The British Bulldog and Jim Neidhart—played roles that complicated the feud further.
At King of the Ring 1994, Owen solidified his heel status by winning the tournament and dubbing himself the “King of Harts.” With Jim Neidhart in his corner, Owen seemed poised to usurp Bret’s position at the top.
The brothers faced off once more in a classic Steel Cage Match at SummerSlam 1994 for Bret’s WWF Championship.
The match is still considered one of the greatest cage matches in history. It was brutal, emotional, and filled with near escapes. Ultimately, Bret retained the title, but Owen’s relentless pursuit proved he was a top-tier competitor.
Post-match, Owen, alongside Neidhart, continued to torment Bret, further highlighting the fractured family dynamics.
Bret Hart and Owen Hart – The Road to Reconciliation
While the feud continued into 1995 in various forms, with both men crossing paths in multi-man matches and tag team scenarios, the pure one-on-one rivalry began to cool down. By late 1995 and into 1996, the WWF landscape shifted with new rivalries and stars rising.
The brothers’ eventual reconciliation came off-screen more than in storyline. In real life, Bret and Owen had a deep bond, and as Bret’s character transitioned into more complex storylines—particularly his anti-American heel turn in 1997—the animosity with Owen faded on television.
When Bret Hart re-formed the Hart Foundation stable in 1997, Owen rejoined his brother, aligning alongside Jim Neidhart, The British Bulldog, and Brian Pillman.
It was a full-circle moment—brothers once torn apart were now united again, fighting for family pride against the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.
The image of Bret and Owen embracing as teammates stood in stark contrast to the years of in-fighting, proving that family could heal, even in the cutthroat world of professional wrestling.
The Legacy of Bret vs. Owen
The Bret vs. Owen rivalry stands as a benchmark in wrestling storytelling. It combined real-life emotion with in-ring excellence, creating a feud that resonated deeply with fans.
Unlike many rivalries built purely on competition or betrayal, this one had layers—family dynamics, jealousy, respect, and ultimately, love.
The WrestleMania X match remains a masterclass in technical wrestling, often cited in “best of” lists for its crisp execution and storytelling.
The SummerSlam cage match is equally revered, highlighting both brothers’ dedication to delivering unforgettable moments.
But perhaps the most enduring legacy is how both Bret and Owen managed to elevate each other. Owen’s heel run brought him to main event status, while Bret solidified his role as the WWF’s top babyface during the era.
Tragically, Owen’s untimely passing in 1999 cut short what could have been even more legendary moments between the two.
Yet, in the annals of wrestling history, the Bret vs. Owen feud stands as a testament to how powerful and emotional wrestling storytelling can be when grounded in something real.
“I’m proud of everything we did. Owen was the best partner I ever had, and I wish he was still here today. Our feud wasn’t just a story—it was a piece of our lives.”
— Bret Hart
The Bret vs. Owen Hart rivalry wasn’t just about matches or championships—it was about brothers trying to find their place, both in wrestling and within their family.
It remains one of the most personal, compelling, and technically sound rivalries in WWE history—a true classic that still resonates with fans today.
