In 1993 the World Wrestling Federation began to drift away from the monsters of the mat toward more technical matches. No one fits this mold more than Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart.
Bret is the son of the legendary Stu Hart. Wrestling is in his blood. At this time, he was a former two-time Intercontinental Champion and Tag team champion. In late 1992 The Hitman defeated Ric Flair for the WWF Championship.
He took on all contenders. However, at WrestleMania IX, Yokozuna defeated The Hitman with help from Mr. Fuji.
Directly after that match, Hulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna to win the title the same night. On this day, June 13th, 1993, Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart wins the 1993 King of the Ring.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart Walks the Razors Edge
Defeated but determined, Hart entered the 1993 King of The Ring Tournament. The tournament was a wrestling fans’ dream come true.
In first-round action, Bret challenged The Bad Guy Razor Ramon. In January at the Royal Rumble, Ramon came within an inch of defeating Hart. This was a great opening match. Razor did everything he could to defeat Bret.
Razor continuously stomped on the Hitman’s hands, knowing full well that much of his ability to put holds on was in Bret’s grip. Ramon stretched him all over the ring.
When The bad guy felt a victory was within his grasp, he positioned Hart on the top turnbuckle and proceeded to suplex him, but Bret fell on top of Razor instead for the win.
The Excellence of Execution against Perfection
Next up was Mr. Perfect Curt Henning. In their past matches, The Hitman and Perfect tore the house down. Their epic encounter at Summerslam 91 is still arguably one of the best technical matches ever. Hart even said that Curt Henning was his favorite opponent. The two stars were both second-generation athletes.
The match started out as a catch-as-can match. Perfect hit Hart with everything in his arsenal. Throughout the match, the Hitman would check the feeling in his fingers after being stomped by Ramon earlier. Perfect, being the thinking man’s wrestler, capitalized on that.
At one point, he threw Hart to the arena floor into the steel barricade. Hitman being the resilient wrestler, fought his way back and proceeded to work on Perfect’s leg, setting him up for the Sharpshooter.
Perfect attempted a Perfect Plex, but it was too close to the ropes. Hart blocked it, and both stars threw each other to the arena floor. Both men were physically exhausted.
Perfect threw Hart in the ring and went for a small package, but Bret reversed it for the win. Curt Henning was visibly upset.
However, before he left the arena, he shook Hart’s hand as a sign of respect. Now Bret Hart was only one match away from becoming King of The Ring. Unfortunately, a Beast was his next opponent.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart vs. The Beast of The East, Bam Bam Bigelow
The Beast from the East Bam Bam Bigelow was close to 300 pounds but could move like a cat. This was not going to be an easy task, and the Hitman knew it.
Bobby Heenan, who was doing commentary, said he hopes Bam Bam fits in the throne. All odds were against Bret, but he would not give up.
Bret was visibly limping after his previous two matches. Bam Bam received a bye. He was fresh. Bigelow immediately targeted Bret’s back with a bear hug.
He also launched Hart out of the ring and rammed him into a ring post. Hart fought back, but Bigelow was on a roll.
Eventually, Bret did get some offense with a bulldog off the turnbuckle, but it was quickly taken away as Luna Vachon, Bam Bam’s “main squeeze,” hit Hart with a steel chair.
After that, Hart couldn’t take anymore. Bigelow got the three count. Bam Bam Bigelow won the King of The Ring …or so he thought. Senior Referee Earl Hebner let Joey Marella, the official, know that Luna hit Bret with a chair.
This tournament was too important for it to end like this, and the match was restarted. This was Hart’s opportunity, but at what cost? Bigelow mercilessly attacked Harts’s lower back. It looked like the end as Bret attempted a flying crossbody and was slammed viciously. Hart kicked out.
‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, who was also doing commentary, made it a point to let everyone know if Bret Hart wins, he will shake his hand because he had” R-E-S-P-E-C-T for The Hitman .”
The crowd was solidly behind Hart. Finally, Bam Bam went for a splash in the turnbuckle but missed. Bret climbed onto Bigelow’s shoulders and rolled him up for the victory roll. Bret Hart was the 1993 King of the Ring.
He defeated 3 of arguably the best wrestlers in WWF. He now had his sights on getting back the WWF Championship. True to his word, as soon as Bret’s hand was raised, Savage ran into the ring and congratulated The Hitman.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart – Imposter to the Throne
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart was the new King of the Ring. However, as Hart was accepting his throne, Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler attacked Bret, calling him an imposter.
This was the start of a long rivalry with The Hitman. Lawler antagonized Hart’s family but eventually tasted defeat, literally, when the Hitman defeated him in a kiss my foot match.
The 1993 King of the Ring set the standard for future pay per views. It was the catalyst in the career of many superstars.
A year later, Bret’s brother Owen Hart won the tournament. Stone Cold Steve Austins 3:16 originated at his King of the Ring victory.
Triple H went from monarch to champion because of the King of The Ring. The King of the Ring changed careers and gave fans a lifetime of memories. There was no better way to earn respect and a crown in one night.
