There's really very little that can be said about the "Montreal Screwjob" that hasn't already been said before, but on November 9, 1997, Bret Hart screwed Bret Hart at Survivor Series.
Well, that's according to Vince McMahon, who did what he does best: Use the misfortune of someone else to advance his own agenda.
And so "Mr. McMahon" was born, the authoritative mega-heel that served as a perfect foil for the rise of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (among others) during the "attitude era." Unfortunately Hart would not fare as well, heading south to WCW for a near-death experience at the foot of Bill Goldberg.
"I wish things had never changed and that I was still [in WWE]. I look back on that incident as a bad decision by Vince McMahon and WWE. I think we all can look back and know that there was a better way to do things. I don't forgive anybody involved in that -- from Gerald Brisco to Michaels to Triple H to Vince. But at the same time, I realize that life's too short to carry around hard feelings on an everyday basis. I take issue with anyone who ever suggests that there was no other choice. But, Vince was under a fair bit of pressure financially back then. I can feel for him a little. I think [McMahon] has told me himself -- and I believe him -- that he wishes things had been done differently and has regrets about it. It should've never happened, but it did happen ... and I have moved on."
Anyone care to speculate on how history might have been altered if "The Hitman" never left the company?