We’re closing in on 7,000 days since Owen Hart’s death. And we’re being given almost daily reminders of the way pain lingers in a family.
When Bret Hart accused Owen’s widow, Martha Hart, of being “a very obtuse, square-headed person” and said “she’s done more to erase my brother Owen’s memory than she ever did to remember him,” he ripped open old wounds and once again moved the discussion to a very public place.
Frustrations and arguments over behavior and even treatment of our lost loved ones are the issues many — or most — families have. But, for most of us, they aren’t thrust into the public eye. They are, instead, sniped about behind backs at family cookouts or resolved in a childish dance of who is and is not invited to weddings, family reunions and the like.
While we, in our family squabbles, may vent to a brother, sister or cousin who feels stuck in the middle with loyalties to both sides, the two sides of the Hart drama have placed the public in that role.
Bret wants Owen in the WWE Hall of Fame. Which, in reality, is little more than a single night of acknowledging great wrestlers of the past. But he wants that for his brother and Martha’s refusal to, in her words, “work with the WWE to exploit Owen’s image for commercial gain” has caused him to lash out at her.
Martha responded to the “disrespectful and cruel” comments by saying “Whatever Bret may believe, the fact is that, far from “erasing” Owen’s memory, I have devoted the last 20 years to celebrating his life in a very public way. I can think of very few people who have been remembered so glowingly by their spouse.”
Martha’s stance of WWE being entirely responsible for Owen’s death means, as she said, she has no interest in helping those same people celebrate the man they took from her and her children.
And now, Bret has once again responded to Martha and her claims his words are “cruel, reckless and irresponsible:”
Owen’s children do not have a relationship with his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins. One of my nieces, in fact, named her son Owen after him. I do not know Oje and I wouldn’t know Athena if she walked passed me on the street. Owen’s children only know of their father’s family by what is told by their mother, whatever that may be, painting us all with one broad brush. To block Owen’s children from knowing their father’s family, to me, is cruel, reckless, and irresponsible.
Nearly 7,000 days later, the pain is still evident.
With nowhere to put that hurt, Owen’s brother and his wife continue to lash out at each other over his legacy.
I didn’t know Owen, and I can’t speak for him, but I have a hard time believing this is how he’d want either of them to act in his name.
- Get your NXT recap and reactions for last night’s show.
- Speaking of NXT, there are some big ol’ spoilers for the latest round of tapings.
- Titus O’Neil followed up on New Day’s statement on Hulk Hogan with a powerful one of his own. Both statements have gotten a lot of support.
- The two statements have shown incredible strength, maturity and class, as we covered here.
- SmackDown is up in the ratings, which is good news.
- Austin Aries is running circles around Moose in their feud.
- Here’s this week’s Sermon on the Mat, covering all the goodness across the wrestling world.
The week is almost over, don’t try to get sneaky, just get through it.
A masterpiece! #G128
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 19, 2018
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