10 Worst Booking Decisions in WrestleMania History
By Tim Sherry
credit: wwe.com
2. Bret Hart vs Vince McMahon: WrestleMania XXVI
This match was unquestionably not only the worst match in WrestleMania history, it was one of the most cringe-inducing moments in all of pro wrestling history. The fact that this match was even allowed to go on is more a testament to how detached from reality Vince McMahon is more than anything else. On what planet was this match going to work? Hart, arguably the greatest in-ring wrestler of all time walked into WrestleMania XXVI about 7 years removed from a stroke that left him temporarily and partially paralyzed. And although he had recovered, what did anybody think they were going to get out of The Hitman on this night?
Most fans thought that there would be some type of gimmick added so the two didn’t really have to wrestle each other. It’s not like Vince was in much better condition to wrestle. For one he’s not a wrestler. And two, at the time he was 65 years old! There had to be some type of stipulation to stop this from being a one on one bout, right? Wrong. What happened was the nightmare everyone was hoping would not happen. Bret essentially mauled Vince, smacked him with some weapons and eventually tapped him out with the Sharpshooter which ended the 11 minutes of torture for the fans in attendance and the ones watching at home.
To add to it was this ridiculous idea that Vince had turned the entire Hart family on Bret, as they accompanied Vince to the ring only to have them turn in Bret’s favor about three minutes into the match. Wow, didn’t see that one coming. This is one of those moments in wrestling that everyone wishes could be erased. People don’t want to remember The Hitman like this but it’ll forever be etched in wrestling fans brains. If you want to re-live some of Bret’s great WrestleMania moments, watch numbers 8, 10, 12, and 13. That’ll remind you of his brilliance and hopefully, your mind expunges the horrid nature of this match.