Wrestling's Hart Dynasty

Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Bruce Hart, Dean Hart, Smith Hart, Ross Hart, and Wayne Hart are a dynasty of professional wrestler brothers from Alberta, Canada. Bret and Owen were the champions.

The dynasty began with professional wrestler and master wrestling trainer Stewart "Stu" Hart, their father.

Stu Hart

Stewart "Stu" Hart started out as a Canadian league professional football player and wound up a pro wrestler. After coming back from serving in the Canadian Navy during World War Two, he started a Canadian wrestling franchise called "Stampede Wrestling", which was headquartered inside his 22-room Calgary mansion. In the mansion's basement, dubbed "The Dungeon", Hart trained his wrestlers, including seven of his eight sons. (A side note: Of his four daughters, three married wrestlers.)

Other "graduates" of the Dungeon included "Superstar" Billy Graham, Greg Valentine, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and Andre the Giant.

In 2003, Stu Hart died at age 88.

The Hart mansion was later made a Canadian historic site.

Diana Hart

Of the Hart sisters, Diana was the highest profile, particularly after the publication of her family tell-all, "Under the Mat." In her book, she accused the world of professional wrestling of destroying her family. The exposed family secrets created such discord within the family that her sister-in Martha, Owen Hart's widow, sued and prevented the book's sale only a few weeks after publication.

The book was finally released for publication in 2007.

Owen Hart

Owen Hart died on May 23, 1999 after attempting a flying ring entrance on a harness suspended from the rafters of Kansas City's Kemper Arena during the World Wrestling Federation's "Over the Edge" televised event. His death was deemed caused by the pre-mature opening of a harness clasp.

In 2000, Martha Hart, Owen Hart's children, and Stu and Helen Hart sued WWF for wrongful death, eventually settling for $18 million. Owen's widow used the settlement to set up the Owen Hart Charitable Foundation.

Bret Hart

Bret Hart was the best known of the Hart family wrestlers, winning seven world heavyweight championships. Throughout his wrestling career, he spurred his own brand of controversy, particularly his feuds with WWF owner Vince McMahon, which culminated in the 1997 "Montreal screwjob."

At Hart's last match as a WWF champion in Montreal, McMahon pre-determined that Hart would win the match and leave as the WWF's undefeated champion. Unknown to Hart, McMahon changed the match's outcome at the last minute. When Hart's opponent Shawn Michaels trapped him Hart's own signature hold, McMahon prematurely ended the match even though Hart hadn't submitted to defeat; thus the "screwjob."

The Next Generation

Stu Hart's grandchildren Teddy Hart, Harry Smith, and Nattie Neidhart have formed the newest family dream team, dubbed "The Hart Foundation 2.0."

SOURCES:

"Canadian wrestling patriarch dies", Judy Monchuk, Canadian Press, URL: (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/10/16/227960.html)

"Slam and sleaze is Diana's expertise", Michael Jenkinson, Edmonton Sun, URL: (http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingHarts/nov5_jenkinson-sun.html)

"Owen Hart's Funeral", CNC, URL: (http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-41-1237-6838)