WWE History: Bret Hart Vs. Yokozuna

Hulk Hogan was on his way to WCW and WWE needed to rebuild its main event roster. It was up to Bret Hart and Yokozuna to fill Hogan's shoes and the did with a multiple year feud that culminated at Wrestlemania X. Here is a detailed look at the historic battle between Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Yokozuna.

Bret Hart was thriving off of his first WWE Heavyweight Title win over Ric Flair in the fall of 1992. Ric Flair left the company and Hart had risen from tag-team champion to Intercontinental title and finally the world championship.

Hart's first big challenge came after the 1993 Royal Rumble that Yokozuna conquered. The main event was staged for Wrestlemania IX. Hart gave it everything he had and nearly had Yokozuna beat until an interference from Mr. Fuji led to Yokozuna's first title victory.

Yokozuna would move onto short feuds with Hulk Hogan, Lex Lugar, and the Undertaker, but Hart would move back up through the ranks once again and try to reclaim the World Championship that Yokozuna stole from him. Lex Lugar looked like the future of the company, but Bret proved that was where he belonged as the year 1994 approached.

At the 1994 Royal Rumble Bret Hart out wrestled and outsmarted his opponents until he was the last man left with Lex Lugar. A clothesline sent both men out of the ring and they touched the ground simultaneously. After much debate, a tie was declared and both men would a chance for the title at Wrestlemania X.

Before Bret Hart faced the winner of the Yokozuna and Lex Lugar match, he would have to face his brother Owen Hart in the opening match of the card. In a huge upset, Owen outsmarted his brother, but it didn't matter if Bret won or loss because he was guaranteed the main event world title shot.

Yokozuna defeated Lugar with some help by special referee Mr. Perfect and the final battle between Bret Hart and Yokozuna was set. Much like Wrestlemania IX, Hart and Yokozuna battled back and forth with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of the match. Hart ended up finally getting the best of Yokozuna and he earned his second WWE title.

The locker poured out to celebrate and Bret Hart has gone down as one of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history. The two year feud between these two WWE greats helped send the WWE in a new direction and propel Bret Hart to the superstardom that he deserved.