Bret Hart has never been one to hold back throughout his career. The legendary Canadian has always spoken his mind openly and isn’t afraid to share what he believes is the truth. His outspoken criticism of Bill Goldberg for the incident that ended his career in 1999 is well-known, as is his commentary on the Montreal Screwjob and similar topics. Now, it appears that the latest target of his sharp words is none other than Gunther.
Speaking on The Masked Man Show, Hart openly criticized wrestlers who, in his view, blur the line between performance and genuine harm—placing the former World Heavyweight Champion in that category due to his heavy use of chops in the ring. A strong advocate for in-ring safety, Hart stressed that true wrestling artistry comes from creating the illusion of pain without inflicting real injury.
The WWE Hall of Famer has long maintained that wrestling is a performance and that wrestlers should protect one another in the ring. Despite Bret Hart’s criticism, Gunther has shown little sign of softening his hard-hitting approach. In fact, he put on another widely praised match at SummerSlam, battling CM Punk in a fierce contest before ultimately losing his heavyweight title.
“They hurt, they look like shit. They make a big slap sound, but they hurt. When you get chopped by somebody like Ric Flair for a 30-minute match and he chops you 15 times, your whole chest the next day is bruises. It hurts to put a shirt on.”
Bret Hart via The Masked Man Show
Fans might not see Gunther in the ring for some time, as he is currently out with a nose injury. Recently, Hart also expressed strong admiration for CM Punk, openly supporting him to dethrone the Austrian in New Jersey. Widely regarded as one of wrestling’s greatest technical performers, Hart named Punk the best wrestler in the world today—ranking him above both Rey Mysterio and Roman Reigns in what he called a three-man race.
Bret Hart Lambasts Hulk Hogan and Their Sour Relationship After the Hulkster’s Death
Bret Hart has always had a complicated history with WCW and Hulk Hogan. Speaking on the same podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on his rocky stint in Ted Turner’s promotion and his past with the Hulkster. Despite their ups and downs, Hart acknowledged Hogan’s legendary career and noted that, earlier in their paths, the two got along well.
Hart also voiced strong frustration over Hogan’s reluctance to help elevate other talent. For those unfamiliar, the Hulkster notoriously stole Hart’s spotlight at WrestleMania 9 by inserting himself into the picture and winning the World Title moments after Hart lost to Yokozuna in the main event. Hart reflected on how this incident—and later tensions in WCW during the late 90s—further damaged their relationship.
“Hulk was a great guy and a great star, and I got along really good with Hulk for years. I was one of his first matches. Hulk Hogan never did that for anybody—he never pulled anyone else up. And, you know, unfortunately, that’s not how it was. He, he—the second I won the belt—I was the enemy. I had what he wanted, and we were never really friends, ever again.
Bret Hart via The Masked Man Show
Following Hogan’s death at 71 last month, his status as one of wrestling’s greatest icons remains unquestioned. However, accounts like Hart’s still fuel debate over how Hogan treated his fellow wrestlers and the measures he may have taken to safeguard his place at the top.
