Welcome to a special Top Ten Things, here at Enuffa.com! Today is the anniversary of what was for me the most tragic death in wrestling history, that of Owen Hart.
For those of you not familiar (by this point that's probably no one), on May 23, 1999 Owen was the victim of a horrific stunt gone wrong, when the harness in which he was supposed to descend from the ceiling released prematurely, causing Owen to fall 70 feet to his death. Owen was 34 years old. Unlike so many untimely pro wrestling deaths, Owen's wasn't the result of drugs or steroids or neglect of his health. Owen was a happily married family man who had planned to retire early from wrestling to enjoy a quiet life as a father and husband. I've said for years that if I could go back and save one person in the wrestling business from dying young, it would be Owen. He deserved to live a long, content life and enjoy the fruits of his success.
In the ring Owen was possibly the most athletically gifted of all the Harts, possessing a natural grace and agility surpassing even Bret's. Bret may have been more technically sound, but Owen seemed innately suited for pro wrestling, employing a mix of grappling and aerial techniques that made him one of the most well-rounded performers of his generation.
Owen toiled in the WWF undercard for a few years before finally getting a big heel push as Bret's disgruntled little brother. The two had a legendary feud, tearing the house down every time they met, and as a result Owen became one of the most dependable top names in the company, eventually winning every available heavyweight title except the big one (Whenever I'm asked who was the best wrestler never to win a world title, my two answers are always Owen and Davey Boy). Then in 1997 Bret and Owen, now both heels, reunited to form the new Hart Foundation stable, prompting the best feud of that year which pitted the American wrestlers (and fans) against the Harts (and basically all non-American fans). On the back of this unprecedented feud, the WWF churned out must-see television nearly every week, and Owen was a huge part of it all.
After Bret's messy WWF departure (along with Davey Boy and Jim Neidhart), Owen was the only Hart Foundation member left, and as an old-school character he struggled to fit into the new WWF Attitude era. Owen enjoyed modest success for his remaining time in the company, but was repeatedly asked to take part in sexualized angles with which he wasn't comfortable. The compromise was repackaging him as a dorkier version of the Blue Blazer (his 1989 persona), hence the fateful ceiling descent on May 23rd.
It's a shame the company wasn't able to find something more dignified for him to do, or wasn't willing to release him from his contract when Bret left. In either scenario he'd undoubtedly still be with us today.
Owen was a one-of-a-kind talent who left the wrestling industry better than he found it, who was beloved by all who worked with him, and who stayed true to himself and his family in a business where such a thing was increasingly rare. Two decades later, the wrestling business still feels incomplete without him.
Now let's take a look at his best matches.....
Honorable Mention: Owen Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid - King of the Ring - 6.19.94
Yeah I know, this match only went 3-1/2 minutes, but holy lord what a match considering. These two packed about as much action into 217 seconds as you possibly could, delivering one of only two good matches on this PPV. Owen made the Kid submit with a Sharpshooter in this semi-final match, on his way to becoming the second PPV King of the Ring. It's a great illustration of what Owen (and X-Pac) were capable of even with severe time constraints.
10. Owen Hart & British Bulldog vs. Vader & Mankind - WrestleMania 13 - 3.23.97
One of the forgotten WrestleMania gems was this rare heels vs. heels Tag Title match, where Owen and Davey had teased splitting up for weeks. Owen had become jealous of all the attention Davey was getting, particularly after Davey bested him to become the inaugural European Champion. Between the champs not being on the same page and the physical dominance of Vader and Mankind, it looked like we might see a title change here, but this wild brawl ended unceremoniously with a double countout, as Mankind subdued Davey with a Mandible Claw on the outside. A better finish would've undoubtedly elevated this match, but as it was I still consider this one very underrated.