WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has shared his perspective on the current state of professional wrestling, stating that the industry has shifted away from the fundamental presentation that originally defined it.
During an appearance on the Johnny I Pro Show, Hart was asked if he believed he had made his younger self proud. The question led to a broader discussion regarding his “Best There Is, Best There Was, Best There Ever Will Be” catchphrase and his career-long effort to make professional wrestling appear legitimate. Hart explained that while he does not believe a single individual can be definitively labeled the greatest wrestler of all time, he takes pride in the effort he put into making his work look authentic—a quality he feels is missing from the modern product.
“I gave so much and tried so hard to make it up here real and I have a hard time today when it’s not,” Hart stated. “I don’t think those values are carried forward and they’re they’re moving on in a different direction now where wrestling is starting to become hokey.”
Objections to Modern Spectacle and Elaboration
Hart took issue with the heavy reliance on elaborate production elements in contemporary wrestling, arguing that modern companies place too much focus on spectacle rather than the core fundamentals of in-ring storytelling.
“It don’t really It’s not doesn’t try to be real anymore. It tries to be uh unreal,” Hart remarked. “Like too outrageously the more explosions and pyro and stuff that you can do. It has nothing to do with wrestling. Like in the end like I’m a wrestling fan and deep in my heart. And I like to watch a really good wrestling match that builds and tells a story and all that.”
Due to these changes, Hart noted that he no longer finds the same enjoyment in watching current programming. Instead, he explained that he frequently revisits archived black-and-white matches from the 1960s featuring legends such as Buddy Rogers, Killer Kowalski, and Gene Kiniski. Hart emphasized that these performers understood the technical side of the business and successfully maintained a believable presentation.
The Importance of In-Ring Realism
Pointing out that many of today’s active competitors grew up watching his work, Hart expressed frustration that the same dedication to realism is not consistently reflected in modern performances.
“I always have a line that I use regularly is like the best pro wrestler has to always pretend to be real,” Hart said. “And I don’t think they’re trying hard enough anymore to make it appear real.”
While acknowledging that modern audiences are fully aware that professional wrestling is scripted, Hart maintained that performers should still approach the presentation seriously while the show is ongoing. He recalled the impact of serious storylines from his own era, noting that events like a stretcher removal were treated with significant gravity.
Hart concluded by sharing a childhood memory of watching Pat O’Connor and Buddy Rogers compete from ringside when he was four or five years old. He noted that the experience completely convinced him he was watching world-class athletes, shaping his lifelong philosophy on what professional wrestling should be.
“Today I I love a lot of the wrestlers that are working today, but you know, for God’s sake, maybe they could put a hold on once in a while,” Hart added. “You know, they should put someone in a headlock.”
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