Montreal Screwjob Facts for Kids

The Montreal Screwjob was a famous and controversial event in professional wrestling. It happened to Bret Hart, a big star in the WWF (now WWE). This real-life "screwjob" took place during a match for the WWF Championship title. The event happened at a show called Survivor Series in 1997. It took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

What Happened in Montreal?
Why Did It Happen?
After the Screwjob
Images for kids
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What Happened in Montreal?

During the match, Bret Hart was fighting Shawn Michaels. Michaels used Hart's own special move, called the Sharpshooter. Even though Hart had not given up (or "tapped out"), the referee, Earl Hebner, quickly rang the bell. This happened because Vince McMahon, the owner of WWF, told him to. This made Shawn Michaels the new WWF Champion.

Why Did It Happen?

Vince McMahon planned this "screwjob" because Bret Hart was leaving the WWF. Hart was going to join their biggest rival company, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Hart did not want to lose his championship title to Shawn Michaels in front of his home country fans in Canada.

The original plan was for Bret Hart to win at Survivor Series. Then, he would give up the title the very next night on a show called Raw. But McMahon worried that Hart might not give up the title as planned. He wanted to avoid a situation like a past incident where a wrestler left with the championship. So, McMahon decided to make sure Michaels won the title that night.

After the Screwjob

The Montreal Screwjob became one of the most talked-about moments in wrestling history. It caused a lot of anger and surprise among fans and wrestlers. For many years, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels did not get along. However, on January 4, 2010, they finally made up. They shook hands and hugged in the ring during an episode of Raw.