Bret Hart is the only person to receive three inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, according to legendary wrestling executive Eric Bischoff, The Hitman was not on the same level as some of the industry’s all-time greats.
Hart made his name in WWE from 1984 to 1997 before spending three years in WCW. The Canadian star has repeatedly blamed Bill Goldberg for ending his career with a mistimed kick at Starrcade 1999. He has also taken digs at Bischoff for claiming he was like a “broken toy” after leaving WWE.
On his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff dismissed talk that Hart was a top star like John Cena, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, and The Undertaker.
“There was always a reason [in Bret Hart’s mind] why Bret was prevented, because of somebody else, from actually making it to the very top for an extended period of time, to be in the same category as a Ric Flair or a John Cena or a Steve Austin or an Undertaker. Bret never got there. Not because it was anybody else’s fault, and not even because it was Bret’s fault.”
Hart was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. The 68-year-old joined WWE’s illustrious group of legends again in 2019 as a Hart Foundation member. He also received the Hall of Fame’s inaugural Immortal Moment honor in 2025 alongside Steve Austin.
Eric Bischoff thinks Bret Hart lacked presence
In the 1990s, Bret Hart was one of the world’s most well-known wrestlers. He won the WWE Championship five times and became one of the company’s marquee names following Hulk Hogan’s departure in 1993.
Despite those accolades, Eric Bischoff believes Hart did not have the same presence as other WWE icons.
“Bret was just not born with that one thing that kinda puts you into that star category. Call it charisma. Call it whatever you want. It’s a presence, and you either have that presence or you don’t.”
CM Punk and Roman Reigns are among the WWE stars who grew up idolizing Hart. In a recent interview with Complex Sports, The Hitman revealed which current talent he views as the best wrestler in the world.
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