This Week In WWE History (November 9th to November 15th): Vince McMahon betrays Bret Hart, The Rock wins his first World Championship

The Montreal Screwjob – November 9th, 1997

Shawn Michaels left Survivor Series 1997 with the WWF World Championship

The Montreal Screwjob is one of the most controversial moments in the history of pro wrestling. The year was 1997 and Bret Hart was about to jump ship to WCW during the Monday Night Wars. Hart was WWF Champion at the time and refused to drop the title to Shawn Michaels on the way out, due to a long history of personal animosity between the two.

Even though Vince asked Bret to drop the title to Michaels at Survivor Series 1997, which was taking place in Canada, Bret refused, as he was wrestling in his home country. McMahon eventually agreed to let the match end in a DQ before Bret relinquished the title on the following night on RAW.

Backstage, ahead of Survivor Series, Shawn Michaels and Triple H convinced Vince McMahon to go through with a different kind of finish. As it happened, Bret was locked in a Sharpshooter during the match when referee Earl Hebner rang the bell, despite Hart not tapping out. Bret was visibly upset and even spat at Mr. McMahon on live PPV.

Speaking about the Montreal Screwjob in an interview with ESPN earlier this month, Michaels said that it was one of the most difficult days of his career:

"It's sort of a surreal moment. You made the decision, you've got everything set, and there's still a wrestling match. So you're out there doing your thing, which is again an unbelievably athletic, tough performance -- entertainment and being in character, and things of that nature. And then on top of that, on top of already concealing who you really are in just doing your job, you have to conceal from the person you're working with any hint of what may or may not happen."

Check out the full match below: