What if Bret Hart didn’t get a concussion in WCW?

In 1997, Bret Hart infamously signed with WCW. It was the natural choice when WWE reneged on a big money deal, and there was no turning back after the Montreal Screw job offered the Hitman the most unceremonious WWE departure of all time.

Hart’s time in WCW was a disappointment. While he did add two more world title reigns to his resume, his tenure felt more forgettable than momentous, marred by questionable creative that saw his face-heel alignment bound back and forth far too often while he was mostly overshadowed by the established main event guys who had come to WCW first. There’s also Eric Bischoff’s narrative to consider—that Hart came to WCW broken and unmotivated. Hart denies it, but perspective certainly plays a role.

The Hitman’s WCW run, and his time a legitimate wrestler came to an abrupt end when Goldberg delivered a mule kick to his head, inadvertently causing what would amount to a career-ending injury. What might have changed had things gone down differently, and Hart stayed healthy? This article looks at five likely outcomes.

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#5 Bret Hart in Impact Wrestling

Bret Hart might have been a top star for Impact Wrestling.

Bret Hart mended fences with WWE by degrees. The story goes that, after his head injury issues, he was in the hospital for a bicycle accident that led to a stroke. That’s when Vince McMahon called him to start the healing process. The two sides collaborated on a DVD release, then a Hall of Fame induction, en route to Hart more fully returning as a recurring on-air character.

Take away a career-ending injury and one head injuries potential connection to another, and we might be looking at a different trajectory for Hart. It’s not out of the question he would have worked with Impact Wrestling in its efforts to offer an alternative to WWE. Indeed, with Jeff Jarrett at the helm, the company brought in big names like Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Ken Shamrock in its early days. Hart may have been a major get that the company could build around if he were game to wrestle a full-time schedule for him. Otherwise, he might have at least helped generate some buzz like Randy Savage and Diamond Dallas Page did in their shorter stints.

#4 Hart on the last Nitro

Bret Hart may have factored into the last episode of Nitro if he weren't hurt.

The last episode of WCW Monday Nitro featured some of WCW’s finest with a focus on title matches, in addition to going back to the company’s roots with a final showdown between Ric Flair and Sting. It’s unclear how Bret Hart would have fit into the scheme of a show like this. However, with Vince McMahon reportedly pulling the strings on matchmaking for the show, he may have chosen to put Hart in the ring if The Hitman were in a condition to compete. That choice would highlight an all-time great in-ring talent, and perhaps as a show of respect to a talent he had wronged three and a half years earlier.

Would Hart have given a younger talent the rub, on this Nitro that would have a legacy all its own? Or might he have been booked opposite a star like Diamond Dallas Page, or a great fellow worker like Lance Storm? One way or another, Hart wrestling probably would have only improved upon the episode.

#3 A slower journey back to WWE

Bret Hart would have had a longer journey back to WWE if he had still been able to wrestle full time.

There’s a fair argument to be made that Bret Hart began his slow return to WWE in 2005 because, as he struggled with health issues, he was ready to partner with the only organization that had the resources to properly celebrate his legacy. WWE was not only far and away the biggest wrestling company in the world, but owned the bulk of Hart’s career between its own and WCW’s tape library.

Were Hart still wrestling at that point, he would still be building his legacy, be it with Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor, or abroad. As such, he probably would have felt a lot less urgency to make amends with WWE. It’s unclear how long his full-time in-ring career might have continued had he not had his concussion issues in WCW. Nonetheless, we can fairly guess that he wouldn’t have returned to WWE until the latest stages of, or after he’d finished his in-ring career.

#2 Bret Hart vs. Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart is one of the best, most narrowly missed dream matches in recent history.

When it comes to all-time great in-ring performers, Bret Hart has very few peers. The Excellence of Execution was more than a nickname, but rather a testament to his incredible in-ring mechanics. One of the few guys who could hold his own compared to Hart was Kurt Angle.

Angle used the foundation of his unparalleled amateur credentials to transition seamlessly to the world of wrestling, and work a largely technical style, accented by impressive feats of athleticism and strength.

Hart vs. Angle is a dream match we never got to see because Hart exited WWE two years before Angle arrived, and suffered his kick to the head from Goldberg a mere month after Angle’s debut for the rival promotion.

Had Hart been able to carry forward, Hart vs. Angle may well have happened in Impact Wrestling, or conceivably WWE. Hart probably would have been past his prime but this showdown still could have been something special, especially for hardcore fans who like their chain wrestling.

#1 A similar endgame

Bret Hart likely would have wound up a Hall of Famer and working with WWE part-time, despite taking a different road to get there.

Bret Hart returned to WWE. While he hasn’t been used much for some time, he’s nonetheless a legend who always could come back ,and whom WWE has demonstrated respect for in DVD releases, his Hall of Fame induction, booking him as Mr. McMahon’s last WrestleMania opponent, and having a recurring role as an authority figure and visiting legend.

Even if Hart had wrestled for another decade, including stints with Impact, ROH, or NJPW, it stands to reason that he would have ultimately come home to WWE. WWE had the platform to allow Hart to connect with his fans again, not to mention most of the existing footage of his career.

Without his concussion issues, the road back to WWE may have been bumpier and longer. Nonetheless, the odds are he would have wound up with a similar with the company, if on a truncated timeline at the tail end of his career.