Overview

The Montreal Screwjob was a controversial finish in professional wrestling that occurred on November 9, 1997, at the World Wrestling Federation's Survivor Series 1997 event in Montreal, Quebec. In a match for the WWF Championship, champion Bret Hart unexpectedly lost the title when the planned ending was changed without his knowledge. The incident mixed the scripted nature of professional wrestling with real-life conflict and is widely cited as a turning point in modern wrestling history.

What happened

Reportedly concerned that the championship belt would leave the company when Hart had a contract to join another promotion, management altered the finish. During the match, rival Shawn Michaels held Hart in the sharpshooter submission while referee Earl Hebner called for the bell, signaling a submission that had not actually occurred. The decision was made by owner Vince McMahon and a small group of officials so the title would change hands on television.

Participants and roles

The primary figures in the incident were the defending champion, the challenger, the referee, and company leadership. Eyewitness accounts and later reporting have also implicated other on- and off-screen personnel. The event left the champion feeling betrayed and led to an immediate, heated reaction backstage and in the ring.

Consequences and legacy

The immediate aftermath included Bret Hart's departure from the company and a rupture in his professional relationship with management and certain performers. The episode blurred the line between scripted entertainment and real conflict, undermining audience trust in kayfabe at the time. Creatively, the incident helped spawn a prominent on-screen persona for the owner, and it is credited with helping shape the WWF's direction during the late 1990s.

Why it matters

  • The term "screwjob" entered wrestling vocabulary to describe an unapproved or deceptive finish.
  • It demonstrated how contractual disputes and business decisions can affect televised storytelling.
  • It prompted discussion inside and outside the industry about trust, performer rights, and creative control.

Over time the Montreal Screwjob has been analyzed in books, documentaries, and retrospectives as a pivotal moment that influenced wrestler-management relations and popular perceptions of the sport. For further reading on the event and its context within the era, see contemporary accounts and documentary treatments that study both the match and its aftermath in greater detail. For background on the event card and participants visit resources linked to the show and key figures, including real-life reporting and profiles.

The Montreal Screwjob remains one of the most discussed controversies in wrestling, notable for its dramatic consequences inside the ring and its long-term effect on how professional wrestling blends performance with business decisions.

Survivor Series • Pro wrestling • Montreal • Real-life accounts • Bret Hart • Shawn Michaels • Vince McMahon