It still pains me to think back to the Over The Edge 1999 pay per view. I was watching at my uncle’s house and was in a state of shock. Death and wrestling for me were not the common occurrence that would develop years later. My father hit on it in his Owen interview where he stated that it was the first time someone that I idolized on television was taken, and at such a young age as well.
Looking back on Owen’s career makes it much easier to put it into perspective. The man was at his best in the antagonist role. His brother Bret should thank his stars he had a younger brother that was so good at making Bret sympathetic. With tears on his face, he pleaded with mother Helen to throw in the towel so Bret wouldn’t continue to struggle in Backlund’s Chicken Wing. As soon as the towel hit the ring, we saw the tears disappear! Owen got us again!
Owen 3:16, I just broke your neck. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s career was almost ended in an instant as Owen botched a tombstone piledriver crashing the bald head into the mat. When Austin got to his feet and walked out on his own, a shining star was shot and we got to see him rise to levels unseen of. You then have Owen on television taking pleasure in Austin’s injury; such real life emotions played perfectly to add a new layer to each man’s character.
The best night of Owen Hart’s career was the 1994 King of the Ring. His brother Bret won the crown the year before, but the King of Harts was born on this epic evening. The WWF lights never shone brighter on the youngest Hart than on this night. Had his life not been taken too soon, perhaps Owen would have gone on to win a World Title and cement his status as a prime time player. The skills, the character, the unique promo abilities all combine into one of the best all around performers I have had the privilege of seeing.
What we will hopefully remember best is that Owen loved to make people laugh. Countless tales of his ribbing have been told. He had fun in the ring beating people up with napkins and coat hangers. No one says a bad word about Owen. They put over his family man persona that far outweighs anything that he accomplished in the ring. The Two Time Slammy Award winner was a father and a husband that put those jobs first; in the business of professional wrestling no one had their priorities in as much order as we have learned Owen had. It’s too bad he couldn’t have retired early and spent the time with his family that he really wanted and missed while traveling on the road.
Owen, you should be remembered for having strong family values in the industry that makes it so difficult do so…whatever you achieved in the ring is second to that. And that’s saying something because you will be fondly remembered in my and countless other wrestling fan’s minds.
Thank you for the memories. Wrestling wouldn’t have been the same without you and hasn’t been with you gone.
Looking back on Owen’s career makes it much easier to put it into perspective. The man was at his best in the antagonist role. His brother Bret should thank his stars he had a younger brother that was so good at making Bret sympathetic. With tears on his face, he pleaded with mother Helen to throw in the towel so Bret wouldn’t continue to struggle in Backlund’s Chicken Wing. As soon as the towel hit the ring, we saw the tears disappear! Owen got us again!
Owen 3:16, I just broke your neck. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s career was almost ended in an instant as Owen botched a tombstone piledriver crashing the bald head into the mat. When Austin got to his feet and walked out on his own, a shining star was shot and we got to see him rise to levels unseen of. You then have Owen on television taking pleasure in Austin’s injury; such real life emotions played perfectly to add a new layer to each man’s character.
The best night of Owen Hart’s career was the 1994 King of the Ring. His brother Bret won the crown the year before, but the King of Harts was born on this epic evening. The WWF lights never shone brighter on the youngest Hart than on this night. Had his life not been taken too soon, perhaps Owen would have gone on to win a World Title and cement his status as a prime time player. The skills, the character, the unique promo abilities all combine into one of the best all around performers I have had the privilege of seeing.
What we will hopefully remember best is that Owen loved to make people laugh. Countless tales of his ribbing have been told. He had fun in the ring beating people up with napkins and coat hangers. No one says a bad word about Owen. They put over his family man persona that far outweighs anything that he accomplished in the ring. The Two Time Slammy Award winner was a father and a husband that put those jobs first; in the business of professional wrestling no one had their priorities in as much order as we have learned Owen had. It’s too bad he couldn’t have retired early and spent the time with his family that he really wanted and missed while traveling on the road.
Owen, you should be remembered for having strong family values in the industry that makes it so difficult do so…whatever you achieved in the ring is second to that. And that’s saying something because you will be fondly remembered in my and countless other wrestling fan’s minds.
Thank you for the memories. Wrestling wouldn’t have been the same without you and hasn’t been with you gone.
