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In Memory of Owen Hart [Videos]


Owen Hart was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on May 7, 1965. A family-oriented man, Hart was born into the legendary Stu Hart professional wrestling family, being the youngest of 12 children. Having been involved in the wrestling business from an early age, Hart joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1988. Hart married Martha Patterson, the youngest of 11 children in 1989, and they eventually had two children together. Hart had a successful professional wrestling career, highlighted by a feud with his brother Bret Hart. On May 23, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri, Hart fell to his death as he was being lowered to the wrestling ring by a harness during a live WWF pay-per-view broadcast. At the time of his death, Hart had just turned 34 years old 16 days earlier.

Special Tribute to Owen Hart
May 24, 1999


Vince McMahon speaks at a press conference regarding Owen
May 1999


News coverage of Owen Hart's death and funeral
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
May 31, 1999


History: The night "Ravishing" Rick Rude appeared on both WCW and WWF programs [Videos]


Having retired while with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994, Rick Rude returned to the professional wrestling business with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1997. Soon after, Rude returned to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in August 1997, as the "insurance" that Shawn Michaels needed. Rude essentially become a member of the Shawn Michaels lead faction, D-Generation X (DX). 

Rick Rude returns to the World Wrestling Federation
August 1997


Vince McMahon interviews Rick Rude about his return to the WWF
RAW IS WAR
August 1997


Rick Rude calls Shawn Michaels a "pecan" instead of an "Icon"
October 13, 1997

At the annual pay-per-view Survivor Series, on November 9, 1997, Vince McMahon ended a match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart to ensure that Shawn Michaels would win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. The sudden ending to the match was allegedly not disclosed to Bret Hart, who was slated to leave the WWF for the WCW in the coming weeks. This shocking ending where Hart allegedly did not know the outcome of the pre-determined agreed-upon result was extremely rare and later was labeled as the Montreal Screwjob and documented in the 1998 documentary, Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows.

Despite his role as a member of Shawn Michaels' faction, Rude considered Bret Hart a close personal friend and strongly disagreed with McMahon's handling of the match at the Survivor Series. Rude was not under contract with the WWF and thus had no obligation to continue with the company, despite his ongoing negotiation with WWF management to do so. Based on this fact, Rude decided to abruptly leave the WWF after he was featured in a taped segment to be aired for the November 17th edition of WWF RAW IS WAR. Rude's short stay in the WWF in 1997, was impactful by making him a regular on a major wrestling promotion's television program again after his long absence. After an agreement with WCW, Rude appeared on WCW Monday Nitro, shocking and confusing pro wrestling fans as they switched between the two wresting programs and saw Rude on both rival programs!

For his contributions to the professional wrestling industry, Rude was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, 2017.

Rick Rude on WWF RAW IS WAR
Aired on November 17, 1997


Rick Rude appears on WCW MONDAY NITRO
Live on November 17, 1997


Vince McMahon speaks about Rick Rude after his death
April 1999


WWE retrospective on Rick Rude's dual appearances
Aired April 2012


WWF History: "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig [Videos]


Known by World Wrestling Federation (WWF) fans as Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig was a tremendous athlete and charismatic professional wrestling personality. Beginning his professional wrestling career in January 1980, in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), Hennig would officially become "Mr. Perfect" in October 1988, while being rebranded as a cocky and vain villain in the WWF. During his career in the WWF, Mr. Perfect had all-star matches against Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Ric Flair, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and Tito Santana. In addition, Mr. Perfect held the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice. In 2007, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.


Mr. Perfect shows the perfect swing to Wade Boggs
October 1988


Gene Okerlund interviews Mr. Perfect
December 1988


Mr. Perfect vs Bret Hart
April 23, 1989


Mr. Perfect vs Ultimate Warrior
March 19, 1990


Mr. Perfect vs Tito Santana
Aired July 28, 1990


Mr. Perfect vs "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
January 25, 1991


Mr. Perfect vs Tugboat 
Aired May 4, 1991


Mr. Perfect vs Mark Thomas
Aired September 1, 1991
(RARE MATCH)


Mr. Perfect helps WWF Champion Bret Hart
December 1992


Mr. Perfect vs "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Aired January 25, 1993


Gorilla Monsoon interviews Mr. Perfect
April 4, 1994


Mr. Perfect interferes in Triple H/Merco match
October 21, 1996


Curt Hennig speaks about the loss of Rick Rude
May 3, 1999
(RARE INTERVIEW)


Mr. Perfect vs Brock Lesnar
January 28, 2002


A tribute to Mr. Perfect
Aired February 22, 2003