Bret Hart criticizes modern wrestling, stating AEW and WWE feature "actors trying to pretend to be wrestlers," and calls for a return to traditional wrestling values, lamenting the industry's shift from technical mastery.
Bret Hart's legacy is built on technical skill, storytelling, and believability, but modern wrestling has shifted towards theatrical elements, high-risk maneuvers, and character-driven narratives in AEW and WWE.
AEW, in particular, has gained a reputation for its dynamic style and hardcore matches. While this has garnered a passionate fanbase, it has also drawn criticism from traditionalists like Hart for prioritizing spectacle over substance.
Bret Hart criticizes modern wrestling as "scripted ballet," disdaining choreographed spots and excessive violence, saying "This isn't wrestling." He believes wrestling should "pretend to be real," feeling today's product is "too phony."
Bret Hart criticizes modern wrestlers for prioritizing scripted promos and choreographed sequences over technical skill, valuing authenticity and performance substance over theatricality and superficiality in the ring.
Bret Hart advocates for traditional wrestling values, emphasizing skill and storytelling in matches, rather than relying on stunts and gimmicks, to restore authenticity and substance to the sport.
Bret Hart suggests modern wrestling overemphasizes acting and theatrics, detracting from in-ring performance, and advocates for a better balance between character work and genuine wrestling skills.
Fans and industry figures react to Bret Hart's critique, with some agreeing on the need for realism, while others see modern styles as innovative and appealing to broader audiences through storytelling and social media.
Bret Hart's critique sparks debate on wrestling's priorities: realism and technical skill vs. theatricality and spectacle, highlighting the challenge of balancing authenticity with entertainment in the evolving industry.