Bret “The Hitman” Hart is the absolute technical wrestling legend. He is often looked up to as the father figure legendary father figure to learn the in-ring philosophy from. Even in 2025, his influence remains with prominent stars like CM Punk, FTR, and Drew McIntyre acknowledging him. However, now in these times, he disapproves of the way certain wrestlers cause real harm and overuse chops.
While speaking on The Masked Man Show, he specifically critiqued Gunther and his chops. He also defended the human behind that wrestler who is quite nice. However gave no respect to such wrestling which looked to damage their opponent seriously. He elaborated the vicious chops that The Ring General lays on ones chest and carry the endless pain for days to come.
Hart feels that the essence of great wrestling lies in its ability to feel real without inducing genuine pain. He criticized even the chops by Ric Flair back in his time that were unnecessarily hurt. For Bret, chops are not only impractical but also produce a visually unappealing effect despite their loud impact. Hart’s extended his criticism to wrestlers who intentionally harm, labeling them as lazy and unprofessional.
The Hitman has confronted Gunther directly saying the same and calling his chops “bullsh*t.”
Bret Hart thinks current wrestlers should copy him
Better known as the “Excellence of Execution”, Bret Hart believes that modern wrestling would benefit if more wrestlers adopted his in-ring style. While speaking on the same show, he emphasized that his approach to realism, adding to his technical skill, made matches feel authentic. That’s the sole reason for how even the quality of performances can be elevated today.
Hart shared that many wrestlers contact him out of respect, seeking permission to incorporate his signature moves or pay homage to his style in their matches. He views this as a compliment, noting that after retirement, his moves are “fair game” for others to use. Hart finds it particularly flattering when he watches wrestling and spots clear tributes to his work.
He encourages today’s talent to draw from his style, suggesting that emulating his approach could lead to better storytelling and more compelling performances in the ring. For Hart, these nods from the current generation are not just a sign of respect but also a validation of his enduring legacy.