Did Triple H Orchestrate the Montreal Screwjob? New Revelations from Netflix's Mr. McMahon

Vince McMahon's career is filled with many questionable incidents, including his participation in controversial WWE storylines and real-life scandals that extend beyond sports entertainment. Among these is the infamous Montreal Screwjob, an event that remains a topic of discussion even today due to some lingering uncertainties about its specifics. Netflix's docuseries "Mr.McMahon" offers new insights into this event that may surprise audiences.

The Montreal Screwjob took place at WWE Survivor Series 1997, where McMahon, Shawn Michaels, and Earl Hebner played a role in costing Bret Hart the WWE Championship in Montreal, Canada. Hart refused to lose the title to Michaels in front of his fellow Canadians, as the two had significant behind-the-scenes disagreements, even though he was set to leave the company for WCW. Nevertheless, McMahon was unwilling to risk "The Hitman" appearing on a competitor's television program with his company’s most prestigious title, prompting him to instruct Hebner to call for the bell as soon as Michaels applied the sharpshooter on Hart.
The resulting controversies have been well documented. Following the incident, wrestlers like Rick Rude departed WWE alongside Hart, and Mick Foley missed a week of Raw. Hart also confronted McMahon backstage and left the organization. Despite these events, some still speculate that the Screwjob was staged, leading to ongoing questions about the number of people involved. With this context, let's explore the most significant takeaway from Netflix's "Mr. McMahon."



Bret Hart regrets not knocking out Paul "Triple H" Levesque for his role in The Montreal Screwjob. Since the 1990s, "The Game" has been Shawn Michaels' close friend, so it's not surprising that he was aware of the backstage plot in advance. However, just how involved was he in orchestrating the incident that shook '90s wrestling?
The most significant revelation from the "Mr. McMahon" documentary is Levesque's admission to being part of the planning for The Montreal Screwjob finish. He believed that Hart was being unreasonable by refusing to relinquish the title, which led him to suggest going behind Hart's back, and the rest is history. While some fans might disagree with his perspective, this line of thinking clarifies why Levesque eventually rose to a top backstage role as WWE's Chief Content Officer.
Additionally, Levesque recounted that McMahon instructed him and Michaels to deny any prior knowledge of the Screwjob afterward. "The Game" complied with this directive and distanced himself from the situation, allowing McMahon and Michaels to bear most of the backlash. Nevertheless, Bret Hart was aware of this and regrets not giving Levesque a punch in the face.
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The Montreal Screwjob effectively gave rise to the notorious "Mr. McMahon" character and set the stage for WWE's Attitude Era, which is considered one of the promotion's most successful times. Because of this, some people speculate that the Montreal Screwjob was a planned event meant to create controversy and attract media attention. In fact, the scheme was kept so secretive that even some of Vince McMahon's closest associates, including his long-time right-hand man Bruce Prichard, were unaware of it. This secrecy helps explain why some individuals are doubtful about its authenticity.
In the documentary, Prichard shared that he was informed the match would end in a "schmozz finish," a term used in the industry for a match concluding with a chaotic brawl. This was also the outcome that Bret Hart had agreed to before WWE Survivor Series 1997. However, "The Hitman" had his suspicions about potential underhanded tactics going into the match, recalling when McMahon had previously screwed Wendy Richter out of the title in a similar manner.
Regardless of the finish, those interviewed for "Mr. McMahon" maintain that it was not a staged event. Additionally, it appears that only a small number of individuals were aware of the controversial incident before it occurred, as they clearly wanted to prevent any information from reaching "The Hitman."
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