Unveiling the Intense Backstage Meeting Led by Vince McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob

By Uddipta Das On Jun 5, 2023 0

Vince Russo recently disclosed the specifics of a behind-the-scenes gathering arranged by Vince McMahon following the controversial Montreal Screwjob incident that took place during Survivor Series 1997.

The occasion witnessed a significant moment that has become notorious in wrestling history. During the event, Shawn Michaels applied The Sharpshooter submission hold on Bret Hart, and despite Hart not submitting, the referee promptly awarded the match in Michaels’ favor. This incident occurred because Hart had declined to relinquish his WWE Championship to Michaels at the Premium Live Event, leaving the management of the promotion in a difficult situation.

An unexpected outcome was orchestrated where the match ended in favor of The Heartbreak Kid without informing Bret Hart. As anticipated, this caused turmoil behind the scenes, leading to Bret Hart expressing his anger by physically striking Vince McMahon.

Vince McMahon conducted backstage meeting

During an episode of Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Writing with Russo, Vince Russo unveiled that the day following the incident, Vince McMahon held a production meeting to address the situation.

“It’s the day after Survivor Series. Montreal Screwjob. We have our regular production meeting; everybody leaves. The only ones left in the room are the inner circle. It’s me; it’s Vince, it’s Shane, it’s Bruce (Prichard), it’s Pat Patterson, it’s Brisco (Gerald), it’s JR, and it’s Kevin Dunn. Those eight people,” Russo said.

Russo revealed that those in close proximity to McMahon recommended burying the incident and removing it from the records, but Russo had a divergent perspective on the matter.

“So I’m listening and Vince has a black eye. Bret punched Vince in the face, and bro, everybody is talking about sweeping this under the rug. We don’t acknowledge it, we don’t talk about it, and I’m listening to everybody’s two cents. So finally, everybody has pitched in, I’m sitting there, and I’m like, ‘are you freaking nuts?'” Russo added.

Russo said McMahon should take advantage of the heat

In addition, Russo mentioned that unlike others, he proposed to Vince McMahon that they should capitalize on the controversy and attention generated by the Montreal Screwjob. According to Russo, he could sense that McMahon was impressed when he presented this idea to him.

As a result of this conversation, Vince Russo disclosed that it was the pivotal moment that led to the 77-year-old McMahon delivering the now legendary “Bret screwed Bret” promo on RAW.

“This is history. Bret Hart punched Vince McMahon in the face. Vince is walking around with a black eye; this is history. Something like this will never, ever probably happen in history, and you’re sweeping it under the rug while WCW is kicking our backside? And I could tell when I’m when talking; I know when Vince is listening to me, and I saw him digesting it. Soon as we get back to Stamford, Vince goes over to the studio, and we get the Bret screwed Bret promo,” he said.

#OnThisDay in 1997: WWF Survivor Series PPV:
Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart by "submission" to the WWF Title.
[Thread] pic.twitter.com/fFj8Gi35dt

— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) November 9, 2021

Bret Hart and Vince McMahon eventually reconciled their differences, and as a gesture of reconciliation, Bret Hart was honored with induction into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.