It’s the most infamous date in the history of professional wrestling. If you ask any die-hard fan when was the Montreal Screwjob, they won’t just give you a date; they’ll give you a play-by-play of the spit, the air-written letters "WCW," and the sound of a locker room door being kicked in.
It happened on November 9, 1997.
The setting was the Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Survivor Series was the event. On paper, it was a dream match: Bret "The Hitman" Hart versus Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship. But off-camera? It was a nightmare of contract disputes, personal ego, and a promoter, Vince McMahon, who was terrified of losing his top prize to his rival, Ted Turner. Honestly, it changed everything. Wrestling wasn't a "show" anymore after that night. The fourth wall didn't just break; it was demolished with a sledgehammer.
The Chaos Leading Up to November 9, 1997
You have to understand the climate of 1997 to get why this happened. The Monday Night Wars were at a fever pitch. WCW was beating the WWF in the ratings consistently. Bret Hart, the "Excellence of Execution," was the moral compass of the WWF, but he was also expensive. Vince McMahon had signed Bret to a 20-year "lifetime" contract in 1996, but by late 1997, Vince claimed he was in financial trouble. He basically told Bret, "I can't pay you, so you should see what WCW will offer."
Bret didn't want to leave. He loved the WWF. But with Vince's blessing (or urging), he signed a massive deal with Eric Bischoff at WCW. The problem? Bret was still the WWF Champion.
Vince was paranoid. He remembered Alundra Blayze jumping to WCW and dropping the WWF Women’s Title into a literal trash can on live TV. He couldn't let that happen with the world title. Bret had a "reasonable creative control" clause in his contract for his final 30 days. Because the match was in Canada, Bret refused to lose to Shawn Michaels—a man he legitimately disliked in real life—on Canadian soil. He offered to drop the belt any other night. He offered to forfeit it on Raw. He just wouldn't lose in Montreal.
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Vince agreed to a disqualification finish. Bret believed him. Shawn believed the lie. But behind the scenes, a small group including Vince, Triple H, and Jerry Brisco were planning something else entirely.
What Really Happened During the Match
The match itself was intense. You can feel the tension through the screen even decades later. They fought through the crowd, brawled on the entrance way, and eventually made it back to the ring.
Then came the moment.
Shawn Michaels put Bret Hart in Bret's own finishing move, the Sharpshooter. This was supposed to be a transitional spot. Bret was going to grab Shawn's leg, flip him over, and the match would continue toward the planned DQ finish. Instead, the referee, Earl Hebner—who had been tipped off and was visibly shaking—called for the bell.
He didn't wait for a tap-out. Bret didn't tap.
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The timekeeper, acting on Vince’s direct order, rang the bell. Ring announcer Howard Finkel was told to announce Shawn Michaels as the new champion. Bret looked up in pure, unadulterated shock. He realized instantly what had happened. He spat directly into Vince McMahon’s face. It was a thick, cinematic glob of spit that landed right on the boss's cheek.
The Aftermath in the Locker Room
The cameras cut away quickly, but the drama was just starting. In the back, the locker room was in a state of revolt. The Undertaker was reportedly furious, demanding that Vince go apologize to Bret. Mick Foley (Mankind) actually walked out on the company for a day in protest.
When Vince finally went to Bret’s locker room to "talk," it didn't go well. Bret told him if he didn't leave, he was going to deck him. Vince didn't leave. Bret landed a right hook that supposedly "lifted Vince off the floor." McMahon ended up with a black eye and a concussion.
This wasn't scripted. This wasn't a "work." It was the most real moment in a business built on illusions.
Why the Date November 9 Still Matters
If you're wondering why we still talk about when was the Montreal Screwjob like it’s the Kennedy assassination, it’s because it birthed the "Mr. McMahon" character. Before this, Vince was just a nerdy, over-excited commentator. After Montreal, he leaned into the villainy. He gave the famous "Bret screwed Bret" interview, and the evil boss archetype was born. Without Montreal, we don't get the Stone Cold vs. Mr. McMahon rivalry that saved the company.
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It also arguably destroyed Bret Hart's career. When he got to WCW, they had no idea how to use him. The momentum was gone. He was just another guy on a roster full of aging stars. The tragedy of the Screwjob is that it took a man who lived and breathed the business and made him resent it for years.
Misconceptions and Conspiracy Theories
Even now, people argue it was a "work" (a scripted event). Some think Bret was in on it to get a massive WCW payout while leaving the WWF as a martyr.
But if you look at the footage in the documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, the pain is too real. The documentary crew just happened to be filming Bret that year, and they captured the fallout in real-time. You see Bret’s wife, Julie, accusing Triple H of being involved. You see the look of betrayal on the faces of the Hart family. If that was acting, they all deserved Oscars.
Actionable Insights for Wrestling History Buffs
If you want to truly understand the gravity of what happened on November 9, 1997, don't just watch the match. Follow these steps to get the full picture:
- Watch 'Wrestling with Shadows': This documentary is the "smoking gun." It provides behind-the-scenes access that was unprecedented for the time.
- Listen to 'Talk is Jericho' or 'The Kurt Angle Show': Many veteran wrestlers have done deep-dive episodes on their perspectives of that night.
- Compare the Careers: Look at the trajectory of the WWF (which became WWE) versus WCW immediately following the event. The Screwjob was the catalyst for the "Attitude Era."
- Read 'Hitman' by Bret Hart: His autobiography goes into grueling detail about his mindset, his conversations with Vince, and the heartbreak of leaving his "home" under such circumstances.
The Montreal Screwjob remains a reminder that in the world of professional wrestling, the most compelling stories are the ones where the script gets thrown out the window. It wasn't just a match; it was the end of an era of loyalty and the beginning of a cold, corporate reality.