Review – Hitman by Bret Hart

Uncovering A Real Life Inside The Cartoon World Of Wrestling

Mar 25, 2009

Bret Hart's autobiography, Hitman: My Real Life In The Cartoon World of Wrestling, is as much a cathartic experience for the reader as it undoubtedly was for its author.

That’s because most who will read the book will undoubtedly be long-time fans of the “Hitman”, who have suffered with their idol through years of tragedy and bad fortune after a brilliant 24 year career that saw Bret Hart reach the highest heights of professional wrestling success.

A multiple-time world champion in both the WWE and the now-defunct WCW, Hart was known as the “excellence of execution” for his technical skill and ability to perform inside the squared circle. He coined a phrase for himself, “The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be”, and for many fans, the phrase was indeed apt.

But with the career came numerous ups and downs both professionally and personally and Hitman pulls no punches in depicting all of these. Cleanly written and displaying a wry sense of humor at times, Hitman is a fast moving bio, no small feat considering the expansiveness of the material.

What makes the book so compelling is the fact that for most of his career, Hart taped regular correspondences to himself, giving him the ability to mine through his past and relate his story in vivid detail, with his unvarnished perspective at each step along the way.

From Calgary To The WWE

Hitman is split into four parts. The first, Stampede Days, deals with Bret’s childhood and life within the Hart family, with patriarch Stu Hart being one of two central figures in Hart’s life. It also details Bret’s entrance into pro wrestling with Stu’s promotion Stampede Wrestling, with Hart recounting all the major figures, events, and wild road stories from this crucial period of his life.

The second and third parts, The Foundation and Steal My Crown, deals with Bret’s time in the WWE. For many WWE fans, this will be the juiciest part of the book where polarizing figures such as Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels are depicted, as well as Hart’s turbulent relationship with WWE owner Vince McMahon, who is portrayed as both a ruthless businessman and a father figure. Additionally, the infamous Survivor Series incident in Montreal in 1997 is laid out in detail from Bret’s perspective.

The final section, Pink Into Black, deals with Bret’s post-WWE life and the various tragedies that befell both him and his family such as his divorce, the deaths of Owen Hart and both parents, and the stroke that nearly ended his life. This section is both the hardest and most compelling portion of the book.

Hitman: The Final Word

Hitman is a profoundly moving read that leaves no stone unturned in the life and career of Bret Hart. Although the final passage contains a final attack against the duo of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, Hart leaves the reader with the clear impression that he is a survivor and is ready for the next chapter of his life to begin.

Bret Hart has stated publicly that Hitman represents his last word on the wrestling industry and his career. If so, he ends on an eloquent note.

Hart, Bret. Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling 2009. Random House Canada, 573 pgs.

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