Former WWE Referee Details The Montreal Screwjob Like Never Before

When we talk of WWE, there are a lot of controversies that always come to mind. The most notable being the Montreal Screwjob. The Montreal Screwjob is fresh in every wrestling fan’s memory, no matter if they’ve lived in that era or not.

It was something that was unprecedented, unexpected, and it literally changed the landscape for Pro wrestling and its top stars – Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart and Shawn Michaels.

Former WWE Referee Mike Chioda opens up on the Montreal Screwjob

We all have heard about the Montreal Screwjob one way or another; one perspective to another. Recently former WWE official Mike Chioda revealed his side of the story from the day of the Montreal Screwjob in an interview with Inside The Ropes.

He revealed that Bret Hart was sensing something wrong on the day of Survivor Series 1997. Bret came up to him the entire day and asked him was there anything wrong. Mike Chioda swore on his mother that he knew nothing.

He also revealed that he saw Earl Hebner, the official for the match, having little secret meetings with Gerald Brisco that day. Furthermore, Chioda shared that the original finish of the match had his and Owen Hart’s involvement, but it did not happen. What happened was the infamous Montreal Screwjob.

Mike Chioda also shared the original finish was for him to go out and count a false finish until Owen Hart stopped him from behind. Owen would then throw Chioda outside the ring only to take a superkick from Shawn Michaels.

“The only thing I did is I heard a bell and I’m looking through the curtain, Owen’s behind me going, ‘What the f***? What just happened? What just happened?’ I’m kind of like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know.’ And then I’m looking, like, I’m looking in. Earl’s like running right out to the vom, right out of the arena, right through the crowd. He’s going right out the vom. There was a car waiting for him to take him out.” Mike Chioda explained.

Why did the Montreal Screwjob happen?

Bret Hart was the WWF Champion but was to leave the company for a better payday at rival promotion, WCW. Vince McMahon didn’t want to see his top champion go to WCW programming, not with the title at least.

Alundra Blayze had thrown her WWF Women’s Championship in the trash live on Monday Nitro. Mr. McMahon feared the same fate, and screwed Bret Hart, or shall we say in Vince’s words, “Bret screwed Bret.”

All parties involved in the Montreal Screwjob have made peace and mended their ways. Bret Hart made his return to WWE in 2010, even had a segment with Shawn Michaels.

The ‘Hitman’ feuded with Mr. McMahon upon his return and faced him at WrestleMania XXVI. A fitting end? Not really, but something is better than nothing right?