“Got Exactly What He Deserved”: Fans React as Vince McMahon Having a Black Eye in Rare Photo Resurfaces on Social Media

For many, WWE has served its fans with some of the most exciting and shocking events in pro wrestling history. There have been moments that have been heart-warming, unexpected and downright controversial. Some moments also make fans question what is real and what is scripted. But perhaps nothing blurred the lines between reality and kayfabe more than the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’ at Survivor Series 1997.

The Survivor Series 1997 main event between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels was the most infamous finish in WWE history. Michaels had Hart in a sharpshooter when the referee Earl Hebner under orders from Vince McMahon called for the bell despite Hart not submitting.

Hart was furious and confronted McMahon backstage. The Hitman apparently punched McMahon and gave him a black eye. Recently, the photo of Vince McMahon’s blackeye from that night went viral and fans had a lot to say.

Fans react to photo of Vince McMahon after Survivor Series 1997

The situation with Vince McMahon and Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart was tense going into Survivor Series 1997. Hitman was the WWE Champion but going to join WCW. Hence, McMahon wanted the title off him, hoping to avoid a repeat of the Alundra Blayze incident when she threw the WWE Women’s title in the trash on WCW TV.

Hart had refused to lose the title to Shawn Michaels, his bitter rival in his hometown of Montreal at Survivor Series. WWE originally booked Hart to retain at Survivor Series and then drop the title at a later date. However, McMahon came up with a plan that would make him a pantomime villain.

During the main event match, Michales had Bret Hart in the sharpshooter when referee Earl Hebner at the behest of Vince McMahon called for the bell. This despite it being evident that Hart hadn’t tapped out. This event was dubbed the ‘Montreal Screwjob“.

An enraged Bret Hart got into a scuffle with Vince McMahon and punched him backstage. On the 25th anniversary of this infamous incident, a rare photo of Vince McMahon’s black eye courtesy of the Hitman went viral.

READ MORE: “Good For the Fans to Get Their A**es Kicked”: Vince McMahon Once Sided With Former WWE Star, Who Brawled With a Fan For Randy Orton

The fans then took to Twitter and shared how they felt seeing McMahon all bruised up.

Some fans still believe it was a work.

Moreover, some fans favored Bret over McMahon.

The details around this incident are so convoluted that to this day many fans doubt whether it was real or a made-up work by WWE. Regardless, it got the wrestling world talking at that time and 25 years later, it still remains a hot topic.

It also led to a lot of animosity between Bret Hart, Vince McMahon, and Shawn Michaels for many years. Over the years, they have made up and moved past the scandalous events of that night. WWE even inducted Hart into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Bret Hart also made his in-ring return to WWE in 2010, when he defeated Vince McMahon in a match at WrestleMania 26.

Watch This Story: From Brock Lesnar to Bret Hart WWE superstars who openly disrespected Vince McMahon