Diana Hart responds to Bret Hart’s claims about British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992
Diana Hart has posted a statement regarding comments her older brother Bret Hart has made about SummerSlam 1992.
Bret Hart’s match against Diana’s then-husband, the British Bulldog, in the main event of the show was named by WWE as the greatest SummerSlam match of all time last year.
While it’s unclear whether Bret has made any recent comments about the match, he has said in past interviews and in his 2007 autobiography that he had to carry Bulldog through it step-by-step, as Bulldog was in poor condition that day due to drugs and/or alcohol.
Diana Hart posted the following message on Tuesday:
“Bret does not present his statements as opinions; he states them as facts. That distinction matters, because many of his claims—specifically about Davey’s physical or mental state at SummerSlam’92 are simply not true. It is my opinion that Bret’s current misrepresentation of events at SS92 may be influenced by the stroke he suffered in the summer of 2002.
What cannot be ignored is the timing, that Davey died prior to that, in May 2002. There was a full decade (1992-2002) when Bret could have raised his claims directly with Davey, if they were legitimate. He never did. Not once. The absurd and hurtful accusations began after Davey was no longer alive to respond.
Instead, Bret now frames, over and over, despite my appeals to him with facts, proof/records and critical reasoning to please restrain and refrain his slander, but he refuses. Bret now cites this incredible match as great solely because of his own alleged brilliance, assigning himself all credit while diminishing Davey’s invaluable role. Bret’s narrative is not supported by history, by documentation, or by what audiences can plainly see when they watch the match itself, without Bret’s overlapping slandering words.
Davey’s performance shows no evidence of impairment. On the contrary, it reflects Davey’s professionalism, strength and focus-despite the FACT that he was recovering from necrotizing fasciitis, a serious and life-threatening flesh-eating infection (we have proof). Davey did not complain, seek sympathy,or disclose his condition to the public. He simply did the work. It is difficult to reconcile these FACTS with Bret’s retroactive claims, except to note a long-standing pattern of self-aggrandizement.
IMO, and I’m very clear that this is opinion, Bret’s tendency toward ego, bullying & exaggeration predates both his stroke and the match in question. I base that on my lived experience growing up with him as my older brother and on decades of observed behaviour towards family members and colleagues. What I will not accept is history being rewritten after the fact, especially when the person, (Davey)being totally discredited is no longer alive to defend himself. Davey was so good and loyal to Bret.”
Diana Hart played a significant role in the story leading up to Bulldog vs. Bret at SummerSlam 92. After Bulldog won the Intercontinental Championship, Diana entered the ring and embraced both her brother and her husband, seemingly to show the family was united once again.
In 2001, Diana co-wrote “Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling’s Greatest Family” with Kirstie McLellan about her life as a member of the Hart family. In the book, Diana accused several Hart family members of criminal activity. The book was eventually pulled from the shelves due to a lawsuit filed by the widow of Owen Hart, and Diana’s sister-in-law, Martha Hart.
Diana officially sold the rights to The British Bulldog’s legacy to her son Harry Smith in 2015.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.