Stu Hart

Post-retirement appearances (1991–2003) Hart made several appearances on WWE television in the 1990s and early 2000s. The majority of those appearances involved his sons, Bret and Owen Hart. A recurring staple of these appearances in the 1990s was that Stu and Helen would be verbally attacked by several of the commentators, mostly by Bobby Heenan and Jerry Lawler, the latter of whom was in a long-running feud with Bret during this point in time. At the 1993 Pay-Per-View event Survivor Series, Stu had a planned physical interaction outside of the ring with Shawn Michaels. Michaels was involved in a match with Stu's sons, Bruce, Keith, Bret and Owen Hart. Michaels played the part of the antagonist, and when failing to succeed in winning the match, Michaels' character then attacked Stu who responded by pretending to knock him out with an elbow smash. Michaels later stated that he was happy to take the hit as he considered it an honour.

Hart also appeared in WCW at the Slamboree 1993: A Legends' Reunion event. Stu and Helen were married for over 53 years until Helen's death at the age of 77.

Stu and Helen raised their twelve children in the Hart mansion, Smith, Bruce, Keith, Wayne, Dean, Ellie, Georgia, Bret, Alison, Ross, Diana and Owen. Hart was a non-denominational Christian, however, he had all his children baptized by a local Catholic priest. The couple have around thirty-six biological grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, three of whom, his oldest grandson Teddy Annis's son Bradley and his oldest granddaughter Tobi McIvor's two oldest daughters Amanda and Jessica, were born during Hart's lifetime. Tom and Michelle Billington's three children, Bronwyne, Marek and Amaris are also often included in the list of his grandchildren, therefore Bronwyne's daughter Miami is also often referred to as one of his great-grandchildren. Many of his grandchildren went on to become wrestlers or were otherwise involved in wrestling.

In 1949, Hart and his wife Helen who was pregnant with their second child, Bruce were in a car accident on their way home from a wrestling match, Hart was unscathed, although he did break the car's steering wheel on impact, however his wife Helen suffered several injuries and had to be held in a hospital for a long time, leading them to leaving their oldest child, Smith, with Helen's parents Elizabeth and Harry Smith for two years. and an icon of the art.

Sports journalist and wrestling historian Dave Meltzer described Hart's importance to the art of professional wrestling as indispensable since his booking decisions and training of several key individuals affected the industry in significant ways. Meltzer describes people like Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura as people who were spawned by Hart's actions and cites the Dynamite Kid, Junkyard Dog and Billy Robinson as some who would probably not have had the careers they did if not for Hart. He also mentions Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman as individuals who would most certainly never even have become wrestlers were it not for Hart. Meltzer characterized Hart as the biggest territorial star in wrestling history to never win a major championship. Former wrestling promoter and owner of the St. Louis Wrestling Club Larry Matysik described Hart as a Canadian icon.

Hart had a distinct accent which included a very raspy voice and unique way of speaking which he was well known for. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Hart is the most imitated man in professional wrestling, with many individuals in the industry having tried a Stu Hart impersonation.

WWE chairman Vince McMahon has lauded Hart as a trailblazer for the wrestling industry. On March 27, 2010, Hart was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

In the Hart Legacy Wrestling promotion, controlled by Hart's relatives and their associates, there is a Stu Hart Heritage Title.

There is an annual juvenile amateur wrestling tournament named after Hart called the Stu Hart Tournament of Champions held in Canada.

In Saskatoon's Blairmore Urban Centre there is a road named Hart Road, in Stu Hart's honour.

In 2005 a documentary directed by Blake Norton, Surviving the Dungeon: The Legacy of Stu Hart, was released.

As of 2005 Hart is part of a permanent exhibit at the Glenbow Museum. A scissored armbar wrestling hold is sometimes referred as a "Stu-Lock" in Hart's honour.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling City, Edmonton Edmonton City Middleweight Championship (1930) Provincial, Alberta Alberta Provincial Championship (1930) National, Canada Western Canada Championship Canadian National Wrestling Championship (1939) Dominion Amateur Wrestling Dominion Welterweight Championship (1937) Dominion Light Heavyweight Championship (1940) Amateur Athletic Union of Canada Welterweight Championship (1937) Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Class of 1980 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2008

Professional wrestling Canadian Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 1980 Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Cauliflower Alley Club Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2001) George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2008 National Wrestling Alliance NWA Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Pat Meehan and Luigi Macera Pro Wrestling This Week Wrestler of the Week (August 1, 1987) Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Stampede Wrestling Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) World Wrestling Entertainment WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesStu Hart (hair) Towering Inferno (mask) Calgary, Alberta Stampede show

Accolades and recognitions Honours and decorations

Member

Awards and nominations Western Legacy Awards (2012) Calgary Awards (Signature Award, 1999)