Biography
Owen Hart was the youngest of Stu Hart's wrestling sons and by most technical measures the most gifted. Where Bret Hart was the family's consummate professional, Owen was the natural athlete who could do everything Bret could do and several things Bret couldn't. His flip over the top rope to the floor, his arm drags, his European uppercuts — each was executed at a speed and precision that made watching him feel different from watching anyone else in the 1990s WWF.
His jealousy storyline with Bret — built on the genuine family dynamic of the younger brother eclipsed by his more famous sibling — produced WrestleMania X's opening match, still considered one of the finest technical matches in WrestleMania history. Owen won clean. The crowd, expecting Bret to win, genuinely didn't know what to do with it.
His accidental piledriver on Steve Austin at SummerSlam 1997 — which legitimately broke Austin's neck and nearly ended his career — was a genuine accident that haunted Hart for the rest of his career. Austin later said Owen was mortified and apologized repeatedly. The incident is a reminder that professional wrestling's controlled danger is never fully controlled.
Championships & Titles
Personas & Characters
Bret Hart's little brother (1988–1993)
The jealous younger brother. Believable because it was real — Owen genuinely felt overshadowed by Bret's fame. The resentment read as authentic because some of it was.
The King of Harts (1994–1997)
Won the 1994 King of the Ring; wore the crown with arch-villain pomposity. One of the WWF's most reliable midcard heels who could go with anyone.
The Blue Blazer (1999)
Masked superhero character that Owen hated. Died while performing a ring-entry stunt in the Blazer costume. His discomfort with the gimmick makes the tragedy more painful.
Career Timeline
- 1986 Debut in Stampede Wrestling; immediately impressive.
- 1988 First WWF run; quickly established as reliable worker.
- 1993 Returns to WWF; jealous brother storyline with Bret begins.
- 1994 WM X win over Bret; King of the Ring winner; IC title run.
- 1995 Tag team with British Bulldog; major Bret feud continues.
- 1997 Anti-American Hart Foundation reformed; European title win.
- 1997 SummerSlam piledriver legitimately breaks Austin's neck.
- 1999 Blue Blazer character introduced; death during Over the Edge stunt.
FAQ
How did Owen Hart die?
Owen Hart died on May 23, 1999, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was being lowered into the ring from the arena rafters as his Blue Blazer character for WWF's Over the Edge pay-per-view when the rigging failed. He fell approximately 78 feet to the ring. He was 34 years old. The event continued after his death, a decision that remains controversial.
What was Owen Hart's best match?
WrestleMania X vs. Bret Hart (1994) is the most-cited answer — a 20-minute technical masterpiece that Owen won clean. His series of matches with Shawn Michaels and his tag work with British Bulldog are also frequently referenced.
Did Bret Hart and Owen Hart have a real falling out?
They had complicated family dynamics — Owen's jealousy of Bret's fame was real to some degree, which is why the WWF angle worked. By all accounts they loved each other. Owen's death devastated Bret, who has spoken extensively about the grief in interviews and his autobiography.
Signature Matches
vs. Bret Hart — WrestleMania X, 1994
Twenty minutes of technical wrestling that the Garden crowd didn't know how to process when Owen won clean. Called the opener so Bret could recover for his main event title match; elevated to the best match of the night anyway.
vs. Steve Austin — SummerSlam 1997 (IC Title)
Owen attempted a sit-down piledriver; Austin's head wasn't tucked. The impact broke Austin's neck. Austin finished the match on instinct; Owen won the IC title. The injury nearly ended Austin's career and haunted Owen for the rest of his life.
Tag team with British Bulldog
Hart and Bulldog as a team were one of the WWF's most reliably excellent tag acts. The blend of Owen's speed and Bulldog's power was textbook complementary partnership. Multiple tag title reigns and consistent match quality.
Match Record
| R | Opponent | Event | Date | Stipulation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Bret Hart | WrestleMania X | Mar 20, 1994 | Singles | Won clean; best match of the night |
| L | Bret Hart | SummerSlam 1994 | Aug 29, 1994 | Steel Cage — WWF Title | Lost; Bret retained |
| W | Steve Austin | SummerSlam 1997 | Aug 3, 1997 | IC Title | Won; accidentally broke Austin's neck |
| L | Triple H | WrestleMania XIV | Mar 29, 1998 | Singles — European Title | Lost |
| W | Steve Austin | Over the Edge 1998 | May 31, 1998 | Tag Title | Won with Jeff Jarrett; Austin feud peaks |
| L | Shawn Michaels | In Your House: D-Generation X | Dec 7, 1997 | European Title | Lost to HBK by interference |