On June 24, 2002, Bret Hart suffered a stroke that nearly left him paralyzed. The Hitman had officially retired about 2 years earlier as a result of a concussion he suffered during a match with Goldberg.
RELATED: Bret Hart Once Pitched A Cat Lover Gimmick In WCWThough a return may have been possible for Hart before his stroke, the injury an end to any questions of a comeback.
The Hitman's Reflection
Yesterday, Bret Hart posted a picture of himself walking down the entrance ramp during Wrestlemania 26 in Phoenix, Arizona. In the post's caption, the Hitman explained why he chose that image in particular, and reflected on the anniversary of his career-ending stroke.
Walking down the aisle at Wrestlemania 26 in Phoenix. Today marks 20 years since I suffered a stroke. I chose this photo because there was a time when I didn’t think this moment would ever happen again, especially when I was struggling to turn my hand over, unable to walk or stand, and struggling to talk. When you suffer a stroke, the doctors never promise that you’ll have a full recovery. I still have some weakness on my left side to this day, but I’m very fortunate to be here today having recovered what I did. I will forever be grateful to the doctors and therapists at the Foothills Hospital here in Calgary and my fans around the world for their prayers. While the match itself will never be in anyone’s top 10, this moment represents one of my greatest victories.
- Bret Hart via Instagram
The Greatest Victories
In the age of social media, it's easy for wrestling fans to get caught up in ratings and stats. It's important to remember, though, that pro wrestling is so much more than star ratings, year-end awards and the infamous 18-49 television demo. Sometimes it's about overcoming real-life struggles and the joy that comes with those victories, whether the referee raises your hand at the end of a match or not.
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