WWE icon Bret Hart during a recent appearance on the 81 Podcast, opened up on the bitter relationship shared by Triple H and The Rock back in 1997 when the two were on top of their game.
Bret Hart claims Triple H despised The Rock
Back in the wrestling world, it was all about cementing the top position in the roster and remain the face of the company. But sometimes the talents would try anything and everything to do the same at the cost of ruining other talents’ careers.
WWE legend Bret Hart shared an incident that dates back to 1997 following WrestleMania 13. The Hitman revealed that Triple H had a strong hatred towards ‘The Great One’ and “wanted to ruin” him.
It was the time when The Rock was fresh to this industry and having a babyface run with the Intercontinental championship around his waist. Hart said that The Game and even his best friend, Shawn Michaels would try to ruin anyone connected with him and thus The Rock was targetted.
Bret Hart said: “Even Dwayne Johnson [The Rock]. They really tried to crack him and bust his chops. I remember telling Dwayne all the time, ‘Don’t listen to these guys. You’re a really good talent and you don’t need these guys.’
Ultimately, Owen Hart would defeat The Rock for the title in the following month. The Rock would later turn heel and join The Nation of Domination. Bret Hart said that Triple H wanted him to beat The Rock for the title.
He said: “When I did the big interview about America, the next week’s taping, I wrestled The Rock and they wanted me to beat him. Triple H did. He wanted me to beat Dwayne and win the Intercontinental Title. I refused. ‘What do I need the Intercontinental Title for?’ We did the figure four on the post, Steve Austin came out, Owen [Hart] and Davey [Boy Smith] came out, a bunch of interference. I remember Triple H was sick about it because he had a thing for Dwayne and wanted to ruin him. He hated him.”
Hart also explained that he didn’t need to win the title at that point of his career. He talked about the politics in the business and defeating The Rock for the title would not do anything for him and would put him out of World title picture. He then regretted that he did not get any opportunity to battle The Great One. It would have certainly been a great match to witness.