Folks, let me tell you, it doesn’t get more iconic than this. Last night, the one and only Bret “The Hitman” Hart made his triumphant return to WWE Raw in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta. Let’s just say, the crowd went absolutely wild for the man, the myth, the Canadian legend. Now, some last-minute rumors of ill health had us worried, but come on, this is Bret Hart we’re talking about. Tougher than nails, and let’s not forget, “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be”—or so we thought until GUNTHER decided to open his mouth.
After soaking in the love from his Calgary faithful, Hart grabbed the mic and thanked the WWE Universe like the class act he is. But then—get ready for this—GUNTHER, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, stormed out to interrupt. And you know when a giant like GUNTHER comes out, it’s not for a friendly chat over tea. No, he had some things to say.
GUNTHER, in all his European stoicism, took one look at Hart and, with the audacity of someone who hasn’t seen Hart’s WrestleMania record, reduced Bret to being merely “the best there was.” Now, don’t get me wrong—being the best “there was” is still pretty good, but GUNTHER wasn’t done. He crowned himself the best there is and the best there ever will be. Folks, the nerve! Then, just for extra spice, he invoked the name of none other than Bill Goldberg, Hart’s long-time rival, because why not stir that pot, right?
Now, you know Canada’s own Sami Zayn wasn’t about to let this slide. Wearing a Calgary Flames jersey in honor of Johnny Gaudreau, the tragically deceased hockey star, Zayn stormed out, and I mean stormed. He got in GUNTHER’s face like a lion defending its pride. Zayn, always the noble underdog, called GUNTHER out for what he is—a champion without the courage to defend his title. Harsh, but fair. GUNTHER’s been ducking Sami harder than a tax evader with too many offshore accounts, and Zayn was ready to air it out.
But Bret Hart? Oh, he wasn’t done either. He backed up Zayn, calling GUNTHER a coward in front of the entire WWE Universe. And let me tell you, folks, when Bret Hart calls you a coward, that hurts. It was enough to send GUNTHER over the edge, triggering a full-out brawl between him and Zayn right there in the ring! Fists were flying, bodies were hitting the canvas—it was beautiful chaos. WWE officials had to pull them apart, but not before GUNTHER got a taste of what’s coming to him.
And what did Sami get for his efforts? Well, besides the satisfaction of rattling GUNTHER’s cage, he got a hug from Bret Hart. Yes, a hug from The Hitman, folks! That’s like being knighted, but with more spandex. The Scotiabank Saddledome erupted in applause. Bret Hart, Sami Zayn, and the Calgary crowd—it was a moment you had to be there to believe.
WWE would later air a tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, tragically killed last month by an alleged drunk driver, and Sami’s gesture of wearing Gaudreau’s jersey added a deeply emotional note to the night.
This appearance marks Bret Hart’s first in WWE since Clash at the Castle in 2022. Some say his comments on GUNTHER’s match with Sheamus at that event may have influenced last night’s drama. Is GUNTHER ducking Sami Zayn because of Hart’s involvement? Will this build to a Zayn vs. GUNTHER showdown for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? Only time will tell, folks, but buckle up—things are about to get very interesting.