Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels Were Once Part Of One Of WWE's Most Racially Charged Storylines Ever
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Professional wrestling has always been about storytelling and creating characters that fans can cheer for or against. While WWE has created some memorable storylines over the years, some of their attempts at using race in their angles have been met with mixed reactions. While some fans appreciate the attempts to create complex and nuanced characters, others have criticized the company for using discriminatory tones to further their plot.
The Most Racially Charged Angle In WWE
In the late 90s, WWE was going through a period of change where themes of race and racism were beginning to emerge in the programming of various factions such as The Hart Foundation, Degeneration X (DX), and the Nation of Domination. DX was known for its raunchy and sexually suggestive antics, pushing the envelope at every turn, while the Hart Foundation was sickened with the direction not only of WWE but also the direction America was heading in.
The Nation, on the other hand, took a pro-Black, any-means-necessary approach that was wild to see on WWE programming, considering how Black wrestlers have been historically portrayed. On October 27, 1997, all of these elements came together for a unique segment that had it all, as The Rock explicitly acknowledged his Blackness, Bret Hart talked about systematic racism in the United States, and Shawn Michaels discussed the history of Black oppression in the US. The prelude to this segment began a week before on Raw when The Nation's locker room was trashed with racist remarks graffitied all over the walls. The segment opened with The Nation in the ring with Vince McMahon, asking why there was racism in the company. Farooq mentioned the 400 years of slavery and oppression that Black people have had to endure, and The Rock mentioned his experience with racism and discrimination his entire life.
Farooq then challenged The Hart Foundation to a match the following week, and Bret Hart accepted. He claimed that Canada has no racial prejudice and that the United States is riddled with it. Hart accused Shawn Michaels and his "Boy Toy Hunter Helmsley" of being responsible for the vandalism, which Michaels denied. Michaels claimed that "the Grand Wizard" Bret Hart was "racist to the core," referring to the Klan. Triple H also accused The Hart Foundation of using the N-word while they were vandalizing The Nation's locker room. This led to The Nation attacking The Hart Foundation, with Vince finally accepting the Nation's "any means necessary" approach. It was later revealed that DX was responsible for the incident as they wanted to generate fresh rivals for the Hart Foundation. Although the concept seemed promising, the use of discriminatory language to advance the storyline was not well-received and ended up making the entire angle appear awkward.
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Race Angles In WWE Are A Mixed Bag
WWE's track record with race-based storylines has been hit or miss over the years. On one hand, there have been some well-crafted and powerful storylines, such as the triumphant KofiMania story. However, on the other hand, there have been many instances where WWE has fumbled the ball, such as the Triple H/Booker T feud leading up to WrestleMania 19.
One particular example from 1997 stands out as a moment where WWE pushed the boundaries and broached the topic of race more explicitly than ever before. However, this segment, which involved the group known as The Nation of Domination being victimized by a racist act of vandalism, is far from a perfect beacon of progressiveness. The segment still portrays The Nation as heels, despite their victimization, and ultimately has them looking foolish for believing the false accusations made by the villainous DX.
RELATED: Big E Says He's Never Experienced Racism In WWE, Believes Representation Is A 'Work In Progress'
WWE's Work To Acknowledge Black Wrestlers
Most wrestling companies commemorate Black History Month every February, but WWE tends to focus on historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks instead of recognizing the continuous progression and accomplishments of African Americans beyond the Civil Rights Movement. Rather than highlighting its own Superstars' achievements or providing new information about other prominent individuals, WWE's programming tends to treat Black History Month as a static moment in American history.
Since its beginning, professional wrestling has been dominated by white men. Hence, the progress made by Black wrestlers in the industry is a form of representation for many fans and a source of inspiration for aspiring wrestlers. The pioneers who paved the way for the current generation of Black wrestlers should be recognized and celebrated more frequently as WWE is now doing.
