Bret Hart Breaks Barrier for Canadian Independent Wrestlers

Bret Hart Breaks Barrier for Canadian Independent Wrestlers

Bret Hart's influence on the professional wrestling world extends far beyond his in-ring accomplishments. The Canadian wrestling legend played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers for future generations of Canadian independent wrestlers.

What happened?

According to an interview with Fightful, Don Callis credits Bret Hart with opening the door for Canadian indie wrestlers to break into the WWF and WCW. Callis, a fellow Canadian wrestler, recalls the difficulties he faced in his early career, with many doubting his ability to succeed due to his size.

"I remember being an indie guy in Winnipeg and on the come and people going, 'This is the guy, this is the next guy,' but I couldn't get a break," Callis said. "I had sent my tape to one Carl De Marco. Carl brought me to the office. He said like, 'Let's watch this tape of yours,' and he watched two minutes of my tape. He says, 'I have some advice for you.' I said, 'What's that?' He goes, 'You need to look more like Ultimate Warrior.'"

Why it matters for Bret Hart

Bret Hart's influence on the wrestling world is undeniable. His ability to succeed in the WWF and WCW paved the way for future generations of Canadian wrestlers. Callis credits Bret Hart with seeing potential in him and giving him a chance to succeed.

"But Bret Hart ended up seeing that tape and came to Winnipeg, he was World Champion at the time, and told me, 'I think you can be like another Roddy Piper. You need to come in here.' So Bret was the guy who also got me booked and I was going to go to his house, but he goes, 'You're polished. You don't need it.'"

What comes next?

The wrestling world has evolved significantly since Bret Hart's prime. Today, smaller guys like Callis are given opportunities to succeed. Callis credits Bret Hart with breaking down barriers for Canadian indie wrestlers and allowing them to succeed in the WWF and WCW.

"It's such a different world now. Now I, probably at 6'2, 215, I'd be a pretty healthy size in today's business, but the business has evolved so much. One of the ways it's evolved is they're letting smaller guys like I was have opportunities, which I think is cool."

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