Foreign Object Friday: Bret Hart's metal plate

The metal plate
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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One of my favorite moments from the Monday Night Wars came in March 1999. Granted by then WWE had a firm grip in the ratings' battle. I had always been a wrestling fan first, but WWE was my preferred programming, even in the lean times. 

Anyway, back to the moment. Nitro was in Toronto that night and Bret Hart was in the ring, running down the roster and complaining how no one would face him. Then he mentioned Goldberg, to which the music started and the former World Champion made his way to the ring. He wasn't in the ring more than a few seconds before spearing Hart.

Spear fail

But much to the surprise of the audience, not only did Bret go down, so did Goldberg. He laid prone on top of Bret who was flat on his back, reeling from the impact of the Spear. After a bit, Hart rolled Goldberg over and counted three for the pin. Then he took off his hockey jersey and revealed a metal plate that Bobby Heenan described as "solid iron, probably." Hart had a few words for Eric Bischoff, "I quit" and then he left the ring. 

Pinning Goldberg
Courtesy: WWE

Of course, Hart didn't really quit as this move set up a feud with Goldberg and an injury that would eventually force Bret to retire. But that moment in Toronto was incredible to me because for years, Goldberg had basically run all over the competition, only being pinned at that point by Kevin Nash thanks to a cattle prod at Starrcade a few months earlier.

I wish Bret would have willed that steel plate to Kevin Owens the other night at FastLane. Maybe he'd still be WWE Universal Champion, but I digress. I loved the metal plate. It was a great catalyst to set up an intense rivalry.