Hart needs to be in the top 6.

Kevin, if Hart had wrestled Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania 2 as originally planned, how much higher could he have been ranked?

RESPONSE FROM KE: It's hard to say.

Blasphemy. You put him there because you're a Michaels-mark!

Seriously though, I think you ranked him too low. I'm guessing you've still got these guys on your list: Hogan, Savage, Austin, HHH, Michaels, the Rock and the Undertaker. This might come off as a little radical, but I'm putting Hart before the Rock. Hart carried the Wrestlemanias in WWF's darkest days, and while the Rock turned out to be a HUGE star, I just don't think the Rock's impact on the manias was as meaningful as Bret's (the Icon v. Icon match being the possible exception). Think of the bloody Austin, the brother-v-brother drama, the Iron-Man with HBK...all super mania moments.

Moreover, I'll go balls out and put Bret over Hunter. I'd venture to say that any given Bret Hart mania moment was more memorable than anything HHH has done at Wrestlemania. I don't care how many title matches HHH was in. Nothing that Trips has done at mania will stand out in a fan's mind to make them reflect on the greatest spectacle of them all the way some of Bret's moments can.

Hart would surely be higher if he hadn't left for WCW, as I suspect he could have headlined at least once more.

I still have him in the top 5-6 though, given the sheer number of high profile bouts he participated in.

This seems really low to me. I'll have to see how the rest of the list pans out, but the only people I can think of who could be above Hart is Hogan, Austin, and Undertaker, maybe Rock.

Bret Hart was always my absolute favorite wrestler, so I am a bit biased. I think he doesn't get the Wrestlemania credit he deserves because of the atrocity that was Wrestlemania 9. I think it's fair to say that he stole the show at Wrestlemania 8 and Wrestlemania 13, and put on the MOTY with Michaels at Wrestlemania 12. For that, I'd put him above people like The Rock, HHH, the Undertaker, and yes, Eck's favorite, HBK.

Sorry Kev, but I can't get with Bret being below Hunter. There isn't a single HHH 'Mania match that comes anywhere near Bret's matched with Owen, Piper, Shawn or Austin. Not a one. It's worth noting that on the show that marked HHH's return to the top spot, WM 18, he was completely overshadowed by the Rock/Hogan match - to the point that people were leaving SkyDome while he and Jericho were still going.

I'm not about to place Bret over Hogan, Austin, or even Shawn (even though I am a bigger fan of Bret's work in general than that of Shawn). But Bret easily places ahead of Hunter, and an argument could be made that he belongs in the top 5 along with Hogan, Austin, Shawn, and Taker. Yes, ahead of Rock and Randy Savage too.

Wow, Amazing. 12 Wrestlemanias. Sometimes I forget how good this guy was...

Add me to those thinking this is too low. Hart v Hart, Iron Man, and of course the double turn at WM 12 I think should put him in the top 5. At the bare minimum, he should be higher than HHH. While it would be difficult, I would probably also put him above The Rock and Savage, but that is debatable. I'm just confused on how HHH ranked higher.

amazing, what an athalete he was. Thanks kevin for bringing this countdown.

You have me lost here. How can you even think of putting Bret below HHH and Rock. He has wrestled more Super Mania moments than HHH and Rock combined. I cannot recall any other wrestle mania moment from HHH other than his tapping to Benoit and too was more Benoit's glory than HHH. Wrong placement this one Kev..You blew it big time ....

Eck have you lost your mind the match with Austin alone means Bret has to rank higher. That was epic and is actually my enduring Wrestlemania moment, regardless of how good the ironman with HBk was. Along with everyone else i think you've stuffed it here. Hart should have been top 5 with Hogan, HBK, Austin and Taker. Sure Rock had the match with Hogan and Hunter getsa to be in a title match every year but they couldn't give the constant quality Bret Hart could.

Wow! I'm almost inclined to say your readers are taking these rankings too seriously, especially after the countless times you've expressed it is your opinion and observations with no illusions of being official or definitive.

Bret's rank seemed a little low to me as well, but I respect his placement because Bret's peak was during WWF's slump, so his impact on the business was mostly keeping it from falling further (as well as influencing many youngsters who are now the headliners of today).

Bret's 12-straight streak alone would get him ranked higher in my opinion, and only HHH came within a few months of tying it. For fans who haven't given it any thought, Taker is the closest now (he missed WM10 and WM2K), and WM25 will only be #9 in a row.

Wow now you put Bret at no. 8. I have totally lost faith in this list now. Go ahead Kev, put HBK at # 1 and make it the crappiest list ever made.

I won't argue with your placement of Hart so low on the list even though I agree with the other statements - Bret Hart was the only reason I was into wrestling when I was a kid (I watched breathless during WMX when he beat Yokozuna - let's just say I was young enough to think it was real...) - and the only live wrestling event I ever attended was just to see him (I even got to shake his hand at ringside!)

In my book he definitely is the best there was and the best there ever will be.

My real reason for the post is actually a question though, do you know where I could find old videos of his promos and matches? I got all nostalgic looking at the list of his WM matches and realized I stopped watching wrestling before he ever did that heel turn, I'm kind of glad I never saw that when I was young though - I think it would've disturbed me at the time. Anyway, do you know a place I can check out old WWE episodes? I also pretty much missed the whole attitude era (never saw Austin or Rock).

RESPONSE FROM KE: YouTube has plenty of wrestling videos. WWE 24/7 on Demand is great as well. Also, I think wwe.com has a subscription service where you can see matches from the past.

Kev, I concur with lots of guys here. Bret "Hitman" Hart belongs in the top 5 along Hogan,Michaels,Austin and The Undertaker. Rock,HHH and Savage would be 6,7,8 respectively. Bret Hart's moments @ Wrestlemania were really memorable. His rivalry with Michaels was the biggest ever and I rate it over the Austin/Rock rivalry because it was more real and more intense. I agree with most of your rankings but this one was a big mistake.

Hey Kev,

I am a regular reader of your column and am enjoying your countdown to top wrestlemania stars, but I really am disappointed by your placement of Bret hart , specifically below HHH & The ROCK....i know its your choice and diff. people have diff. opinions , but this ranking to the HITMAN is just to low !! should be at least in TOP 5 !!i cant wait to see where you rank HHH and specifically hw many places above BRET !!

I'd have Bret in the top 3.

His longevity, work ethic, consistency and sheer perfection in the ring has rarely been matched and his WM record is enviable.

His match with Austin was still the best WM match i've ever seen.

The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.

Kev.
You have Hart to low on the list. I know he has whined and whinged like a 2 year old over the last few years, but he deserves a higher place than no 8 on your list.

Kev - really? Hart behind HHH? In what grounds...I will be most interested to hear

Just watched his Hart Foundation tag match against Honky Tonk Man and Valentine this weekend and he carried that match. Neidhart would come in, do two moves and then tag back out to Bret. He really was an amazing wrestler.

Not a surprise that a post about Bret Hart would lead to a bunch of whining from his fans.

I'm shocked none of them have used the "You Screwed Bret" line yet.

how is hhh over bret hart? because he puts himself in the main event every year and doesn't let the young stars shine? WOW he has lost several main events in a row,butim a part of the group that doesnt want him in the main event, period! i dont care if he is winning the title for the 36th time or putting people over. Hart put over shawn michaels, owen hart, and yokozuna in classics. hhh vs batista was decent. last years triple threat wasnt that great. it was planned that he was gonna get revenge on john cena at wrestlemania 23 if he didnt hurt his knee. what a glory hog. he shouldnt be over the rock or savage either and i bet randy is your next pick too!

I've got to side with most of the comments so far . This placement of Brett seems awfully low . In particular being placed lower than HHH .

No way!! HHH should be here because we all know he wouldn't main event as many WMs if he wasn't connected. Trips doesn't have a single WM memorable moment (except for being squashed by the Warrior, hahaha). Hart was appeared twice as tag team champion, once as an IC champ, and several times as world champ. Hart carried the company post-Hogan. The iron man WM match is legendary. What's Trips' legendary moment.
And how can you have the Rock higher? I agree with most of the list but this is waaaay off.

you've got to be kidding! someone with all those matches deserves to be higher than 8! his matches with michaels, stone cold and owen were unique. the only reason of why you haven´t put him higher is because you don't like him.

BRET HART FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

kevin, by looking at all the comments, you've got to recognize you have just blown it by putting hart at no 8. You should reconsiderate and put hart at no 6 or 5 ; )

I can't wait to see who you got in here now Bret has been in the most WM's granted he is not top 5 but I think he should be closer to the top 5 I had him at 7.

and this countdown has officially lost me. Hart not in top 5, what a joke.

Wow.... When I was making out my list, my toughest choice was who I was going to put 2nd/3rd. (HBK or Bret Hart) I'm blown away to see Bret Hart 8th.

After I saw this pick, I researched the wrestlemania records of the remaining 7. They all have impressive resumes, no doubt. But, I guess the point I'd like to make is that, I didn't have to research Bret's career to remember what he did at Wrestlemania. (Even though his matches took place before most of the other 7)

Hitman never captured my interest and I had tuned out WWE during his heyday and forget about him easily as a result. Those were not the best years for WWE, were they?

As a result, I can see ranking Hitman lower than some others although he obviously deserves to be up there. WWE saw greater success with HHH and Rock among others, so I have no problem with their ranking high though I am no HHH mark.

Like I said in the Ultimate Warrior thread, Eck gave four different criteria for the list, including impact on the business. That will keep Hart below guys like Austin, Rock, Hogan, HBK, Savage, and Undertaker. And yes, Hart has to get dinged some for the clusterfrick that was WM 9, and for the fact that the WWE was close to going bankrupt during his time on top of the card. That being said, it's a hard sell to have him below HHH, a guy who has been at the top of the card for a decade but never was a huge draw, and his positioning on the card is for reasons that everyone knows and don't need to be rehashed here. I thought HHH should have been 11 right in front of Cena, but I can't see him being ahead of any of the other guys remaining on the list. Then again, I wouldn't have had him in front of the Hitman either.

Way too low.....Agree with luhrm on his evaluation. Legendary match and angle with Austin.

Although I can ALMOST see the logic, Bret still deserved higher on this list. Anywhere from fifth to third.

you've screwed bret!!!

We all understand this placement . wink, wink

As much a fan of Brets as I am, I have to accept that he was not really much of a "star" in his first 6-7 Wrestlemanias. He was a sensational performer, but please people: Rock and HHH have headlined more Wrestlemanias that have drawn more money. I dislike HHH quite a bit, but whether I or other like it, he has been booked as a top star for more than ten years. Hence, he has been a more prominent Wrestlemania performer.

Bret Vs:
Owen
Piper
Austin
Michaels

four of the greatest matches in history, not just Mania history, but in wrestling. Hart showed us you can have a great match without having to use a damn ladder. This whole "Shawn: Mr.Wrestlemania" is a load of ****. The guy is so damn ovverated. Ever notice that his best matches at mania are against Angle, Bret and Jericho. Three of the five greatest technical wrestlers of the modern era? oh, add to that the triple threat that involved the fourth member of that list, Benoit, and I rest my case.

Triple H is also useless at Mania too. His matches vs. Booker, Cena and Kane absoloutley stunk the place out, and killed all crowd momentum.

Kevin, you're lack of respect for one of the all time greats is astounding and I look forward to hearing a response!

The only way this aweful list can be rescued is to have Austin as number one. If HBK is number one then I sure as hell call bull****.

This seems a little low for the Hitman. I always thought he was in the top four, behind Hogan, HBK and Undertaker. A columnist in a local newspaper here in Pa. is counting down the 25 greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. What’s is your greatest ’Mania match? Is it Austin-Hart in XIII?

Well Kev add me to the list that thinks this is too low. I had Hart in my top 5. I mean how can he be ranked lower than HHH and The Rock. If Im not mistaken Bret has won more matches at Mania than The Rock.

Mr. Joe Barber,

you're right, one of the crteria Mr. Eck was going to use was "impact on the business". I think bret´s impact on the business is clearly shown here in approximately 30 comments stating that he deserves to be higher. Don't you agree?

PS: Kevin, you haven't answered anything about why you have ranked bret so low. I suppose you will post about this matter.

Kevin Eck=Earl Hebner

LOL ! ... You have more heel heat than Orton!

Just wanted to say, despite my disagreement with your placement of Bret Hart, that this list has been awesome. Seriously, everyday I look forward to seeing who's next. Agree or disagree with some of your choices, I have to admit... this has me more excited about WM25 than any of the actual matches. Amazing what a little stroll down memory lane can do!

Thanks again. Keep up the good work!

"And yes, Hart has to get dinged some for the clusterfrick that was WM 9...."

Joe, you make a valid point about Bret's impact on the business, but you are being unfair about his involvement with WM9. Who the heck ever had a good match with Yokozuna? The list would be a short one.

Okay, so Eck had it wrong with Bret Hart at #8. Not really a big deal to me.The list isn't perfect But I understand Eck putting him at #8 also.

But as great as Hart was, he was never a huge money maker for the WWE.

This is a joke Kevin. Bret is easily in the top 5 if not top 3. I mean 12 straight alone speaks volumes. He's been a part of a handful of the greatest matches in Mania history and it's absurd to say he's #8...

To me Bret should be in the top 3 with hbk and Taker. Those 3 are the best in terms of wrestling abilty more than face value. Hogan cant wrestle, HHH always just puts himself in the main events while Rock totally ignored the business altogether. Austin would be my no. 4 then

Ray,

Hart was a tremendous worker and thus remains popular among smart fans, which is pretty much what populates Eck's blog. I even said he should be above HHH (who too was never a huge draw). But looking at all of the factors Kevin is taking into account, I can understand Hart's placement. During his time as a main eventer, buyrates plummeted and the WWE was legitimately close to going out of business. He was in classic matches and is an all time great, but his being a poor draw can't be ignored either.

I think bret needs to be in top 5. He had what most people think is the best match at WM ever against Austin. And WWE voted the iron man match the best WM match ever and he was part of that one too. Also everyone agrees the best opening match ever was him vs owen hart. In my mind he had 4 matches in the top 10 as best matches in WM History, the other one would be with Pipper.

Wow. You would think Kevin just committed the Baltimore Screw Job.

Wow. Kev, you're next coupla blogs better have more cheeze in dem. To counteract all the whine in dis one.

Bob Buscalia -
That's been done once by Robert Irsey .

For everyone whining that Kevin is a Shawn Michaels mark, it should be noted that the man has received NINE Match of the Year awards from PWI - more than anyone else EVER. Bruno Sammartino (5) and Ric Flair (4) have to be combined to equal the number that Michaels has received.

As a note, Hart only received 3 awards.

So lay off Kevin.

hey guys stop complaining it's his list and he can do whatever he wants with it. why dont u guys all make ur own lists

hey kev u should have knows people would blame this on u being an hbk fan because thats how these people are with hbk/bret geez it gets tiring doesnt it???

hey if u all make ur own list u can get revenge on kevin by ranking koko b. ware over hbk lol

Bob - sorry i mis-spelled your name !