Bret Hart Attacked by Fan at WWE Hall of Fame
Hart was delivering his speech along with his niece, Natalya ...
Bret Hart, who broke into the WWE as a member of the Hart Foundation tag team alongside his brother-in-law, Jim Neidhart, was delivering his acceptance speech as the team was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday night when a fan ran into the ring and attacked Hart, grabbing him from behind and wrestling him to the ground.
Security was slow to respond to the incident, as WWE wrestlers who were seated near the ring — which was serving as a stage for the event — attacked the perpetrator and pulled him off Hart. Among those who hit the ring was Raw Tag Team Champion Dash Wilder as well as Travis Browne, a UFC fighter who is married to Ronda Rousey. Shane McMahon and Braun Strowman were also among those who hit the ring; Wilder delivered a punch to the man as he was dragged out of the ring. Curtis Axel was trying to get at the man as was Tyson Kidd and Davey Boy Smith Jr., who are relatives of Hart’s.
After a few moments, Hart and Natalya collected themselves and finished their speech.
The attacker has been identified by police as Zachary Mason, 26, and he faces multiple charges including third-degree assault and trespassing as well as disorderly conduct.
Hart, 61, is a cancer survivor and a stroke survivor. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as an individual wrestler in 2004. Jim Neidhart died earlier this year and was being represented by his daughter, Natalya, who was standing next to Hart when the attack occurred.
The WWE Hall of Fame aired lived on the WWE Network, but cameras cut away as Hart was being rushed in the ring. WWE will present WrestleMania 35 tonight from MetLife Stadium in New York; the Hall of Fame was taking place at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.