Professional wrestling boasts a rich history of family legacies, with names like the Flairs, the Ortons, and the Anoa’i family, who gave rise to titans like The Rock and Roman Reigns, resonating through generations. Yet, when the topic of wrestling families arises, one name stands apart, deeply intertwined with the very fabric of the sport: The Hart Family. This dynasty, rooted in the union of Stu and Helen Hart, is not just a family tree; it’s a sprawling wrestling institution.
Stu and Helen Hart cultivated a family of twelve children, each uniquely connected to the world of professional wrestling. For Stu and Helen’s offspring, the squared circle seemed less a career choice and more an inherited destiny, given their father’s profound dedication to the sport. Stu Hart, a natural wrestler with a formidable amateur foundation, was celebrated for his technical prowess during his career’s zenith in the 1930s and 40s.
It was inevitable that a man of Stu’s caliber would transition into training the next generation of wrestlers. After marrying Helen and returning to his native Canada from New York City, Stu established his base in Calgary, Alberta. Here, he founded Stampede Wrestling, which became Canada’s most renowned and successful wrestling territory.
For nearly four decades, Stu presided over Stampede Wrestling, using this platform to mentor aspiring wrestlers in the infamous “Dungeon,” a basement training facility beneath his home. This grim, yet legendary, space saw a parade of wrestling luminaries endure Stu’s rigorous and unforgiving training, including Chris Jericho, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Edge, Abdullah the Butcher, and countless others. Of course, Stu’s own sons were subjected to the grueling trials of their father’s “stretching” techniques, painful submission holds designed to test and shatter pain thresholds.
While wrestling aficionados are universally familiar with Stu and Helen’s most celebrated wrestling sons, Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Owen Hart, their siblings also carved paths in the wrestling industry. Smith Hart, Bruce Hart, Keith Hart, Dean Hart, and Ross Hart all contributed to the business in various capacities, achieving different levels of prominence. Their roles spanned trainer, booker, performer, and even referee, but they were all united by a shared passion for professional wrestling, a legacy inherited from their patriarch.
The Hart daughters, Elizabeth Hart, Georgia Hart, Diana Hart, and Alison Hart, also grew up immersed in wrestling culture. Following Stu’s brief sale of Stampede Wrestling to Vince McMahon in 1984, they made appearances on WWE television. Predictably, perhaps, they too found their partners within the wrestling world, marrying professional wrestlers and extending the Hart wrestling lineage. Diana Hart famously brought British wrestling royalty into the fold when she married Davey Boy Smith, one half of the iconic tag team, The British Bulldogs, alongside his cousin, The Dynamite Kid.
Given these extensive family bonds and shared passion, one might assume a narrative of unalloyed joy for Stu, Helen, their children, and grandchildren. However, the saga of the Hart family is far more complex and shadowed by tragedy. The most devastating event in the Hart family history is undoubtedly the death of Owen Hart at the WWF’s Over the Edge pay-per-view event in 1999. During an elaborate entrance stunt as the “Blue Blazer” character, Owen was to descend from the arena rafters. A tragic equipment malfunction led to a catastrophic fall into the ring, resulting in his death from internal bleeding and blunt force trauma. Owen Hart was not only an exceptional in-ring talent but also a beloved figure in the wrestling community. His death cast a dark shadow over the WWF, raising serious questions about safety protocols and emergency response, especially as the show controversially continued after the incident.
The Hart family pursued legal action against the WWF following Owen’s death, but the settlement offered little solace for a family already strained by their grievances with Vince McMahon and the company’s treatment of Bret Hart. Just two years prior, the infamous Montreal Screwjob had already created deep fissures between the Harts and the McMahons. This unscripted moment of wrestling infamy unfolded at the main event of the 1997 Survivor Series.
Bret Hart, then the WWF World Heavyweight Champion, was on the cusp of departing for rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Knowing he had to relinquish the title before joining WCW, Bret refused to drop the championship in his home country of Canada, particularly to Shawn Michaels, with whom he had a contentious off-screen relationship. However, a clandestine backstage maneuver orchestrated by Vince McMahon and others resulted in Bret being betrayed out of his title. While Bret was locked in his signature submission hold, the Sharpshooter, referee Earl Hebner, under instruction, called for the bell despite Bret not submitting. The match was abruptly declared over, and Bret was stripped of his championship in a moment that blurred the lines between the scripted drama of wrestling and harsh reality.
Despite persistent theories of a staged hoax, Bret’s genuine and visceral reaction to the betrayal made it clear that this was a stark instance of professional wrestling colliding with real-life drama. Adding insult to injury, Bret’s tenure in WCW was marred by an early career-altering injury, lackluster storylines, and the ever-present grief over Owen’s passing. Bret’s WCW career was further curtailed after a match against Goldberg at Starrcade 1999, where a mistimed kick to the head resulted in a severe concussion, effectively signaling the end of his active wrestling career.
The Hart family’s trials extended beyond these high-profile incidents. Eldest son Smith Hart faced reputational damage, and Bruce Hart’s personal life was marked by controversy. Dean Hart tragically passed away from a heart attack at only thirty-six, and Georgia Hart’s son, Teddy, once a promising wrestler, saw his early career derailed by personal issues and various allegations.
Despite these hardships, the Hart wrestling legacy persists. Some Hart grandchildren and extended family members remain active in the wrestling business today. Davey Boy Smith Jr. competes in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart, daughter of Bret’s former tag team partner Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, is a prominent figure in WWE. Natalya’s husband, TJ Wilson, known as Tyson Kidd, also trained in the Dungeon and became part of the Hart family through marriage.
Tyson Kidd’s promising wrestling career was tragically cut short in 2015 due to a severe neck and spinal injury sustained during a match with Samoa Joe. Though fortunate to avoid paralysis, Tyson was forced into early retirement from in-ring competition and now serves as a WWE producer.
Is the Hart family story solely one of tragedy? Not entirely. Like any family, there are complexities, challenges, and dark chapters, but also immense resilience, love, and accomplishment. Stu, Helen, their children, and grandchildren have dedicated their lives to professional wrestling, creating a legacy filled with countless memories and achievements. The Hart name is synonymous with wrestling, a legacy that Stu Hart undoubtedly intended to endure. The Hart Family’s contributions to professional wrestling are indelible, marking them as a true wrestling dynasty.
