In its various incarnations, the Hart Foundation was one of the most
influential and longest-lasting
professional wrestling stables in the
World Wrestling Federation.
Hart Foundation 1.0: The original Hart Foundation consisted
of Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Jim "The Anvil"
Neidhart, with Jimmy Hart as their manager. Bret and Neidhart
entered the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 and began teaming with
each other right away, They won the WWF Tag Team Championship
for the first time in early 1987, beating The British Bulldogs after
evil referee Danny Davis helped them win. They'd hold the belts
until October of '87, when they were beaten by Strike Force (Rick Martel
and Tito Santana). The two would continue to team together until
1991, winning the tag belts one more time (won from Demolition at SummerSlam
'90 and lost to The Nasty Boys at Wrestlemania VII). At that
time, the team was split up so that Bret could pursue a singles career.
Hart Foundation 2.0: When Owen Hart rejoined the WWF in late
1991 (he had a prior run with the company in 1988-89 as the Blue Blazer),
he joined with Neidhart to form the "New Foundation". The team didn't
last long, as Owen got moved into the singles division soon after and Neidhart would fade into obscurity for years.
Hart Foundation 3.0: In preparation for an Owen vs. Bret series,
Owen Hart, Bret Hart, Bruce Hart, and Keith Hart all competed together
at Survivor Series '93. After teasing a heel turn there, Owen and
Bret would team together until Royal Rumble '94, when Owen finally turned
to set up the feud. The two would go on to have phenomenal
matches against each other at Wrestlemania X and SummerSlam '94.
Hart Foundation 4.0: Bret Hart turns heel at Wrestlemania
13 and embarks on a pro-Canadian, anti-American angle shortly thereafter.
During one taping of RAW, he calls Owen and Davey Boy out to the ring,
where he asks for their help in his war against Stone Cold Steve Austin
and his anti-hero ways. The three join forces and reform the Hart
Foundation n a tearful reunion; Brian Pillman and Jim Neidhart would
soon join them. This was an extraordinary angle, as the Foundation
would remain hated heels in the United States while being treated like
heroes in Canada and elsewhere. This is especially evident at Canadian
Stampede '97, which took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada--the
Harts are given a thunderous ovation while supposed babyfaces Stone
Cold Steve Austin, Goldust, the Legion of Doom, and Ken Shamrock
are booed out of the building.
The Hart Foundation pretty much fell apart at Survivor Series '97,
when Bret was turfed out of the WWF--Neidhart and Davey Boy quit in protest,
and Pillman had died two months previously due to a heart condition.
No incarnation of the Foundation has been seen since.