Bret Hart has opened up about the speculation linking him with AEW, saying that he would prefer to be remembered as a wrestler.
While it was recently reported that Bret Hart has signed a merchandising contract with WWE, speculation linking him with AEW just won’t go away.
In recent months, stars such as CM Punk and FTR have paid tribute to the Hitman in their matches, while speaking openly about their admiration for the legend on social media and in interviews.
Speaking in a new interview with Lucha Libre Online, Hart addressed the recent speculation. The former WWE Champion explained that he’s happily retired and would prefer to be remembered as a wrestler rather than a manager or any other peripheral figure.
“Well, I’m happily retired. I’m a home guy now. There’s not a lot I can do in wrestling. People say, ‘What would you do in AEW?’ What would I do? Referee? Manage? Be a Chairman? I don’t want to be remembered that way. I want to be remembered as a wrestler,”
Expanding further, Hart revealed that he has good relationships with a number of AEW stars, and is happy to help, but only if people come to him. He added that while AEW has a number of great wrestlers, he’s happy at home.
“I’d be happy to help a lot of them, and I know a lot of them. I talk to a lot of them, sometimes by text or on the phone and people call me up. I always got advice and I can always pinpoint little things that can make a difference in a guy’s match or something that he’s doing. But I’m a guy that likes being home, so they’re going to have to call me on the phone.
I wish I could go do stuff more easily, but I’m getting a little older now and it’s getting harder for me to keep flying around and doing stuff, so I got to pick my days that I can do stuff. There’s a lot of things I would love to be part of with AEW and what they’re doing. I know they got some great wrestlers there and I have a lot of respect for the organization and all that, but right now I’m happy at home,”
Bret Hart does have history with AEW, after he appeared at Double or Nothing in 2019 to unveil the AEW World Championship,
With the 2022 edition of the show just weeks away, many are expecting Hart to make another appearance as the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will be held at the event.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.