The death of Owen Hart has been well covered from articles to books, television documentaries to social media forums all around the world since his tragic and untimely passing on May 23, 1999, at WWF Over the Edge.
Now, Jim Ross has opened up about one of the most heartbreaking moments in professional wrestling history on the latest edition of his Grilling JR Podcast.
The subject matter covered what Ross saw from where he was sat at the commentary table and how grateful he is to Vince McMahon for being kept out of any and every meeting regarding Owen’s passing following the accident:
“I’m glad I wasn’t asked to be at the meeting. I would not have wanted to go. I would’ve tapped out. It was so emotional seeing Owen die with Lawler from my vantage point. I figured I’d give plenty skin in the game. You want to protect Vince – that was part of my job. It was a tough week because you don’t know how it was going to affect Vince, and how it affects Vince affects a lot of people.”
Owen Hart is widely regarded and fondly remembered as one of the greatest technical wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling. As a heel, he found his niche after turning on brother Bret and claiming the 1994 King of the Ring crown.
That same year, he contested match of the year candidates with ‘The Hitman’ at WrestleMania X – still considered the greatest WrestleMania opening bout ever – and SummerSlam inside a Steel Cage.
The passing of Owen Hart was most recently covered in the most popular episode of Vice TV’s Dark Side of the Ring.
Credit for the interview: Grilling JR Podcast
h/t for the transcript: Wrestling Inc.