The ending to one of the most celebrated matches in SummerSlam history was a surprise even to Vince McMahon!
Until announcing his retirement on July 22nd. Vince McMahon held complete creative control over the WWE for decades. However, according to Bret Hart, the former WWE Chairman wanted to be surprised by the finish of Hart’s iconic match against the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith at SummerSlam 1992.
Speaking on the 30 Years Later with Bret Hart (A Celebration of SummerSlam 1992) show hosted by Inside the Ropes’ own Kenny McInstosh as part of Starrcast V, Bret Hart revealed that Vince McMahon paid him a huge compliment when he insisted on witnessing the action in the ring without knowing the specifics of the finish to the SummerSlam bout.
“I tried to tell him because I was excited about it. ‘This is the finish. This is going to be the best finish.’ I remember telling him [Vince] It’s funny, the finish the sunset flip, where Davey does hooks my leg and falls down, it was such a beautiful move. I had it done in a match where I wrestled an old wrestler in Canada, and he goes ‘This is the best move ever, do this for the finish.’
“It was a babyface match and I did it to beat him, when he told me about it I was thinking it was kind of flat. A sunset flip on a finish will never work. He goes ‘Trust me.’ And I went out and wrestled him that night, I won the North American title in Calgary from a guy named Leo Burke, that was his finish. I just remember going ‘That is a great finish, no one sees it coming.’
“And there is no way out of it, once Davey pinned me to the mat, there is nothing that anyone can do. There is no way to get out of it or kick out it, you are pinned and that’s it.
“I knew that would be the beautiful ending and no one would see it coming. So I knew it was going to be a great finish. I just remember when he tried to explain it to Vince he said to me ‘Don’t tell me. I just want to watch it.’ That was a big complement to me. I remember saying ‘Ok, you will be happy with it because it’s going to be really good.’”
If you use any part of this transcription, please credit 30 Years Later with Bret Hart and link back to this article with a h/t to Inside the Ropes.