Memories

Chris Jericho posted this official statement on his website: "I'm not going to get into the details of this accident as I really don't care to know them, all I know is that a friend is gone. Never mind the fact that Owen was a great guy. Never mind the fact that Owen was one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. Never mind the fact that he was one of the reasons I wanted to become a wrestler. Never mind that I went to the Hart Bros Pro Wrestling camp, in hopes of meeting and training with him. All that matters is that Owen Hart is gone, never to entertain or make us smile again. This was a terrible senseless accident and it puts everything into perspective. Contract disputes, minor injuries, lack of a push, don't mean squat when you compare them to a family who will never see their father again. God bless you Owen Hart. I know I will always respect and never forget you."

WCW Heavyweight champion Kevin Nash also had something to say about Owen Hart: "My deepest condolences to Owen's wife Martha, his children and the entire Hart family. I know, if you talk to every wrestler in the business, no one would have anything but praise for the type of person Owen was. Owen was a friend. I spent almost 4 years with Owen in the WWF. No matter how long the roadtrips were, it seems as though, right when everyone was about to crack, Owen would pull a rib or some type of practical joke. And then we'd all regain our sanity. Wrestling aside, Owen probably was one of the best human beings I have ever met. I know his family meant everything to him. I can only imagine the grief they are going through right now."

What Cyrus/Jackyl has to say about this

All of Slam Wrestling is full of Owen memories.

WWF TRIBUTE

Owen Hart Movie

Career Highlights

In the beginning of 1994, he turned heel, by beating on his brother at the Royal Rumble, during their match with the Quebecers. 3 months after that incident, he defeated Bret at WrestleMania X in a classic match. The King Of The Ring event was next, and with the help of Jim Neidhart, defeated Razor Ramon in the finals to capture the crown.

The feud with Bret Hart continued to grow, and at SummerSlam 94, he and Bret fought in a steel cage match. Owen lost the match after a breathtaking finale. That same night, Bulldog returned to the WWF after spending some time in WCW.

At WrestleMania XI, he revealed his secret partner, Yokozuna, and wrestled the Smoking Gunns. The team of the "King Of Harts" and Yokozuna ended up the winners, and Owen took his first WWF title. Bulldog turned heel again, and after the duo of Hart and Yokozuna lost the titles back to the Smoking Gunns, Hart along with the Bulldog captured the titles.

In the finals of the European Title tournament, which were held in Germany, Hart lost his match against the British Bulldog. If you're lucky enough to get the tape, see the match, it was a classic. After WrestleMania XIII, Bret Hart turned heel, and formed the Hart Foundation again, with himself, Owen, Bulldog, Neidhart and the late Brian Pillman as the members.

He then went on to win the Intercontinental Title from Rocky Maivia on RAW in April, only to lose it back to Steve Austin at SummerSlam in August. That day was one of the scariest days in Owen's life, when he nearly paralized Steve Austin after an inverted piledriver.

Last year, he turned face for a short period of time, won the European Title from Goldust, and feuded with Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

Just earlier this year, he formed the team with Jeff Jarrett, and won the tag team titles by defeating Ken Shamrock and Big Bossman on January 25th, 1999.

In addition to those titles, Owen is a two time Slammy Award winner. He never got hold of the WWF Heavyweight championship.

NEWS

Wednesday, May 26, 1999

Hospital flooded with donations

A tag-team born by the Hart family's misfortune is proving a silver lining for the Alberta Children's Hospital. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Owen Hart are being asked by the family to direct their gift to the city hospital -- a suggestion that garnered a deluge of calls yesterday from across the continent. "I've gotten calls from Petersburg, Florida and Quebec," said Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation administrator Gail Slater. "This could go on for weeks and months, even."

Most of the callers were prompted by a request on a World Wrestling Federation website and by an appeal broadcast Monday on a televised WWF event. The majority are seeking information on how to make a donation to the foundation that raises $5 million annually for the hospital.

The Hart-hospital relationship dates back to 1996 when Matthew Annis, the 13-year-old grandson of city wrestling legend Stu Hart, succumbed to the so-called flesh eating disease. The family was touched by the care young Matthew received at the hospital. "Everyone feels a strong sentimentality to the children's hospital when Matt was there," said the boy's grandmother, Helen Hart. Owen's wife, Martha said: "Owen was always supportive of the children's hospital -- it's something we can never afford to lose."

Since then, star wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart have fund-raised for the hospital and comforted its patients. The hospital foundation is deeply appreciative of the family's efforts, which could commemorate Owen Hart in a new project or development, said executive director Maureen Sheahan. "They've been wonderful supporters of the hospital -- it's tremendous that they've thought of the children's hospital at a difficult time like this," said Sheahan. "If there are significant dollars from the Hart Memorial Fund, we would work with the family (to immortalize Owen Hart's name)." Money normally raised by the foundation goes towards equipment, research, programs and education. And pending provincial support, the hospital is ready to embark on a $50-million fund-raising campaign to build wings devoted to research-education and patient isolation. "(The Hart fund) definitely could be a major contributor to that," said Sheahan.

Readers can make thier donations to:

Alberta Children's Hospital
820 Richmond Rd.
SW, Alberta, Canada,
T2T 5C7

Photos:

� 1999 [email protected]