Ringside Fest - 11/5/05 Bret Hart Q & A Session Location: New York City, New York @ Carolines on Broadway Reported by Paul Nemer & Adam Martin of WrestleView.com

Paul Nemer, Adam Martin and friends attended the Bret Hart Q & A segment along with the picture and autograph signings. A good portion of the following questions were asked by WrestleView and friends and the rest were asked by those in attendance.

Tim Ash from Ohio Valley Wrestling started off the Q & A session talking about how he got involved in the wrestling business through his figures collection. Asked the fans what wrestling figures they'd like to see next. In a funny moment, Ash's cell phone rang while he was on stage and his ringer was a recorded voice of Hulk Hogan telling him to answer his phone. A fan yelled out that he was a mark and Ash admitted. In regards to OVW, Ash talked about how his mentor Jim Cornette was let go and how Paul Heyman was brought in. He mentioned how much OVW has changed and that Matt Capotelli (Tough Enough winner) should be coming up to the SmackDown brand any day now.  Ash ran down a list of former OVW talent that made it big like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Batista, Shelton Benjamin, Eugene, Rob Conway, Rene Dupree, Chris Masters, Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari. Some "We want Bret" chants started and he had no other choice but to introduce him.

Bret's classic music played and he got a big standing ovation from the crowd in New York. Hart sat down and thanked everyone for their support. On to the questions...

How did he and Shawn started hating each other? Bret responded, "I was always a decent guy and Shawn was just an a**hole."

Would he be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006?

Bret stated he didn't think it would happen by next year, although he was given offers. He added, "If I did anything for WWE ever again, it would have to be at Madison Square Garden."

His thoughts on Curt Hennig.

Bret said that Hennig was a great wrestler and a professional who always gave you 100%.

What's your favorite match?

Against the British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992 in Wembley, Stadium in front of 82,000 fans.

If he would ever face Kurt Angle.

He wished that he could, but he can't.

Asked if anyone is similar to him in the business.

Bret says the fans would be the best judge of that and added that there will always be one Bret Hart.

His reaction to his music and titantron being played on WWE RAW on August 15 in Montreal.

Bret said he didn't worry about his music being played that much. He added that he got a voicemail from the WWE that they played on using his music or video in some way that night. Bret said there was really nothing he could do about it and the WWE does not need his approval on what they do. He said he is at peace with WWE right now though.

What he thinks about Shawn Michaels saying that he would never step foot in a WWE ring ever again?

Bret said Shawn was right and that due to his concussion problem and suffering a stroke that it would never be possible.

Who was your toughest opponent?

The Undertaker.

About his time in WCW.

Bret said he never had fun in WCW and was shaking his head the entire time he was there. He added "that shows why they are out of business right now."

About his backstage fight with Shawn Michaels.

Bret described the whole fight as "two girls fighting" and that it wasn't much. Although he was spinning Michaels around by the hair. He stated that he never forgave Shawn for what he did to him in 1997. The fan that asked the question said she confronted Shawn about it a while ago and Shawn said he was told to do it by Vince McMahon and that it wasn't his fault. Bret's response (which got laughs from the crowd) was, "Well that shows you what kind of a Christian he really is."

If he would ever return to WWE TV?

Bret said he isn't sure if he really would want to come back and isn't sure what the fans want from him other than to see him stand in a ring and speak to them.

His best friend in the business?

Jim Neidhart. He goes on to say that he and the Anvil never had a single argument and that Neidhart would put on a show backstage and at airports and was fun to be around.

How hard was it to beat Yokozuna?

Everyone started laughing when this question was asked, but we couldn't blame the questioner since he was a little kid. Bret answered by saying that it was a pleasure to beat him.

Who he would pick as a tag team partner today?

This question was asked by a younger kid in the crowd who asked Bret who he would team with if he could take on current World Tag Team Champions Big Show & Kane: Matt Hardy or Hardcore Holly. This got some laughs from the crowd and Hart smiled saying he would go with Matt Hardy.

His thoughts on TNA and if he would ever go there.

Bret said he has a lot of respect for TNA, but is content in how he left the wrestling business and isn't looking for an on-air role right now.

His thoughts on Ring of Honor.

Bret said he has seen some footage, but doesn't know much about it so he didn't feel he was able to comment much.

Would he mind if one of his kids got into wrestling?

Bret responds, "If they're happy, I'm happy."

Any upcoming plans for him?

He talked about the Aladdin play from last December and said that he'd be doing it again this year in Toronto.

Any hard feelings towards Bill Goldberg?

He said there were no hard feelings and that he knows it was an accident. "It was just one of those bad days at work," Hart said.

His track record of never hurting his opponents.

Bret talked about how he has a perfect record in not seriously injuring any opponents he has been in the ring with. Hart joked adding, "I think I chipped Vader's tooth one time."

The upcoming WWE DVD about his career.

Hart said he is glad he got involved with the WWE DVD about his career and said the original one would have been a big disappointment. He added that he doesn't appreciate the WWE always referring to the Survivor Series '97 situation as a "storyline" all the time. "I don't appreciate the way they stick it in my eye every time," said Hart.

Everyone had their comments about the Ultimate Warrior, WWE had their own DVD, what are Bret Hart's thoughts?

He was never a great wrestler and a great guy. Nothing much to say about him. He said that he probably had what was coming to him (DVD).

His favorite WrestleMania match?

He said that he had many, one being WrestleMania 12 against Shawn, but he liked the match with Steve AUstin at WM13 more.

Did he ever consider training wrestlers like his dad.

Bret said yes, he's considered it, and if he could, he would. He thinks about opening a wrestling school but ever since the concussion and stroke, he doesn't think that he can. He can't take the bumps. Although it's a dream that he wouldn't mind persuing.

His thoughts on Ric Flair?

Bret responded "He was a great wrestler 100 years ago." He said that doesn't have much bad things to say about him. Hart joked they could have a wheelchair match.

Does he blame Earl Hebner?

Bret responded "I don't blame him much. He was put in a compromising position. He had a gun to his head." He then talked about Shawn Michaels and Triple H, saying that the backstage is like a sacred area. More in the lines of trust between the wrestlers, then trashed Shawn and Hunter (deservedly so). He said that if the roles were reversed, he would have never screwed Shawn Michaels, he would never do that to another wrestler. Was then asked about Russo and if he was involved, Bret said no. He then said that Gerald Brisco planned the whole screwjob.

Where he sees himself 10 years from now?

"Hopefully on a beach somewhere," Hart said to some laughter.

Who was the best shooter in the ring?

Bret said Ken Shamrock was probably the best shooter, while Vader worked the stiffest.

When his upcoming book will be out?

Bret said he has been working on it for a while now. When a fan asked about Shawn Michaels' upcoming autobiography, Hart said, "Save your money and buy mine."

Was Bret ever friends with Shawn Michaels?

Yes, they were close friends at one point, but all that went away when Shawn Michaels forgot where he came from. Hart added, "He wanted my spot and by hook or crook, he got it."

What he feels about fans chanting his name at events years later.

Bret said he is glad he was never forgotten by the fans in Canada and all over the world.

If he preferred working as a face or heel?

Bret said it was more fun being a heel. He regrets some of the things he had to say about the United States since his mother was from New York. Hart said he wished he had a chance to regain some face after his "American Basher" gimmick that was proposed by Vince.

Who inspired him to become a wrestler?

Bruno Sammartino. Bret said he always wanted to be a great champion like Bob Backlund. He smiled and added that probably wasn't the best name to bring up since he considered his worst PPV match ever to be with Backlund. "When I got backstage behind the curtain, I said outloud 'man, that stunk.' It wasn't Bob's fault. It was just a sh***y idea."

What he thinks about guys like The Rock and others using the Sharpshooter?

Bret thinks The Rock, Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels were all the worst at doing it which got laughs from the crowd.

On his promo skills.

"For me, it was always hard to talk unless my emotions were high. If I knew the outcome of the match before I did the promo, it affected my confidence."

If you knew the outcome of Survivor Series minutes before walking out to that ring, what would you have done.

Bret said he would have walked to the ring and knocked out Vince and Shawn. The end.

Shawn Michaels forfeited his title in February of 1997 to avoid jobbing to you. Later that summer, you and Shawn were suppose to face each other at the 1997 King of the Ring in a 10-minute match. The stipulation was, if you were to lose that match, you would never step foot on American soil, but that match never happened and Shawn ended up facing Steve Austin. What happened?

Bret said that he had knee surgery and wasn't able to wrestle. He wasn't 100% and didn't want to risk it, especially against Shawn Michaels with all the emotions and things that were going on, he didn't trust him.

His thoughts on Ric Flair calling him a great wrestler, but not a great champion in his book?

"Well, who really cares what Ric Flair thinks," said Bret.

If he watches WWE programming today.

Bret said he doesn't follow the business that much and said wrestling changed so much after Survivor Series 1997. He said back in his day, the champion was the highest paid guy in the company, but now with contracts involved, it is a whole new ball game.

His thoughts on Survivor Series '97.

Bret said he was very shocked it happened after Vince called him the Lou Gehrig of wrestling only a few weeks before that. Hart said there were a million other things they could have done besides that finish. Bret added, "It was never about losing in Canada."

His thoughts on other wrestlers:

Scott Steiner: Bret said that it's one of the last guys you want to upset. Then said that he has a lot of respect towards him.

Scott Hall: Bret said that Hall can put on great matches, only when he wants to.

John Cena: Bret said he has never met him and has nothing bad to say about him. Has only seen a few blimps of him here and there. Hart said he shows lots of action and is strong on the mic.

The Undertaker: "One of the greatest wrestlers I got in the ring with. Hasn't lost a step. Is a true professional," said Hart.

Steve Austin: Bret said he has the highest respect for Austin and misses being able to work with him.

Triple H: Everyone laughed when his name was brought up. Bret said, "Right up there with Shawn Michaels."

Hulk Hogan: Said he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but that he was afraid to wrestle him. He felt that Hogan was very two faced and didn't care about anyone but him.

In conclusion, Hart was nothing short but professional. During the picture and autograph signing, he was interacting with the fans and answered ever single question thrown at him.