History Trivia / MontrealScrewjob

** When Wrestling/JimCornette suggested a double cross at a booking meeting, he suggested using Wrestling/KenShamrock for Bret's opponent; with his MMA experience, Shamrock would have been able to physically force Bret to drop the title and could protect himself if there was any fallout. Ironically enough, had Vince asked Bret to drop the title to Shamrock, he probably would have, since his main issue about dropping the belt was to drop it to Shawn Michaels.

* FountainOfExpies: The screwjob itself, obviously.

** Shawn Michaels swore up and down he wasn't in on it for years, before finally coming clean in the mid-2000's.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Obviously.

*** Cornette finally staked his claim on the Viceland documentary about it that aired in June 2019, reiterating that it was a double-cross done behind Bret's back. Cornette said that he called [[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Dave Meltzer]](who had sources inside WWF) to see if anyone had figured out that he'd come up with the finish and if anyone was planning to confront him physically. Meltzer publicly backed this story on Cornette's podcast, and in his own review of the Viceland documentary.

** Wrestling/VinceRusso and Wrestling/JimCornette both claim to have come up with the finish. Russo has claimed responsibility since the end of his WCW run, claiming that it was a work and done with Bret Hart's involvement. Cornette finally staked his claim on the Viceland documentary about it that aired in June 2019, reiterating that it was a double cross done behind Bret's back. Cornette said that he called [[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Dave Meltzer]] the next day and took responsibility for the finish. Cornette was calling Meltzer (who had sources inside WWF) to see if anyone had figured out that he'd come up with the finish and if anyone was planning to confront him physically. Meltzer publicly backed this story on Cornette's podcast, and in his own review of the Viceland documentary. As such, Russo's status as a lying creator tends to rob credibility from his claim. Bruce Pritchard has also called Russo's version of events into question on his "Something to Wrestle With" podcast. Co-host Conrad Thompson read Russo's account of the event verbatim from Russo's own book and Pritchard shot down most of the narrative as untrue.

* WordOfGod: Wrestling/JimCornette finally admitted on 'Series/DarkSideOfTheRing' in 2019 that he came up with the finish. He laid the whole thing out as a hypothetical scenario when challenged by Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to come up with a finish. Cornette said that he didn't know Vince was going to use the finish, citing that Vince never used his finishes, and that he didn't know what was happening until he saw the spot while watching from a monitor backstage. He also said that the only people who knew were Vince, referee Earl Hebner, Shawn, Triple H, Gerald Brisco, Dave Meltzer, and his friend Danny Davis.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audiovisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in several languages, the incident tends to be known by other names in other languages.

* WordOfGod: Wrestling/JimCornette finally admitted on 'DarkSideOfTheRing' in 2019 that he came up with the finish. He laid the whole thing out as a hypothetical scenario when challenged by Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to come up with a finish. Cornette said that he didn't know Vince was going to use the finish, citing that Vince never used his finishes, and that he didn't know what was happening until he saw the spot while watching from a monitor backstage. He also said that the only people who knew were Vince, referee Earl Hebner, Shawn, Triple H, Gerald Brisco, Dave Meltzer, and his friend Danny Davis.

* WordOfGod: Wrestling/JimCornette finally admitted on his podcast in June 2019 that he came up with the finish. He laid the whole thing out as a hypothetical scenario when challenged by Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to come up with a finish. Cornette said that he didn't know Vince was going to use the finish, citing that Vince never used his finishes, and that he didn't know what was happening until he saw the spot while watching from a monitor backstage. He also said that the only people who knew were Vince, referee Earl Hebner, Shawn, Triple H, Gerald Brisco, Dave Meltzer, and his friend Danny Davis.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audiovisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in several languages, the incident tends to be known by other names in other languages. In Spanish-speaking countries it is known as either the ''Traición de Montreal'' ("Montreal Betrayal") or the ''Robo de Montreal'' ("Montreal Theft"), while in Japan, it was named as ''Montreal Jiken'' ("Montreal Scandal").

** Wrestling/VinceRusso and Wrestling/JimCornette both claim to have come up with the finish. Russo has claimed responsibility since the end of his WCW run. Cornette finally staked his claim on the Viceland documentary about it that aired in June 2019. Cornette said that he called [[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Dave Meltzer]] the next day and took responsibility for the finish. Cornette was calling Meltzer (who had sources inside WWF) to see if anyone had figured out that he'd come up with the finish and if anyone was planning to confront him physically. Meltzer publicly backed this story on Cornette's podcast, and in his own review of the Viceland documentary. As such, Russo's status as a lying creator tends to rob credibility from his claim. Bruce Pritchard has also called Russo's version of events into question on his "Something to Wrestle With" podcast. Co-host Conrad Thompson read Russo's account of the event verbatim from Russo's own book and Pritchard shot down most of the narrative as untrue.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle:
** In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audiovisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in Spanish, the incident tends to be known in that language as either the "''Traición de Montreal''" ("Montreal Betrayal") or the "''Robo de Montreal''" ("Montreal Theft").
** In Japan, it was named as ''Montreal Jiken'' (Montreal Scandal)

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audiovisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in Spanish, the incident tends to be known in that language as either the "''Traición de Montreal''" ("Montreal Betrayal") or the "''Robo de Montreal''" ("Montreal Theft").

** Wrestling/VinceRusso and Wrestling/JimCornette both claim to have come up with the finish. Russo has claimed responsibility since the end of his WCW run. Cornette finally staked his claim on the Viceland documentary about it that aired in June 2019. Cornette said that he called [[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Dave Meltzer]] the next day and took responsibility for the finish. Cornette was calling Meltzer (who had sources inside WWF) to see if anyone had figured out that he'd come up with the finish and if anyone was planning to confront him physically. Meltzer publicly backed this story on Cornette's podcast, and in his own review of the Viceland documentary. As such, Russo's status as a lying creator tends to rob credibility from his claim.
*** Bruce Pritchard has also called Russo's version of events into question on his "Something to Wrestle With" podcast. Co-host Conrad Thompson read Russo's account of the event verbatim from Russo's own book and Pritchard shot down most of the narrative as untrue.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audiovisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in Spanish, the incident is known in that language as the "''Traición de Montreal''" ("Montreal Betrayal").

*** Bruce Pritchard has also called Russo's version of events into account on his "Something to Wrestle With" podcast. Co-host Conrad Thompson read Russo's account of the event verbatim from Russo's own book and Pritchard shot down most of the narrative as untrue.

** When Bret refused to drop the title to Shawn, He offered several alternatives. The Undertaker, Ken Shamrock, Mick Foley and Steve Austin were all considered.

** When Bret refused to drop the title to Shawn, several alternatives were considered. The Undertaker, Ken Shamrock, and Steve Austin were all considered.

** Prior to the event, [[Wrestling/BigVanVader Vader]] told Hart that he shouldn't allow himself to be taken into any submission hold, having witnessed similar screwjobs in Japan. [[ForegoneConclusion It only takes a look at the article picture to realize that Bret didn't listen.]]

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: In an odd case of this happening with something that isn't an audivisual work, since there isn't a particular translation for "screwjob" in Spanish, the incident is known in that language as the "''Traición de Montreal''" ("Montreal Betrayal").

* FountainOfExpies: The screwjob itself, obviously. However, a little over 12 years later, on January 4, 2010, Hart finally returned to WWE as one of many ''RAW'' guest hosts. His first order of business was to call out Michaels. The pair of them traded stories back and forth, finally apologized and hugged it out. Though they'll never be close friends, they're able to stand the sight of one another now. They even chronicled their rivalry in a DVD hosted by Jim Ross.

** Wrestling/VinceRusso and Wrestling/JimCornette both claim to have come up with the finish. Russo has claimed responsibility since the end of his WCW run. Cornette finally staked his claim on the Viceland documentary that aired in June, 2019. Russo's status as a lying creator tends to rob credibility from his claim.
*** Cornette said that he called Wrestling/DaveMeltzer the next day and took responsibility for the finish. Cornette was calling Meltzer (who had sources inside WWF) to see if anyone had figured out that he'd come up with the finish and if anyone was planning to confront him physically. Meltzer publicly backed this story on Cornette's podcast, and in his own review of the Viceland documentary.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Prior to the event, [[Wrestling/BigVanVader Vader]] told Hart that he shouldn't allow himself to be taken into any submission hold, having witnessed similar screwjobs in Japan. [[ForegoneConclusion But it only takes a look at the article picture to realize that Bret didn't listen.]]
** When Wrestling/JimCornette suggested a double cross at a booking meeting, he suggested using Wrestling/KenShamrock for Bret's opponent; with his MMA experience, Shamrock would have been able to physically force Bret to drop the title and could protect himself if there was any fallout.
** Ironically enough, had Vince asked Bret to drop the title to Shamrock, he probably would have.

* WordOfGod: Wrestling/JimCornette finally admitted on his podcast in June, 2019 that he came up with the finish. He laid the whole thing out as a hypothetical scenario when challenged by Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to come up with a finish. Cornette said that he didn't know Vince was going to use the finish, citing that Vince never used his finishes. Cornette didn't know what was happening until he saw the spot while watching from a monitor backstage. He also said that the only people who knew were Vince, referee Earl Hebner, Shawn, Triple H, Gerald Briscoe, Dave Meltzer, and his friend Danny Davis.

** When Bret refused to drop the title to Shawn, several alternatives were considered. The Undertaker, Ken Shamrock, Steve Austin were all considered.

* WordOfGod: Wrestling/JimCornette finally admitted on his podcast in June, 2019 that he came up with the finish. He laid the whole thing out as a hypothetical scenario when challenged by Wrestling/VinceMcMahon to come up with a finish. Cornette said that he didn't know Vince was going to use the finish, citing that Vince never used his finishes. Cornette didn't know what was happening until he saw the spot while watching from a monitor backstage. He also said that the only people who knew were Vince, referee Earl Hebner, Gerald Briscoe, Dave Meltzer, and his friend Danny Davis.

** When Wrestling/JimCornette suggested a double cross at a booking meeting, he suggested using Wrestling/KenShamrock for Bret's opponent; with his MMA experience, Shamrock would have been able to physically force Bret to drop the title and could protect himself if there was any fallout.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Prior to the event, [[Wrestling/BigVanVader Vader]] told Hart that he shouldn't allow himself to be taken into any submission hold, having witnessed similar screwjobs in Japan. [[ForegoneConclusion But it only takes a look at the article picture to realize that Bret didn't listen.]]

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Obviously.