Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit

[10.0] "The best Nitro match ever. The elegance of technical masterclass. In memory of Owen Hart, with Harley Race presentation, classic technical perfection from start to finish, the last WCW & Bret Hart classic. ****1/2"

[8.0] "A great match that can't be celebrated. It's another tragic part of the Benoit/Owen Hart story. I feel terrible for Bret, the quality of this match and the two involved is a fitting tribute."

[8.0] "That was a match that disappointed me not because of the wrestling they performed, but because what it could be. That was an Owen Hart Tribute, Harley Race came into the ring to introduce Benoit who was a great friend from the Hart family and even had trained with them in the beggining of his career and the obviously one of the best ever Bret Hart. That was pretty emotional, and that was the only moment when you had anything emotional on that match. Technically speaking, it was amazing, but it looked like two rocks in terms of emotions here. Did those guys forgot why they are fighting for?"

[8.0] "technically excellent as you'd except of these two, crisp power moves and smooth grappling, its all very well done. But I don't love it for some reason, possibly the circumstances or maybe its two lacking in purpose? IDK, still very good"

[9.0] "Yeah rewatching this back, I stiill think it's a great tribute match, honestly I wish it worth something more, but given the circumstances, it's perfect the way it is."

[9.0] "[4, 5 Stars] It's not just a match, it's a tribute in its own right to the memory of Owen Hart. Bret and Chris gave us a wrestling demonstration that only the Hart dungeon can produce. (****, 5)."

[9.0] "This match is both brilliant and heartbreaking. The first time I watched it, I thought it was great but nothing more, largely because it seemed to lack a proper build or story. But on a second viewing, this time without the announcers or crowd, I finally understood what the match was meant to be, and the brilliance of it all became clear. From the very beginning, it was never supposed to be a "wrestling match" in the conventional sense. Instead, it was a performance--one not meant for the audience, but for Owen. What unfolded was a pure presentation of the Hart family style, a craft perfected over five decades and one that Owen himself had made uniquely his own. It was simple, yet charged with raw emotion and passion. As both men carried the performance to its conclusion, their emotions were laid bare. The ending played out exactly as expected, yet somehow still managed to feel impossible, another Owen specialty. And when it was over, the embrace between them made it clear just how much this tribute had meant. This isn't a perfect match but it's not meant to be and that's what makes it so captivating. Looking back, and knowing the course Bret's career would later take, the match feels almost like a farewell, not just to Owen, but to Bret himself. When Bret glances upward one last time, it comes across as his quiet way of saying goodbye. And what a beautiful goodbye it was. (****3/4)"

[9.0] "A 28 minute technical masterclass isn't something you would usually see on an episode of WCW Nitro in October 1999. By this point WCW was very much on its downward spiral and would continue to plummet until its death in April 2001. But this is certainly a gem in that terrible period for the company. Without a doubt one of the most melancholic matches ever. For a number of reason. First reason of course this is the memorial match to Owen Hart who died tragically at Over the Edge in May of that year in the Kemper Area which this match took place. Bret who had been on leave from WCW after Owen's death didn't know if he would return to wrestling. But he did and decided to put this match on. Not for anyone in the audience that night but for Owen himself. All the way through the match you can tell him and Benoit are not interested in putting on a sports entertainment match but a full on technical match that they would have put on in the dungeon. For that reason the crowd aren't nuclear hot for this but they are respectful and know why this match is happening. At the end of the match Bret looks up a the rafters to where Owen had his final moments and you just feel extreme sadness and the careless loss of life. Reason number two is this is easily the best match of Bret's WCW run. His run with WCW is infamous for being one of the most botched and misused runs ever. Bret came into WCW nuclear hot after the Montreal Screwjob and instead of strapping a rocket to his back and killing off a then wounded WWF. Bischoff had no idea what to do with him and just threw him into the midcard abyss where he aimlessly wandered without purpose. Bischoff is alot of things but the fact he had no clue what to do with Bret Hart is proof he didn't care about what he had on his hands. Reason number three is this is the final great match of Bret's career. Bret after this had finally got his push in WCW after nearly two years of nothing and was finally given the WCW championship. And would have his career ended barely two months after this. So this match is his final masterpiece. Its the final time we got to see him at this level. Reason number four is this is the final great match in the history of WCW. The company would have good matches after this sure but never at this level. After this the company would continue to make some of the most bafflingly terrible decisions and booking and matches in the history of wrestling (WCW 2000 is the worst year a wrestling company ever had creatively) the company would continue to hemorrhage money until it was finally put out of its misery. So watching this you know its only down hill from here and so much misery to come. This is near 30 minutes of two people paying tribute to a brother and a friend. Its a shame like so many great Benoit matches this has been banished to the forbidden zone. Because this is Bret's final masterful performance of his career. And knowing we would never get another one is just really sad. On a side note this episode of the Nitro ended with Sid getting his car crushed by Goldberg (An on running story) The final image is Sid standing next to his car crushed into a cube screaming at the top of his lungs to the heavens "WHY ME! ....WHY MEEE! .....WHYYYYYYYY MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! " from the sublime to the ridiculous. That's why I love wrestling."

[9.0] "A wrestling class. They are in their element here, having been trained in the same school and working the match that they wanted to have. The moves just flow one after the other seamlessly. The hits seem so impactful. Benoit had a way of making everything look like it hurt when he's taking it. The kitchen sinks are something that I specially loved in his matches, and there's one here where he "jumps" it and transitions so well into a roll-up-- then to an elevated Boston Crab. Another spot where, after an irish whip, he counters to his signature jumping tombstone is quite good, too. They know how to hide the cooperative efforts in the heat of the match. Making it appear like a real contest. The psychology here is that they're both trying to catch the other in the middle of the ring to secure the win. The moment Bret locks the Sharpshooter there, it's over. They went over almost their whole movesets here and nothing seems wasted or forced."

[10.0] "It's not a perfect 10 in terms of general feedback, but circumstances and effort of both guys demands an acknowledgement. Almost half an hour (which is not common on weekly TV wrestling show even today) of technical and emotional tribute to a guy who lost his life in this arena few months before. Probably the second greatest match of "new wave" WCW."

[9.0] "WCW gave these two lads half an hour to pay homage to a brother, and a friend, respectively, in the very building where Owen Hart lost his life. It was a great showcase of technique, stiffness, and intensity. Bret, and Benoit certainly saw themselves in The Dungeon during some technical, and grappling sequences. Benoit surely brought his trademark intensity, while Hart was a calm, and methodical man. It was also a moment to teach some lessons, like he has certainly done to Owen years before. It was a great tribute fight, like a spectacle of everything these two generational talents can do in a wrestling ring. Harley Race announcing them was also a pretty nice emotional touch."

[8.0] "Excellent match, considered by many the greatest WCW Nitro bout of all time... I don't rate this as high as a lot of people, but it was definitely special. Bret asked for a match to pay homage to this brother Owen Hart, who died a couple of months before, and a declining WCW conceded, it was a rare flash of greatness among a very questionable period, the product wasn't well but this match was very emotional and filled its purpose perfectly. We had Harley Race introducing the wrestlers, and Benoit came to the ring wearing an Owen t-shirt, he was very close to the Hart family and chosen by Bret to work this match. The in-ring action didn't had a lot of emotion, but the quality of everything was very high, and it's a remarkable and beautiful moment in wrestling history - {***3/4}"

[10.0] "The second greatest canadian wrestler facing the greatest canadian wrestler of all, Bret Hart, as tribute to his lost brother. Astonishing performance from both."

[10.0] "[*****] Amazing match, perhaps the best WCW match of 1990s, better than Eddie vs Rey, it's like if Eddie vs Rey is the masterclass of Lucha, Bret vs Benoit is the masterclass of technicians, shows how good Bret was even in 1999 and this match also works as a statement to how beautiful wrestling can be without any of the crap in attitude era."

[9.0] "The Owen Hart Tribute match did not disappoint in the slightest. The technical action was amazing, the back and fourth was great, the false finishes were perfectly timed and the counters were perfect. Bret was able to tap Benoit out with a Sharpshooter and the two embraced after the match."

[9.0] "[4.75*] Very special match as it was in honor of Owen Hart, as it took place shortly after the death of Bret's brother. The action in the ring is very good, two incredibly technical wrestlers, Benoit was in his prime, while Bret was still enjoying the last great years of his career. I love the pacing they put into this match, and how they sell everything very well. I loved the moment where Benoit does a Tombstone Piledriver on Hart. Their technique is incredible, they do the simple things incredibly in this match, they make a real banger down to the smallest details without needing big spots. The ending is amazing, Benoit manages to escape a Sharposhooter by reversing it into a crossface, the exchanges are so good, Benoit's reverses during the match and the ending created an incredible atmosphere when Bret Hart finally hit the Sharposhooter and won the match. Everything was very special, it's Peak WCW Nitro and a memorable and incredible performance from Bret Hart."

[5.0] "Not the biggest fan of this match. Hart and Benoit are amazing performers in their own right but they don't mesh together very well. The match comes out being a bit slower paced at time but there still is pretty good technical work here but its not enough to make me interested in this match."

[8.0] "Probably the Peak of Brets Wcw career. Easily his best match and overall moment in wcw. A lovely tribute to the Great Owen hart from the Harley race ring introductions to Benoit wearing the Owen shirt to the overall atmosphere and match itself. A near 30 minute technical masterclass. A slow start but gets better and better as it goes on. The crowd here were great hot from start to finish. A match maybe forgotten now but should be watched more than it is. 4/5"

[10.0] "I mean this is the definition of a perfect technical wrestling match. One of my favorite moments was when Benoit countered the Sharpshooter into the Crossface very clever."

[8.0] "Owen Hart tribute match. Very good technical and athletic match. Two commercial breaks which change nothing in the match. Despite the fact that it is long, I found it relevant from start to finish. (4*1/4)"

[9.0] "As lackluster as Bret's run in WCW was, at the very least it gave us this match with two of the GOATs at their peak. Just by the names attached, you know what you'll find in here: great technique, amazing psychology, intensity, and chemistry - courtesy of the Stu Hart training they shared. As a tribute match, there's not much of a story behind the match beyond professional competition, but there didn't need to be any: Owen, the honored man, was close to their hearts, and the emotion seeps through."

[8.0] "I want to clear something, THIS IS NOT A TECHNICAL MATCH. There was some nice mat work but the most was "generic" action despite it was more than decent. Perhaps it's because I have never been a great fan of Bret but this was simply very good in my opinion, also the Sharpshooter was too much from out of nowhere in my opinion. ****1/4"

[8.0] "There's lots to like here. Both of these guys look great and stick to their respective game plans. The goal is simple: weaken with strikes and holds and then lock in the finishing submission. Relatively simple, but everything Bret Hart does looks great. Benoit has his trademark intensity and seems quite close to getting the win at a few points. The back and forth lets both guys shine before the definitive submission victory. ****"

[9.0] "Chris Benoit vs Bret Hart was an intense and technical masterpiece. Both athletes showcased their skills and determination, making it perfect tribiute for wrestling legend Owen Hart.Truly a classic showdown! The best fight between Hart and Benoit they've ever had"

"Love this match, leaving this comment so I can leave ratings and keep track of matches. Incredible emotion, very personal match for me."

[8.0] "Two of the best wrestlers of all time delivering a sensational match to another all time great, RIP Owen Hart (****)"

[8.0] "Its the last all-time great WCW match, but spiritually, it also feels something like the first great match of the 2000s, the first all-time great ROH match, the match that so much of the work of the greatest wrestler of all time (Bryan Danielson) seems to move forward from. From start to finish, this match is about Bret Hart just narrowly managing to survive a fight with the future of wrestling. At all time, its Bret thats leaning on what was. This match never truly adheres to the classic wrestling formula, instead spending its time slowly escalating the tension and intensity, with each man offering up their vision of things. Bret Hart relies primarily on the old standards. His transitions come through classic North Americam professional wrestling offense. Neckbreakers, DDTs, a Piledriver in one moment. On the other hand, Benoit is all new school and more modern influences. The Tiger Mask flipping mule kick escape from a standing surfboard. Heenan really came off as a jackass at times and I wonder what the hell he was thinking or what direction he was given, but I liked the total silence from all the announcers after the finish."

[9.0] "This was a brilliant match and a great tribute to Owen Hart. Everything was crisp and there was really good psychology. I feel like it didn't need to go nearly 30 minutes, but that is my only issue. ****1/2"

[9.0] "Bret and Benoit put on a clinic to pay tribute to Owen Hart, who passed away in the same building just months previously. This is Bret and Benoit going long, so it's should come as no surprise that this was a technical masterclass. Benoit has the speed advantage. Things remain respectful during the first few exchanges, but frustration builds and Benoit soon busts out the chops. Both guys are pros at putting together a match that drums up tension naturally. The execution of the moves here was obviously brilliant, with Bret's backbreaker and Benoit's two tombstones being particular highlights. It's not just the execution of moves that was impressive, but even things like Bret adding an extra snap to the bump he takes when he charges into the ropes made the fan care just that little bit extra. They redo that amazing counter where Benoit escapes a sharpshooter by pulling Bret's arm through the hold and locking him in a crossface and you can feel the air in the arena change when fans realize that Bret could tap out during his brother's tribute match. We get some excellent struggling on the mat where Bret is able to roll through and tap Benoit out with the sharpshooter. The post-match is quite emotional with Bret and Benoit embracing after having wrestled the best match to take place on a Monday Nitro."

[8.0] "It's a tribute to Owen Hart so why not get two of the best technical wrestlers ever and let them have a friendly competition to honor him. The match was good and everything they did was crisp, but it felt a bit way too slow. I don't think this needed to go 30 to accomplish the tribute, this going like 20 minutes would've been perfect.***3/4"

[9.0] "This is a very undervalued match, and although I do not consider it a masterpiece as it is intended to be painted, it is too good to be true, 2 of the best technicians of the time and of history, faced each other in a quite close and full duel of technique and precision, with good selling on the part of both and defined roles, hart showed off attacking benoit with his submissions while the rabid wolverine tried to counteract with his characteristic moves and speed, this match is highly recommended. [* * * * 1/4]"

[10.0] "A perfect tribute match between two of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time. Bret and Benoit had faced each other before but never really in a high profile match and they absolutely delivered here. Technically speaking it was awesome and had no flaws honestly. Definitely up there as one of the best matches on free TV. [*****]"

[10.0] "What an emotional rollercoaster. Captivating and heartwarming all at the same time. Bret and Benoit told a completely unique story on this night, paying a spectacular tribute to Owen Hart. It's not the most "perfectly wrestled" match in the world, but it doesn't have to be. Absolutely beautiful match. Still the best face vs face match of all time to this very day. [*****]"

[10.0] "Fantastic as expected, WCW allowed these two to deviate from the usual crash style fast paced short run match of the era and have a much more gritty and technical contest. Just seeing them go at it in pure grappling was great, and you can feel the emotion for Owen from both men."

[5.0] "I don't want to get too hard on this match, it's a very basic match from Bret and Benoit and they just went through the motions with nothing really exciting or any narratives going on that could justify it going almost 30 minutes."

[8.0] "Really good technical match from these two. The sad thing about these two is they never had a high profile PPV match. Just think of the match they could? ve put on at a Starrcade. The emotion from Owen Harts death really played a part in this bout as well. Probably the best Nitro match ever! ****1/2"

[7.0] "I really wished to give this match at least 4 stars, but I can't. It isn't bad of course, but way too basic and when it gets very good it's almost over. It looked like a match you would see in a school, but waaaay longer. Maybe if it was shorter would have been better. It was a nice tribute to Owen Hart though and for sure deserved the main event. ***1/2."

[9.0] "Even Bobby Heenan's terrible commentary (he never understood when to drop his act and take a match seriously) couldn't detract from one of the best matches in Nitro history, and Bret's best match in what was a very disappointing run in WCW."

[7.0] "Good in ring action and the technical exchanges at the start were intriguing. They moved through the gears nicely and greater intensity from both men in the last third of the match helped pick things up as it became a more combative match. Hart laid in his strikes and Benoit unloaded with several series of suplex. Heenan delivered a great line that helped tell the story, 'competitive juices can only sit so long before they start to boil'. Some of the submission counters in the last few moments were excellent, particularly the one that led to the finish. The crowd were, understandably, a little subdued with this being an Owen tribute but they appreciated the purpose of the match in drawing attention to the Hart/Dungeon legacy with the mat wrestling work."

[7.0] "This match just didn't click for me the way it did for others it seems. It's a good technical showcase but it just didn't have enough drama or emotion to hook me . If not for the context in which the match happened I think it would simply be remembered as a pretty good TV match."

[10.0] "I don't find anything about this match boring. It's basically a technical wrestling fans wet dream! Wonderfully paced, excellently managed, practically perfect. If it had the heat of a PPV, I bet more people would see it as the all-time classic it is. *****."

[6.0] "Not a bad match by any means but it was clear neither Bret or Chris were 100% for this one given the circumstances. That being said there were a lot of good counters and great moments in this one, and Benoit was still intense (I don't think he's ever wrestled a match in which he wasn't, he's truly second only to Dynamite Kid in that aspect). The finish and the hug at the end was touching. I feel like the match would have been better if it were six minutes shorter because, as said before, neither were in the right state of mind to wrestle an absolute classic at that length. *** 3/4"

[6.0] "This was a very well worked technical match but there was not enough energy from the competitors to actually make it exciting. The crowd mimicked my sentiments by appearing rather bored but still showing appreciation for the skill on display, especially since this match was a tribute to the deceased Owen Hart and both men had close connections to him. There were a few sequences that excited me, such as the submission holds and the trading back and forth of them, but everything else was rather dull despite the moves being executed well. ***1/4"

[7.0] "A very fitting tribute to Owen Hart; you got two of the best technical wrestlers around putting on a very pure wrestling match. Both guys got to do some work on top, mostly Bret, and he was good at it, and so was Benoit, but the match was missing something to become memorable, imo. It was very crisp, based on execution & smoothness it would be an easy 10, but it was a little too basic w/ no emotion. It was a good one though & a great tribute to Owen. ***1/4"

[9.0] "A very good match between 2 of the greatest of all time. A great psychological technical battle. Just the little things each of them do like the way they counter or block moves really adds to the match plus the vast amount of moves both men know and can do. Very good, I'd agree with the ****1/4 rating"

[10.0] "This was a fantastic match and an excellent tribute for Owen Hart. Both guys brought their "A" game to this bout and it really showed with the determination, heart, and intensity they displayed in this bout. An excellent story was told here and loved seeing Hart target the back of Benoit and seeing that come into play with the finish was a plus. Highly recommend checking this out though (****1/2)."

[8.0] "Excellent performance from both wrestlers, good "psychology". Predictable ending and some slowness little spoiled effect. 8\10 4*"