[9.0] "The 1-2-3 Kid was on fire at this point, and him getting a WWF Championship match against Bret Hart was the right call. The match told an amazing story of the fan-favorite underdog 1-2-3 Kid trying to upset the established veteran, Bret Hart. The atmosphere around this match was amazing with a hot crowd, and fantastic commentary. Bret asking the match to be restarted after seeing Kid's foot on the ropes was a nice touch too. The second half of the match after the restart is absolutely unbelievable with incredible fast-paced action. Bret won the match, but The Kid came out of the match looking like a million bucks. One of the best matches you'll ever see on free TV. [****1/2]"
[8.0] "When it comes to sportsmanship in a match, this bout has one of the better uses of it, not only in its overt displays of sportsmanship but also in subtly conveying that element through its psychology and in how the action was worked that shapes that element. The handshake they share at the start isn't merely done as a display of etiquette, nor was it done in vain, because not only does it establish the tone of the match, but it was also supplemental in setting up the sportsmanship, giving birth to a narrative thread that, as the match unfolds, gets further fleshed out because that element is respected all throughout their work. Considering Bret was the champ in this bout and the strap was on the line, I found the opening portion to be bold in its approach to how Kid was portrayed, which was executed wonderfully. In the match's context, the opening portion gives way for Kid to have an admirable performance that, in the eye of the viewer, elevates his status while also further gaining emotional investment from them. In this portion, Kid goes on to, for the most part, outclass Bret, even besting him at his strengths when it came to the technical aspects. Bret, after turning the tide and gaining control, starts getting rougher and stiffer in combat, which shows he isn't taking Kid's efforts for granted, meaning he respects that he got outclassed, so he, in turn, takes his efforts seriously and becomes more competitive, which further highlights the sportsmanship because no one resorted to heel tactics; instead, they became more competitive by upping the ante while remaining respectful with each other. The story beat where Bret asked the ref to restart the match after the ref himself failed to see the foot was on the rope once again further develops the sportsmanship. And to cap it all off, the ending celebratory show of appreciation wraps that thread nicely. Kid's performance was fantastic, showcasing him as a credible threat while remaining the underdog. It was a fabulous dynamic of the top guy up against the underdog, which coalesced beautifully with how everything was worked. Deeper in the match, Kid appropriately sold the damage for the size disparity between the two, which established a discernible hierarchy in the power dynamic. As the match progressed, when Kid found success again, he reverted to utilizing his speed and his dynamic offense, which made sense for him to use what is usually effective and efficient for him rather than becoming cocky and reattempting to best Bret at his game. (Not getting cocky and remaining respectful through competition is an admirable trait in a babyface that also shone a light on the sportsmanship at play). Kid's added urgency and tenacity in the last third further reinforced his underdog role. Bret, on the other hand, conveyed his change in demeanor after realizing Kid was a problem not only through his expression but also through his approach in how he dished out offense. Bret's selling in the last third was great selfless work.****"
[7.0] "The work is quite wonderful but is very light on dynamics. XPacs flurry at the end is a beautiful last gasp but this isn't an all time match. The face vs. face does not work here since they dont pop for Pac but don't *not* pop, at least the noise is very loud throughout the bout. Both had very bad facials here that sold nothing and kept this match down from being great, ***1/2"
[10.0] "My ultimate comfort match whenever I need a fix to watch some wrestling. I have done a huge u turn on how I viewed Bret as wrestler. I knew he was great growing up but I was a Shawn guy so I always preferred him over Bret when I used to see those debates but now that Im older they are neck and neck for different reasons. This match displays perfectly why Bret was so great. His facial expressions to when the 1-2-3 kid caught him off guard early with the arm drag takedown. Those uppercuts oh my goodness. His technique and attention to detail on all the moves and strikes he would do were always on point. The little things king. He threw some of the best punches you will ever see in wrestling. A lost art! His pacing and psychology is one of the best I have ever seen. No matter whether he was a babyface or a heel, he always knew what to do to get the crowd reacting to whatever he did at the perfect time. From the near falls, to the selling, Bret was a true master of his craft. Bret is the litmus test on whether or not I should take anyones wrestling opinion seriously depending on how they view him as a wrestler. ****3/4"
[9.0] "my star rating goes for the match quality and the commentary combined, randy savage and JR has to be one of the best combos in wrestling history. standard '94 bret match for the most part, lots of rest holds and technical stuff, and the fake ending in the middle kills the flow but helps the overall story i guess. but waltman is so much fun to watch and this has to be his best match ever ****1/4"
[9.0] "Tolles Match mit einer schönen Story innerhalb des Kampfes. Waltman kann zeigen was er drauf hat und Hart wird seiner Heldenrolle mehr als gerecht. Die Zuschauer gehen mit und liefern speziell eine tolle Atmo. Die Blaupause eines klassischen Wrestlingmatches Mitte der 90s, Athletik und Technik stehen im Vordergrund."
[8.0] "Great great match, what a performance by 1-2-3 Kid, very hot crowd. Bret on another level, is a very good match for a weekly show, the comments by Macho man and Jim Ross are very well executed, is a great underdog story with old school wrestling, Bret Hart is one of the best tecnical wrestlers ever for a reason, this match in this days would be much different unless you are watching Zack Sabre Jr. I like it, approve with good note. ****/25"
[8.0] "Both men are faces, and you get a respectful opening. The story here is that the Kid is fast and high-flying and Bret is more technically sound and is bigger. Waltman certainly looks much smaller! This develops really very well. Kid is able to keep up with Bret for a good while in chain wrestling and matwork portions, and gets in a few trademark kicks - a big Thrust Kick and a Spinning Heel Kick - before Bret takes control. Kid takes some good simple bumps (something as simple as a Whip into a corner has him ragdolling), and they both strike stiff. There's a reversal, at Bret's insistence, of a referee error on a three-count, as Kid had his foot on the ropes. Kid's comeback is paced exceptionally well, taking two or really even three exchanges for him to regain control. Even up to the death he gets nearfalls, though he seems progressively tired and weaker. Bret wins with the Sharpshooter off a kick reversal. There are flaws: the tight structure flobs out a bit in the last third, as this kind of match structure often does in a WWF/E context, and as the wrestlers tire slightly a few spots are just a little slow. But this is very good. 4/5"
[8.0] "A favourite of mine. Very engaging contest. A rare match which has you on the edge of your seat even though you know fine well who's winning. Bret was a genius."
[9.0] "The match probably didn't need the fake finish before a commercial, but otherwise this was a well told story with hard hitting action. One of the best WWF matches of 1994, and a classic example of a higher ranked wrestler helping to get a lower tier rookie over with the audience. Every shot Bret threw looked snug, and the Kid's offense was dynamic in a way few of the company's wrestlers had the skills to compete with. I'd go slightly higher than Dave and say this was ****.75."
[9.0] "Watched this this morning thanks to the wonderful WWE Vault Youtube channel. Really great stuff, as is common with The Hitman. They told a very effective story of Bret being the ultimate fighting champion, and showing grace to Pac after the match. No complaints, definitely glad I saw this."
[10.0] "I had watched this match twice previously, and following both watches, I thought it was effective. Nothing special, just a comfortably good TV match used as a vehicle to give 1 2 3 Kid more credibility. Since my original watches, my ability to understand and interpret a wrestling match has augmented. 1 2 3 Kid comes into the match as an outstanding new comer to the WWF, being small in stature compared to other wrestlers on the roster, a shortcoming that is vehemently countered with his explosiveness, speed, and wits. Bret Hart enters this match as the touring babyface world champion, known as arguably the most technically proficient and smart wrestlers on the roster. He always finds a way to come through, no matter the circumstance. Throughout this bout, 1 2 3 Kid utilizes his popping offense to generate multiple close near falls. It is made clear that Bret Hart came into this match with an intent to physically wear down the 1 2 3 Kid through his technical prowess. He takes a commanding presence, assuming control for the majority of this match. Although 1 2 3 Kid is able to catch him off guard for a couple of close calls, Bret always strikes back with physicality and is able to take control time after time. Bret clearly respects his opponent, a narrative established even before this match took place. Fittingly, Bret takes issue with the referees mistake to declare him the winner by pinfall even though 1 2 3 Kid's foot was on the rope. He implores the restarting of the match, because Bret Hart was the model professional wrestler. He exemplified respect, integrity, and honour. In the closing stretch of the match, 1 2 3 Kid is able to land multiple big shots against Bret, but he stayed alive. As the 1 2 3 Kid gets eager and closer to a win, Bret realizes that he has to start landing more physically damaging maneuvers like the superplex, top rope leg drop, and sharpshooter. Eventually, the 1 2 3 Kid finds himself on the top rope with Bret Hart staggered in the middle of the ring. This was just a show, as Bret Hart catches 1 2 3 Kid into the abominable sharpshooter and forces a submission. In the end, the experienced champion was able to squeak through with the win. Following the match, Bret and 1 2 3 Kid showcased a deserved show of mutual respect. In short, this match was what I originally thought it to be, a "match used as a vehicle to give 1 2 3 kid more credibility." It just reached this destination in a far more nuanced and deliberate fashion than I had ever imagined."
[9.0] "This was a pretty rare match with a babyface underdog versus an established babyface champion. They knew their roles and they executed it to perfection. I loved the restart spot with Bret not accepting a tainted victory. Jim Ross and Randy Savage were great on commentary, especially JR, who did a great job selling Kid's comeback and how close he came to overcoming the odds. The storytelling, commentary and drama made this one a truly special match. [****1/4]"
[8.0] "An early Raw classic and easily the best best on raw till at the least the attitude era. Great rookie vs vet style matchup with Kid catching Bret off guard with his more high flying style of offense that wasnt seen in the Wwf at that time. Some great nearfalls but Bret ultimately outsmarts The kid and taps him out great stuff 4/5"
[8.0] "A quality match for a TV Show. 1-2-3 Kid is combative and gives everything he has to win but will ultimately fail against a more than fair-play and respectful opponent in the person of Bret Hart. One of the best 1 Vs 1 matches in the history of RAW. (4*)"
[10.0] "Bret made 1-2-3 kid on a random episode of raw look like a freaking main eventer, amazing match, very fast paced and none of the greatest matches on raw, top 5 for sure. (*****)"
[8.0] "This was a brilliant face vs face encounter. The clash of styles really works for the two, with Bret being a technician and the Kid being a high flyer. The false finishes in the match were amazing."
[10.0] "A strong contender for the best match in Monday Night Raw's history. The dynamic between Waltman and Hart is phenomenal. Both men are faces, but Kid is the speedy underdog while Bret is the more technical champion. The false finish with Bret getting a pin while Kid's foot was on the rope was an excellent face moment, as the Hitman didn't want a tainted victory. An absolute must-watch for fans of either man, as well as fans of wrestling in general."
[8.0] "For a match that happened in my least favorite era and with Bret who I personally think is great but not my style, I was surprised by how good this was. The restart was kind of unnecessary but besides that this was just a classic. I loved the underdog dynamic and I also like how stiff Brets striking was. I can see why this is praised so often."
"That was real art. Incredible pacing, outstanding moves, pure respect from both competitors. The only downside of the match is the lack of intrigue. That was the first wrestling match i showed to my sister btw, and now we watch events together. Hart and 1-2-3 Kid turn people into wrestling fans. Savage on commentary was outstanding btw."
[9.0] "This is such an expertly structured match - the pacing and storytelling are both perfect. From the outset when 1-2-3 Kid immediately catches Bret off guard with an arm drag, there is a very natural underdog story that builds throughout the match. I love how both men make use of their contrasting ring styles. Kid has the clear speed and aerial advantage, while Bret has the advantage in grappling and raw physicality. It's interesting to see a different side of Bret as he roughs kid up with his striking. Kid's comeback is sensational, and his precision kicks look terrific. This match is a blueprint on how to wrestle an underdog match with two babyfaces in a way that makes everybody come out looking great. Special shout out to Jim Ross and Macho Man, who are excellent on commentary and do a fabulous job putting over the strategy of both men and making the match feel big time. The standing ovation that the give Kid after the match is a fantastic moment. An absolute classic RAW match that holds up incredibly well."
"What can you really say about this match that hasn't been said for years? This caliber of match on Monday Night Raw in 1994 is almost unheard of. Bret doesn't do his typical moves in this match (Russian Leg Sweep, Back Breaker) which is nice to see him work this match as the more powerful wrestler. A great story of two babyfaces trying to get the edge and come out on top. Bret is one of the most crisp wrestlers in the ring and the 123 Kid's offense is fun to watch. Also Jim Ross and Randy Savage on commentary is a pleasant surprise with how good it is. The false finish takes you out of the match slightly, but it is still worth the watch! 8.75/10"
[9.0] "Damn, really really great. The gist of the established champ vs unlikely challenger story is a simple one but done really well here with the character work - Bret's expressions of "huh, this'll actually take some effort" yet still never seeming panicked, the respect shown after the match, and Kid's deer in headlight eyes that his tenacity shines through. The in-ring work was hardly lacking either with Kid providing offence that feels really fresh and exciting for the time and very decently keeping up with Bret in the engaging technical displays. The restart perhaps throws off the flow but they're back to good stuff by the time they cut back to them and it's such a great little babyface move. Big flurry of offence and nearfalls for Kid down the stretch that the crowd get super hot over, and Macho Man and JR give the two a standing ovation and declare it one of the best matches they've seen. Story, in-ring, atmosphere, this rocks. ****1/2"
[9.0] "Love this match. It was rare to see such a competitive match on TV at this time, so it might not seem as special these days. But back then this was an absolute treat. In my opinion, the match still holds up, and it's a great example of how to elevate someone."
[9.0] "This was almost a flawless match, save for the pointless restart early on that broke the flow for a bit. The Kid's offense really was ahead of it's time for the WWF in that era. The Powerbomb followed by the flying Leg Drop in particular was the type of combo you would never see then. At best you'd see both moves separately as near falls. Even without the flashy offense, the storytelling was phenomenal, as expected with Bret. A must watch for any fan of any era."
[9.0] "This was such a spectacle, a definite wrestling classic, the type of wrestling that WWF should have been putting on all time time during the 90s. Sean Waltman was so fucking good and Bret Hart is a top 10 wrestler ever."
[9.0] "One of the best face v. face matches sin WWE history imo. A fucking brilliant match with clever booking that allows both men to keep their heat and walk away even better than when they began. It's a shame Waltman never really had a crack at the big one again."
[6.0] "It was a good match, but I think the grade he gets is a little too high. So mind you, I'm not saying this match was bad, but personally I didn't think it was that amazing. The match was very technical, normal with Bret Hart, and I found the first half of the match quite slow. But as soon as Bret revived the match when 1-2-3 Kid put his foot on the rope during the pinfall and the referee counted to 3 and declared Bret Hart the winner, I felt like the match picked up speed. In short, a good championship match though slightly overrated in my opinion. [***]"
[10.0] "Not many flaws in this match at all. A very solid Face v. Face TV match. You can tell there was lots of real respect, and chemistry between these two wrestlers at the time. Momentum swings kept the fans involved. The different styles of the wrestlers complimented each other nicely. Bret did a great job, as the more experienced wrestler, letting The 1-2-3 Kid show his talents. The restart of the match was a "genuine" face move."
[10.0] "Why is this match not talked about more? What an amazing performance! 123 Kid was still pretty early in his career, but this match was a defining moment for his career without a doubt. He played a great role as the underdog, and everybody in the building was behind him. Bret Hart is also an outstanding babyface here. He goes out of his way to restart the match and makes Kid look like a million bucks (although Kid did well regardless). Great chemistry between these two, impactful storytelling, and a defining moment for Monday Night Raw. Highly recommend anyone watch this contest! *****"
[10.0] "One of the top five greatest RAW matches in history. Bret decided to selflessly put Waltman in the spotlight for the first time, and the latter made sure to give it his all to deliver the performance of his life. Superb storytelling all around, with Bret being the experienced veteran champ and Kid being the young underdog challenger. Hart calling for a restart after seeing the Kid's foot on the rope was a fantastic babyface move. They tried everything to make the crowd believe in a possible title change here, and it completely worked, as the crowd was firmly behind Kid with every passing minute of the bout. Easily THE match of Sean Waltman's career, and yet another classic added to Bret's illustrious book. A true TV classic. [****3/4]"
[9.0] "Bret does an excellent job of making the 1-2-3 kid a creditable opponent in this and puts him over despite him losing. They wrestle back and forth until Bret scores a pinfall but Kids foot was on the rope so Bret demands a rematch for a more conclusive finish. The ending was perfect with Bret making him tap the moment he locks in the sharpshooter.****1/2"
[8.0] "Sean Waltman's best match. Bret did such a great job with his facial expressions, and allowing Kid to be the main hero in the match. Fighting spirit is the main story, and it works really well here. Bret didn't shy away from his character which keeps him as the number one babyface here as well. While the ending was neat, I do wish we saw Bret targeting the leg throughout. I've seen better Bret Hart matches, but this is Waltman's best match for sure and I understand now why he credits Bret so much in interviews."
[9.0] "One of the my main takeaways from watching these early RAWs is how brilliant 123 Kid has been. His push has felt completely organic and he's facing his biggest challenger yet in the WWF champion. This rare face vs face match starts with a handshake. Kid shows that he can hang with Hart, countering a lot of his holds. Hart gets the pin quickly, only to discover that Kid's foot was on the rope and demands the match restart. This made for an excellent touch, as no face would of done this if they were wrestling against a heel. The near falls in this work so well, with Kid hitting a moonsault of a standing Hitman, reminiscence to his first match when he got an upset win over Razor Ramon. Hart eventually taps out Kid with the Sharpshooter and shows his respect to the fiery underdog."
[9.0] "Yeah, I can totally see why this match got the rating it did, it was pretty great. Never been a big X-Pac fan, but Hart managed to pull out Sean Waltfman's best performance (as the cringeworthy 1-2-3 Kid). This was a fast-paced battle between Kid and Hart, with tons of great technical wrestling. Hart played more of the dominant grappler here while Kid fought more with flurries of strikes. Kid had great comeback sequences where he garnered much audience support, although most fans were cheering for Hart in the end. Bret countered a missile dropkick from Kid, locking in the Sharprshooter to finish a great match. A nice gem of '94 WWF. ****1/4"
[8.0] "Ich fand, dass dies Match die letzten 26 Jahre ganz hervorragend überlebt hat und für mich heute noch ein großartiges Match ist. Ich glaube zudem, dass ein solches Match mit moderneren Moves auch heute noch funktionieren könnte; zumindest dann, wenn sich die Fans auf Babyface Champions einlassen können, die im Ring alles dafür tun, Champion zu bleiben mit legalen Mitteln. Ich sehe da natürlich den Widerspruch zur heutigen Zeit, weil ja niemand Babyfaces mag und man den Stil, den Bret hier im Ring an den Tag legt, ihm schon bestimmt als Heel-Taktiken auslegen würde und man ihn einen Tweener nennen würde, da viele einfach dieser für mich nervigen Attitude Zeit hinterher hecheln. Aber wie sang schon der Wendler? Egal! Das Match rult für mich ganz ehrlich und ich habe nach all diesen Jahren und der späteren komplett verkackten Karriere von Bret bei WCW so viel mehr Respekt vor seiner Zeit in der WWF. Ich mag auch das heutige Wrestling immer noch, doch diese Old-School Art gehört ab und zu mal einfach noch ausgepackt auch in heutigen Matches. Passiert zwar so gut wie nie heute mehr bei der WWE, da das alles sehr viel Abziehbild-Matches sind, aber es gibt ja noch so viel mehr als WWE, dass mich da erfreut. Die Heat-Sequenz für 1-2-3 Kid in der Bret ihn einfach mit Härte und legalen Aktionen auseinandernimmt ist für mich einfach ein verdammter Traum. Das Comeback von Kid, die zwei Nearfalls, bei denen die Fans in der 7. Reihe mit einem Mal aufstehen weil sie sich nicht ganz sicher sind, ob das nicht vielleicht tatsächlich reicht für einen Titelwechsel. Das Weiterführen des Matches, weil Kid seinen Fuß auf dem Seil hat und der Ref sich von Bret und einem 2. Ref bequatschen lässt, dass es weiter geht. So etwas findet man heute nicht mehr. Und trotzdem glaube ich, dass unter den richtigen Umständen so etwas heute noch funktionieren würde (***3/4)."
[10.0] "This an amazing 18 minute technical match. 1-2-3 Kid had a great showing and Bret was awesome like always. This was without a doubt the best X-Pac match ever. The heat he got was great too. Amazing stuff ****1/4."
[8.0] "Ein wunderschönes Match das Bret Hart und 1-2-3 Kid in diesem fast schon vergessenen Raw Klassiker ablieferten. Sehr gutes Storytelling, technisch hervorragend und eine grandiose Schlussphase. Definitiv eines der besten wenn nicht sogar das beste Match in Sean Waltmans Karriere."
[10.0] "A classic a showcase in how to make a guy who is great in the ring also look like a star in the making, Bret lends his star power unselfishly to make Kid look like he's on the verge of actually becoming world champion. The restart could have been a wrench in the works but it all comes out just about perfect, a genuine MOTY contender."
[7.0] "Sehr nettes Match, bei welchem der Heavyweight Champion als eigentlicher Favorit mehr von seinem Underdog-Herausforderer einstecken muss, als man es vorher vermutlich gedacht hatte. Der Kid mit einer sehr starken Leistung. Gute sieben Punkte."
[9.0] "Sehe Waltman immer noch hin und wieder in den Indies wrestlen und er hat es immer noch drauf. Das hier war 94 wohl eins seiner allerbesten Matches überhaupt man muss auch Bret danken das er nicht dadurch gewinnen wollte das 1-2-3 Kid da das Bein auf dem Seil hatte und der Ref hat es nicht gesehen und so Bret den Titel verteidigt nein Bret wollte ganz fair gewinnen. Von den vielen Monday Night RAW Perle zählt dieses Match zu den allerbesten (****1/2)."
[7.0] "1-2-3 Kid „gewinnt“ das Abtasten und hat eine ordentliche Dominanzphase, die nur von der Werbung unterbrochen wird, für die sich JR noch entschuldigt. Good ol‘ times. Kid mit überraschend viel Mat-Wrestling statt dynamischem Tempo. Normal sollte Bret ihn dort leicht schlagen, aber der Champ tut sich schwer, das Momentum zu holen. Es gelingt ihm aber doch und auch nachhaltig bis zum Neustart des Matches. Kid spielt den Underdog gut und auch Hart gefällt als gnädiger Champ, der den Wettkampf schätzt. Der spätere X-Pac kämpft sich leidenschaftlich zum Upset-Win und haut eine brauchbare Offensiv heraus. Für damalige Verhältnisse war sie ja erfrischend anders. Das mündet dann in einem wirklich guten Nearfall und einem guten Finish letztendlich. (***3/4)"
[8.0] "Fun match, with lots of great heat for the Kid. Hart is, to put it politely, gracious here, allowing Kid to work on top for a while, then disputing the 3-count by the ref (Kid has the ropes, Hart saw it, and wants to win the right way, so he calls for another fall). Action is good, Hart is a little weak overall, surprisingly--Kids charisma and pace actually carry this one. Good match, lots of fun, predictable but fun ending. ****."
[8.0] "The thing that most stood out to me was how violent this felt. Early on Bret was just knocking the dogshit out of the Kid, who bumped amazingly. Just how the Kid would get drilled into the mat by a basic back elbow made me think Kid vs. Stan Hansen would've been amazing. When Bret was throwing european uppercuts in the corner he was just mauling Kid. Waltman on the other other hand threw these highly precise kicks that wouldn't have looked out of place in a BattlARTS match. When his flash rollups didn't work, he would just attempt to kick Bret's head into the 6th row. Waltman repeatedly crashing and burning trying anything to crush Bret in the last couple minutes was highly entertaining aswell. Bret was almost Jumbo-like here as he came across as a pissed off heel but at the same time maintaining his ace status by repeatedly drilling the Kid. That Bulldog may have been the most brutal I've ever seen. I guess parts of the match were a little robotic."
[7.0] "Das ist die beste Leistung, die ich von Sean Waltman in einem Singles Match gesehen habe. Das Match plätschert bis zum False Finish etwas dahin, aber danach nehmen die 2 richtig das Tempo auf und zeigen eine brilliante Schlussphase, die vor allem von 1-2-3 Kid getragen wird. Der Typ dived gefühlt 5 Mal in einer Minute und bringt Bret Hart an den Rand der Niederlage, bis dieser dann am Ende einen Sprung in den Sharpshooter kontert. Geniales Storytelling und viel Action. *** 3/4 (6)"
[9.0] "A surprise for this show. This is a match that lasts for half of the show, with a big focus on 1-2-3 Kid and his chance to become champion. Bret Hart is great because he does not try to steal the spots, closing the match with the Sharpshooter after a great fight. ****1/4"
[8.0] "Sehr gutes Match mit guter Action, einwandfreier Psychologie und Ausführung, wie man es vom Hitman gewohnt ist. Zur Abwechslung sieht sich Bret hier mal einem kleineren Gegner gegenüber und zeigt sich von seiner etwas bösartigeren Seite. An einem Punkt hat Bret das Match offiziell eigentlich schon gewonnen, da er den Kid pinnen kann. Der Ref hat dabei jedoch das Bein des Kid übersehen, welches auf dem untersten Seil liegt. Bret verlangt einen Neustart des Matches. Zwar könnte man hier jetzt interpretieren, dass Bret einfach so netter Kerl ist, dass er nicht unfair gewinnen will, aber ich sehe es eher als den einen großen Fehler des Hitman-Charakters: Stolz. Bret hat das Bein auf dem Seil gesehen. Er weiß, er hat dieses Match nicht gewonnen. Er ist ein stolzer Fighting-Champion und er wird so einen billigen Sieg nicht seine Bilanz beflecken lassen. Vor allem nicht im Fernsehen, wo es jeder sehen konnte. Also will er, so leichtsinnig wie das sein mag, das Match richtig beenden. Also geht das Match weiter, und Bret fährt damit fort den Kid zu verprügeln als wolle er ihm sein Pausengeld klauen. Der Kid kann jedoch ins Match zurück finden und mit heftiger High Impact und High Flying offense zurückschlagen. Bret kann jedoch ständig kontern, und als der Kid ein weiteres Mal aufs Seil steigt, schnappt sich Bret einfach mitten in der Luft die Beine seines Gegners und dreht ihn in den Sharpshooter um den eindeutigen Submission-Sieg einzufahren. *** 3/4"
[8.0] "Eines der besten Matches, die es bei RAW bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt gab. Beide zeigen, dass sie ein tolles Match auf die Beine stellen können! Der Kid wird dadurch auch einer immer ernstzunehmender Wrestler werden."
[8.0] "1-2-3 Kid der vorher sogar Razor besiegen konnte bekam jetzt hier die Riesen Chance gegen den Champ. Unglaublich schöne Underdog story. Man hofft einfach immer auf den Rollup vom kid. Hart spielt den Veteranen und gewinnt aber trotzdem. Passend dazu gab es dann nach dem Match die respektvolle geste."
[8.0] "Nette aber schnell revidierte Heel-Anflüge Harts in einem technisch anspruchsvollen Match. Waltman profitiert vom Championstatus des Hitman, welcher den Kid hier als fast ebenbürtig präsentiert und ihn somit vom Status des Überraschungssiegers bei ernsthaften Gegnern (Ramon, DiBiase) endgültig befreit. Gut ansehbares Match mit einer stark erzählten Geschichte."
[10.0] "Der Knabe mit dem Herzen eines Löwen kämpft gegen selbigen um seine Mähne, so kann man diesen Kampf echt am besten beschreiben! Totz mehrerer Ansätze schafft es der spätere X-Pac nicht den Hitman zu besiegen, dieser lässt den Kampf sogar neu einleuten, nachdem er merkt, dass da was nicht richtig war! Ein grundsolider Klassiker!"
[8.0] "Arguably the best Sean Waltman match. The Kid looked like a million bucks even in defeat, it's no surprise considering he was in there with Bret. ****"
[10.0] "Eines meiner absoluten Favorites. Klasse Match, in dem Hart es verstand, den Kid ebenbürtig darzustellen. Ein Titelwechsel war im Bereich des Möglichen. Toll!"
[8.0] "top! typische hitman-dramaturgie, ergänzt mit damals sensationellem high-flying-spektakel. hart zieht waltman durchs match, stellt ihn glaubwürdig dar und lässt ihn annähernd ebenbürtig erscheinen, und steht trotzdem schlussendlich als eindeutiger sieger da, sodass für beide seiten das optimum entsteht. hinzu kommt ein geniales kommentatoren-duo. ****, immer wieder sehenswert!"
[8.0] "Das Match wusste doch schon sehr zu unterhalten. Eine interesannte Story zieht sich durch das Match. Durch das 1-2-3 Kid Gimmick konnte man immer von einer Überraschung ausgehen, auch wenn ein Titelwechsel damals wohl zu früh gekommen wäre. Das Falsche Finish ist meiner Meinung nach auch ziemlich gut und könnte man auch bei einem Titelwechsel mal benutzen. Gerade die Schlussphase hat mir sehr gefallen , auch wenn ich mir das Ende eher nach der verfehlten Swanton gewünscht hätte. Von mir gibt´s ****."
[7.0] "Lange nicht so gut wie Jim Ross nach dem Kampf und noch heute über das Match spricht, aber schon ein guter und sehenswerter Kampf. Leider stellen die Werbepause hier ein echtes Ärgernis dar."
[9.0] "Ein Match das zwei Sachen sehr deutlich zeigt: Erstens, Waltman hatte eigentlichf ast unbegrenztes Potenzial, hat aber leider später kaum etwas daraus gemacht. Und zweitens: Bret Hart war gegen körperlich unterlegen Gegner noch viel besser als gegen die ganzen Big Men durch die er sich in den 90ern durchkämpfen musste. Zum damaligen Zeitpunkt war Kid außerdem einer meiner absoluten Faves, deswegen ist es für mich auch eins der Top5 WWF Matches aus diesem Jahr."
