Wrestling Relations and Family
The Hart Family.
It is hard to look at this family and believe so much can happen. A once close family is now often divided and at war with one another.
Dean Hart, who didn't wrestle much, died in November 1990 of a kidney disease. This was mentioned during the 1990 Survivor Series, as Bret wrestled that night when Dean had died just days before. In her book "Under The Mat" Diana Hart says that he could possible have been saved by a kidney transplant from one of his siblings, but everyone was so busy living their lives that no one thought about it until it was to late.
6 years later is the most personal for me. Matthew Annis,
son of Georgia, died of Flesh Eating Disease. The old saying of “the good
die young” was applicable here as Matt was one of a kind. He was a lot
like Uncle Owen, a prankster who genuinely loved life and wrestling. I was in
the ring with him, his brother Ted Hart and best friend TJ Wilson (Both of whom
work for Stampede Wrestling now) a few days before he fell ill. I still have
that match on tape. He died in July of 1996. I have video
footage of Owen teaching Matthew how to do a backflip off the top into the ring.
Much like Owen he picked things up quickly and likely could have been a star
in his own right. Had he lived he would now be 19.
A year and a half later the Hart's had to deal with another blow, the death of friend and former tag team partner of Bruce Hart, Brian Pillman. Pillman died while in the Hart Foundation and was trained by the family and very close to many of them, especially Bruce, who eulogized Pillman at his funeral.
Then another year and a half later came the well known death of Owen.
Helen Hart, who was one of the sweetest and most giving people I have ever met, passed away from diabetes complications this past fall. Stu Hart had just lost his wife when his best friend, long time hockey and Stampede Wrestling announcer Ed Whalen died of a heart attack a few weeks later.
Now Davey Boy Smith has joined a list already far to long.
In addition of course is the story of Bret Hart and his rise to the top of the business, and then tragic spiral down due to so many events.
That is 5 family members in the past 12 years.
The Von Erichs and The Harts have had their highlights. Both Stu and Fritz ran highly successful promotions. The kids went on to win titles and worldwide fame. Both families made millions. But in the end, both have faced far to much tragedy, and the cost has been to great.
Republished
from Wrestling-Online.com