Owen Hart and The British Bulldog
Encyclopedia
Owen Hart
and The British Bulldog
were a professional wrestling
tag team
in World Wrestling Federation
.
The team of Hart and Bulldog debuted on March 31, 1996 at the twelfth WrestleMania event
as members of James E. Cornette
's Camp stable along with Vader and went on to defeat Yokozuna
, Ahmed Johnson
and Jake Roberts
. On In Your House 7
, Hart and Bulldog defeated Johnson and Roberts. They teamed up with Vader again on In Your House 9
to defeat Ahmed Johnson, Sycho Sid
and Shawn Michaels
. On In Your House 10
, Hart and Bulldog defeated The Smokin' Gunns
to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.
with The Smokin' Gunns whom they went on to defeat at In Your House 11
in a title match. On In Your House 12
, they defended their title for a second time against (Fake) Razor Ramon
and (Fake) Diesel. Following In Your House 12, Clarence Mason
became their manager. They started a feud with Doug Furnas
and Phil LaFon over the World Tag Team Championship after losing to them at Survivor Series
after losing to them in a 4-on-4 survivor series match. This led to a title defense at In Your House 13
against Furnas and LaFon which Hart and Bulldog lost by disqualification and thus retained the titles.
Following In Your House 13, Bulldog fired Mason because he lost a match to Crush
under Mason's management. Hart tried to convince Bulldog that it was wrong to fire Mason but the decision stood. Hart and Bulldog started a feud with the legendary Legion of Doom
(Hawk
and Animal
) against whom they made two title defenses but lost to them by disqualification. At WrestleMania 13
, Hart and Bulldog defended the titles against Mankind
and Vader in a match which ended in a double count-out.
, Hart accidentally eliminated Bulldog from the Royal Rumble match. On February 26, 1997, Bulldog defeated his partner Hart in a tournament to be crowned the first-ever WWF European Champion
. After this defeat, the tension between Bulldog and Hart began to build. After a title match against Headbangers, Hart and Bulldog got into a fight and Hart demanded that he wanted a title shot at Bulldog's European Championship.
who appeared and pleaded with the two not to fight any more. He talked about their family turning heel
and then they formed The Hart Foundation's new version and they were joined by Jim Neidhart
and Brian Pillman
. On April 28, Owen defeated Rocky Maivia to win the Intercontinental Championship
, making both he and Smith double champions, as Smith still held the European Title.
On May 26 edition of RAW is WAR, they lost the tag team titles to Steve Austin
and Shawn Michaels. Hart, Bulldog and Neidhart defeated Sycho Sid and Legion of Doom
at 1997 King of the Ring. The entire Hart Foundation defeated Ken Shamrock
, Goldust, Steve Austin and The Legion of Doom at Canadian Stampede in a 5-on-5 tag team match. World Tag Team Championship was vacated afterwards. When the tag titles were vacated as a result of a neck injury to Steve Austin, who was at the time one-half of the world tag team champions, Owen (who inflicted the injury on Austin) and Bulldog got a chance to win the titles for a second time in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Tag Team match where they were defeated by The Headbangers. The match also involved Legion of Doom
and The Godwinns
. The team became the tenth longest reigning World Tag Team Champions, for 245 days.
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
and The British Bulldog
Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler, better known as "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling...
were a professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
in World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
Winning the World Tag Team Championship
WrestleMania XII
-Other on-screen talent:-External links:**...
as members of James E. Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
's Camp stable along with Vader and went on to defeat Yokozuna
Rodney Anoa'i
Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna. The term yokozuna refers to the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan...
, Ahmed Johnson
Anthony Norris
Anthony "Tony" Norris , better known by his ring name, Ahmed Johnson, is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation, where he is a one time Intercontinental Champion and the first-ever winner of the Kuwait Cup.-Global Wrestling...
and Jake Roberts
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
. On In Your House 7
In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies
In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation that took place on April 28, 1996 and emanated from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska....
, Hart and Bulldog defeated Johnson and Roberts. They teamed up with Vader again on In Your House 9
In Your House 9: International Incident
In Your House 9: International Incident was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , that took place on July 21, 1996 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
to defeat Ahmed Johnson, Sycho Sid
Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation...
and Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
. On In Your House 10
In Your House 10: Mind Games
In Your House 10: Mind Games was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , which took place on September 22, 1996 at the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Hart and Bulldog defeated The Smokin' Gunns
The Smokin' Gunns
The Smoking Gunns was a professional wrestling tag team of kayfabe brothers Billy Gunn and Bart Gunn . They portrayed cowboys in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1996...
to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.
Title defenses
After winning the World Tag Team Champions, Hart and Bulldog started a feudFeud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with The Smokin' Gunns whom they went on to defeat at In Your House 11
In Your House 11: Buried Alive
In Your House 11: Buried Alive was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , which took place on October 20, 1996 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana...
in a title match. On In Your House 12
In Your House 12: It's Time
In Your House 12: It's Time was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on December 15, 1996 at the West Palm Beach Auditorium in West Palm Beach, Florida.-Background:...
, they defended their title for a second time against (Fake) Razor Ramon
Rick Bogner
Richard "Rick" Bognar is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known as the "second" Razor Ramon who debuted in the World Wrestling Federation as a replacement for the original man to use the Ramon gimmick, Scott Hall....
and (Fake) Diesel. Following In Your House 12, Clarence Mason
Clarence Mason
Herman Stevens, Jr. is an American attorney and former professional wrestling manager, best known for his attorney gimmicks as Clarence Mason in the World Wrestling Federation and as J. Biggs in World Championship Wrestling from 1996–1999.-Early life:As a child, Stevens had always wanted...
became their manager. They started a feud with Doug Furnas
Doug Furnas
Doug Furnas is a former American professional wrestler and powerlifter. Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s...
and Phil LaFon over the World Tag Team Championship after losing to them at Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1996)
Survivor Series was the tenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on November 17, 1996 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York....
after losing to them in a 4-on-4 survivor series match. This led to a title defense at In Your House 13
In Your House 13: Final Four
In Your House 13: Final Four was the thirteenth In Your House Professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
against Furnas and LaFon which Hart and Bulldog lost by disqualification and thus retained the titles.
Following In Your House 13, Bulldog fired Mason because he lost a match to Crush
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
under Mason's management. Hart tried to convince Bulldog that it was wrong to fire Mason but the decision stood. Hart and Bulldog started a feud with the legendary Legion of Doom
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
(Hawk
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
and Animal
Road Warrior Animal
Joseph Aaron "Joe" Laurinaitis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior...
) against whom they made two title defenses but lost to them by disqualification. At WrestleMania 13
WrestleMania 13
WrestleMania 13 was the thirteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
, Hart and Bulldog defended the titles against Mankind
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
and Vader in a match which ended in a double count-out.
Tensions between Hart and Bulldog
At the 1997 Royal RumbleRoyal Rumble (1997)
Royal Rumble was the tenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 19, 1997 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas....
, Hart accidentally eliminated Bulldog from the Royal Rumble match. On February 26, 1997, Bulldog defeated his partner Hart in a tournament to be crowned the first-ever WWF European Champion
WWE European Championship
The WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
. After this defeat, the tension between Bulldog and Hart began to build. After a title match against Headbangers, Hart and Bulldog got into a fight and Hart demanded that he wanted a title shot at Bulldog's European Championship.
Reformation of the Hart Foundation
On March 31 edition of RAW is WAR, the WWF Tag Team Champions Owen and Bulldog fought to no contest because of Bret HartBret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
who appeared and pleaded with the two not to fight any more. He talked about their family turning heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and then they formed The Hart Foundation's new version and they were joined by Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
and Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman
Brian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
. On April 28, Owen defeated Rocky Maivia to win the Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
, making both he and Smith double champions, as Smith still held the European Title.
On May 26 edition of RAW is WAR, they lost the tag team titles to Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
and Shawn Michaels. Hart, Bulldog and Neidhart defeated Sycho Sid and Legion of Doom
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
at 1997 King of the Ring. The entire Hart Foundation defeated Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
, Goldust, Steve Austin and The Legion of Doom at Canadian Stampede in a 5-on-5 tag team match. World Tag Team Championship was vacated afterwards. When the tag titles were vacated as a result of a neck injury to Steve Austin, who was at the time one-half of the world tag team champions, Owen (who inflicted the injury on Austin) and Bulldog got a chance to win the titles for a second time in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Tag Team match where they were defeated by The Headbangers. The match also involved Legion of Doom
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
and The Godwinns
The Godwinns
The Godwinns was the best known gimmick of the professional wrestling tag team composed of Dennis Knight and Mark Canterbury that they used in the WWF. The team has used other gimmicks before they joined the WWF and had a gimmick change in the WWF shortly before disbanding...
. The team became the tenth longest reigning World Tag Team Champions, for 245 days.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- SharpshooterSharpshooter (professional wrestling)The Sharpshooter, originally named Sasori-gatame, Scorpion Hold in English, is a professional wrestling submission hold. The move is also known by several other names: cloverleaf leg-lace Boston crab, standing reverse figure-four leglock, and, the most commonly known alternative, Scorpion Deathlock...
– Owen Hart - Running powerslam – British Bulldog
- Sharpshooter
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Jim CornetteJim CornetteJames Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
- Jim Cornette
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Owen and Bulldog
- WWF European ChampionshipWWE European ChampionshipThe WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
(1 time) – Bulldog - WWF Intercontinental ChampionshipWWE Intercontinental ChampionshipThe WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
(2 times) – Owen
See also
- British BulldogsBritish BulldogsThe British Bulldogs were the team of cousins Davey Boy Smith and Tom Billington , professional wrestlers who competed through most of the 1980s in both North America, England, and Japan and is by many considered one of the top tag-teams in history.-Early years :In the 1970s, Dynamite Kid and Davey...
- Owen Hart and YokozunaOwen Hart and YokozunaOwen Hart and Yokozuna were a professional wrestling tag team that wrestled in World Wrestling Federation. The team existed in 1995.-History:...
- The Hart FoundationThe Hart FoundationThe Hart Foundation referred to several teams or stables in the World Wrestling Federation , usually consisted of members or close friends of the Hart wrestling family from Canada....