I’m gonna tell you two things. First, every time someone says wrestling is fake, an angel loses its wings. It’s nearly as bad as telling little kids there’s no Santa Claus. Because we all know wrestling is fake, but we don’t really care. Some simply enjoy the implied action and drama of a “good fight,” while others like to watch buff dudes bounce around in tight spandex. Second, I’ve subscribed to the motto that Bret Hart is the best there is, the best there was and the best that ever will be since I was twelve years old. The best part about that is he’s never been ashamed to tell you as much himself.

After a twelve-year hiatus, “The Hitman” returned to wrestling on WWE’s Monday Night RAW to the wang of rock and roll guitars and a full-house of standing fans whooping and screaming his praises.

Hart spent about three minutes thanking the fans and reminiscing  about all the great memories he had during his wrestling career, and then he called out former rival, Shawn Michaels. They exchanged heated words for over five minutes, performing the popular stand-off ritual recognizable by anyone who’s ever enjoyed a night of wrestling, and then they shook hands.

Hart and Michaels shared an awkward hug, and as Michaels exited the ring, Hart called out his other rival, Vince McMahon. In classic wrestling tension, McMahon didn’t appear, but later in the show, he closed things out by pretending to accept Hart’s truce then kicking him in groin. OUCH!

Bret Hart has often been a controversial figure in the wrestling world, both in the ring and out, and despite his feverish population of fans, there is evidence that many of his rivalries extend well beyond the ring and into his personal life. Knowing “The Hitman,” he’s not going to let McMahon’s jab go without seeking retribution, so I have a feeling he’ll be back in the ring sometime this year, even if his matches are limited. The popularity of wrestling ebbs and flows, and as the industry struggles to rise to glory days again, reinstating old fan favorites is an opportunity to boost viewership and expose new fans to the sport. Wrestling critics also note that bringing Hart back into the ring could re-inspire the old U.S. vs Canadian rivalry that gripped viewers during Hart’s heyday, breathing life into the sport again.

Hart suffered a stroke back in 2002, which damaged him both physically and mentally. Many said this was the final blow to his wrestling career, but we’ve all heard that before. It is a wrestler’s lot in life to suffer extreme bodily abuse, and no matter the injuries and health maladies that wear them down, they take their lickings and keep on kicking. Hart’s return actually reminds me of that Mickey Rourke film, The Wrestler. Rourke’s character tried to eek out a meager life outside the ring, but just couldn’t do it. Despite suffering a heart attack and being warned by doctors that returning to wrestling would kill him, he couldn’t connect with the real world the same way he did with his fans and his career. I hope Hart’s story has a happier ending.