Jeff Jarrett Reveals How He Would Have Handled The Montreal Screwjob

On the latest episode of My World With Jeff Jarrett, the WWE Hall of Famer was asked what he, or his father Jerry Jarrett, would have done if they were in Vince McMahon’s position as the promoter for handling the Montreal Screwjob. Bret Hart refused to lose the WWE Championship to Shawn Michaels in Montreal or anywhere in Canada, though he was willing to drop it to someone else or forfeit it. McMahon screwed Hart out of the title and awarded it to Michaels at Survivor Series in 1997.

The core of the 1997 conflict stemmed from Bret Hart’s contract, which was set to expire at the end of November. Hart had famously been given “reasonable creative control” over his booking in his final 30 days, which he invoked to refuse a loss to Shawn Michaels in Canada. Hart had reportedly agreed to drop the championship at a later date, or even forfeit it on Raw the next night. You can check out some highlights below:

On How He Would’ve Handled It:

“So at that I would say, ‘Hey Bret, I completely understand. You’re going to WCW. It looks like we’re at impasse. So why don’t you just stay home, and we don’t need you in Montreal. And we appreciate everything you’ve done, but your paycheck stops today. You’re breaching your contract because you’re not –‘ I don’t think he had creative control.

“So, ‘You’re not doing what I’m asking you to do, so you’re breaching your contract. Don’t come to Montreal. We’re going to create a hell of a show here tonight at the Survivor Series and whatever it is’… He would have breached, and I’d have got in litigation with him.”

On How The Breach Could Have Gone:

“You got an option. I mean, if you’re not doing what the boss asked. And it unfortunately got to that, and if he said, ‘Nope, I’m not going to do what you’re asking’ then you’re breaching your contract. And it would be a breach.”

On How It Looks For the Promotion:

“You’re well, you’re not sucking hind teat [to WCW in the ratings] if you’re selling out. And you’re looking at Austin merch, and you’re looking at the rest of your talent. Mankind and Taker, and the whole machine rolling. You go, ‘You know what? I might not come back to Montreal in the next year, but I’m going to move on down the road from this situation.’”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit My World With Jeff Jarrett with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.