Owen Hart Wrestling With Angels

Wrestlers thoughts on Owen

"I'm not going to get into the details of this accident as I really don't care to know them, all I know is that a friend is gone. Never mind the fact that Owen was a great guy. Never mind the fact that Owen was one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. Never mind the fact that he was one of the reasons I wanted to become a wrestler. Never mind that I went to the Hart Bros. Pro Wrestling camp, in hopes of meeting and training with him. All that matters is that Owen Hart is gone, never to entertain or make us smile again. This was a terrible senseless accident and it puts everything into perspective. Contract disputes, minor injuries, lack of a push, don't mean squat when you compare them to a family who will never see their father again. God bless you Owen Hart. I know I will always respect and never forget you." -Chris Jericho

"I don't know where to begin. Owen was a great friend and impressive fellow worker. Five months into the new year and already so many close friends have passed on and to have it happen simply because of a faulty harness is just so tragic and unbelievable that I am almost at a loss of words. I do want to say that my deepest sympathy and support go out to the Hart family and to the people that loved Owen. He is and always will be in the minds and heart of my family. We did lots of road trips together and he was a guy that could keep you smiling no matter how bad it was. He had a way to keep all around him going and smiling no matter how down things seemed to get. He had a unique and special way about him to bring a smile and overall brightness to all situations. I really still cannot believe this... I miss him and wish I was able to have told him how much he meant to us. We were around the same age and we did many things together. I will miss you my friend. And, to the Hart family, I'm so sorry for your tragic loss. Owen was a great guy. A great wrestler. And one hell of a father. I'm sorry I can't finish this now. I will write more later after I am able to collect my thoughts... I still cannot believe this. He was my dear friend and a beloved family man. Owen, our loss is the heaven's gain. God bless and eternal peace, my friend." -Samu of Headshrinkers

"...Owen probably was one of the best human beings I have ever met. I know his family meant everything to him. I can only imagine the grief they are going through right now..." -Kevin Nash

"A horrible tragedy occurred at the Over The Edge pay-per-view on Sunday. Owen Hart was about to be lowered down from the ceiling to the ring for his appearance as the super hero-like Blue Blazer. He apparently thought that the harness which was to hold him was attached but was not.
Owen, 33, fell about fifty feet to the floor. He hit his head on the turnbuckle and then the ring. He was given CPR in the ring and was then rushed to a Kansas City hospital where he was pronounced dead. The AP released the following quote from Titan Sports/WWF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vince McMahon. "We at the WWF are saddened by the tragic accident that occurred here tonight. We don't have any answer as to why this happened ... There is an ongoing investigation."
Fortunately, the deadly accident was not caught on camera and the WWF had the good judgement and taste to refrain from shooting the ring with their television cameras. The WWF told the fans watching the live telecast that the accident had happened, and later on, Jim Ross informed us that Owen had died.
It is with overwhelming grief and pain that everyone involved with ECW sends condolences and prayers to the Hart family that has given so much to wrestling." -Joey Styles

"On behalf of my family, I want to express my deepest sympathy to the family of Owen Hart. I have been a part of the Hart family ever since Stu Hart welcomed my brother Sika and me into his home back in the early 70s. I watched the Hart children grow up and I was I was always so proud of Owen. I often said that he was never given the chance to show how truly talented he was. My prayers go out to his wife, children, mother, father and the whole Hart family. Owen will be greatly missed as a friend and as one of the great athletes who dedicated his life to making his fans happy. May you rest in peace and be with God." -Afa The Wild Samoan

I don't know if any words I could write here would justify how I felt about Owen Hart. I hadn't seen him wrestle until I watched one his matches from Japan, from which I was blown away. I had always been a fan of Owen from that first time, up until I got to meet him when I entered the WWF. From then I was not only a fan of Owen the wrestler, I was a fan of Owen the human being. Each time I saw Owen I was greeted with a firm handshake and a warm smile. He had a sense of humour that was unlike anyone I knew. Often there was laughter, where there was Owen. And I for one will sorely miss Owen. My thoughts and prayers are with Owen and with Owens family.

The Blue Meanie:

I would just like to pay tribute to Owen Hart. I only got to know him a little bit when he worked with our company years ago, but a few months back I ran into him in Charlotte at Ric Flair’s Golds Gym. We ended up working out the second half of back and bys together and talking about the business and life on the road. I felt I got to know him in a short period of time, but I wish I had gotten to know him better.

He was a tremendous technician in the ring and will be sorely missed. I just recently made a tape of a couple of matches that Bret had with Owen because I was studying how they did their big false finishes to pop the crowd. I did this about a week ago and tonight, when I checked the tape I was going to record over I realized that that was the tape I almost recorded over. I put it aside with the other tapes I want to save. I want to watch Owen again. If you get a chance to see any of those matches, they are indeed classics.

In closing, this really puts life in perspective. Any one of us can go at any time, so seize the moment and never, and I mean never, forget to tell people you love that you love them. Diamond Dallas Page:

DEBRA McMICHAEL:

"Ok, I'm gonna probably cry all the way through this,

But I'd like to say a few words for Owen because I want his kids to see this when they grow up.

Be sure and tell them I've been here. I've spent a lot of time with Owen...working with him and travelling and stuff.

I will have to admit that the world definitely lost a really great person.

I just wish that all the people could have seen how funny he was. I mean, no matter if it was a bad day or a good day, he was happening to always be happy and cheery and he'd make me laugh.

We'd do autograph sessions, and he'd always mark all over my hand, and in the limo he'd always make up these funny words and kid with me.

It's funny; you tend to take people for granted 'cause you're always with them. And then, I remember yesterday (Over The Edge), I was so upset because I felt like my shorts were too tight on me or too short and he was like, "Oh Debra, well maybe you should change."

And I remember that was like the last thing I was saying to him right before he left to do his match. And then, this morning, I looked at my sheet and we had all these autograph things to do together this week.

You know...life is very, very precious and you should really not take people for granted, and I would like to say that Owen...you've really touched my life and brightened my day the time I've been here, and all The Blue Blazer things we worked together and the autograph sessions.... I will definitely miss you and I loved you as a friend. We had great times and....I still can't believe you're gone and you're not with us any more.

I keep thinking.... I keep looking for you. And it's just gonna be so hard now to walk out with Jeff and you're not with us...at the house shows, making all those jokes, and making Jeff and I laugh. I'm gonna miss you a whole lot. But I just know...your family and your kids to know you were a great guy, and I feel honoured that I could have worked with you all this time. I love you, Owen, and you will always be in my memories."

Jeff Jarrett Obviously the most distraught over the Untimely death of Owen Hart his tag team partner and best friend

Jeff Jarrett:

"In this business, I guess you got a lot of acquaintances but very few friends. And Owen, he was one of those friends. He did a lot of funny stories, his personality, the things he used to do.... and I told my wife a bunch of times about the last couple months I've been with Owen on the road.... I see Owen more than I see her and my little girl. And he said the same thing. And now that he's not here, it's.... you look at it almost selfishly. Owen, my buddy, my friend, not with me anymore. I know Owen's in a better place, life isn't cutting up. But when you really think about Owen's life, I think about integrity. Because in this business...it's cold, it's callous, it's selfish, it's self-serving, it's unrealistic, it's a fantasy world. But Owen was real. He was a man's man. His wife and kids...are 3 of the luckiest people in the world, because he loved them more than anything in the world. And that's why he did what he did -- to provide for them. And he did it with integrity, and integrity in this business is few and far between. That's not a good thing to know, but it's the truth. And outside all of the laughs.... because on the road, without the laughs, you know...the fans get to see Owen 10-15 minutes a week, but when you see him 24 hours a day for 10 or 12 days at a time, he's one of the guys that made it fun. Made coming to work entertaining off the camera, and that's just as important as on the camera. Owen...I'll make the promise to you. 'Cause you've got 2 little kids and I've got a little one of my own, as they grow older, the only thing that they might have to find out what their dad was like is wrestling films. But I'll make the promise to myself...as the years go by, I'll do my best to let Oje and Athena really know what a great man you were, Owen. That's it...I can't.... I don't know...."

Legends Of Wrestling 2 Career Ending For Owen Hart

Owen Hart is the younger brother of Bret "Hitman" Hart, and even though his older brother was one of the top wrestlers ever to set foot in the ring, Owen was able to step out from beneath his Bret's shadow and attain super-stardom of his own. He began wrestling professionally in 1986, debuting in his father's wrestling division, but quickly moved on to other federations over the next few years. Owen was a champion in both singles matches and tag team matches, holding several belts in both divisions. He was in a high-energy tag team with Koko B. Ware, and he held tag belts when teamed with the British Bulldog. His matches against his older brother were huge hits with the fans. Unfortunately, in one of professional wrestling's greatest tragedies, Owen Hart lost his life on May 23, 1999, in an in-ring accident. His life and his rise to the top of the wrestling world were cut short. Owen was one of the most talented, entertaining and skilled wrestlers in recent years, and he has forever earned a place as one of the LEGENDS OF WRESTLING.

thanks to Legends Of Wrestling 2 for PS2

Misc

this probably doesnt really fit into the catogary of transcript but below is a copy of an Email i got from KCPD regarding the initial investigation

Subject:	Owen Hart Reports
Date:	Tue, 16 Nov 2004 11:06:23 -0600
From:	"Stewart, Wayne" WStewart@kcpd.org
To:	slimdozen2004@Yahoo.com

 Mr. Little,

The Kansas City Police Department responded for an initial report,

however, it was determined the incident was an accident and no case file

was complied.  The incident was civil in nature and was handled by local

attorneys Robb and Robb at One Kansas City Place, 1200 Main, Suite

3900, Kansas City MO

Sgt. Wayne Stewart

Chief's Office

Email From Fan Attending Event

Below is an Email to A Fan who Attended the Event..Just a Couple of Questions that i think most people would have that might need answered.

I came across your page on Yahoo and I would just like to say I love
Your page it is the Best Owen tribute site I have seen it's a real
Personal one and you were there.

I wanted to email you and just say from one Owen Hart fan to another
I Will never forget that tragic and very black day but a few things for
Me any way still need answered

WHY did Owen do the stunt if he was so unhappy about it I mean his
family was everything to him!

I don’t agree with the Raw is Owen tribute as the Superstars grieving
should have been done behind closed doors in private not in front of
Live TV Cameras!


It’s been 6 years I still think about him each day every time I watch
The Event I cry because of what Owen meant to me as I have been a
WWF/E
Fan all 22 years of my life.



Please Email me back

William

REPLY AS FOLLOWS:

William,

Why did Owen perform the stunt...? I would say because he was asked
To. He was scheduled to win the intercontinental belt that night and
Receive a large push for his character. More exposure for his character
Would mean more merchandise sales for his stuff, which would give him
More money as the performers get a cut of those profits. It would also
Mean a greater likelihood of his character being on the next PPV as
Champion. Performers get money bonuses for appearing on PPVs. So he
Could further secure his family financially by performing the stunt.
Remember, he was wanting to finish out his contract so he could
Potentially retire in a couple of years and return to his family. Also,
Despite his reservations, he had already done the stunt successfully
Before...most notably, live during Sunday Night Heat preceding the
1998 November PPV Survivor Series just 6 months before in St. Louis,
MO. I was in attendance for that PPV as well and have a picture of Owen
Coming down on the line. You can find that picture here...

http://homepage.mac.com/knarley/topturnbuckle/PhotoAlbum10.html

As far as the tribute show on Raw the next night.... I have zero
Problem with it. People grieve in different ways. For example, as an
Atheist I find it objectionable that you would include the title "God
Bless Owen" as part of your subject line. However I would never try to
Judge you for using it as your way of expressing your grief over his
Loss. All performers were given the option to not appear on that show.
I judge no one for how they choose to grieve the loss of a loved one or
Friend. There would have been just as many people griping if WWE (WWF
At that time) did nothing the next night as there are who think they
Doing what they did was wrong. My personal opinion, is it was good to
Let the public have an opportunity to learn about a man, most did not
Know on a personal level.

All best,

Carlton

Broken Harts

The Following Passage is taken from the Book entitled “Broken Harts” written by the Widow of Owen, Martha Hart

“On May 23, 1999 my husband died violently and tragically after falling 8 stories from the top of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO. The rigging experts, to whom he entrusted his life, had used apparatus meant for the sole purpose of sailboat sails. Owen’s death made no sense to me and threw me into a world of darkness. It was so preventable and so unnecessary. Questions haunted my mind - "Why did this happen to him, to me, and to our children?" My answer came one day like a flash of light, in the form of The Owen Hart Foundation. I believed that
if I could help others in Owen’s name, it would give meaning to his death - to me that meant he did not die in vain.

We established the Owen Hart Foundation in his memory in December 2000. Building this meaningful tribute to my husband and our children
has given me strength and saved me from despair over his death. The Owen Hart Foundation is a permanent legacy that is in place to help people today and for generations to come.
Owen was a practical man of profound integrity, a wonderful husband and devoted father. He would be extremely proud of the good work carried out by the Foundation and would be honoured to be remembered for what he loved best, which was his sincere kindness to all people.”