Hart Family Relaunches Stampede Wrestling
The Hart Family today announced that they are re-launching their wrestling operations after a series of setbacks over the last six months led to rampant speculation that the family-owned Stampede Wrestling was on the verge of closing its doors indefinitely. Stampede, founded in 1948 by wrestling legend Stu Hart, is recognized worldwide for having produced the greatest crop of wrestlers in the last fifty years. Superstars trained in the infamous Hart Dungeon include Bret "Hitman" Hart, Owen Hart, "Crippler" Chris Benoit, Lance Storm, Chris Jericho, Jushin "Thunder" Liger and Brian Pillman. Until returning two years ago, the Stampede Wrestling branch of the Hart Family's contributions to the industry took an eight-year hiatus while they focused on training new students. Stampede's return in 1999 was greeted by huge coverage in the wrestling press. However, the whole concept was thrown into turmoil just weeks after the promotion's first show back, when the legendary former WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart, the youngest of Stu and Helen Hart's twelve children, passed away in a freak accident during a WWF Pay Per View on May 23rd. "We weren't sure we could ever promote wrestling again," admits Owen's brother Bruce Hart, who has run the Hart Bros. Wrestling Academy for over ten years and trained legends such as Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman. "This business had taken a lot from our family; now it had taken my brother." The family was torn between their love for the business and lingering remorse over Owen's death, which was even more difficult considering the fact that close family friend Brian Pillman had passed away only fifteen months prior.
"It felt as if the tide was turning against us. There was a lot of grief and apathy, and for a long time, I think we questioned if the passion to do this would return," admitted Ellie Hart, who contributes heavily to the family business.
It was five months before Stampede Wrestling began touring again - but more challenges lay ahead, and this comeback proved even more difficult than the last. The family forged ahead.
New students were invited to train at the most respected wrestling camp in the world, Stu Hart's "Dungeon." Momentum began to build in Stampede's favor, as they re-instated championship titles, with lineage dating back to 1968, and began touring Western Canada through 2000. However, just as the promotion was getting back on the fast track to success, came another bizarre setback. Several of Stampede's headlining stars, who had been welcomed into Stu's home and trained free of charge for almost two years, turned their back on the company when a wealthy investor attempted to start a rival promotion in the Harts' home territory of Calgary, Alberta Canada. This development shocked fans, and cut Stampede's roster in half, leaving its titles vacant and resulting in several cancelled tours from the end of 2000 through the spring of 2001.
"They weren't here for the right reasons," notes Bruce of those who left for the promise of more money and more shows, a promise that failed to materialize. "They didn't have the respect or the passion for this business that guys like Chris (Benoit) and (my brother) Owen did. We gave them our time, our knowledge and the opportunity to be a part of this business, and didn't ask for or expect anything in return except perhaps some semblance of loyalty. Everyone was disappointed with their poor character."
For months, this latest setback seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for the ill-fated return of Stampede Wrestling; but as has been their trademark for over fifty years in this business, the Harts refused to go out. Today, they have announced a major re-launch of the promotion's activities, as well as the Hart Bros. Wrestling Academy.
"For me what happened was a wakeup call," says Bruce. "There's nothing more pathetic than a guy getting in the ring and half-assing a match. The same philosophy goes for running a whole company, particularly one with the history and reputation of Stampede. I had to make a decision on whether to hang up my boots or do this right. I've made my decision. My dad founded this company over fifty years ago. Stampede Wrestling is back, and it's going to be stronger than ever." The re-launched promotion features a new crop of wrestlers trained in The Dungeon. Ross Hart calls it "the most promising class in the last ten years" - when you say that in Calgary, Alberta Canada, it's a big deal. "We feel that these guys have the potential to one day be held in the same category as Benoit, Jericho, Dynamite, Bret, Pillman, Owen, Jake Roberts, Liger and other legends," comments Bruce. Stampede is hitting the road, and promises to definitively take Calgary back as the undisputed home territory of the Hart Family.