Alex Marvez: Bret Hart's autobiography hits U.S.

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Bret Hart was touted as, "The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be," during his magnificent grappling career.When it comes to pro wrestling books, the same could be said about Hart's autobiography."Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling" ($26.99; Grand Central Publishing) was recently released in the U.S. after a successful 2007 launch in Hart's native country of Canada. The 592-page tome chronicles the events that made Hart one of the industry's most celebrated -- and tragic - figures."It was greatest thing I ever did," Hart said in a recent telephone interview. "It was hard work. I literally wrote for seven straight years. Even though I had a stroke (in 2002), I wrote from my hospital bed. I couldn't have given a better effort."A lot of times, I thought about giving up because it was hard reliving some of these events. But I couldn't say goodbye to my wrestling character until I fini shed."Hart is done as a pro wrestler, the result of a stroke and concussions he suffered in late 1999 while working for now-defunct World Championship Wrestling. But by that time, there was nothing in wrestling that Hart hadn't accomplished.Raised in a dysfunctional grappling family, Hart's colorful childhood could be an entirely separate book. Among the unusual features of the Hart house in Calgary were a wrestling bear sleeping under the outside steps and a downstairs "dungeon" where his father Stu would literally torture aspiring performers with submission holds.Sixteen years after debuting for his family's Stampede Wrestling promotion, Hart began the first of five World Wrestling Entertainment title reigns in 1992. Such achievements came at a heavy price. In his book, Hart details the marital and family strife that made him consider retirement long before his health issues."I just wanted people - even my kids -- to walk in my shoes and know that it was never easy being gone all the time," said Hart, whose out-of-the-ring exploits sometimes belied his babyface character. "I was pretty much on the road for 300 days a year and that didn't include travel back and forth. It's hard to keep a marriage going."None of Hart's problems could prepare him for two of the biggest events in pro wrestling history. The first came at the 1997 Survivor Series pay-per-view show. WWE owner Vince McMahon changed a scheduled match finish to wrest the promotion's world title from a departing Hart so there was no chance he would take it with him to WCW.WWE parlayed the real-life incident into its storylines, helping to trigger a business turnaround that ultimately led to WCW's demise. WWE referenced it so much - tweaking Hart in the process - that fans still chant "You Screwed Bret" at referee Earl Hebner. Fortunately for Hart, he was being filmed as part of a behind-the-scenes documentary called "Wrestling With Shadows." The video captured WWE's treatment of Hart and how he legitimately KO'd McMahon backstage with a punch."I was always grateful the story got out," said Hart, who buried the hatchet with McMahon for a 2006 WWE Hall of Fame induction. "McMahon never needed to do that with me. It was a parting shot. They just wanted to screw me over and dump me out the back door."Hart's brother Owen then died in 1999 when a WWE pre-match entrance went wrong, causing him to plummet into the ring from an arena ceiling. Hart still thinks of his brother often and all the practical jokes Owen played, including those on fellow wrestler Lex Luger."When we were on tour in Europe, Owen would get going with a British or East-Indian accent," Hart said. "He would call Luger at 7 a.m. from the hotel lobby and tell him he had to check out of his room. I would come downstairs at noon and see Luger tired with his bags packed sitting in the lobby. Owen still makes me laugh."Hart is smiling again now that he has regained his health (although he is scheduled for knee-replacement surgery in December). Hart plans to begin attending film school next year in hopes of becoming a director, which could lead to his autobiography becoming a movie.Hart has no plans to resume working for a wrestling promotion, which is why he regards upcoming book signings as a goodbye tour for his U.S. fans."I'd be happy being remembered for really brilliant storytelling in my matches, not for some last chance to snap up some money," said Hart, 51. "I respectfully understand my light in wrestling is fading. I can live with that."For information on ordering Hart's book and upcoming book signings, visit www.brethart.com.Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps-Howard News Service. E-mail him at alex1marv(at)aol.com.