Hart even enlisted tag teams outside his stable of Superstars, like Demolition, to take out The Hart Foundation.īy 1990, “Hit Man” & “The Anvil” had fought off Jimmy Hart’s attempts to tear them down and turned their attention back to WWE’s top tag team prize. When they split from their manager, Hart & Neidhart soon found themselves the target of “The Mouth of The South’s” new charges, whether it was The Fabulous Rougeaus or The Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine. Though they had reached the top of the tag team mountain, The Hart Foundation soon became disillusioned with Jimmy Hart’s nefarious ways. With the help of Jimmy Hart and crooked official Danny Davis, Hart & Neidhart captured their first World Tag Team Championship. In early 1987, The Hart Foundation finally set their sights on the World Tag Team Titles, held by The British Bulldogs, comprised of Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid. Hart’s technical prowess and Neidhart’s raw power made them a team to be reckoned with from the moment they debuted. That close connection made them gel almost instantly when they joined WWE’s tag team ranks in 1985, guided by “The Mouth of The South” Jimmy Hart. In fact, they’re family: “The Anvil” and “Hit Man” were brothers-in-law. Hart and Neidhart were no strangers to each other before joining forces. All rights reserved.The Hart Foundation, Bret “Hit Man” Hart & the late Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, symbolized tag team excellence in WWE in the 1980s and early 1990s. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. He was a shot put star in high school in California in the early 1970s and had brief tryouts for NFL teams before becoming a pro wrestler. WWE fans most recently saw Neidhart in sporadic appearances on the WWE-focused reality TV show "Total Divas." Neidhart is the father of current WWE superstar Natalya and the father-in-law of former WWE performer Tyson Kidd. He seemed sharp as a tack," Jimmy Hart said. Jimmy Hart said Neidhart seemed to be in good health when they last saw each other in April on WrestleMania weekend. It's a struggle he's been going through." "I was think this was stemming from Alzheimer's, which he'd been battling for some time. "He got up morning and went to lower the temperature on the air conditioner, and he just collapsed and I think died pretty quickly," Ross Hart said. Ross Hart, his brother-in-law and a former pro wrestler, told the AP that Neidhart suffered from Alzheimer's disease and that it was believed he suffered a grand mal seizure on Monday. He reacted to the news of Neidhart's death in a tweet Monday. Austin, The Legion of Doom, Ken Shamrock and Goldust at the Saddledome in Calgary.īret Hart is the only wrestler from that incarnation of the Hart Foundation still alive. The Hart Foundation's rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin culminated in one of the signature moments of the WWE's "Attitude Era" at the "In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede" pay-per-view, which was headlined by a 10-man tag match of the Hart Foundation vs. Stu Hart ultimately sold Stampede to Vince McMahon in the mid-1980s, with Bret Hart and Neidhart as central parts of the deal.Īfter leaving the WWF for the first time in 1992, Neidhart returned for several key moments as part of an expanded Hart Foundation in 19, alongside three of his brother-in-laws - Bret Hart, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog - and Brian Pillman. Neidhart's pro wrestling career stretched back to the late 1970s, when he started performing for Bret's father Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary. Neidhart and myself were kind of the evil twins." "But the reason why was, Neidhart was such a great character back then. I couldn't believe how it took off," Jimmy Hart, who managed the team, told The Associated Press. No foul play was suspected.Ī two-time WWF tag team champion as part of the Hart Foundation with real-life brother-in-law Bret Hart, Neidhart was among the most recognizable characters in the WWF explosion of the late 1980s and early '90s, with his signature goatee and the Hart Foundation's pink and black wrestling gear. The Pasco Sheriff's Office said Neidhart fell at home, hit his head and "succumbed to his injury'' on Monday in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Professional wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, part of the legendary Hart family wrestling dynasty, has died at the age of 63. Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart, member of Hart Foundation, dies at 63 You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |