No other moment in the 90's, possibly in the history of pro-wrestling, sent shockwaves like the infamous "screwing" of then WWF Champion Bret Hart. Vince McMahon's decision not only caused Bret Hart's departure from the World Wrestling Federation, it also was the first step in the WWF's return to power. However most importantly, it became the foundation of the WWF's new "Attitude", an movement that would change the entire industry in the last quarter of the 90's.

After signing a 20 year lifetime contract with the WWF in the summer of 1996, Bret Hart expected to finish his career with Vince McMahon. But the dominance of WCW and the financial troubles of the WWF caused Vince McMahon to rethink both the contract, and the direction of the federation. Vince wanted to make the WWF more risque and cutting edge, and his top star was a straight laced conservative wrestler. There was tension over the content of Raw and PPVs, and something had to give.

In late summer of 1997, McMahon reportedly offered Bret a release of the contract, telling Bret he could no longer pay the money outlined in the contract. They mutually agreed to let Bret have discussions with WCW, and Bret came to terms with WCW on a multi-million dollar deal. This way Vince could be relieved of both the financial and creative burdens that Bret posed to the WWF. However there was still a major hurdle: Bret Hart was WWF Champion.

A Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels Title Match had been signed to headline WWF Survivor Series. As most know, the history between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels is a story in itself. The two men reportedly hated each other backstage, Shawn because Bret took the business too seriously, and Bret because Shawn didn't take the business seriously enough. Would Bret Hart lose his last WWF match to the man he hated the most, infront of his fellow Canadians? Vince hoped Bret would "do the time honored tradition" and drop the title to Shawn in Montreal, but Bret refused to do so. Bret didn't want to lose in Canada, or to Michaels at all. Reports have multiple different solutions, including Bret losing the title on Raw the next night, or at the next PPV. Eventually, Bret and Vince decided on a run-in ending at Survivor Series, and a title loss at a later date.

The anticipated final bout between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart featured brutal brawling inside the ring, outside the ring, in the crowd, and at the entrance way. The two worked their way back to the ring where Shawn Michaels got Bret Hart in Hart's own finisher, "The Sharpshooter". Vince McMahon (who was at ringside for no apparent reason) called for the bell. Shawn Michaels was rushed out of the ring, handed the WWF Title, and pushed to the back. Bret Hart sat up in shock. The fans and viewers didn't know what had happened, but the match was not supposed to end that way. Bret Hart had been screwed out of the WWF Title.

Following the incident, Vince McMahon used the heat surrounding the Bret Hart situation to forge himself an on-air role as a meglomaniac boss. Vince went on to feud with Steve Austin, a storyline which catapulted the WWF into the ratings lead. Bret Hart went on to WCW, where he faltered under pressure and backstage politics, and only recently has he returned to the World Title picture.

No other incident left fans talking like the 1997 Survivor Series. The foundation was set for the new WWF "Attitude" which is still dominating the business over 2 years later. Even rival WCW has been forced to mimic the formula. What you see on pro-wrestling shows today was growing for years. Both the WWF and WCW showed small signs of what was to come, the knob was turned. However the Survivor Series Screwing turned the knob and slammed the door wide open, making it the most important moment in pro-wrestling of the 90's.