Bret Hart, an esteemed figure in the pro wrestling industry, has left an indelible mark on the sport, shaping the careers of numerous wrestlers who followed in his footsteps. Recently, there were speculations about Bret Hart potentially joining All Elite Wrestling as an agent, but it appears that the opportunity didn’t materialize as expected.
Last year, AEW tantalized fans with hints of Bret Hart’s possible appearance on their shows, Dynamite and Rampage. The anticipation heightened when he was revealed to be managing FTR during an event. However, it turned out that Bret Hart had only signed a merchandise deal with WWE at that time. Addressing the AEW rumors, Bret Hart clarified that he was content staying at home for the moment.
News emerged that Bret Hart had actually expressed interest in working as an agent for AEW. However, to the surprise of many, AEW declined his offer for reasons not entirely disclosed. This decision came despite AEW already boasting an impressive roster of seasoned wrestling veterans who also serve as backstage producers and agents, including Arn Anderson, Jake Roberts, Tazz, Billy Gunn, Christian Cage, Chris Jericho, Dustin Rhodes, and Sting.
Writer Brian R. Solomon, who contributes to Inside The Ropes Magazine, shared his thoughts on Twitter, expressing admiration for Orange Cassidy’s work as a backstage producer/agent for AEW. Nonetheless, he questioned the rationale behind turning down Bret Hart’s offer in favor of using him solely as a manager, similar to Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, and Jake Roberts. Solomon highlighted the immense value Bret Hart could bring as a coach to nurture the young talent in the company.
In a recent interview with Bret Hart for his book, Solomon delved deeper into the matter, revealing that Bret had indeed offered his services as an agent to AEW. However, the company seemed interested in having him primarily as a TV character rather than a backstage mentor. This apparent preference for a managerial role might have contributed to Bret Hart’s decision to distance himself from AEW, indicating that he wasn’t planning to join the company anytime soon.
When I recently interviewed Bret Hart for my book, he told me that he offered to agent for them, but they only wanted to bring him in as a manager like Tully, Arn, Jake, etc. Imagine having the ability to have Bret Hart coach your talent and saying, no just be a TV character.
— Brian R. Solomon (@BrianRSolomon) July 24, 2023
