 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
After The Family War
Owen then aligned himself with Jim Cornette,at the the challenged the WWF tag team champions, The Smoking Gunns, at WrestleMania XI, where he would reveal his mystery partner. The mystery partner was none other than the mighty Yokozuna. Owen and Yokozuna defeated the Gunns with relatively ease, and became WWF tag team champions. Owen had won his first title in the WWF.Owen and Yoko held on to the titles for almost a half year, before dropping them to the Smoking Gunns, actually Owen and Yoko lost the titles to Diesel and Shawn Michaels at In Your House III, but since the Bulldog replaced Owen, and it was Owen who got pinned, the titles was handed back. After the defeat both Yoko and Owen wanted to use more time on their singles career, which split the team. The rest of 1995 and until the summer of 1996, Owen was unlucky against almost every WWF superstar. Owen did have some success though, on an installment of Monday Night Raw, in a match against Shawn Michaels, Owen hit Michaels with a kick to the back of the head, which made the lights go out for Michaels, who laid flat on his back. At the Slammy Awards 1996, Owen won a Slammy for the incident, and also picked up anther for his effects after the event he proclaimed himself the Slammy Award Winning Owen Hart. During the summer of 1996 The British Bulldog, who had joined Camp Cornette in the end of 1995, and Owen decided to use their combined forces to win the WWF tag team titles from the Smoking Gunns. The title changed happened at In Your House X, where a manager change also happened. Clarence Mason became the new manager for the new champions, when he got a groggy Jim Cornette to sign the papers. With a new manager and the titles on their waist, you should think everything was good. But it wasn't, Bulldog got more and more popular among the fans, while Owen got more unpopular, it seemed like a team split was unavoidable about to happen to the pair.
At the Royal Rumble 97, Owen "accidentally" eliminated the British Bulldog from the battle royal. But it got worse, Bulldog fired Clarence Mason when he lost a match to Crush, also managed by Mason. Owen tried to convince Bulldog that it was wrong, but he couldn't. In February of 1997, the first ever WWF European Champion should be crowned via a tournament in Germany. The final saw the tag team partners Owen and Bulldog go at it. It was a tough match, but in the end it was Bulldog, who stood triumphant with the new belt. After the match Owen launched a post-match tirade about Bulldog's lack of respect for him. Owen has been in another tournament final in 1997, it was in Kuwait, where he lost to Tiger Ali Singh. The tag team champions continued to fight of all that come before them, but you could feel the tension between them. At Raw is War after WrestleMania 13, Owen and Bulldog had to fight the Headbangers for the titles. Bulldog and Owen got in a fight at the end of the match, Owen said that he demanded a shot at the Bulldog's European title at the following Raw is War, Bulldog gladly accepted the the challenge made by Owen.
The Hart Foundation
So at the following Raw is War it was time for the match for the European title between Owen and Bulldog. It was a brutal match, where Bulldog was going to use a chair on Owen, when Bret entered the ring. Bret got the two combatants separated, he then told them, that the WWF and the American wrestling fans were doing everything in their power to destroy them. Bret also told Owen and Bulldog that he needed and loved them, and that he wanted them to join forces with him against Steve Austin, WWF and the American wrestling fans. They accepted, the Hart Foundation was founded. The following weeks Owen and Bulldog watched out for Bret, by attacking Austin and Michaels. Pillman and Neidhart also joined the Hart Foundation. 2 weeks after joining the Hart Foundation, Owen won the Intercontinental Title, cleanly, from Rocky Maivia (The Rock) at Raw is War. Owen had finally won a singles title, which he has deserved. Owen and Bulldog's constant attacks on Austin and Michaels lead to a challenge from the Tag Team Champions. On an installment of Raw is War Austin and Michaels won the titles from Owen and Bulldog, who had held on to the titles for 8 months. With only the Intercontinental Title at his waist, Owen will go back to singles wrestling, a place where he fits much better. Owen proved that he is one of the best Intercontinental champion, by beating Goldust and Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a three way match on Raw is War.
The Battle With Steve Austin
During the five man tag team match at Canadian Stampede, where the Hart Foundation went up against Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and L.O.D, Austin smashed Owen's leg against the ring post. Owen was then lead back to the locker room, but later returned and scored the pin on Austin, which Owen was very proud of and started bragging about it, this lead to a bitter battle with Austin. At Summer Slam Owen had to defend his Intercontinental Title against Steve Austin. As expected Owen lost the title to Austin, but injured Austin neck in the process with a pole driver. Since the match, Owen has been very proud of himself, because he injured Austin, this has lead to Austin attacking Owen at every opportunity. Owen and Bulldog came close to winning the Tag Team Title once again, but a stunner from Austin stopped this dream. Owen then got a restraining order on Austin, but this hasn't stopped Austin, who continues to attack Owen.Owen did win the IC Title at back at the Badd Blood PPV, with the help of Austin, who smacked Faarooq in the head with the Title. Just so Austin could face Owen at Survivor Series. As expected Owen lost the IC Title to Steve Austin at the Survivor Series in a very short match, both were set back with injuries, Owen had suffered a concussion from a match with Ahmed Johnston.
Owen wasn't happy with the way the Survivor Series ended for his brother. but all being said Owen agreed to stay with the WWF a move that in the end proved maybe most costly for him and the Hart family.
