The Hart wrestling family is a Canadian family with a significant history within professional wrestling. The patriarch of the family is wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Stu Hart, amateur and professional wrestler, promoter and trainer, who not only owned and operated his own wrestling company, but has also trained some of the most well known and successful stars in the contemporary wrestling industry including Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Edge. His sons Bret and Owen Hart also achieved fame and success in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), with many of the WWF's biggest storylines in the mid-1990s being built around Bret and Owen and their brothers-in-law.
Family history[]
The Hart family is one of the most well-known professional wrestling families in history. The patriarch of the family, Stu Hart was a professional wrestler and a trainer as well as the owner of Stampede Wrestling. Many of his children became professional wrestlers. He became involved with wrestling after retiring from his career with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Stu began promoting wrestling in 1948 and operated Stampede Wrestling until selling it to Vince McMahon in 1984. In 1985, however, he decided to revive the promotion, which remained in operation until December 1989. It was brought back again in 1999 by Bruce and Ross Hart and remained active until 2008, though not to the degree of popularity or attention it had during its 1980s heyday. Stu Hart has been noted from training some of North America's most famous wrestlers, including André the Giant, the "British Buldog" Davey Boy Smith, Dynamite Kid, Junkyard Dog, and dozens more in addition to his own sons.
Bret Hart has won the most wrestling championships of anyone in the family. He won his first title belt in the World Wrestling Federation while teaming with brother-in-law Jim Neidhart (Ellie Hart's husband) to form The Hart Foundation tag team. They had a feud with the British Bulldogs (Diana Hart's husband Davey Boy Smith and Bret Hart's sister-in-law's husband Dynamite Kid, who were first cousins in real life). On January 26, 1987, Hart and Neidhart defeated the Bulldogs to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. After the Hart Foundation split up, Owen Hart began teaming with Neidhart as The New Foundation. Bret went on to have a successful career as a singles wrestling, holding the WWF Championship five times.
The family connection played a role in two major WWF storylines. Four of the Hart brothers (Bret, Owen, Keith, and Bruce) formed a team at Survivor Series 1993. Animosity began to build between Bret and Owen, and Owen turned on Bret at Royal Rumble 1994. The feud culminated with Owen costing Bret the WWF Championship. While Bret was defending the title against Bob Backlund at Survivor Series 1994, Owen tricked his mother Helen into throwing a towel into the ring to signify that Bret conceded defeat.
Several years later, the Hart Foundation was formed again, this time as a stable of anti-American wrestlers. Bret and Owen reconciled, and they were joined by Neidhart, Smith, and Brian Pillman (Pillman was not related but had trained with the Hart family and was a friend of the family). At the In Your House: Canadian Stampede pay-per-view in Calgary on July 6, 1997, the Hart Foundation won a five-on-five match against Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). Bret Hart left the WWF in 1997 after what has come to be known as the Montreal Screwjob, while Owen died as the result of a failed stunt during his ring entrance at the Over the Edge 1999 pay-per-view. Bret would eventually return to the renamed WWE in 2010 after settling his differences with the promotion.
Three of Stu and Helen Hart's grandchildren have begun careers in professional wrestling. Nattie Neidhart, daughter of Ellie and Jim, trained in Calgary and now wrestles for World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the WWF) under the ring name Natalya. She was the first female from the Hart family to win Championship gold, when she won the Diva's Championship at Survivor Series 2010 Harry Smith, son of Diana and Davey Boy Smith, uses the name David Hart Smith and also wrestles for WWE. Teddy Hart, son of Georgia Hart and BJ Annis, has also competed in WWE but was released by the company.
Outside of wrestling[]
Helen Smith Hart was the daughter of noted marathoner and sprinter Harry J. Smith, a serious contender for the 1912 Olympics before an injury took him out of competition, by his Greek wife, Elizabeth "Ellie" Poulis Smith
BJ Annis, husband of Georgia Hart and father of Teddy Hart has operated BJ's Gym in Downtown East Village, Calgary since constructing it in 1971. In November 2011, his daughter Angie Annis staged an art exhibition at the gymnasium prior to the establishment closing its doors.
In December 2011, Jade Hart, the eldest child of Bret Hart and Julie Hart, launched a clothing line called Jade Hart Kimonos. Based out of Calgary the clothing line consists of hand made kimonos made from Canadian silks and other fabrics.
Generations[]
First generation[]
| Name | Birth | Death & Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stu Hart | May 3, 1915 | October 16, 2003 (aged 88) | |
| Helen Hart | February 16, 1924 | November 4, 2001 (aged 77) |
Second generation[]
| Name | Birth & Age | Death & Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alison Hart | 1959 | Still alive | Daughter of Stu & Helen |
| Andrea Hart | N/A | N/A | Wife of Bruce Hart, now divorced |
| B.J. Annis | N/A | N/A | Husband of Georgia Hart |
| Ben Bassarab | N/A | N/A | Husband of Allison Hart, divorced |
| Bret Hart | July 2, 1957 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Bruce Hart | January 13, 1951 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Davey Boy Smith | May 18, 1962 | June 5, 2002 (aged 40) | Husband of Diana Hart, now deceased |
| Dean Hart | January 3, 1954 | November 21, 1990 (aged 36) | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Diana Hart | October 8, 1963 | Still alive | Daughter of Stu & Helen |
| Ellie Hart | 1955 | Still alive | Daughter of Stu & Helen |
| Georgia Hart | 1956 | Still alive | Daughter of Stu & Helen |
| Jim Neidhart | February 8, 1955 | August 13, 2018 (aged 63) | Husband of Ellie Hart, now divorced |
| Keith Hart | August 21, 1952 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Martha Hart | October 31, 1966 | Still alive | Wife of Owen Hart |
| Owen Hart | May 7, 1965 | May 7, 1999 (aged 33) | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Ross Hart | January 3, 1961 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Smith Hart | November 28, 1949 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
| Wayne Hart | 1953 | Still alive | Son of Stu & Helen |
Third generation[]
| Name | Birth & Age | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Sabina Hart | May 17, 1988 | Still alive | Son of Bret and Julie |
| Angela Annis | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of B.J. and Georgia |
| Annie Annis | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of B.J. and Georgia |
| Athena Hart | September 23, 1992 | Still alive | Daughter of Owen & Martha |
| Blade Colton Hart | June 5, 1990 | Still alive | Son of Bret and Julie |
| Brooke Bassarab | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of Allison & Ben |
| Dallas Jeffery Hart | August 11, 1984 | Still alive | Son of Bret and Julie |
| Georgia Smith | September 26, 1987 | Still alive | Daughter of Davey & Diana |
| Harry Smith | August 2, 1985 | Still alive | Son of Davey & Diana |
| Jade Michelle Hart | March 31, 1983 | Still alive | Daughter of Bret and Julie |
| Jennifer Neidhart | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of Jim & Ellie |
| Kristen Neidhart | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of Jim & Ellie |
| Lindsay Bassarab | N/A | Still alive | Daughter of Allison & Ben |
| Matt Annis | N/A | N/A | Son of B.J. and Georgia |
| Nattie Neidhart | May 27, 1982 | Still alive | Daughter of Jim & Ellie |
| Oje Edward Hart | March 5, 1992 | Still alive | Son of Owen & Martha |
| Ted Annis | February 2, 1980 | Still alive | Son of B.J. and Georgia |
| TJ Wilson | July 11, 1980 | Still alive |
Husband of Nattie |
Family Tree[]
Note that when Bruce divorced from her ex-wife Andrea Redding, Bruce won the custody of his five children (Bruce Hart Jr., Brit Hart, Rhett Hart, Tory Hart and Lara Hart) from his ex-wife, he then married Rachel Overholt in January 2007 and had their first child later that year naming their son Davis Gene Hart, making his wife Rachel the stepmother of his five step-children who are Bruce Hart Jr., Brit Hart, Rhett Hart, Tory Hart and Lara Hart, it also makes their son Davis the half brother of his four half brothers and one half sister.
DVD[]
Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology is a documentary produced and released by WWE Home Video in collaboration with Hart family members. The DVD chronicles the lineage of the Hart family beginning with the biography of patriarch Stu Hart. It gives a brief accounting of the lives of all Twelve Hart children as well as parents Stu and Helen growing up in Calgary. It describes the deaths of Stu, Helen, Dean, Matthew, Owen, Brian Pillman and Davey Boy Smith with recollections from their loved ones. The DVD concludes with a feature on the Hart Dynasty and their future in WWE.
The Bonus Discs feature matches from Stampede Wrestling, WWF and WWE as well as candid home footage & interviews from the Hart family.
See also[]
External links[]
| Hart Wrestling Family |
|---|
| First generation |
| Stu Hart • Helen Hart |
| Second generation |
| Smith Hart • Bruce Hart • Keith Hart • Wayne Hart • Dean Hart • Ellie Hart • Georgia Hart • Bret Hart • Alison Hart • Ross Hart • Diana Hart • Owen Hart • Jim Neidhart • Ben Bassarab • Davey Boy Smith • Martha Hart |
| Third generation |
| Teddy Hart • Nattie Neidhart • Harry "D.H." Smith |
| Related articles |
| Hart House • The Hart Foundation • The Hart Dynasty |