Bret Hart details dangerous fan encounters during 1997 WWE run

Professional wrestler Bret Hart has revealed the physical dangers he faced in 1997 while portraying an anti-American "heel" character in the WWE. During an interview with Inside The Ropes, Hart described how the intense fan hostility transitioned from arena boos to dangerous real-world encounters.

Hart stated that fans would chase him down highways and attempt to run his car off the road. He recalled instances where multiple cars would follow him at night, with fans waving pitchforks at him. Because he often traveled alone, Hart felt particularly vulnerable to these attacks.

The situation became so severe that Hart approached Vince McMahon to request security for when he left venues, fearing fans intended to cause him serious physical harm or kill him. Despite his request, Hart noted that the WWE did not assign him specific security at that time.