Professional wrestlers train constantly and for years to perform the stunts, jumps, and body slams in the ring as part of their job description. Despite this, sometimes accidents happen, bones get broken, and occasionally, although rarely, someone dies.
The death of Owen Hart in May 1999, was like nothing that had happened before.
Canadian by birth, he came from a wrestling family who had their own organization, Stampede Wrestling, and he started his professional career under their banner. During this early stage of his profession, he also wrestled under the World Championship Wrestling federation and even went to Japan and Germany for a while.
He first joined the WWF in 1988, wrestling as The Blue Blazer, replete with a costume and a cape to complete his superhero look. It was here that he became a headliner and spent most of his 12-year career. Here he became the Intercontinental Champion, WWF European Champion, and the WWF Tag Team Champion, four times, and was the main draw on several pay-per-view events.
He left and returned to the WWF on several occasions over the years, winning and losing titles, absorbing bumps and bruises as was the life of a professional wrestler. But all good things must come to an end and Owen began to plan his exit from the wrestling world when his current contract was up. He was approaching 34 years old and had invested wisely over the years, so knew he would have a comfortable life with his wife and kids.
On May 23, 1999, The Blue Blazer was to headline a pay-per-view event at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, called Over The Edge. It was hyped as unmissable.
To make the evening unforgettable, an extra stunt was added so The Blue Blazer could swoop into the ring from above just like his superhero character. The idea was to have Hart rappel into the ring in a harness, unbuckle himself with a flick of his wrist, and get down to business. In practice, however, the backup release mechanisms proved to be too clumsy, too time-consuming to unlatch.
The solution was to use a quick release ‘nautical clip’ instead so that he would not have to waste time clumsily unbuckling himself from the harness and, even though Owen had his doubts, they all agreed that it would make for great television.
This type of quick release clip was designed specifically for sailboat masts and when several of the stunt crew were asked to test it, only one of them was crazy enough to give it a go.
On the night of the match, innocent fun took a horrific turn. Somehow, the quick-release nautical clip was triggered accidentally at the very start of his descent. He was immediately snapped free from his safety wire and was sent plummeting 80 feet towards the ground. His fall was halted when he slammed brutally against the top rope.
At first, neither the crowd nor wrestlers waiting to get into the ring knew if this was part of the show, as Owen was known as a prankster, or if it was for real. The sight of the EMTs rushing into the ring convinced them that this was no stunt, and a shocked silence enshrouded the arena.
Friends and fellow wrestlers watched on in disbelief as he was wheeled past them on a stretcher, an EMT frantically administering CPR to the unresponsive performer. It was to be in vain and he passed away from his injuries.
The cause of his death was recorded as blunt force trauma, and, due to equipment malfunction, Owen Hart was never able to enjoy the retirement he had meticulously planned.