--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at wrestling when I started…" description: "\"If you look at wrestling when I started to get my big break back in 1992, I changed wrestling from the cartoons of Hulk Hogan and Iron Sheik and the ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/bret-hart-4692_big_if-you-look-at-wrestling-when-i-started_1278311.jpg" --- # If you look at wrestling when I started to get my big… ![“If you look at wrestling when I started to get my big break back in 1992, I changed wrestling from the cartoons of Hulk Hogan and Iron Sheik and the matches with the leg drop and the hand behind the ear and the playing to the crowd. They were just cartoon characters if you ask me.” quote by Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/bret-hart-4692_big_if-you-look-at-wrestling-when-i-started_1278311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/bret-hart-4692_big_if-you-look-at-wrestling-when-i-started_1278311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/bret-hart-4692_big_if-you-look-at-wrestling-when-i-started_1278311.jpg) > “If you look at wrestling when I started to get my big break back in 1992, I changed wrestling from the cartoons of Hulk Hogan and Iron Sheik and the matches with the leg drop and the hand behind the ear and the playing to the crowd. They were just cartoon characters if you ask me.” [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hart argues that early 1990s wrestling was overly theatrical and lacked realism, and he helped shift it toward more athletic competition. **In simple terms:** Wrestling became more sport‑like, less cartoonish. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity in performance. Themes sports entertainment authenticity evolution culture Mood nostalgic critical reflective Type analytical historical When to use this quote - training athletes - promoting realistic matches - rebranding sports entertainment - media analysis Key Concepts professional wrestling performance art media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can sports balance spectacle and authenticity? - What does realism bring to audience engagement? A Different Perspective Some fans miss the flamboyant spectacle of earlier eras. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-break/) [Cartoon Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-characters/) [Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons/) [Changed Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-wrestling-4122071/) [Crowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowd/) [Hulk Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hulk-hogan/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-wrestling-804406/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) [Wrestling Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling-cartoons-4122072/) [Wrestling Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling-started-362813/) ## Related quotes > [Something happened in 1997 that changed the whole industry, at least for the next five, six, or seven years. It wasn't about the 24-inch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/something-happened-in-1997-that-changed-the-whole-industry-at-least/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [I very seldom look at wrestling magazines. Whenever I do, I get angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-sammartino/i-very-seldom-look-at-wrestling-magazines-whenever-i-do-i-get-angry/) [Bruno Sammartino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-sammartino/) > [We're changing the way people are going to look at wrestling, women's wrestling, forever. Forever. And we're at the start of it? That's unbelievable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-lynch/we-re-changing-the-way-people-are-going-to-look-at-wrestling-women-s/) [Becky Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-lynch/) > [Look at the wrestling business today. You've got a bunch of guys jumping around doing dangerous stunts and silly-looking dance moves. Like, I'm gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-drake/look-at-the-wrestling-business-today-you-ve-got-a-bunch-of-guys/) [Eli Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-drake/) > [People can say what they want about Eric Bischoff, and I've heard a lot of people make negative comments about him. I'll comment on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-douglas/people-can-say-what-they-want-about-eric-bischoff-and-i-ve-heard-a/) [Shane Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-douglas/) > [That's how I look at it, if you're a wrestling fan, either support everybody and their families to make a living or just hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/that-s-how-i-look-at-it-if-you-re-a-wrestling-fan-either-support/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [We love professional wrestling. It started with High Chief Peter Maivia and then Afa and Sika. The teachings that they have. The respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikishi/we-love-professional-wrestling-it-started-with-high-chief-peter/) [Rikishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rikishi/) > [For a long time, almost 14 years, I wrestled in Japan, so I didn't think I would leave New Japan Pro Wrestling, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/for-a-long-time-almost-14-years-i-wrestled-in-japan-so-i-didn-t-think/) [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/) > [Growing up watching WWE, they used to have bra-and-panties matches or pillow fights, and that's why my mom didn't want me to watch wrestling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayley/growing-up-watching-wwe-they-used-to-have-bra-and-panties-matches-or/) [Bayley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayley/) > [When I got into professional wrestling, I started, and I starved for two years, and I finally got some breaks. And then I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-got-into-professional-wrestling-i-started-and-i-starved-for/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [There were people that grabbed you just by talking, and that's what I loved about professional wrestling when I started out. That's why I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/there-were-people-that-grabbed-you-just-by-talking-and-that-s-what-i/) [Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/) > [When I started wrestling, I started only to get in shape. I found out that a wrestling school had opened in Ireland, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-lynch/when-i-started-wrestling-i-started-only-to-get-in-shape-i-found-out/) [Becky Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-lynch/) > [The only thing Hulk Hogan ever knew was how to make Hulk Hogan. He couldn't tell you how to make AJ Styles or Samoa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/the-only-thing-hulk-hogan-ever-knew-was-how-to-make-hulk-hogan-he/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [When you see Bret Hart versus Steve Austin, it just seemed so much more real than Hulk Hogan versus Sgt. Slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/when-you-see-bret-hart-versus-steve-austin-it-just-seemed-so-much/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [If I was going to build a logical defense for myself in a match against Hulk Hogan, I think I would try to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/if-i-was-going-to-build-a-logical-defense-for-myself-in-a-match/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) ## More by Bret Hart > [Bill Goldberg kicked me in the head and ended my career because he didn't know what he was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/bill-goldberg-kicked-me-in-the-head-and-ended-my-career-because-he/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [After being signed by WWE, Edge, Christian, Mark Henry, Giant Silva, Test and Ken Shamrock all trained at my house. I had a pool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/after-being-signed-by-wwe-edge-christian-mark-henry-giant-silva-test/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [Every year, I think you earn the right to eat cake on your birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/every-year-i-think-you-earn-the-right-to-eat-cake-on-your-birthday/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [There's a lot of talent out there that miss their opportunities, and I just hope that AJ Styles doesn't waste his life in TNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/there-s-a-lot-of-talent-out-there-that-miss-their-opportunities-and-i/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [I think Daniel Bryan reminds me a lot of my brother, Owen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/i-think-daniel-bryan-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-brother-owen/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [Flair was a tricky guy to work with when I worked with Ric. When he was champion, we had much better matches, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/flair-was-a-tricky-guy-to-work-with-when-i-worked-with-ric-when-he/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [I love when I think about the SummerSlam match against The Undertaker. What a great match, wonderful story. Two wrestlers that had such great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/i-love-when-i-think-about-the-summerslam-match-against-the-undertaker/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [If I was going to build a logical defense for myself in a match against Hulk Hogan, I think I would try to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/if-i-was-going-to-build-a-logical-defense-for-myself-in-a-match/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [Hogan had the same match every night for years, and so did Warrior. They didn't tell great stories, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/hogan-had-the-same-match-every-night-for-years-and-so-did-warrior/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [I owe a lot to Roddy Piper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/i-owe-a-lot-to-roddy-piper/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [Something happened in 1997 that changed the whole industry, at least for the next five, six, or seven years. It wasn't about the 24-inch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/something-happened-in-1997-that-changed-the-whole-industry-at-least/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [My heart was always dedicated to giving fans around the world the best match possible, and the fans grew with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/my-heart-was-always-dedicated-to-giving-fans-around-the-world-the/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [My relationship with fans is based off the love of my work and my work ethic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/my-relationship-with-fans-is-based-off-the-love-of-my-work-and-my/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [All the times they put tag titles on me, Intercontinental titles on me, or the world title on me, the only time I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/all-the-times-they-put-tag-titles-on-me-intercontinental-titles-on-me/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) > [If you watch punches, kicks, and moves where there is contact, Cody Rhodes is one of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/if-you-watch-punches-kicks-and-moves-where-there-is-contact-cody/) [Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) [Explore all 107 Bret Hart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? 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