At WWE Survivor Sequence 1997, former WWE referee Earl Hebner declared that “The Heartbreak Child” Shawn Michaels defeated Bret “The Hitman” Hart by way of disqualification after Hart “tapped out” to the Sharpshooter, when in truth, Hart had not. This sequence of occasions, which unfolded within the metropolis of Montreal, Quebec, famously turned referred to as The Montreal Screwjob. Quick ahead 26 years, Hebner confronted the same scenario at TNA Slammiversary, as Mustafa Ali defended the TNA X-Division Championship in opposition to “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
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On this event, additionally happening in Montreal, the unique referee was inadvertently knocked out by a superkick from Bailey, which paved the best way for the shock look of a referee-shirt-wearing Hebner. Upon Hebner’s arrival, Ali positioned Bailey within the Sharpshooter. This transfer prompted Hebner to show towards the timekeeper’s space and tease a repeat of The Montreal Screwjob. Reluctantly, Hebner selected to as an alternative redeem himself, and proceed his officiating in an trustworthy vogue.
A lot to the dismay of Ali, Hebner’s honorableness allowed Bailey to shift momentum into his favor by dodging a chair-shot earlier than trapping Ali in a Sharpshooter. The results of this Sharpshooter noticed Ali clearly faucet out, signaling the top of his X-Division Championship reign, and the start of Bailey’s second.
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Along with being the host metropolis of Survivor Sequence 1997 and TNA Slammiversary 2024, Montreal can be in shut proximity to Bailey’s hometown of Laval, Quebec, Canada, successfully making his victory at Slammiversary a homecoming celebration of kinds. Ali and Bailey beforehand confronted off at Status Wrestling’s A Second Of Violence occasion in February, which noticed the previous emerge victorious.
