The first time I saw Owen Hart wrestle live was during an interminably long TV taping in 1992 (the one where Ric Flair nailed McMahon with a chair). He was teaming with Koko B. Ware and they wore those ridiculous MC Hammer pants. Sacrificing his shame for a laugh, Owen pulled his pants way up past his stomach and danced for the crowd after their match.

The second time was at the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull, a legendary (in my mind) venue where I had seen some great cards put on by the defunct International Wrestling promotion. I had seen All Japan's Toshiaki Kawada cut his teeth in the same ring where I was now watching Bret and Owen Hart continue their classic feud. The match wasn't much but it was technically sound and I had a good time cheering for Owen.

Finally, in the same building, I saw Owen and Davey Boy Smith team up but I just can't remember who their opponents were. They may have been the Gunns, or they may have been the Bodydonnas. No matter, I remember them playing Smith's ring music twice all the way through before he finally came out. At the time I thought he was stuck on the can. Now I can't help but thinking that it had more to do with a prank by Owen Hart. That's what I like to think.

The news has hit me harder than any other death in professional wrestling. More than anything else, it was a truly horrific way to die. I get uneasy just looking up at the ceiling in an arena. Owen didn't deserve to live his last few seconds in terror. We've all had the nightmare where we're falling. We woke up. He didn't.

Raw drove it home even harder. Not only was Owen the great ring technician we all knew about, he was also one of the nicest guys to ever step into a wrestling locker room. The way Jeff Jarrett put it was incredibly powerful. All of the interviews were stellar but Debra's touched me the most. You could see the joy Owen had brought into her life. Just thinking about what they all said is hard. The closing remarks by Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler revealed tremendous depth of character. I can't put into words how impressed I was with what they said. Even now, I just want to cry.

The rest of the show was great. Just wrestling. And it ALL worked.

Please join me in donating however much you can on behalf of Owen Hart to the Alberta Children's Hospital. Let's make something good come of this.

Alberta Children's Hospital
1820 Richmond Rd. SW
Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
T2T 5C7

Oliver

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