WWE legend Bret Hart reveals battle with cancer

MANILA, Philippines – Bret “The Hitman” Hart, a 58-year-old professional wrestling legend who rose to stardom under the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) banner in the early ’90s, has revealed that he is currently battling prostate cancer.

Hart, who is known for his signature “sharpshooter” submission hold in the squared-circle, disclosed his illness in an emotional post across multiple social media platforms.

It is with great remorse that I feel compelled to speak truthfully to my friends, family and my millions of fans around the world. In the past few years, I’ve spent more than enough time paying the price for all those years trying to be the best there ever was as a professional wrestler. I executed excellently and my proudest claim was that I never seriously hurt or injured another wrestler in my 23 year career. I’ve paid a price for all that “fake” wrestling … Mark Helprin wrote: “We are all perfect clocks that Divinity has set to ticking when, even before birth, the heart explodes into a lifelong dance.” I’ve had a great lifelong dance and I’m a survivor of many hard battles. I now face my toughest battle. With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer. In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all. My fans have always looked upon me as a hero and I’ve always done my best to live up to that in and out of the ring. I beat the odds when I suffered my stroke in 2002, but it is now yet again, that I … stand unafraid and face the tough road ahead of me, I will march toward this destiny with his spirit chanting in my ear. I make a solemn vow to all of those that once believed in me, the dead and the living, that I will wage my fearsome fight against cancer with one shield and one sword carrying my determination and my fury for life, emboldened by all the love that’s kept me going this long already. Love is my weapon and I’ve got much of it around me all the time, for which I’m truly blessed and eternally grateful. My children, grandchildren, and my loving wife Steph have been and will constantly be at my side. I refuse to lose, I will never give in or give up, and I will win this battle or die trying. Most important of all, I hope can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten. B x

A photo posted by Bret (@brethitmanhart) on Feb 1, 2016 at 8:28am PST

“With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer,” he wrote. “In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all.”

Although he is facing a tough challenge, Hart remains optimistic and vows to fight the disease.

“I refuse to lose, I will never give in or give up, and I will win this battle or die trying,” he stated. “Most important of all, I hope I can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten.”

Hart had faced several health issues in the past, most notably a 1999 concussion which led to his retirement from in-ring wrestling activity. 

Prior to hanging up his trademark sunglasses, black leather jacket, and pink wrestling tights, Hart became one of the most-well known figures during his generation, winning the WWE world heavyweight championship 5 times.

In the WWE, Hart had a notable feud with fellow high-profile performer Shawn Michaels that concluded in the infamous Montreal Screwjob during the 1997 Survivor Series.

Head honcho Vince McMahon manipulated the outcome of the Hart-Michaels match, without Hart’s knowledge. “The Hitman” lost the title to Michaels, and he ended up leaving the WWE for its rival, World Championship Wrestling.

But Hart eventually buried the hatchet with the promotion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. He continues to make appearances every now and then for the organization. – Rappler.com