Keith Hart (wrestler): Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|Canadian professional wrestler}}

|birth_place = [[Great Falls, Montana]], U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHFN8ghhSso |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/vHFN8ghhSso |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Surviving The Dungeon Extra: Ross Hart on The Hart Siblings (1 of 2)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noplacelikelongisland.com/home/2016/5/13/smith-hart-on-the-hart-familys-ties-to-long-island-the-city-of-long-beach-and-more|title=Smith Hart on The Hart Family's ties to Long Island, the city of Long Beach, and more|website=noplacelikelongisland.com|publisher=No Place Likelong Island|date=May 19, 2016|accessdateaccess-date=2015-05-31|archive-date=2016-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526130713/http://www.noplacelikelongisland.com/home/2016/5/13/smith-hart-on-the-hart-familys-ties-to-long-island-the-city-of-long-beach-and-more|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|spouse = Leslie duBerger (divorced)<ref>{{cite book | last = Hart | first = Diana | author-link = Diana Hart |author2=McLellan, Kirstie | title = [[Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family]] | publisher = [[Fenn (publisher)|Fenn]] | year = 2001 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-55168-256-7| page = 84 pp}}</ref> <br/> {{Marriage|Joan Hart|2002}}<ref>{{cite book | last = Hart | first = Martha | authorlink1author-link1 = Martha Hart |author2=Francis, Eric | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 253 pp}}</ref>

|debut = 1973<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/canadianwrestlemedia/Canwest5.htm Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20240524144150/https://www.webcitation.org/5knSG6rek?url=http://www.geocities.com/canadianwrestlemedia/Canwest5.htm |date=20092024-1005-2524 }} (Stampede, June 1, 1973)</ref>

'''Keith William Hart''' (born August 21, 1951) is aan Canadian-American born-Canadian retired [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[firefighter]]. He is a member of the [[Hart wrestling family]] and the third child of Helen and [[Stu Hart]], [[Order of Canada|CM]]. He is best known for his work for [[Stampede Wrestling]] and several appearances for [[WWE]], often with his siblings [[Bret Hart|Bret]], [[Owen Hart|Owen]], [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce]] and [[Diana Hart|Diana]]. In Stampede he won several championships and for WWE he participated in the [[Survivor Series (1993)|seventh]] edition of [[Survivor Series]].

Hart is the third child of wrestling promoter [[Stu Hart]] and his wife Helen, thus he is the younger brother of [[Smith Hart|Smith]] and [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce]] and the older brother of Wayne, [[Dean Hart|Dean]], Ellie, Georgia, [[Bret Hart|Bret]], Alison, [[Ross Hart|Ross]], Alison, [[Diana Hart|Diana]] and [[Owen Hart]].

He is of [[Greeks|Greek]] descent through his maternal grandmother and Irish through his maternal grandfather.<ref>{{cite book| last = Hart | first = Bret | author-link = Bret Hart | title = Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling | publisher = Ebury Press | year = 2007 | location =| url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780091932862| page = 8 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/26902 |title=Ask 411 - 5.07.02 |accessdate= |author=Letawsky, Craig |author-link= |date=2002-05-07 |format= |publisher=411wrestling.com |pages= |language= |quote= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722015454/http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/26902 |archive-date=2012-07-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Hart | first = Diana | author-link = Diana Hart |author2=McLellan, Kirstie | title = [[Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family]] | publisher = [[Fenn (publisher)|Fenn]] | year = 2001 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-55168-256-7| page = 16 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Heath McCoy | title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = 30 pp}}</ref> His father was mainly of [[Ulster Scots people|Scots-Irish]] descent but also had Scottish and English ancestry.<ref>{{cite book | author-link = John Lister | title = Slamthology: Collected Wrestling Writings 1991-2004 | publisher = jnlister | year = 2005 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-4116-5329-7| page = 252 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Heath McCoy | title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = 16 pp}}</ref> Hart is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.<ref>{{cite book | author1 = [[Martha Hart]] | author-link = Martha Hart |author2= Eric Francis | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | location =| url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 84 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBretHart9799/hitman_may17.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011939/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBretHart9799/hitman_may17.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= March 5, 2016|title= An open letter to Shawn Michaels |date=May 17, 1997 |publisher=http: canoe}}</ref>

Hart trained under his father and began wrestling on June 1, 1973 in his father's [[professional wrestling promotion|promotion]], [[Stampede Wrestling]], facing Lindy Calder in his debut match. He spent much of his career as a [[tag team]] wrestler, teaming with wrestlers such as his brother [[Bret Hart|Bret]], with whom he won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship four times. He [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuded]] with wrestlers such as Dick Steinborn, Dynamite Kid, Herbert Gallant, K J Anderssen, [[Mr. Hito]], and [[Kazuo Sakurada|Mr. Sakurada]]. As a singles wrestler he held the British Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight title. In addition to wrestling in Canada, Hart performed in [[Germany]], Japan and made infrequent appearances in the [[United States|United States of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/keith-hart-479.html |title=Keith Hart: Profile & Match Listing |website=profightdb.com |publisher= The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref> At one point, [[Dave Meltzer]] referred to Hart as one of the best [[job (professional wrestling)|jobbers]] in wrestling.<ref name=02111991WON>{{cite web|url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-11-1991-wrestling-observer-newsletter-wrestlemania-relocated|title=February 11, 1991 Observer Newsletter: Wrestlemania relocated, Clash of Champions reviewed|author=Observer Staff|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|website=F4WOnline.com|date=February 11, 1991|accessdateaccess-date=September 7, 2019}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

In the 1990s, Hart worked as a trainer in the [[Hart Dungeon]] (the [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|wrestling training camp]] located in the basement of the Hart family [[mansion]]). He eventually retired in 1995 to become a full-time firefighter, although he briefly came out of retirement in 1999 when Stampede Wrestling was reopened by his brothers Bruce and Ross Hart. Hart became a tag team champion with [[Chris Benoit#Stampede Wrestling (1985–1989)|Chris Benoit]].

In the late 1970s, at the urging of his brother-in-law, [[B. J. Annis]], Hart passed a test and was accepted into the [[Calgary Fire Department]]. As a result, he largely reduced his wrestling commitments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/k/keith-hart/|title=Keith Hart|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdateaccess-date=2016-05-08}}</ref> Hart would work for Annis until 2007, when he retired from firefighting after 26 years and began working as a [[substitute teacher]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2016/02/05/22600990.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208161304/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2016/02/05/22600990.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2016|title=Hart Family, friends, fans stand behind Hitman|website=canoe.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bret Hart reveals cancer diagnosis on Facebook|publisher=[[Calgary Sun]]| url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/02/01/bret-hart-reveals-cancer-diagnosis-on-facebook|author=Platt, Michael|date=February 1, 2016}}</ref> He is known to teach in Calgary and [[Okotoks]] (just outside Calgary).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1wrestling.com/2010/04/14/ringside-remembrances-the-hart-dynasty/ |title=RINGSIDE REMEMBRANCES — THE HART DYNASTY |date=April 14, 2010 |work=[[1Wrestling.com|1Wrestling]] |author=Staff |archive-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171225162021/http://www.1wrestling.com/2010/04/14/ringside-remembrances-the-hart-dynasty/ |access-date=3 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Meltzer, Dave. [https://books.google.com/books?hl=sv&id=-rFZAAAAYAAJ&dq=stu+hart+football&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=stu+hart%27s+son "The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling".] [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]. page 54. (1986)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highrivertimes.com/2009/03/17/pro-wrestler-loves-substitute-teaching |title= Pro-wrestler loves substitute teaching |author= Interim, Angela |date=March 17, 2009 |publisher=[[High River Times]] |accessdateaccess-date=2017-11-08 |archive-date=2017-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109024307/http://www.highrivertimes.com/2009/03/17/pro-wrestler-loves-substitute-teaching |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[1993 Alberta general election|1993 Alberta provincial election]], Keith was the [[Liberal Party of Alberta|Liberal Party of Alberta's]] candidate in the Northeast Calgary riding of [[Calgary-Cross]], coming in 2nd place with 33.12% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Elections Database |url=http://canadianelectionsdatabase.ca/PHASE4/?p=0&type=election&ID=349#page_1=constituency_2031}}</ref>

Hart has appeared on several wrestling documentaries, including the 1998 documentary ''[[Wrestling with Shadows]]'' and 2010's ''[[Bret Hart: Survival of the Hitman|Survival of the Hitman]]'' which are both about his younger brother Bret. Hart was also present on the stage together with all his living siblings when his father Stu Hart was posthumously inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfidlTyxPC4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/vfidlTyxPC4 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Bret Hart and the Hart family speak on behalf of Stu Hart|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/|title=Ronda de noticias WWE|date=May 1, 2010|website=solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com}}</ref>

In 1993 Hart and his first wife won $100,000 in a lottery. He spent some of the money on an unsuccessful campaign to get elected to provincial office.<ref>{{cite book| last = Hart | first = Bret | author-link = Bret Hart | title = Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling | publisher = Ebury Press | year = 2007 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780091932862| page = 169 pp}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite book| last1 = Hart | first1 = Diana | author-link = Diana Hart |last2=McLellan |first2=Kirstie | title = [[Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family]] | publisher = [[Fenn (publisher)|Fenn]] | year = 2001 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-55168-256-7| page = 84 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Election Database-Candidate History |url=http://canadianelectionsdatabase.ca/PHASE4/?p=0&type=person&ID=13226}}</ref>

Hart has three sons with his ex-wife Leslie,<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Hart | first1 = Diana | author-link = Diana Hart |last2=McLellan |first2=Kirstie | title = [[Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family]] | publisher = [[Fenn (publisher)|Fenn]] | year = 2001 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-55168-256-7| page = 49 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Hart | first = Martha | author-link = Martha Hart |author2=Francis, Eric | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 69 pp}}</ref> Stewart Hart II, Conor Hart and Brock Hart. The couple divorced in 1995.<ref name="auto1"/> Conor pursued amateur wrestling at the University of Calgary and coaches a local high school team.<ref name="godinos">{{cite web|url= http://www.godinos.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=414&path=|title= godinos: roaster: Conor Hart |accessdateaccess-date=8 December 2015|publisher= godinos.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010630-sun.html |titlearchive-url=https://archive.today/20180204204136/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010630-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |title=Torch passed to up-and-comers |accessdateaccess-date=June 30, 2001 |publisher=Slam Canoe }}</ref> His other son Stewart has also pursued amateur wrestling and has won a medal in

his school championship but does not wish to work with pro wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/may2_hart2.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150818192054/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/may2_hart2.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= August 18, 2015|title= Sage advice from Uncle Bret |date = May 2, 1998 |publisher=Slam Canoe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/may2_hart.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818192050/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/may2_hart.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |title= Stu Hart's grandson continues family tradition |date = May 2, 1998 |publisher=Slam Canoe}}</ref>

In 2002 Keith married for the second time to his long-time girlfriend Joan.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hart | first = Martha | authorlink1author-link1 = Martha Hart |author2=Francis, Eric | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | location = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 253 pp}}</ref>

*'''[[SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame|Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''

**Class of 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/hallofame.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429003907/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/hallofame.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 29, 2015 |title=Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame |date =April 3, 2016|work=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url =https://archive.today/20120728151049/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling/harts.html|archive-date =28 July 2012|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling/harts.html |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: The Hart Family |date =February 1, 2001|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|author =Oliver, Greg|url-status =usurped|author-link =Greg Oliver}}</ref>

**CAWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Vinnie Fever<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canoe.com/category/sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206141403/http://canoe.com/category/sports|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2017|title=Canoe Sports &#124; Videos & Photos News Results Scoreboard & Statistics &#124; Canoe}}</ref>

** Prairie Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2010/06/15/14402076.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20180116095112/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2010/06/15/14402076.html|archive-date =16 January 2018|accessdateaccess-date =2018-01-16 |title=Booker T enjoying life away from the spotlight|author=Clevette, Jason|date= June 16, 2010|work=[[SLAM! Wrestling]]|publisher=[[Canoe.com]]}}</ref>

**[[Stampede International Tag Team Championship|NWA International Tag Team Championship ''(Calgary version)'']] ([[Stampede International Tag Team Championship#Title history|78 times]]) - with Leo Burke (2), [[BretHubert Hart]]Gallant (41), and Hubert[[Bret GallantHart]] (15)

**[[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-pac-h.html |title=Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Title |accessdate= |author= |author-link= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |quote= }}</ref>

**[[Stampede Wrestling#Hall of Fame|Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (Class of 1995)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 |access-date= |series=Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart |series-link=Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show |first=Ed (host) |last=Whalen |network=[[Shaw Communications|Shaw Cable]] |station=[[CICT-DT|Calgary 7]] |date=December 15, 1995 |time=27:55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |accessdate= |author= |author-link= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |quote= }}</ref>

* {{Cite book|author= Hart, Bruce|title= Straight from the Hart|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jHKf2e9lin4C&q=hart+foundation&pg=PT249 |publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2011|pages=272pp |name-list-style=amp|isbn=978-1-55022-939-4}}

* {{cite web | url = http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/06/18/1639663.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150818191922/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/06/18/1639663.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 18, 2015 | title = Catching up with Keith Hart | author = Billy Powers | publisher = Calgary Sun, via Canoe| work=SLAM! Wrestling | accessdateaccess-date=2016-04-07 | date = June 18, 2006}}

* {{cite web | url = http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/19/8805796.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150917071357/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/03/19/8805796.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 17, 2015 | title = Keith Hart loves substitute teaching | author = Angela Hill | via = Canoe.com | work =SLAM! Wrestling | accessdateaccess-date=2016-04-07 | date = March 19, 2009}}

[[Category:American peoplesportspeople of Canadian descent]]