Bret Hart (son of Stu Hart) speaks during a ceremony naming a Calgary highway bridge after his father.
Bridge named after professional wrestling legend Stu Hart
A highway bridge that crosses the Elbow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada has been renamed after famed professional wrestler Stu Hart.
The westbound Highway 8 span will now be known as the Stu Hart Memorial Bridge after the late founder of Stampede Wrestling who passed away in 2003.
“When I think of the award or the honor of a bridge being named after my father, when I think of my dad, I think (of) someone that’s very strong, solid, sturdy as a rock,” said Bret Hart, who spoke about his father at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“In a lot of ways, it’s very symbolic for my father to be honored with a bridge, because he was a bridge in many ways to so many people and so many things, from wrestling to just his roots in Canada, and his special pride with his wrestling product,” said Hart.
Stu Hart founded Stampede Wrestling in 1948, a Calgary-based promotion that became a key territory in North America and helped launch the careers of numerous wrestlers. He was renowned for his training facility, the infamous “Hart Dungeon” in the basement of his home, where he rigorously trained aspiring wrestlers, including legends like Dynamite Kid, Junkyard Dog, and his own family members.
As the patriarch of the Hart wrestling dynasty, Stu was married to Helen Hart and fathered 12 children, eight of whom entered the wrestling business, most notably Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Owen Hart, both WWE Hall of Famers.
His grandchildren, including Natalya and David Hart Smith, also became professional wrestlers. Hart’s tough, no-nonsense style as a shooter (a wrestler skilled in legitimate submissions) earned him a fearsome reputation, with stories of him stretching trainees in painful holds becoming part of wrestling lore.
In addition to his wrestling career, Hart was involved in community service and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2000 for his contributions to sports and charity. He passed away on October 16, 2003, at the age of 88, leaving a lasting legacy in professional wrestling. His life has been documented in books like “Stu Hart: Lord of the Ring” and various wrestling media.
