Keith Hart (wrestler)

Keith Hart
Birth name Keith William Hart
Born August 21, 1952
Great Falls, Montana
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Keith Hart
Billed height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Billed weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Trained by Stu Hart
Debut June 1, 1973 [1]
Retired 2000

Keith William Hart (born August 21, 1952) is a Canadian retired firefighter and professional wrestler. He is one of the sons of Stu Hart, CM.

Career

Before becoming a wrestler, Keith Hart earned a degree in teaching. He is of Greek descent through his maternal grandparents. Hart trained under his father and began wrestling on June 1, 1973 in his father's 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, with whom he won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship four times. He feuded with wrestlers such as Dick Steinborn, Mr. Hito, and Mr. Sakurada. In addition to wrestling in Canada, Hart performed in Germany and made infrequent appearances in the United States of America.

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 firefighter department. As a result, he largely reduced his wrestling commitments.

As part of the feud between Bret and Jerry Lawler, at the 1993 Survivor Series Bret and his brothers Keith, Bruce and Owen faced Shawn Michaels and his three masked knights. Though Owen was eliminated and Keith's shoulder was injured by a prolonged assault at the hands of Michaels, the Hart brothers were victorious.

In the 1990s, Hart worked as a trainer in the Hart Dungeon (the 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.

Following the death of Stu Hart on October 16, 2003, the Hart family sold the Hart mansion. On August 14, 2004 Hart organised a fundraiser, held within the mansion, for the Stu Hart Amateur Sport Foundation (which supports amateur wrestling in the Calgary area).

Hart retired as a firefighter in 2006 after 27 years and began working as a substitute teacher. He is known to teach in Calgary and Okotoks (just outside of Calgary)

Personal life

Hart has three sons, Stewart Hart II, Conor Hart and Brock Hart. Conor pursued amateur wrestling at the University of Calgary and coaches a local high school team.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • CAWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Vinnie Fever
  • PPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bruce Hart

References

  1. ↑ Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive (Stampede, June 1, 1973)
  2. ↑ "Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  3. ↑ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

External links