Diana Hart has gone public with a pointed rebuke of her brother Bret Hart, disputing his long-standing claims about the condition of her late ex-husband Davey Boy Smith during their iconic SummerSlam 1992 match at Wembley Stadium.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Hart accused Bret of stating his version of events "as facts" rather than opinions, and said many of his claims about Davey's physical or mental state at the 1992 show are "simply not true."
The SummerSlam 1992 Dispute
Bret has spoken publicly on multiple occasions about carrying Davey Boy Smith through the 25-minute Intercontinental Championship match at Wembley Stadium, stating that Smith was in poor physical condition on the night. Diana directly challenges that narrative.
She revealed that Davey was in fact recovering from necrotizing fasciitis, a serious and life-threatening flesh-eating infection, at the time of the match.
Diana said the family has proof of the diagnosis and noted that Davey chose not to disclose his condition publicly. "He simply did the work," she wrote.
Diana argued that the match footage itself contradicts Bret's characterization. "Davey's performance shows no evidence of impairment," she wrote. "On the contrary, it reflects Davey's professionalism, strength and focus."
Accusations Against Bret Hart
Diana also took aim at Bret's broader retelling of the bout, writing that he now "cites this incredible match as great solely because of his own alleged brilliance, assigning himself all credit while diminishing Davey's invaluable role."
She further suggested Bret's current recollections may be influenced by the stroke he suffered in the summer of 2002, and noted that Davey died in May 2002 prior to that stroke. That left a full decade from 1992 to 2002 during which Bret could have raised his concerns directly with Smith. Diana said he never did.
"The absurd and hurtful accusations began after Davey was no longer alive to respond," she wrote.
Diana stated she has made multiple appeals to Bret to "restrain and refrain" but said he has refused.
She described what she called a "long-standing pattern of self-aggrandizement" and said she bases that view on her lived experience growing up with him. "What I will not accept is history being rewritten after the fact," she wrote, "especially when the person being totally discredited is no longer alive to defend himself."
The Hart vs. Smith match at SummerSlam 1992 is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Davey Boy Smith, who passed away in May 2002 at age 39, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020. Diana was among the family members who accepted his induction on his behalf.
