The Undertaker Nearly Exploded Backstage During the Montreal Screwjob—and WWE Kept It Quiet for Decades
The Undertaker may be long retired from WWE’s ring, but his presence still dominates the company’s most controversial moments. Nearly 30 years after the Montreal Screwjob, a forgotten backstage confrontation involving The Phenom has finally come to light—and it shows just how close things came to spiraling completely out of control.
The infamous Survivor Series 1997 incident remains one of the darkest chapters in wrestling history. Now, new details reveal that the chaos didn’t end when the bell rang. It followed everyone straight behind the curtain.
A Simple Request That Sparked Suspicion
Speaking on Six Feet Under, Bruce Prichard revealed that tensions flared backstage due to a massive misunderstanding. As confusion spread during the main event, Prichard asked Undertaker to step away from the Gorilla Position, believing it was necessary for production flow.
But to Undertaker, the request sounded like something else entirely.
Being asked to leave suggested Prichard already knew what was about to happen to Bret Hart. In that moment, The Deadman believed he was being pushed aside because the plan was already in motion.
The Chilling Moment Outside Vince McMahon’s Office
As Prichard rushed to find Vince McMahon for answers, he was shocked by what he saw next. Undertaker was already there—standing near Vince’s office, silent and unmoving.
To Prichard, it looked like Undertaker was guarding the door.
Prichard insists he had no knowledge of the Screwjob until it unfolded live in the ring. But Undertaker clearly believed otherwise.
After the match, the tension reached its peak.
Prichard recalled approaching Vince’s office only to find Undertaker standing with arms crossed, staring him down. No words were exchanged—but none were needed. The message was clear: Undertaker thought Prichard had been part of the betrayal.
A Locker Room on the Edge
While the confrontation never turned physical, it captured just how volatile the backstage atmosphere had become. Trust had evaporated. Emotions were raw. And even WWE’s most respected locker-room leader was pulled into the fallout.
Nearly three decades later, the Montreal Screwjob still reveals new scars. This unseen Undertaker confrontation is proof that the damage went far beyond Bret Hart—and that night continues to haunt everyone who lived through it.
Even in retirement, The Phenom’s legacy is inseparable from WWE’s most explosive moment.
