James Henry Neidhart was an American professional wrestler known for his work in the WWF during the 80s and 90s. He gained prominence primarily as a member of The Hart Foundation, the tag team alongside his brother-in-law Bret Hart, with whom he won the WWF World Tag Team Championship twice. Neidhart was also part of the famous Hart wrestling family through his marriage to Ellie Hart, daughter of Stu Hart.
Before becoming a wrestler, Neidhart was a standout athlete in high school, setting a shot put record. After a brief stint in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, he moved to Calgary to train with Stu Hart and join Stampede Wrestling, where he won the International Tag Team Championship twice.
Neidhart made his WWF debut in 1985, initially as a singles wrestler. However, his real success came when he teamed up with Bret Hart to form The Hart Foundation. Together, they dominated the tag team division, winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship in 1987. Throughout their careers, they faced other major teams like Demolition and Strike Force, and their tag move, the Hart Attack, became iconic.
In 1991, Neidhart briefly teamed with Owen Hart to form The New Foundation, but his time in the WWF ended in 1992 when he was fired for refusing a drug test. After leaving WWF, he had stints in WCW and ECW, but his career in those companies was less prominent.
Neidhart returned to WWF briefly in 1994 as part of the heel side alongside his brother-in-law Owen Hart, reuniting in a new version of The Hart Foundation and facing off against wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin. In 1997, after one final return to WWF, Neidhart left the company and retired more definitively.
In his later years, Neidhart appeared at several independent events, with his last match taking place in 2016. Despite personal issues, including drug arrests, and his battle with the passing of time, Neidhart left behind a significant legacy in the wrestling world.
On August 13, 2018, he passed away at the age of 63 after an accident at his home. His death was attributed to a head injury after he fell while trying to adjust the thermostat. WWE paid tribute to Neidhart, remembering his contributions to wrestling and his legacy as one of the greats in WWF history.
