In March 1997, just as Owen and the Bulldog were set to battle on RAW, further splintering the Hart family, Bret came out and convinced Owen and Smith to put their differences aside and join him to form a new, more powerful Hart Foundation. In one of the most emotional and controversial moments of all time, the new Hart Foundation decried the United States, but remained overwhelmingly popular in Canada and Europe. Soon, Jim Neidhart and the late Brian Pillman were added to the mix. Never before had RAW IS WAR been such a different show from week to week as it was during that time, from spring until fall of 1997. The location of the show—whether it was in the U.S. or Canada—dictating whether Stone Cold Steve Austin was loved or hated by the fans. 

During his tenure with the Hart Foundation, Owen captured the Intercontinental Championship on two occasions, and lost it twice to Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

But in November, the Hart Foundation came to an abrupt end. The events involving Bret Hart and Vince McMahon at the 1997 Survivor Series have been well-documented. (Owen lost the Intercontinental Title again to Steve Austin at this Pay-Per-View.) When Bret left the company, Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart followed, and many wondered if Owen would do the same.

Owen stayed, however, and this time the "Sole Survivor" was as popular south of the border as he was north. He briefly set his sights on Federation Champion Shawn Michaels, but ended up in a feud with Michaels’ DX cohort, Triple H. When D-Generation X suddenly became cool and popular with the fans, "enough was enough" for Owen, who snapped and became co-leader of the hated Nation. The DX-Nation feud, highlighted by Jason Sensation’s impersonation of Owen during DX’s famous Nation skit, continued throughout the summer until The Nation dissolved. 

In the fall, Owen Hart "retired" after injuring Dan Severn’s neck. During his brief retirement, the Blue Blazer started reappearing in the Federation for the first time since the 1980s. When Steve Blackman repeatedly unmasked the Blazer, he forced Owen to come out of retirement for a match with the "Lethal Weapon" at the December Pay-Per-View, Rock Bottom, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

As 1999 got underway, Owen was back in the tag-team ranks, pairing up with fellow mat technician Jeff Jarrett and his companion/manager, Debra. Owen became the first superstar to win the tag team championship with three different partners when he and Jarrett defeated Ken Shamrock and the Big Boss Man for the title on RAW the day after the '99 Royal Rumble. The duo held on to the championship until after WrestleMania XV, when they were defeated by X-Pac and Kane on RAW. 

When Jeff Jarrett found himself in a feud with Val Venis, Owen turned once again to a singles career.

Owen’s revival of the Blue Blazer character had potential. The retro-80’s superhero gimmick was just plain funny. Owen’s antics—steadfastly refusing to admit that he was the Blazer, and his advice to the "little Blazers" to "say your prayers, take your vitamins and drink your milk"—made more than a few fans laugh out loud. 

Owen Hart—whether it was in tag team or singles ranks, whether he was a "babyface" or a "heel"—gave his all night in and night out.

Call him The Rocket, the King of Harts, the Slammy Award winner or the Blue Blazer. The fact that Owen Hart remained on the Federation roster for so long, through thick and thin, is a testament to both his dedication to the company and his talent as an entertainer.

Adored by his family, respected in the locker room, Owen Hart will be greatly missed. 

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