Bret Hart, a professional wrestler known as “The Hitman,” knows a thing or two about hits to the head.

The fights may have been staged during his 23-year-career with World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling, but the injuries were very real, he said.

Hart recounted his history of concussions on Friday, speaking to more than 100 people at a neuroscience symposium sponsored by OhioHealth at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The annual event aims to educate medical professionals and people with brain injuries and get feedback about gaps and opportunities in the field. The day-long program included the latest in research, information, techniques and speakers from the world of neurology.

Hart recalled a 1999 pay-per-view wrestling match against Bill Goldberg, whom Hart said had a reputation for injuring wrestlers.

“One of the last things I said to Bill before I walked out to the ring was, ‘Don’t hurt me,’” Hart said. “I wish he heard me a little better.”

During the fight, Hart took three major hits to the head, including a kick to the back of his head. Over two weeks, Hart continued his wrestling tour with WCW. In his last match against Sycho Sid, Hart was slammed into the mat.

“I was mad for being there and mad at myself for being in this situation,” Hart said. “I remember when I hit the ground, I could see a million stars.”

Hart was diagnosed with a severe concussion and a torn muscle the size of a quarter in his neck. His wrestling career was over and he spent two years recovering.

Just a week before his 45th birthday, Hart was riding his bicycle without a helmet on the flat trails by Bull River in Calgary, where he lives, when he hit a hole on the trail. He lost his balance and fell sideways.

“It was one of the most pathetic falls, especially for a guy who spent his whole life falling,” Hart said.

He remained on the ground for several minutes, seeing stars again and thinking it was another concussion. But Hart could not move his left side and later found out at the hospital he had suffered a stroke.

Hart said he's grateful for all the doctors, therapists and nurses that helped him recover. With their help, Hart said he was able to get close to 90 percent of his function back.

Now, at 61, Hart works for March of Dimes Canada in the stroke recovery program, where he has been the spokesman for 15 years.

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born neuropathologist who worked for the Allegheny County Coroner's Office in Pittsburgh, discovered the link between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and football players and continues to study the disease in different types of athletes. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma. Early stages of CTE include confusion, disorientation, dizziness and headaches and is currently only able to be diagnosed after death.

Omalu performed an autopsy on former Pittsburgh Steelers player Mike Webster after his death in September 2002. The Wagner autopsy led him to continue his research on CTE in NFL players, other sports and non-sport related injuries.

In 2006, Omalu published his findings on the autopsy of Terry Long, a former offensive lineman for the Steelers who suffered from depression and committed suicide in 2005. Omalu also found evidence of CTE in retired NFL players Justin Strzelczyk, also an offensive lineman for the Steelers; Andre Waters, a defensive back who spent most of his 12 years in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles and later killed himself; and Tom McHale, a former offensive lineman with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Eagles and the Miami Dolphons who died of a drug overdose.

Omalu — who was portrayed by actor Will Smith in the 2015 movie "Concussion" — has warned against children playing high-impact sports, such as football, soccer, boxing and lacrosse. Instead, they should participate low- or no-contact sports, such as golf, swimming and track and field, to prevent brain damage, he said.

Even one violent trauma can lead to CTE, Omalu said.

“It is very well established now that repeated blows in a form of human activity cause brain damage,” he said.

ewagner@dispatch.com

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