On May 23, 1999, Hart fell to his death in Kansas City, Missouri during the Over the Edge pay-per-view event. Heading into the event, Hart was under his "Blue Blazer," a superhero like, gimmick. To further enhance his gimmick, he was to perform a stunt ring entrance that would have him descend from the arena rafters down to the ring. It was an elaboration on a Blue Blazer stunt done previously on the Sunday Night Heat before Survivor Series 1998. This time, something went wrong with the stunt harness, apparently triggering the release mechanism early as he was being lowered. Owen fell 78 feet (24 meters) into the ring, landing chest-first on the top rope, approximately a foot from the turn buckle, throwing him into the ring. During the entrance, a pre-recorded interview video was shown, however when the PPV returned live, WWF cameras quickly turned to the fans, to prevent footage of the incident being shown to the PPV viewers. Soon afterwards, Jim Ross, one of the commentators of the event, informed viewers at home that this was "not a part of the entertainment" and that it was "a real situation." EMTs aided Hart, as they took him backstage for further treatment. Unaware of the severity of Hart's injury, Vince McMahon and WWF management made the decision to continue the event.
Owen had performed the stunt only a few times before and was worried about performing the stunt at Kemper Arena due to the height involved (Owen had a fear of heights). Owen's wife Martha has suggested that, by moving around to get comfortable with both the harness and his cape on, Owen unintentionally triggered an early release.
TV viewers at home did not see the incident or its aftermath -- at the moment of the fall, a pre-taped vignette was being shown on the pay-per-view broadcast as well as on the monitors in the darkened arena. After, while Owen was being worked on by medical personnel inside the ring, the live event's broadcast showed only the audience. Meanwhile, WWF television announcer Jim Ross repeatedly told those watching live on pay-per-view that what had just transpired was not a wrestling angle or storyline and that Hart was hurt badly, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Owen was transported to the Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Owen had actually died while still being tended to in the ring. The cause was later revealed to be internal bleeding from blunt chest trauma.
There have been recent reports of the ghost of Owen haunting Kemper Arena where he fell to his death at Over The Edge. "Employees (at Kemper Arena) have claimed to have seen (Hart) in the rafters wearing the costume he was wearing for his gimmick," a Rhode Island College student newspaper wrote, "as well as the cable before he began the descent. There have also been reports of flickering lights and other power sources that seem to go on and off in some areas of the arena." There's a ghost of a chance you may see him here in Hart Cemetery. Be very careful where you step and realize you can always reach the cache without stepping in the wrong spot. Although if you keep your head down watching your every step, you will most likely miss this one. A small bison tube awaits your presence.
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