by James Caldwell, Assistant editor

Former WWE champion Bret Hart put a cap on his pro wrestling career at the end of last year when he completed a U.S. and international book signing tour to promote his recently-released autobiography.

For anyone wondering about future plans in wrestling, there aren't any, according to Hart, who says he is perfectly fine with his wrestling career coming to a close.

"For the most part, I don't miss it all," Hart told the Ringside Live radio show in a recent interview.

Hart says he still keeps up with WWE and TNA, but says it's not the same wrestling program he was a part of when today's shows feature too much talking on the mic instead of inside the ring.

"Talking is getting to be the phony part of wrestling," said Hart. He adds that WWE and TNA have turned into a bad soap opera and he can't buy into the over-scripted storylines.

The other bothersome thing for Hart is many wrestlers looking and wrestling the same way. The notable exception he said by name is Samoa Joe, who he says looks believable and is "different than everyone else."

Hart says if he were able to hypothetically get back in the ring, he would want to work with Randy Orton, John Cena, or Batista. Hart was complementary of Batista's fiery persona in the ring and Cena having an "interesting character."

Link: Bret Hart interview with Ian Hamilton on Ringside Live.

Caldwell's Analysis: One of the missing ingredients from today's wrestling environment is the lack of believable, credible veteran wrestlers in a position to make a future star. The last obvious moment of that happening was the Backlash 2004 PPV when Randy Orton became a star in a hardcore match against Mick Foley.

Finlay is a solid veteran who helped make Bobby Lashley a star and propelled Jack Swagger to an ECW Title reign last night, but he lacks the credibility to be a main eventer. Bret Hart would be the perfect respectable veteran who could take Randy Orton to another level working a program.

Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels is working a program that isn't establishing a younger talent, Chris Jericho had Lance Cade by his side, but Cade was never in a position to grow as a star, and Triple H hasn't been in a program to help make a young talent since the Spirit Squad debacle three years ago.

RELATED STORIES at PWTorch.com:
-- Part 2 of Hart interview - what if? on Montreal
-- Part 3 of Hart interview - interesting back-story on diary
-- Part 4 of Hart interview - "The Wrestler" review
-- Details on Hart's recent knee surgery

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