Why would assume anything. There's no guess work here. If assembled all new clutch hydraulic parts and bleed them. Then push the clutch pedal down , did it move at all? Why would you push so hard on the pedal that you bend the " pushrod"? The hard pedal was telling something is wrong here. The fork pivot would not rust so badly you can't break it loose with normal clutch operation. You mechanical advantage, bigger lever theory. Stop fooling yourself , examine the facts before you. The clutch form is jammed somehow. Either look inside the bell housing , what's going on; or drop the transmission, that would be my choice.
You don't have to be a 800 lb gorilla, or get a bigger hammer.
You don't have to be a 800 lb gorilla, or get a bigger hammer.