Jacques Rougeau Interview: Talks his wrestling school, & WrestleMania

Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Sunday, March 5, 2006 at 5:26 PM EST

The following was transcribed by Mr. DFL:

Former WWE World Tag Team Champion & former WWE Intercontinental Champion, Jacques Rougeau, was a guest on this past week's live edition (2/27/05) of Monday Night Mayhem, which can be heard in streaming audio every week (and live from 7-9PM ET every Monday night) exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.WrestlingMediaNetwork.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, & celebrating its 10th Anniversary, www.AudioWrestling.com -- your official home of "The Spring Break Incident" Video-On-Demand, featuring WWE RAW Diva & the hottest member of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," Stacy Keibler).

The interview with 1/2 of The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers & The Quebecers is now available to hear for FREE in Real Audio!




The Big Mosh & Blade welcomed Jacques to the program. The former "Mountie" Jacques has been a very busy man over the past few years, running his own wrestling school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and also booking shows throughout Quebec as well. He has been promoting ever since he left the WWE. Jacques mentioned that he has had to change his lifestyle significantly over the past six years, comparing himself to "the little engine that could," when it comes to his stamina & energy levels.

Looking back at the history of The Rougeau Family, Jacques agreed with Mosh & Blade, in the simple fact that he does not remember four generations of a family in the professional wrestling business. His family, along with the legendary Hart family, the Smith's, & the Rhodes' families (just to name a few) have all revolutionized the business into how successful it is today.

Jacques broke into the business in 1977, when he saw his professional debut, and his father trained him at the age of 16. His brother, Raymond, started when he was 17. He is also very thankful to his family for helping him get his start, especially his mother, who gave him $500.00 & the blessing to go to Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- to train at the late Stu Hart's dungeon. You have to check out this interview alone for Jacques' impression of Stu, which is guaranteed to make you laugh, smile, and have fond memories of the Canadian patriarch. Jacques remembers vividly traveling from Memphis, TN (where he first was an "All-American Boy") to south of the border in Mexico and the great experiences he had there.

Jacques then brought up his memorable feuds with The Hart Foundation, The Rockers, & The Bushwhackers -- who were his personal favorite, because it was "like having the night off. It was almost too easy." Regarding his feud/working with The Rockers, Jacques described how both teams tried their hardest to impress Vince McMahon, even going so far as to suggest more of their epic 60-minute tag team matches -- which they did on eight separate occassions. Jacques loved pulling ribs on Vince, even going 1 hour & 16 minutes with Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty at Madison Square Garden. The Hart Foundation was special to Jacques, with two teams (both The Hart's & The Rougeau's) that were loved so much in Canada, while the crowds loved The Hart's more in the States -- for obvious reasons. "The tag team division in the late '80's & early 90's will never be duplicated," according to Jacques.

"The Road To WrestleMania" was then mentioned as the next topic of discussion from Mosh & Blade. Jacques believed that working WrestleMania "became ordinary for him, because he was so hard to impress." However, he was thoroughly impressed at his debut 'Mania (WrestleMania III) -- competing in front of 93,000 fans at The Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, MI. He said after being there so many times, "it became a lifestyle."

From working tag teams to going to a singles competitor, Jacques discussed his time in the WWE as “The Mountie" and working a feud with the late Ray “The Big Boss Man" Traylor. Jacques especially looks back at their legendary "Jailhouse Match" from SummerSlam '91 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and feels that is one of the most-entertaining matches in the history of professional wrestling. The fans loved every minute of their feud, especially when he landed up "heading to the pokey, and being asked if he liked the feel of leather against his skin." He felt that Traylor was well-ahead of his time and misses him & the chemistry they had together dearly.

Jacques loved working as a singles star, especially with The Mountie character. It actually was his idea to use the caddle prod. From working with "The Mouth Of The South" Jimmy Hart, to winning the IC Title, to having feuds with Bret "Hitman" Hart, & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, he loved every minute of it. He was disappointed in the fact that the Canadian Law Enforcement would not let him compete as The Mountie during Canadian WWE events -- banning "The Mountie" north of the border, as a result of a law being passed. Jacques is very excited that so many years after "The Mountie's" last match, he will be forever immortalized as a "doll" in the new Jakks Pacific Legends series -- coming later this year.

While teaming with Pierre Outlette as The Quebecers, he never really hung around with Johnny Polo (known to many contemporary wrestling fans as Raven) -- as "the two went in different circles." Jacques actually met Pierre in Mexico, and still thinks that for "a big guy," he was a great bumper. His personal highlight of his run as The Quebecers was working a solid program with Men On A Mission. Jacques also enjoyed getting the brief opportunity to work again with his former tag team partner in the closing days of World Championship Wrestling.

Mosh & Blade brought up Jacques' former adversary in The Hart Foundation & in singles competition, Bret "Hitman" Hart, and him being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame on April 1st as part of the WrestleMania weekend. Jacques strongly feels "that it would not be a Hall Of Fame without him." He's glad to see that "The Excellence Of Execution" is getting his just deserts right now and that he can put his past behind him.

Jacques wished to reiterate for all of The Mayhem's listening audience that he does NOT keep track of the current WWE product, not does he follow TNA either. But, he does get tapes/DVD's of some of the interesting things his students feel is worth his attention. Jacques got a kick out of realizing that "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan took part in several recent editions of WWE Monday Night RAW.

In the final segment, Blade asked Jacques if he would be offered one last run with World Wrestling Entertainment, or a road agent spot in Stamford, CT, would he take it? Jacques was very candid in saying "no," simply because he has not followed the current product in several years, and again, is focusing on his own personal projects. He expects four sellouts this spring for his upcoming shows in Canada, and has also signed a deal with a chain of restaurants in Quebec that is helping him bring more sponsorship & assistance with his events throughout the rest of 2006. His goal is to get more people talking about independent wrestling north of the border again, and to be able to have famiilies take their children to his shows -- and not have to worry about wondering if it's the right decision/if it's safe to go to a pro wrestling event.

For Jacques' thoughts & takes on defeating "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan in his hometown of Montreal (and if Hogan ever had heat with him because of it), the possibilities of either a Rougeau Brothers or Quebecers reunion, which WWE superstar he legimitately "zapped" with his caddle prod, and also the REAL story that happened backstage between himself & The Dynamite Kid (and why it was extremely important for him to defend himself, his family, & his reputation), we encourage you to check out this fantastic 30+ minute interview -- available on www.MondayNightMayhem.com & www.AudioWrestling.com.

For more information on Jacques' wrestling school & what this Canadian legend has been up to since retiring from the business five+ years ago, check out Jacques' official website at www.JacquesRougeau. Tell them The Mayhem sent you!




Tune in to this Monday night's show (03/06/06):

*O you didn't know??? Well, some of you fans might just be finding this out just now! Former five-time WWE World Tag Team Champions, members of Degeneration-X, and newly-reformed in TNA, Billy "Kip James" Gunn, & BG "The Road Dogg" James, The James Gang, will be joining The Mayhem LIVE this Monday night, starting at 7PM ET/6PM CT.

After hearing Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's interesting remarks about "the rebirth of Triple H in 2006 in the WWE" over two months ago on The Mayhem, Kip & BG have demanded some live airtime to not only give their Uncensored takes on that very statement, but to also promote their upcoming Six-Man Tag team Match (w/"Bullet" Bob Armstrong) against the Latin American Exchange (Konnan, Homicide, & Machete) this Saturday night at Destination X LIVE on Pay-Per-View.

What are The James Gang's thoughts on the new WWE drug policy and the upcoming WrestleMania card? how do they feel about the possibilities of Scott Steiner, Bill Goldberg, or the Ultimate Warrior coming into TNA this year? You had better believe that all of these topics, and plenty more will be covered in is what sure to be another early contender for Interview Of The Year!

Blade & Mosh also want all of our fans to check out Kip live this Wednesday night on In Your Head as well (log onto www.InYourHeadOnline.com for more details). Jack & the crew have an exciting show lined up, and you know very well that Kip will be No-Holds Barred going into Destination X!

*In addition, this past week saw Jacques "The Mountie" Rougeau give a stellar interview. Now, it's time that the other Rougeau brother broke his silence! Join The Big Mosh & Blade, as "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio" will bring in the month of March with former WWE superstar/announcer, Raymond Rougeau.

Raymond will be aboard to promote former MNM guests, Greg Oliver (Slam Wrestling's own) & Steve Johnson's fantastic book, "The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame: The Tag Teams." (available through www.HighSpots.com, www.Amazon.com, & your local retail bookstores)

Raymond, both in & out of the ring, saw a lot while in World Wrestling Entertainment. Besides covering his days in The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers & working in the Canadian territories, we will be sure to get his takes on what he saw backstage during his time as both a performer & an announcer in the company -- in addition to the new WWE drug policy, Edge & Christian's runs as respective World Heavwyeight Champions, Bret "Hitman" Hart & "Mean" Gene Okerlund going into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall Of Fame, and of course -- his personal favorite WrestleMania moments!

E-mail your questions for the former Outlaws & Raymond Rougeau to MondayNightMayhem@hotmail.com, post them on our brand new MNM My Space (www.MySpace.com/MondayNightMayhem), or on the MNM Uberfun Message Board (located at www.MondayNightMayhem.com).

We are still on "The Road To WrestleMania," and until we reach our final destination of The Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL, you know it goes through Monday Night Mayhem -- "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio." We encourage you to tune in LIVE (starting this Monday night at 7PM ET/6PM CT), for all of the action! you have heard of "March Madness," but try some "March Mayhem" on for size!




We encourage all new & old listeners of "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio" to check out some of the archived interviews now available on www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, & www.AudioWrestling.com -- including: Charlie Haas (in his last-ever interview before heading to the WWE), "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff (in an early contender for Interview Of The Year), NWA World Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted, Jeff Jarrett, Paul Roma, "The Pitbull" Gary Wolfe, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, Headbanger Mosh/Chaz, Joey Styles' best friend, the controversial Chris Cruise, the winner of last year's "Female Interview Of The Year" award, Jackie Gayda, Chris Kanyon, Axl Rotten, and many more!




You can feel The Mayhem (live & worldwide) each & every Monday night on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.WrestlingMediaNetwork.com, www.RadioWrestling.net, & www.AudioWrestling.com) and archived as well on www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com.