Former wrestling star Jacques Rougeau, known for his decades-long career and multiple memorable characters, has fallen on hard times but is now fighting to get back on his feet in a new way. In a recent interview with Christine Long of CTV News, Rougeau opened up about the personal and financial struggles that have left him trying to get “off the ropes” after a lifetime in the spotlight.
Rougeau reflected on his successful career, admitting that during his glory days, he never anticipated the challenges he faces today. “My father always told me, ‘Save your money. Save your money for the hard days,’” he said. “I looked at my dad. I said, ‘There’s never going to be hard days! That money is always going to come in.’ I was so confident, so arrogant. And then? Then, now, life hit me.”
Revisiting The Glory Days
Jacques Rougeau’s career is a multi-generational story, as a member of the legendary Rougeau wrestling family from Quebec, Canada. He began his career in 1977, working in Stu Hart’s iconic Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary before achieving success in wrestling territories throughout the United States in the early 1980s.
His biggest break came in 1986 when he and his brother Raymond were signed by the World Wrestling Federation, debuting as the clean-cut babyface tag team, The Fabulous Rougeaus. After a few years, the duo turned heel and joined manager Jimmy Hart, transforming into the “All-American Boys.” In a classic wrestling twist, the French-Canadian brothers would mockingly wave tiny American flags and attempt to start “USA!” chants to antagonize the audience.
Following his brother’s retirement, Jacques embarked on a successful singles run in 1991 with his most famous persona, The Mountie. As an evil twist on the respected Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Mountie used a “shock stick” to zap his opponents. The character was one of the pushed heels in the company, leading to memorable feuds with “The Big Boss Man,” which included a “Jailhouse Match” at SummerSlam 1991, and Bret “Hitman” Hart. His run as The Mountie saw him capture the WWF Intercontinental Championship in January 1992.
In 1993, Rougeau formed another successful tag team, The Quebecers, with Pierre Ouellet (PCO). Managed by Johnny Polo (who would later become Raven), the duo captured the WWF Tag Team Championship on three separate occasions, feuding with legendary teams like The Steiner Brothers and The Headshrinkers. He would later team with Ouellet again in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as The Amazing French Canadians.
A Series of Hardships
His troubles began when the pandemic forced the closure of his wrestling school and the cancellation of his public appearances. “When they closed all the venues down, I didn’t have any insurance or nothing,” Rougeau explained. The situation became much more serious when his wife, Nathalie Thibodeau, was diagnosed with cancer.
Rougeau did not leave her side for two years as she underwent treatments, a decision that had a severe impact on his business. “So I decided to neglect my business. And then from then on, it just got worse and worse financially. And I dug myself a big hole,” says Rougeau. He revealed that his business is now $70,000 in debt.
Getting Back On His Feet
Despite the immense challenges, Rougeau remains positive and is determined to overcome them. He noted with a laugh that he just received his first pension check. “I’m 65 years old. Just this week I’ve gotten my first old man’s pension check, which is fantastic. I got money appearing in my bank account! Yay!” he said. With his wife now in remission, he feels mentally strong again. “So mentally, I’m good now that she’s OK. And she is. She’s my rock,” he said.
To tackle his financial issues, Rougeau has launched a new one-man show where he revisits his famous career. “Nathalie is with me and she puts the videos on the giant screen and the pictures. And I bring in the stories from backstage, things that people don’t know,” he explained. “And I mean, the funny things, the weird things.” He is confident that he will win this battle just like he did in the ring, declaring, “I’m definitely going to get back on my feet!”
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