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| Johnny Rougeau |
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| Real Name: Jean Rougeau Born: Montreal, Qc June 9th, 1929 Died: May 28th, 1983 FACT: Though Rougeau travelled between Canada and the U.S., he never won a major title like the WWWF, NWA nor AWA. The Rougeau Dynasty goes from far: Eddie Auger was wrestling in the 40s and 50s, Johnny's brother Jacques Sr. came in the mid-50s, nephew Raymond started in the beginning of the 70s and later, his brother Jacques Jr. in the end of the 70s. Another generation of the family is now wrestling as Raymond's son, Jean-Jacques, is currently wrestling at International Wrestling 2000, run by his uncle Jacques. Johnny Rougeau created gimmicks that became famous for Quebec wrestling fans. He asked Eddie Creatchman to be a manager who loathes him with his stable of heels. And a gimmick which would be a worldwide sensation, as he gave to Larry Schreve a fork, being dressed as an Arabic madman and become the one and only Abdullah the Butcher ! Rougeau was indeed one of the most popular wrestlers of all time in Quebec, along with Yvon Robert, the late Dino Bravo, Rick Martel, and others of his era... |
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| Copyright 2004, DeUxKonE, Montr�al, Qc |
| Qu�bec Wrestling |
| He was a gentleman, both in the ring and outside. He did not just wrestle, but he was a great businessman, a famous soft drink delivery man, a host for great entertainers, a hockey league president and a bodyguard for one of Qu�bec's most beloved politicians... That was the case for Jean Rougeau... |
| Born in the Villeray neighborhood of Montr�al, Jean and his younger brother Jacques Sr. had a quiet family life. However, they were fascinated by the career of their uncle, pro wrestler Eddie Auger. At the age of 13, he was taught the basics by the latter and decided for one summer to use a sandlot on St-Andr� street and rent a ring to organize wrestling matches. His father, Armand, who was a part-time boxer and of American roots, decided to send his sons to English school, thus however, they spoke french at home. Concentrated in sports rather than in books, young Johnny tried in hockey but failed. However, as he wanted to have a career in wrestling, he helped his uncle Eddie to set the different pro wrestling venues around Montr�al. |
| He then accepted a job at the Coca-Cola Company as a delivery man. He was quite succesful, until a suspension for union activities brought him into the pro wrestling spotlight. His uncle Eddie called him to wrestle in Detroit in 1951. He was an immediate sensation for wrestling fans and for ladies, which liked his handsome looks and well as clad in colorful jackets when entering the ring. Too bad for the latters though, Johnny got married months before his wrestling debut. In 1953, promoter Eddie Quinn called him from Montr�al to star in its Montr�al Forum galas. |
| Though he was spectacular, he asked advice to legendary champ Yvon Robert to polish his moves. |
| He became a better wrestler and drew crowds in Montr�al and Qu�bec City. He won a junior championship in 1953, then became champion in 1960 against Wladek Killer Kowalski, under Robert's management. He also went to Europe in 1959, where he became champion. |
| Outside the ring, Rougeau held several businesses. A beauty salon, then a tailor shop. In 1961, he stopped his pro wrestling career to run a famous nightclub�: the Mocambo, in eastern Montr�al. This club, in which his brother Jacques Sr. was manager, received most of the top entertainers of the time, such as Charles Aznavour, Nat King Cole, Fats Domino and Chubby Checker. He succeeded to the hard task of running a clean night club (a rare thing at the time). This night club was featured in a 1966 Gilles Carle movie called "�The merry life of L�opold Z�". When he sold the club, he purchased another business�: a restaurant in Entrelacs, north of Montr�al. |
| However, Johnny Rougeau has the wrestling bug. At the right moment�; promoter Eddie Quinn died and wrestling was going to a deep low. Rougeau, along with his brother Jacques Sr. and Bob "�Legs�" Langevin, invested $50.000 and launched a new wrestling promotion called "�Les As de la Lutte�" (All-Star Wrestling) and settled a TV contract with the new TV station "�T�l�-M�tropole�" ( the national TVA french network). |
| In the meantime, Johnny was part-time bodyguard in political campaigns for a politician which actions influenced Qu�bec for near three decades�: late former provincial prime minister Ren� L�vesque. |
| In 1960, after a short visit from L�vesque, in which meant nothing, Johnny got threatened afterwards by another candidate along with his thugs. After beating them, Rougeau ran to L�vesque's office to offer his protection services. They became great friends ever since... |
| In 1969, Rougeau wanted to become involved in hockey. After organizing hockey games between the wrestlers and the media, he bought the Rosemont Bombardiers franchise from the Metropolitan Hockey League and transferred it to the newly formed Qu�bec Junior Hockey League. One year later, he transferred his team to Laval (a few miles away from the original venue, the Paul Sauv� Arena). As president and coach, he saw the evolution of his team and he battled for the rights of junior hockey players to get a better education between practices and games. He also had in his team a young prospect which graduated to the NHL's New York Islanders and had a successful career beating Maurice Richard's 50-goals-in-50-games record and bring the Stanley Cup�to Uniondale, a suburb of New York City: Michael Bossy. |
| As he accepted the presidency of the Qu�bec Junior Hockey League in 1981, tragedy came as he was stuck with liver cancer, an incurable disease, Rougeau decided to tell his life in a book and telling the world how he accepts his terminal fate. After 17 months of battle on May 28th 1983, he passed away, leaving a wife and two daughters. (His brother Jacques had sons, but Johnny preferred having daughters, though he treated his nephews who still are in wrestling today (Raymond and Jacques) as his sons...). |
| In honor of the local hero, the City of Montr�al renamed the Villeray Arena, close to his childhood residence, under his name, while the Qu�bec Major Junior Hockey League did the same for its Hockey Regular Season Championship Trophy. The nephews, Jacques Jr.and Raymond, named their INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING 2000 tag team belts in his honor... |
| However, wrestling promotion was the main thing for Johnny Rougeau. He wanted to end his career in 1972 (several farewell parties were held for him). But his rivalry with the notorious Sheik and his popularity postponed his plans . He finally ended his career in 1976. In the meanwhile, he hosted a radio show about wrestling and participated in a few benefit events. |
| Big time wrestling was born again, with old and new faces, like Johnny's nephew Raymond, who started in 1971. |
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