Jacques Rougeau on Hulk Hogan's Legacy, The Mountie, Bret Hart, Wrestling Bankruptcy

JACQUES ROUGEAU is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion, three-time WWE World Tag Team Champion and a man whose wrestling career has spanned five decades.

Trained by his father Jacques Sr., Rougeau began his career in the 1970s with Stu Hart’s legendary Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. By the mid-’80s he had been recruited by Vince McMahon and teamed with his real-life brother Raymond to form The Fabulous Rougeaus.

The duo debuted in February 1986, catching fans’ attention with smooth double-team moves against the likes of The Hart Foundation and The Dream Team. In 1988, after cheating their way to victory against The Killer Bees, they aligned with manager Jimmy Hart, transforming into smug, America-baiting heels.

One of their most celebrated rivalries came in 1989 against The Rockers, producing an acclaimed series of matches that culminated in a six-man tag at SummerSlam, with Rick Martel siding with The Rougeaus against Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty and Tito Santana. When injury forced Raymond to retire in 1990, Jacques opted not to replace him, instead moving into singles competition – and creating his most famous persona.

Every good cop story needs a crooked counterpart, and WWE in 1991 delivered just that. With Ray Traylor’s Big Boss Man now a fan favourite – complete with his iconic theme performed by Survivor frontman Jimi Jamison – Jacques Rougeau stepped in as his foil. Enter The Mountie.

Debuting in 1991, The Mountie quickly became one of WWE’s most unforgettable characters of the early ’90s. Presented as a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, he boasted of upholding law and order, yet cheated his way to victory. He would often handcuff opponents to the ropes and taser them with his trademark shock stick. “The WWF’s Mountie seems to use his badge to bully people,” WWF Magazine observed at the time.

His rivalry with The Big Boss Man produced one of SummerSlam ’91’s most entertaining moments: the Jailhouse Match, where the loser spent a night behind bars. The Mountie’s melodramatic performance as he was dragged off to his cell remains classic cartoon-era WWE.

In January 1992, The Mountie defeated Bret “The Hitman” Hart to capture the Intercontinental Championship. Though his reign lasted only two days, it secured his place in WWE history. That April, on the European Rampage Again tour, he headlined UK house shows against “Macho Man” Randy Savage, with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Later that summer, he returned to Britain for SummerSlam ’92 at Wembley Stadium, teaming with The Nasty Boys to face The Bushwhackers and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in the opening match of the night.

In 1993, Jacques reinvented himself again, teaming with Pierre Ouellet as The Quebecers, managed by the brash Johnny Polo. They captured the WWE World Tag Team Championship three times, first by defeating The Steiner Brothers under “Province of Quebec Rules” – which allowed the belts to change hands via disqualification – then again in early 1994 against Marty Jannetty and the 1-2-3 Kid, and once more against Men on a Mission.

Rougeau later enjoyed runs in both WCW and WWE, before launching his own promotion, Lutte International 2000, in Montreal. He finally hung up his boots in 2018, closing the book on a remarkable in-ring career.

Armed with a cattle prod, The Mountie was camp, over-the-top, and impossible to forget. Immortalised with his own Hasbro action figure, he remains a favourite among collectors and fans who grew up loving to hate him.

On Wrestling Life with Ben Veal episode 68, WWE legend Jacques “The Mountie” Rougeau sat down for an exclusive tell-all interview, opening up about:

• Passing of Hulk Hogan

• Wrestling Hulk Hogan

• More Hogan memories

• SummerSlam ’92

• WWE in the early 1990s

• Working heel vs. working babyface

• Getting heat as The Mountie

• Run as Intercontinental Champion

• Bret Hart

• The Mountie’s real-life gimmick heat!

• Personal struggles during and after Covid

• Persevering in life

• What’s next and a powerful message

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Jacques Rougeau on Hulk Hogan’s Sudden Death

Former WWF Superstar Jacques Rougeau reflects on the heartbreaking loss of his longtime friend and wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan.

“I was riding my motorcycle with my girlfriend, and my phone kept buzzing in my pocket. Finally, I pulled over, and I must have had a thousand messages.

“It was incredible because two days before that I had talked to Nick, his son. The first thing he told me was, ‘Jacques, Hulk’s going to be so happy that you called.’

“He said, ‘He’s doing well. It’s a heart operation he had, but he’s recuperating and it’s going the right way; it’s going up.’ That was two days before he died.”

Jacques Rougeau on the REAL Terry Bollea

Former WWF Superstar Jacques Rougeau shares personal stories about his longtime friend and wrestling icon, Hulk Hogan.

“I’ll tell you a good story that people don’t know, just to show another side of Hulk.

“We’re doing a double shot one day: we’re in Philadelphia in the afternoon and Chicago that night. It’s a Sunday; we’re working twice that day. So the show starts at 1pm, and at 4pm we’ve gotta rush to the airport.

“There’s two private planes there: one his and the other for the boys. But we were so tight on time, so we got to the airport, jumped in the plane, and just before taking off, Terry shows up…”

Jacques Rougeau Remembers WWF SummerSlam 1992

Jacques “The Mountie” Rougeau recalls wrestling in the opening match before more than 80,000 UK fans at Wembley Stadium.

“In those days, it was the best era of wrestling. We had this motto: less is more.

“We had so much interaction with the crowd that we had time for the crowd to be part of it. We brought a lot of empathy in our wrestling in those days: a chance for the crowd to feel how we feel. It wasn’t going too fast.”

Jacques Rougeau: I Had NUCLEAR Heat as The Mountie

Jacques “The Mountie” Rougeau on the differences between being a babyface and a heel; and when fans became dangerously hostile towards his Mountie character.

“When we [The Fabulous Rougeaus] turned heel, man, what a party for us. It was so easy for us to insult the Americans because it came from the heart. I hated the fans so much because they gave us a hard time as babyfaces!

“I had so much fun working as The Mountie. I was a different kind of heel: I had to be more aggressive. And my shock stick, that was fun.

“I always enjoyed it, especially when I did those vignettes when I came in. That was crazy; people wanted to kill me. In Boston, Philadelphia, New York, the first time I showed up after, they were throwing rocks at me. It was bad; I had a police escort.”

Jacques Rougeau: The Night I Pinned Hulk Hogan

Jacques Rougeau recalls his rare victory over Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 1997; and the circumstances that made it possible.

“I know they say you could count them [people who pinned Hogan] on one hand, so I know there’s not too many. It was amazing how lucky I was, but he had a lot of respect for our family.

“We got back in the dressing room: we were alone, me and Hulk; and that’s something that I will never, never, never forget.

“I’m the only Canadian to beat Hulk Hogan! I got my bragging rights here.”

Jacques Rougeau’s Inspiring Cancer Message

After wrestling some tough times in his personal life, including dealing with bankruptcy and supporting his girlfriend in her battle with cancer, wrestling legend Jacques “The Mountie” Rougeau ended his Wrestling Life interview by extending his love, support and encouragement to those facing cancer.

“I want to send a message to all the people that are dealing with cancer right now: please support your loved ones. It’s so important that you’re there.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling. Order your copy NOW! 

WRESTLING LIFE ONLINE: REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.