The Mountie always gets his man, but doesn’t always receive his video package, according to a new report.
Jacques Rougeau’s involvement at AEW Redemption in Montreal this past weekend led to the audience at the Bell Centre rejecting the former star, but there were problems before the segment as well.
Dave Meltzer reports in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter through multiple sources that Rougeau “was throwing a tantrum backstage” after AEW refused to air a video package that Rougeau had put together himself. In the report, Meltzer states Rougeau informed AEW he would take care of the video and presented a finished piece that “was too long, had footage that AEW didn’t have rights to, music that AEW didn’t have rights to and some AI stuff in it that AEW didn’t want to use”.
Meltzer states that multiple sources confirmed that Rougeau “was throwing a temper tantrum” backstage over the video being rejected, and one official informed Rougeau to calm down or he would be ejected.
While POST Wrestling could not independently confirm the “temper tantrum”, one person backstage did communicate with us about the video Rougeau presented containing AI and music that was not cleared.
The segment consisted of speeches by Raymond and Jacques and hosted by Matt Menard without the video airing. Jacques was booed by the audience, with Jacques calling out the “haters” and instructing them to “kiss his ass” before trying to start a “Rougeau” chant, dimming the lights, and leading the crowd to sing “Ole”. The segment ended with Rocky Romero interrupting and being taken out by the brothers.
Over the years, Rougeau has garnered a negative reputation in the market, and it was amplified by the vocal rejection toward the performer in his home province.
Historian Pat Laprade, who has covered Rougeau’s career extensively, added context after the segment aired:
For those who think Jacques Rougeau got a heel reaction in Montreal, that wasn’t the case. He was legitimately being booed. He tried to save face with his comeback, but when you’re being honored in your hometown, calling out your haters and telling them to kiss your ass isn’t supposed to happen. More and more fans are simply seeing him for who he really is.
The Rougeaus did some media in the lead-up to Redemption, with the show drawing approximately 7,100 at the Bell Centre.
