Kevin Owens - His Fall Out w/ Jacques Rougeau & Losing WWE Tryout

Did you know Kevin Owens almost had a WWE tryout in 2004? ➤ TitleMatchNetwork.com
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We have digitally remastered the original raw footage, including color correction and advanced audio editing specifically for KZbin release.
Show Title: Shoot Interview with Kevin Steen (aka Kevin Owens)
Featured Talent: Kevin Steen
Release Date: July 2014
Location: Philadelphia, PA
- 2 Camera Shoot w/ Sony Prosumer Cam, 1 Boom Mic
-Post-edits were made by Title Match Media
-Music: None
-Digital Distribution Rights: Title Match Media LLC (via Title Match Wrestling, Title Match Network)
*RF Video Inc maintains DVD licensing/distribution rights for this title
Any other uploads of this material outside of the official Title Match LLC or RF Video platforms, violates our exclusive digital licensing/distribution agreement.
Title Match Media LLC has co-produced 60+ shoot interviews with RF Video Inc between 2010-2019. For these titles, we maintain exclusive digital licensing/distribution rights on KZbin & our streaming subscription service, TitleMatchNetwork.com.
Back in the day, Kevin Owens was trained by former WWE wrestler (aka the Mountie, 1/2 of the Fabulous Rougeau brothers) Jacques Rougeau in Canada. After wrestling in different promotions for several months, Kevin Owens (then known as Kevin Steen) was told he could only work for Jacques Rougeau. This is because Jacques promised Kevin Owens a WWE tryout match. In addition, if Owens was signed, Jacques would collect a 15% cut of the contract. Hear what Kevin Owens ultimately decided and why Jacques Rougeau ended up giving the opportunity to someone else. This shoot is awesome.
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[@thetheoryguy5544]

Sounds like 2k19's story mode.

[@lee.valley]

hannible drools over jacque, and jacque says hannible is the best student he's ever taught to wrestle, that says it all. 😂😂😂

[@FIXTREME]

No it doesn't; Hannibal, monotone and all, has managed to bullshit some of the very best.

[@katiewaters5463]

I think in todays pro wrestling scene I respect no one as much as Kevin Owens. He is so endearing, he gets what it means to be a good all rounder, he can make fans hate him for his heel act and for his plain speaking, he can make you laugh with his plain speaking and his expressions, his athletic ability just laughs on any detractors that criticise his weight and behind the character is clearly a really good guy that is living the dream and enjoying the ride for him and his family.

[@droshow]

100% and he take crazy bumps very

[@MichaelWilliams-so1pq]

Nice!

[@jonnyquest7099]

​@@droshoweasy to take big bumps with all that cushioning

[@meanmattworld]

out of all the shoot RF interviews ive seen, this guy seems down to earth and laid back

[@hugolalumiere9992]

I. Fucking. Love. This. Guy! Just fuckin' genuine and has the drive AND talent!

[@kingofgeorgiachannel6823]

never leave the wwe Kevin Owens are the best man i love seeing you wrestle

[@chrisf8097]

That sucks that someone who should be the role of a mentor would be holding his "students" back for his own exposure, or financial gain. A total shame.

[@steve19745]

owens is only telling part of the story.

[@Sacrilege83]

I remember Jacques being self serving during a news interview that he was suppose to talk about the Benoit family tragedy.

[@philipmarket7439]

@james Nas Jacques Rougeau Brother didnt talk to him fr the last 10 years let that sink in fr a minute.

[@ASB_1517]

@@philipmarket7439 What happened between the Rougeau brothers?

[@philipmarket7439]

@@ASB_1517 Apparently Jacques wanted to invest money into his business ventures so he went on to ask his brother Raymond who made real good investments in real estate to lend him money even though his family were advising him against it up to a point where Raymond had enough of giving away money to him.

[@exploderwrestlingpodcast2721]

Here's a tip to any young wrestlers: If your trainer/mentor (once you're ready to get in the ring) doesn't want you to work as much as possible, get away from them. You only get better by being in the ring more and more and learning as you go. Rougeau was stifling their careers for his own selfish reasons, which makes him a shitty trainer. Take it from someone who was trained correctly, don't fall for shit like this.

[@jonnyquest7099]

Probably trying to remove the bullshit indie mindset these dudes have, Owens has been successful but has that aura of someone who could be learning physics from Einstein and would still swear his way was better.

[@jonnyquest7099]

Big laugh when he said 'I was really small back then' Kevin Owens has never been small or skinny by any definition of the word..... HE'S FAT!!!

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

Check out our MASSIVE wrestling library!!! Sign up & watch all you want FREE for 2 weeks ➤ TitleMatchWrestlingNetwork.com

[@jimpimmers5387]

It's funny listening to Owens and occasionally picking up his French accent. He does well hiding it a majority of the time. When he's talking for a while it comes out more.

[@rockajabroni5975]

He spoke French on WWE one time and it sounded atrocious. Like Peggy Hill spanish.

[@imuncomfbecuzihavsubsandno4371]

RockaJabroni Owen’s French is sexy af, stay salty jealouy fish

[@imuncomfbecuzihavsubsandno4371]

Jk

[@rockajabroni5975]

@@imuncomfbecuzihavsubsandno4371 I live in Belgium, where half the country is French. Trust me, Owen's French is bad.

[@cerealbobkiller]

@@rockajabroni5975 Owen's french is not bad at all. Here in Québec you'll hear different accent just like do in France. Owen has a Montréaler's accent which is probably one of the easiest to understand in the province. You'd get used to it in a few days.

[@johnpaulmarkfilip]

I'm writing this in 2023, and it's interesting to hear Kevin's French Canadian accent much more prominent than today 🙂

[@muhammadhashim3426]

Kevin Owens is the future of WWE best heel right now #HeelOwensHeel

[@chrisdub846]

Miz is the best heel

[@muhammadhashim3426]

well that's your opinion

[@steve19745]

the best is yet to come owens isnt telling the whole story

[@Liryc83]

But still nowhere near as good as The Mountie...

[@philipmarket7439]

@@Liryc83 He wasn't that good if wrestler by comparison Pierre-Carl Ouellette was way more athletic and technical in the ring than Rougeau.

[@SnowWhiteTheU2]

I heard both sides of the story and I believe Kevin Owens over Hannable and the other dude

[@bourqueal]

Absolutely, after listening to a few interviews with Jacques Rougeau, it shows that this guy lives in his own world and talks a lot of bullshit. He said back in October that Owens had been released by WWE which was complete bullshit.

[@aliasunknown6972]

That is because Rougeau's guy's did not get a try out. He made them think they were getting a try out, but they were only being used to do the job.

[@gibihakkasy]

Wow now he is one of the top wrestler on WWE

[@hermanbooger5431]

Smart move on Kevin Owens part risky but smart

[@foxfire1229]

Kevin Owens🥰

[@PeteSanctions]

I've never understood how Trainers stand to get a certain percentage of a Student's Contract if they get signed? (Jacques here and Roland Alexander in Beyond The Mat). Can they do that by choice or is it a matter of whether or not the Trainer's in WWE's good graces?

[@jasminbgauthier]

This story is so sad .... so sad ... Jacques is well known for his class but hey ... greed is powerfull .... Rougeau is doing for 10 years anti bullying conferences for kids all over my country, Quebec ... But when its time for buseniss.....call it dream or greed or illusion ... This story is so sad ! Bravo KO tu es un vrai de vrai guerrier !

[@steeltownbrown52]

All over the country or just Quebec?

[@jupiterthekitty]

AJ Styles. Kevin Owens. Samoa Joe. Sami Zayn. Finn Balor. Nakamura. Seth Rollins. Bray Wyatt. The Miz. Rusev. Austin Aries. Neville. What a time to be a WWE fan.

[@MrJobelp]

gooch butter some of the guys you mentioned absolutely suck!!

[@jupiterthekitty]

+11dark Knight11 that's cool man, you're entitled to your own opinion.

[@johnnyprevails6970]

You must not have been around in the eighties best time to be a wrestling fan ever

[@kieran8584]

11dark Knight11 none of them suck...

[@MrJobelp]

FUTKieran whatever you say kid

[@bryanpark2760]

450? Kill Steen Kill was please don't die? Just another reason he is Mr. Wrestling.

[@johnnyfletcher1961]

Damn he sounds Canadian?!!?!! Lol

[@checkman601]

French Canadian at that !!!!

[@thedoctor9138]

Slippery fuck that's some Don King shit Rougeau tried to pull.

[@johnnyprevails6970]

I love hating him though

[@mysticx0]

who is eric? eric young?

[@WingerSupreme]

Eric Mastrocola

[@mysticx0]

thanks bud!

[@viraj24_]

When was this taped?

[@thefutureworldchamion6055]

Viraj Aher 2014

[@viraj24_]

The Futureworldchamion thanks

[@xaer0knight]

A tryout? We call that PWG ;)

[@Iliketoeatallday]

PWG is HHH's wetdream, he didn't need Jacque

[@jmtx.]

KO said he was shorter back then‽

[@ipresnell]

I stopped when I heard this too. But what's crazy is that I have heard rumors all the way back to the John Studd days of guys making themselves taller. There was even a simpsons about it back in the day. Its a real thing. hair and shoes but also actually making yourself taller by a few inches.

[@melbias5046]

i dont blame fat boy 15 percent he's out of his mind this guy is correct.

[@MarzshallNo1]

Fat boy makes more money plus get a hot wife that u will never get

[@Arctic_Falcon]

@@MarzshallNo1 Up your standards bro. That girl is way average.

[@SnowWhiteTheU2]

@@Arctic_Falcon she’s actually beautiful and natural. Bet she’s better than any girl you been with

[@johnasbury3856]

Not to mention he had to ambush a guy half his size with a loaded punch(roll of quarters) and then brags like he beat up a bully, and didn't even knock the guy out or make em fall down. These facts combined with everything I've heard from old and young wrestlers makes me think Jacques is a shitty guy.

[@bradley8867]

Central Illinois Morel Hunters John Asbury Jacques even admitted he's a coward

[@alexmartin3143]

You know they attacked Jacque first, right? Along with Mr. Perfect lying about who destroyed his stuff in his baggage… The Rougeau’s dad was a famous bouncer and tough guy and told him about the quarters… The DK was a notorious bully and someone stood up to him… No one missed him either and Jacques stuck around another 10 years..

[@trebillis7399]

@@alexmartin3143 not to mention watch Dark Side of the ring. DK TORMENTED HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. He locked them in the closet. He did so many drugs. There is a reason why he was let go from WWF and Jacques stayed. Never saw him again after that did you? Amazing how people come on here with no idea what they are defending.

[@dildonius]

Lol Jacques wasn't bullying a guy who was no threat to him. He was getting justified revenge on a notoriously sociopathic scumbag bully who was extraordinary dangerous and could have easily killed him given the chance.

[@dildonius]

​@@alexmartin3143And Ray stuck around to this very day or at least the 2020s if he has now retired. As a wrestler and then as a backstage interviewer and and French language commentator. And now as just a French language commentator.

[@thetamilianvineeshhh2498]

Exactly what is happening now in AEW dark lol

[@L.m.CeeTee]

Imagine if Steen took nutrition and working out seriously. He would be the total package.

[@L.m.CeeTee]

@Michael Myers This is why I don’t feel sorry for him in the way he’s booked. He knows he has it all except the Body and yet still he doesn’t have the discipline to get in shape knowing it could very well take him to the next level an he would be a Made Guy in that Company.

[@rondixon1052]

The mountie killed dino bravo

[@peridotangel83]

You joking?

[@Scorch1028]

Many pro wrestling schools have the same policy. The owner of the school gets a ‘percentage’ of their contract if they sign with the WWE, Impact, or any other big promotion. Simply being associated with Raymond Rougeau gives an aspiring WWE applicant ‘recognition’ to even be considered for being signed for a contract. Kevin Owens managed to sign with the WWE and his success has eclipsed Jacques Rougeau’s, but that doesn’t mean that Rougeau was wrong to demand a percentage from his wrestlers/students who sign with the WWE.

[@carthiefd]

It sounds like the other issue (and possibly the biggest issue) was Rougeau also requiring within the contract that Owens stop wrestling anywhere else besides his school, and the school was only having shows once every three months. That's pretty restrictive on top of the contract cut, especially for someone trying to gain as much experience as possible.

[@PeteSanctions]

I remember in Beyond The Mat them mentioning that if Tony Jones and Michael Modest were signed from their tryout,that their Promoter would get 20% of their contract. Seems like the same idea here

[@brandonlamontagne2075]

it sounds to me that kevin owens sounds to be very ungrateful considering where he came from, like the old song goes dont burn your bridges and always remember that eventually you have to go home and face the people you talked shit about.

[@madmanwebster94]

As much as I respect him honestly signing with WWE was a massive mistake. Yes over the last three years that he's been with the company they've handed him countless titles but that doesn't mean shit because WWE is a crap company.

[@Angels1168]

It's a lot better than TNA and ring of honor. He's the top guy right now. And as long as I see him on raw and in ppv. I don't care. He's the best in the business.

[@madmanwebster94]

@@pisto30 popularity doesn't mean shit when your product is a literal garbage heap.

[@madmanwebster94]

@@Angels1168 Impact Wrestling right now has been insanely good lately. They've absolutely reinvigorated their roster and their product putting on great episodes and great matches every single week so I don't know what show you're watching. As for Ring of Honor it's just the same thing. Good matches every week but somewhat stale product. Still better than WWE product wise. WWE's product right now as I said before is a garbage heap.

[@madmanwebster94]

@@Angels1168 oh stop being an internet moralist. Oh boo hoo a fucking kid got ran over. You obviously know nothing of kayfabe. Impact Wrestling has the balls to do stuff with their product that the WWE don't even have the balls to do. That's why their product is better. They have storylines that you can actually be invested in and great matches unlike the company that makes deals with terrorist countries and spends all their time investing in shity reality shows instead of investing in their own storylines.

[@Angels1168]

@@madmanwebster94 there show didn't make any sense. Morals doesn't have anything to do with it. You are not getting the point. You two groups basically acting like gang members. The show didn't make any sense. The show is horrible.

[@melbias5046]

no one likes owens huh!

[@SmithCommaBenjamin]

KO has no choice but to be a heel. He'd get exposed if he tried to be a face, because not enough fans would accept him. The most over he will ever be is when Jericho carried him during his Universal Title run

[@alexandrenoiseux2125]

He's one of the best seller when it comes to apparel... I think he can get over as a face just as a heel! The thing is not a lot of guys still manage to get so much heat from the crowd as this guy. So that's the only reason he will stay heel.

[@christopheroliver4757]

SmithCommaBenjamin This post didn’t age well...

[@Arctic_Falcon]

lol, this guy is so full of shit. Jacques Rougeau is not well respected? The Rougeau name in Canada is still very well known to this day. What Kevin is not explaining here is that the Rougeaus put on 8-10 shows per year, with very large attendances in the range of around 10,000. Hell, the show with Hogan in 1997 drew 18,000 if that gives you any idea. Jacques did not want his wrestlers working elsewhere because guys would end up wrestling in front of 15 people in bingo halls and get injured, unable to appear at an actual show where they were being advertised (and making big money). This is why they had exclusive contracts. Also, Kevin no-showed his final appearance for Jacques which he conveniently left out here. Few have anything bad to say about Jacques Rougeau, whereas Kevin Steen/Owens was known for being extremely difficult and problematic backstage. Kevin is his own biggest fan.

[@Mastabuilda212]

Sucking major league Jacques there are we?

[@IceCat29]

This is all absolute bullshit. Kevin is one of the most respected guys to come out of Quebec wrestling, while everyone here despises Jacques.

[@sabrinaartois-davis2820]

Jacques Rougeau once beat Hulk Hogan.. he is WAY OVER in Montreal. Kevin Steen is just a hater that doesn't have half the talent as Jacques.

[@philipmarket7439]

So what HH is not known for his wrestling abilities more for his charisma and entertaining great promos also Kevin won the world title what about Jacques?

[@mikeowens2210]

So that's kinda like when jinder Mahal won the title when they were in india.......they do it for a reason

[@benoitbornais948]

Sorry but Rougeau is the Biggest bullshiter of all Time

[@benoitbornais948]

Rougeau PAY Hogan 20 000 $ for the Victory

[@bbb4228]

Lol mark

[@Lemi-killmister]

Remember what Ricky Morton said be careful of the toes you step on on your way up because it's attached to the ass you're gonna have to kiss on your way back down