Raymond Rougeau on Bret Hart/Hart Foundation!

Raymond Rougeau on Bret Hart and The Hart Foundation
Former "Fabulous Rougeau Brother," Quebec wrestling legend and long-time WWE announcer Raymond Rougeau discusses his experience working with Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart when they were the Hart Foundation. He also talks about the infamous Montreal Screwjob that Rougeau was present for that night in Montreal at ringside working as a commentator for WWE.
Subscribe to ''HANNIBAL TV'' now at this link: / @thehannibaltv
''HANNIBAL TV'' Posts 3-4 NEW videos per week of matches, interviews and clips of legendary wrestlers, MMA fighters, celebrities and the up and coming stars of tomorrow!
See more Great North Wrestling Shoot Interview Clips at this playlist link: • Shoot Interview Clips
WWW.THEHANNIBALTV.COM
OFFICIAL GNW FACEBOOK PAGE: pages/Great-...
Twitter @GNWWrestling
Instagram: / gnwrestling

[@sheyshah2848]

Even as kid I could see what a true gentleman and professional Raymond was. A class act that deserves all the respect in the world.

[@bobray9678]

yeah as a good guy pal.. not as a Rougeau but that was an act

[@realrecfake8966]

I love listening to him and his brother speak. Hindsight as an adult, I love The Mountie character. He played a great heel in my opinion. Lol loved after Boss Man beat him at SummerSlam 91. He would come down the Isle with Jimny Hart singing along to his theme music both before and after the match all insane crazy like lol. There a few of those old episodes of WWF Superstars of him doing that while shocking or threatening to shock his opponent 😂🤣🤣. Scary as a child, hilarious as an adult

[@tomwalker389]

I love how Raymond speaks better English than most American wrestlers today.

[@N1120A]

He speaks better French than most of his fellow Quebecois too. When he switched to doing commentary for WWF, I was impressed at how clear and non-Joual his French was, even compared to his brother Jacques.

[@swiggan]

Looking back, the Rougeaus' "All American Boys" gimmick was absolutely amazing. I loved to hate those guys. Good lord, the tag team scene in the WWF was absolutely loaded around that time. I miss tag team wrestling like that.

[@alanguages]

+swiggan The 80's I felt was the best era of tag team wrestling. It was not just in the WWF, but other organizations also with NWA and AWA.

[@regandunn4850]

I really hated them as a kid but watching this I've come full circle great dude

[@N1120A]

That gimmick was awesome. Straight heat seeking missile in both the US and Canada.

[@WFOX44]

Yeah, but Shawn didn't want to drop belts to ANYBODY, Bret included. For that, Bret had a right to not want to drop it to Shawn. He dropped it to Shawn in WM12, and Shawn never wanted to return the favor. Vince could have instead had him drop it to Austin or Taker.

[@N1120A]

Raymond Rougeau and Rick Martel both took great care of themselves financially and physically after leaving the ring.

[@officialfabiohart]

I LIKE THIS INTERVIEW RAYMOND WAS HONEST WITH HIS APPROACH

[@tomwalker389]

How can anybody not love Raymond? (mustache or no mustache)

[@ghostvalley6786]

Hannibal produces a lot of great content thanks man it's always interesting.

[@stufaman]

I couldn't agree more sir. Here's a bloke who seriously respects the industry and earns respect.

[@jnulpi]

he was a good and talented worker like jaques also.they where a great Tag Team.

[@brianj.m.5016]

these interviews are so great and refreshing thanks hannibal!!!

[@TNO73]

The whole business in Montreal seems incredibly odd. I think a guy with as much history & respect for the business like Bret had would have never left with the belt. I just think he wanted to go out on his own terms which was granted to him in the contract that Vince gave him. I 100% believe that Bret would have dropped the title the next night on Raw to anyone but Shawn. I who can blame him. Regardless of you feel about either Bret or Shawn as performers by HBK's own mouth he was an asshole during that period.

[@Radeo]

+TNO73 I think neither Shawn nor Vince and possibly Hunter would disagree, even back then. They were not worried about Bret keeping his word, they were worried about what Eric Bischoff might do (in addition to other things). Bischoff is on the record saying that even if he wanted to take the belt he couldn't due to previous litigation regarding the women's championship belt. I think there were four major problems regarding SS 97. 1. Shawn being Shawn and working himself into a shoot where he told Bret he wouldn't put him over after Bret said he would put Shawn over. This is interesting because this is the knock against Bret that he "took himself too seriously". But if all these Captain Hindsight's that repeat this line over and over again truly knew that, why were they the ones working an angle to troll Bret about it? It just makes them look gotten to and like they were the ones taking themselves too seriously. If you know him so well, why not engage the man on his own terms, is that so difficult? 2. Bret is an introvert and not a good communicator, especially when he is under pressure and doesn't think you are on his team. Bret being willing to ask a few questions and propose alternate solutions instead of just "reacting" to the situation, probably would have helped things. The problem with high standards and integrity is that it often leads one to experience a sense of injustice when other people do not live up to those same standards. When feeling that way and deciding the source of that injustice is other people, why would you want to communicate with those who, in your mind, are "out to get you"? Even if people are that way, doesn't mean you can't come to a solution that will satisfy you. Hold your cards close to your chest, and see what you can work out with a positive attitude, even if you resent being put in this situation. You don't have to compromise, but just see what you can work out before you show other people your hand, Bret. I imagine Bret was a terrible poker player. 3. Hunter jockeying for political power positions within the company. NXT truly reflects Hunter's view of the world, that when guys form their own "cliques", coming from different sources (he should know), there is eventually sure to be some kind of large conflict. So, if he can make everyone a "Triple H guy" via NXT, then these power struggles are mostly eliminated, as all figuratively bow down to the King. In the event of a actual power struggle, as he detected back in 1997, the solution is to be more ruthless than the other guy, until you win, then you can go back to being lovable, benevolent "aww shucks guy" (so long as you maintain or further your position of power). IN 1997, Hunter was willing to pull the trigger and make the screwjob suggestion when no one was willing to seriously volunteer it to Vince. 4. Vince being Vince and playing dudes against each other from his philosophy "brass ring grabbing". Incidentally, for someone who hates the carnie lifestyle that "wrasslin" came from, he sure has not dropped the lingo, given that "brass ring" comes from playing the brass ring toss game for a prize at carnivals. I wonder if anyone has ever had the balls to call him out over this. That being said, Vince often encouraged, purposefully or not, mano a mano confrontational pressure from the top down, making former working friends into enemies, such as Shawn and Bret. This is why he criticizes the current "millennial" generation for not buying into this worldview of internal conflict ultimately bringing out the best for business. That generation is mostly too laid back to get manipulated into fighting each other, like Bret and Shawn did, and this is why Vince dislikes their attitude: because he can't manipulate their behavior as he did like "puppets". Just like Hunter, it's all in his theme song.

[@dakidsbac777]

love this interview videos

[@dupoj7308]

He makes a decent point except Hogan did refuse to drop the strap to Bret at WM9 and also Bret had creative control to end his career in the WWE

[@superlex611]

But at that time, it should be a torch passing moment for bret at summerslam 1993 of hogan did'nt left

[@sese6227]

Bret had reasonable creative control....& There was nothing reasonable about telling his boss, who he would or wouldn't drop the belt to, & where he would or wouldn't do it. Pretending that Hogan not wanting to drop the belt to Bret in the early 90s is anything like what happened during the Vince, Bret, HBK situation, is disingenuous at best. Plus, if the creative control argument is pointless, Bret would've sued Vince & won if he was in the right.

[@leb3186]

@@sese6227 bret had already fulfilled all the appearances he was contractually obligated to make. Wrestlers have a specific amount of dates per year in which they need to appear. From a legal standpoint he wasn’t even obligated to show up for the ppv. If he had mailed the belt to vince there’s absolutely nothing Vince’s attorneys could have done because Bret had fulfilled his obligations.

[@kronos911]

@@sese6227 vince has no argument, considering he brought WCW's world title on his air.

[@monsieurdubitatif8567]

@@sese6227 ? Are you on drugs? Hogan's shenneniggans are well documented... just ask hbk... Then the court case... let's say Hart would have won. LOL, and then what?, back to work? He would have been buried ! Just think of Jarrett...GGOONNE, remember? Either way, Bret was screwed, all Thank to "cunt Hogan".

[@Bozworthvonerich]

Ray seems like a really good guy

[@Halbared]

The Rougeaus were a fabulous tag-team. They should have had a run with the belts, great to watch.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I remember Ray's dad was on commentary when this happened. And he realised all the implications. At first he thought there would be a riot.

[@joshuahobbs8255]

For the montreal french crowd??

[@chrisgoffe5048]

..i LOVED there theme music ..still listen to it

[@TheHannibalTV]

One of the best theme songs for sure

[@bloodfurypk666]

always good video thank you

[@craigmallon8535]

Why is he saying Bret owed Vince? Bret put his body on the line and gave Vince everything he had for many years. It's not like he gave him a shot at the belt for nothing. Bret earned everything Vince gave him and more. The poor guys body is falling apart for it too.

[@jvinson]

+Craig Mallon - He owed him because he signed a contract.

[@whtevr84]

jvinson You don't understand the contract Bret was signed to with Vince...Vince owed Bret

[@CHICANO1975]

Ray is right, and Brett's WCW run proves it. Yes, the talent is important, but without the vision to focus and/or amplify that talent, they get lost..

[@bigrigjoe5130]

Because he took Bret, put a spotlight on him and made everyone else lose to him. Instead of a dozen other guys who could be the main event instead. Bret Owed Vince the profressionalism to return the favor and drop the belt.

[@sese6227]

That's what Wrestlers do.... it's their job. Everyone knows your nobody without a push, especially back then. Stop acting like Bret wasn't Stu's son & didn't comprehend this 🙄

[@CH0SEN_0NE]

Bret was made Champ before Hulk/Macho jumped to WCW. He was made champion because of Vince McMahon's steroid indictment and Bret not being on steroids.

[@Arayig1982]

+Blake Maquar Look at Bret in 88-89 compared to Bret say 92-93 and you will see that he was on the juice too.

[@CH0SEN_0NE]

He was a much leaner looking guy in 92-93 and Bret Himself says he was not on them at that point but was when he first joined the WWF. That said I think it was probably because he LOOKED less like a roid guy.

[@craigmallon8535]

He admitted to being on juice, it's not a secret

[@user2176]

+Blake Maquar Ya he was pretty huge during the Hart Foundation days. I remember the match he had with him and Owen in the Cage and he looked less juiced up. Bret, Shawn, Kurt Henning, and I believe Flair was there at the time, where all guys who could have a very entertaining match with out having to press slam anyone, or go into a hulkamania adrenaline rush routine. Looking back at it now, the art of wrestling really made a come back during that time. Scott Hall was a very talented wrestler also, he could really sell, and was quick and agile for a big man. Not to mention they still had Undertaker and Bam Bam Bigalow who could wrestle like small guys.

[@shadowraider964]

The good ol days of wrestling

[@EM-ny4dx]

Brett didn't want to lose in Montreal because of his fan base. But said he would lose it in the States to Shawn Micheals.

[@brodocbetty4856]

That's like me saying I will do my job Monday and Friday but not the rest of the week, Its a job and business Brett lost sight of who his employer was.

[@AndrewNewZealand]

I don't think that in wrestling it's as simple as "you lose to who you are told to lose to". The higher up you are on the ladder, the more negotiating power you have. I've heard stories of guys much lower down the ladder trying to negotiate a new opponent or new finish to their match.

[@TheHannibalTV]

Yes its a very political game and highly cut-throat.

[@DaVanillaThrilla]

Nice perspective even if I don’t agree with it all. Good job

[@luigivincenz3843]

Raymond has a point. Bret was going to WCW and signed already, so why the drama? And as Raymond stated, he worked with wrestlers he didnt like but be a pro about it. And the final nail was Vince made Bret rich and famous, show some some gratitude. Undertaker didn't like his winning streak broken but he wasn't a drama queen about it when he took the loss.

[@danielmelvin4525]

Because Shawn had done the same thing to him (retiring and forfeiting the belt before their WM 13 main event match which Shawn was going to lose) , and Shawn shortly before this match told him he would never put him over, their was more reasons for him to not like Shawn but the disrespect of a guy flat out saying he wouldn't be a professional with him was his main beef. So after 14 years of loyalty to Vince, and going to WCW because Vince reneged on his contract and told him to go, he refused to put over the most unprofessional wrestler in the business at the time. He had creative control for his last sixty days and brought a contract to Vince with a list of the wrestlers he would put over which included Taker (who Shawn would be working with before and after this PPV), Austin, Shamrock, but not Shawn. only reason he didn't take Vince to court for breach of his contract was Vince was going to counter sue for Assault (the punch Bret landed on him), as well as damages to the equipment at the event.

[@tomwalker389]

To be fair, Bret became champ before Hall, Nash, and Hogan jumped ship.

[@HepCatJack]

To me the situation between Brett and Shawn seemed similar to the situation between Hogan, Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund. Backlund didn't want to lose to Hogan in a babyface vs babyface match and they had the Iron Sheik as an in-between champion. I don't know if Backlund's manager throwing the towel was planned or another screw job but it solved the problem of protecting Backlund as a babyface while removing him from the title. Maybe Vince didn't have a heel that could serve this purpose for the Shawn vs Brett issue.

[@dazzle1545]

Timeframe was off, no one had gone to WCW yet. Hogan went to make a movie, Savage was still there, Henning was still there

[@arpegio88]

Just one small correction, @ around 1:42 Rougeau mentions that a lot of wrestlers were jumping ship to WCW around the time of Bret's first title run, when in actuality during that particular point & time (1992) the talent raid and ratings war between the two companies had not started quite yet; this was however right before all of that. For all of my wrestling historians here if you remember correctly, 1992 was the year of steroid allegations brought to public attention/scrutiny that forced most of Vince's bigger guys to leave the company From Januarys' Royal Rumble '92- Aprils Wrestlemania 8, Vince's roster shrunk significantly. Guys like Barbarian, Warlord, Kerry Von Erich who left in July '92, Hogan who left after Mania 8, Sid Justice, and eventually Davey Boy and Warrior who left in the Fall were all gone between those two events and a little later as well. With Vince's roid babies gone, he was actually forced to turn the spotlight onto some of his smaller talent (Bret & Shawn) to begin making them into real stars not just mid card or upper mid card performer's.

[@walka112]

+arpegio88 It was a slip of the tongue on his part, he was referring to 1997.

[@marcbeauregard9185]

Not totally true that it was a mistake... in 92, Savage was retired, Hogan left (though he came a few months in 93), also Warrior was not there and Flair was not doing as good as expected so the next one in line was Bret Hart, but it was prior to the exodus era to WCW. Also, Shawn only took the belt in 1996, a few weeks before Razor and Diesel left

[@arpegio88]

I know, that's what I said.

[@arpegio88]

But Savage was still active though, because he was WWF Champ, Flair dropped the title to him at Mania 8, Warrior came back at the tail end of Mania 8 to do a run-in on Shango and Sid because Hogan wouldn't be staying, so later on at SummerSlam '92 Savage and Warrior worked a match for the title. after dropping the belt back to Flair after SummerSlam Savage continued to work full time from late '92- early '93 Savage that time was semi-retired doing commentary on Superstars broadcast with Ross & Heenan and didn't really retire until late in '93 because he still worked that years Survivor Series in order to set up an angle with Kona Crush to finish off at Mania 10 which would've been Savages last angle before fully retiring to commentary.

[@SMC01ful]

I love Ray, but he's a tad misinformed on the screw job.

[@paulchoccyt1303]

Ray is playing company man. He's basically saying everyone apart from Bret's inner circle were pissed off. Which clearly was false.

[@damian_cross]

Raymond: What if other guys had said, "I'm willing to drop the belt, but not to Bret"? Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash: **nervous sweating**

[@donaldsouthland5191]

im from maine, hate u as a tag team love u gus as wrestler's good job

[@AmateurBarbarian]

I was the 500th “like”. I hate to be that guy, but my heel streak is a mile wide.

[@knightfall209]

Hannibal great shoots get perry Saturn or Raven

[@johnnydoe6717]

Everyone claims to go on last in those days

[@lezzlove4841]

Why do the Brothers have heat with each other?

[@tertessa]

interesting...

[@bobray9678]

its ok ..Bob Ray thinks the Rougeau guys were killer bees type good guys but legendary as bad guys pal..Hart Foundation caliber guys... it worked out pal..

[@pooddescrewch8718]

The Rougeau Brothers were odd in that the bigger loud mouthed one was not tough but the smalker laid back one was .

[@robertdellaserra6151]

Brett HART I KNEW HIM WELL HE WAS A CLASS ACT.

[@robertdellaserra6151]

YOU SHOULD OF GONE WITH THE HEEL FEED BACK YOU GOT FROM THE CROWD

[@johnjedennett2206]

Ray I respect u and loved The Rougeaus but I’m sick of people whether it be in the business or fans slag Bret off for this. No man in their right mind would’ve done it especially after everything has come out(the truth)! And even Shawn admits it so fuck y’all carry on hating fans or you ex wrestlers carry on with the company line !

[@TheHannibalTV]

It benefited Bret in the end he made a fortune in WCW then returned to WWE and made even more including a Wrestlemania match vs McMahon based off their "scrwejob" heat.

[@johnjedennett2206]

@@TheHannibalTV i know that ! Ive always been a fan of wrestling , WWF/WWE etc but i stand by my comment because its the truth. My 2 goats are Bret and Shawn so you cant even come at me as if im bias! So now what??

[@levedia]

i dont agree with rougeau. Bret wanted to live and be remembered as a champion and Vince apperantly agreed. Besides who wants to lose to a Shawn Michaels dosent look good on a legacy. Rougeau a suck up to Vince like others such as Dibiase.

[@robertdellaserra6151]

ANYWAY I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE INTERVIEWS ARE GOING ON FORGRT ABOUT IT

[@robertdellaserra6151]

HEY RAYMOND YOU WERE NOT ALL THAT PROFESSIONAL ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE OVER

[@NZ_Man]

Bret Hart screwed himself because as Ray says Vince made him. He was an incredibly talented wrestler...but he forgot his priorities & let pride get in the way of business.