| Jean Rougeau | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Johnny Rougeau |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Billed weight | 225 lb. |
| Born | June 9, 1929 |
| Died | May 25, 1983 |
| Billed from | Montreal, Quebec |
| Trained by | Eddie Auger Yvon Robert |
| Debut | 1951 |
Jean Rougeau[1] (June 9, 1929 – May 25, 1983) was a professional wrestler better known as Johnny Rougeau. Rougeau started wrestling in 1951 as Johnny Rougeau after an amateur wrestling career. In 1956, he was joined by his brother, Jacques Rougeau, Sr.. He had feuds with Abdullah the Butcher, The Sheik, Ivan Koloff, Hans Schmidt and Killer Kowalski. He founded All-Star Wrestling in 1967.
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Rougeau began his amateur wrestling career in 1943.[1]
Rougeau was also one of the premier promoters in Quebec. In the late 60s, Rougeau gave Ivan Koloff his ring name.[2]
Rougeau also coached ice hockey with the Laval National in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, which included NY Islander Mike Bossy. He later served as the league's president from 1981 to 1983.[1] The Jean Rougeau Trophy was named in his honor and is awarded to the team that records the most points in the regular season.
He was also at times a bodyguard, nightclub owner, and politician.[1] Most notably, he was the bodyguard and chauffeur of Québec Premier René Lévesque during the 1960 election.[1]
In 1982, he was awarded the Bene Merenti de Patria, a silver medal awarded by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society every year to a native of Quebec who has demonstrated service to the homeland.[3]
He died of cancer on May 25, 1983.[1] His funeral was attended by about 7,000 people.[1] He was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.