A little late to the game, but I only came across this a short while ago and I figured, why not?
So, I’m providing a link to said video because it’s a Facebook video, as well as a Twitter video and neither plays nice with the embed here. But basically, it’s the video that former Mountie Jacques Rougeau wanted AEW to play at their pre-show and threw a fit when they said no.
And look, it’s a nice tribute video. Well done… but I can also understand AEW’s refusal to air it. Partly because of the AI-generated content (Tony Khan is reportedly against AI in general) and partly because of some footage and audio elements that they simply don’t have the rights to… and yes, one of those clips happens to be that one night in Montreal where ol’ Jacques got to pin Hollywood Hulk Hogan at a WCW house show in 1997.
Last I recall, WCW is the intellectual property of World Wrestling Entertainment. And I don’t think the TKO people would be too thrilled with the closest to a direct competitor airing footage from one of their shows on the pre-show to one of their PPVs.
Again, I thought it was a good little tribute video and it would have been nice to have seen it on a wider platform… but there are so many red flags to be found there that I’m even amazed Rougeau thought there was any chance of this being aired on AEW programming, especially THAT one particular clip.
Still, the fact that we got a Rougeau appreciation night where people loved Raymond and shat on Jacques (who’d go heel on the crowd because… sure, why not?) is something to be cherished by someone out there… somewhere.
