Classic Revelations

I don't watch much current wrestling, but thanks to WWE Classics on Demand, not a week goes by where I'm not taking in some squared circle action. As someone who was weened on early '90s WWF action, the channel is a goldmine. It provides nostalgia and also fills in the gaps for those stretches of time where I wasn't able to see anything but the PPV shows on home video.

What the channel also provides through its content is the opportunity to re-examine wrestlers you thought you had an accurate opinion about. By that, I mean that through seeing a more expansive body of work from a given wrestler, you're able to better appreciate his contributions to the mat.

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to focus on this handful of wrestlers in a series of dedicated posts. Let's start by checking out not a singles wrestler, but rather, a tag team: The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.


Jacques and Raymond Rougeau entered the WWF in 1986. Originally working as faces, they played second-string roles behind the likes of the flashier The British Bulldogs and The Killer Bees. Even though their in-ring work was sharp, their bland attire and watered down good-guy personalities didn't do much to catch the eye of Federation fans.

As someone who only saw late-80s WWF action through Coliseum Video releases, my first memories of the brother duo was of their later heel personalities. Under the guidance of Jimmy Hart, the now Fabulous Rougeau Brothers had the bedazzled outfits to match their cockier, faux American patriotic gimmick.

Even though I always knew they were a capable in-ring force, it wasn't until getting WWE On Demand in 2007 that I gained a greater appreciation for them. I guess when the bulk of the Rougeau matches you see involves The Bushwhackers, it's tough to make a fair assessment.

But through the channel, I've seen more of their work with The Killer Bees, The British Bulldogs, and The Rockers. And I must say, it's...wait for it...fabulous.

What I really admire was the meticulous transition from bland good guys to arrogant bad guys. If you've been watching episodes of Primetime Wrestling on WWE Classics, you're aware that the duo is in transition right now. The start of the heel turn felt a bit forced, with announcers such as Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon telling fans of a change in the Rougeaus' demeanor, even though there really wasn't much of a visible change.

Weeks later, those signs are appearing, including a match against The Killer Bees, which I suppose you could label their official heel turn. But even with their leaning toward the bad guy side, it's still not a full-blown situation. Jimmy Hart is not yet their manager and they haven't picked up that catchy "All American Boys" theme song.

And perhaps factors like that are why I'm able to better appreciate the talent it took for the Rougeaus to make that turn. This isn't your generic, instantaneous heel turn. This is a multi-month-long burn from one side to the other. And it's the type of turn that only some wrestlers can pull off convincingly.

There's Jacques extending his hand to opponents. He's earnest in those gestures far more often than you'd expect. And that's what makes the team's eventual disrespect of those same teams so much better.

If you have access to WWE Classics On Demand, I suggest you pay special attention to this developing storyline. It's caused me to view the duo in a much different light. They were always talented wrestlers. But this slow-burn turn coupled with their eventual transformation into mockingly patriotic heels exemplifies how gifted the brothers were in the ring psychology aspect of the business.