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PCO (wrestler)

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Carl Ouellet
Ouellet in October 2018
Birth nameCarl Joseph Yvon Ouellet
Born (1967-12-30) December 30, 1967 (age 56)[1]
Sainte-Catherine, Quebec, Canada[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Carl Ouellet[1]
Jean-Pierre Lafitte[1]
Killer Karl Wallace[1][2]
Kris Kannonball[2]
PCO
Pierre Carl Ouellet[1][2]
Pierre Ouellet[1][2]
Pierre the Quebecer
Quebecer Pierre
Wal Wallace[2]
Wild Carl Wallace[2]
X[2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
Billed weight300 lb (136 kg)[1]
Billed fromMontreal, Quebec, Canada
New Orleans, Louisiana
Trained byGino Brito
Debut1987

Carl Joseph Yvon Ouellet (born December 30, 1967), better known by his ring name, Pierre Carl Ouellet, is a Canadian professional wrestler. He achieved his most notable success as one half of The Quebecers with Jacques Rougeau, with whom he is a three-time former WWF Tag Team Champion. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor (ROH) under the ring name PCO and has also worked for, among other promotions, World Championship Wrestling (where he is a former WCW Hardcore Champion), Extreme Championship Wrestling, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.[1]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1987-1993)

Carl Ouellet debuted in 1987. He worked on the independent circuit - at one point forming a tag team with "Evil" Eddie Watts known as the "Super Bees".

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1996)

The Quebecers (1993–1994)

Main article: The Quebecers

In 1993, he met Jacques Rougeau in Puerto Rico, who brought him to the World Wrestling Federation as his tag team partner. As one half of The Quebecers, Ouellet adopted the name Pierre[1] and dressed like Mounties. This was a reference to Jacques's previous gimmick, The Mountie, which had been banned in Canada out of fear that the heelish character of The Mountie would lead to children mistrusting legitimate Mounties. The Quebecers sang their own entrance theme, in which they stated that, contrary to appearances, "We're not the Mounties". Later in the year they were joined by manager, Johnny Polo.[1]

The Quebecers held the WWF Tag Team Championship on three occasions.[1] On September 13, 1993, they defeated the Steiner Brothers for the tag titles (under "Province of Quebec Rules", which provided for titles change hands on disqualifications). They were defeated by the 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty on January 10, 1994 and again by Men on a Mission on March 29 (during a tour of England) but each time regained the titles within days. They lost the belts a third and final time to The Headshrinkers on the April 26 episode of Monday Night Raw in Burlington, Vermont. The Quebecers eventually disbanded when Jacques Rougeau retired. The partners wrestled one another in Rougeau's retirement match on October 21, 1994 in Montreal, main-eventing a sold-out house show.[3]

Feud with Bret Hart (1995)

Ouellet in 1995

As a singles wrestler, Ouellet was repackaged in 1995 as Jean-Pierre LaFitte, the descendant of real-life pirate named Jean LaFitte.[1] As a pirate he wore an eyepatch over his right eye.

He engaged in a three-month feud with Bret Hart,[1] and stole the mirrored sunglasses that Hart handed to fans at ringside. After LaFitte stole Hart's trademark leather jacket,[4] the enemies faced one another at In Your House 3 on September 24, 1995, where Hart forced Ouellet to submit by using the Sharpshooter.

In his Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer described this pay-per-view match as the "show saver" and an "excellent match."[5] Hart later recalled, "In a lot of ways, I loved working with guys like him. He was a guy, that when he threw you in the ropes, he really threw you in the ropes…. everything he did was power, and at the same time he was a very safe guy.... He took a lot of pride in his work, he really wanted to have a great match with me…. And so we worked really hard, and it was a really good match."[6]

His WWF career came to an end after an alleged legit conflict with The Kliq, a backstage group including main-event wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Diesel. According to Shane Douglas, who was working with the company at that time, a match pitting LaFitte against Nash, then the WWF Champion, in a house show in LaFitte's hometown Montreal was booked to end without a clean finish, with Lafitte winning by either DQ or countout, enabling the WWF to return to Montreal for a rematch at a later time. However, due to backstage politicking by Shawn Michaels the booking was reversed into a clean pinfall for Diesel. In turn, LaFitte refused to be pinned by Diesel and the match ended in a double-countout.[3] Due to his refusal to put Diesel over, LaFitte was buried due to the Kliq's influence and released soon after.[4]

World Championship Wrestling (1996-1997)

In 1996, Ouellet reunited with Jacques Rougeau and moved to World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where the duo was known as The Amazing French Canadians. They wore more traditional wrestling gear, but failed to duplicate the success they had found in the WWF.[1] They had the distinction of losing to Arn Anderson and Steve "Mongo" McMichael in Anderson's last match.

The Amazing French-Canadians were managed by Col. Robert Parker (who began dressing in a French Foreign Legion uniform), and they began feuding with Harlem Heat as a result of tension between Parker and Harlem Heat's manager, Sister Sherri. After Harlem Heat defeated the Amazing French Canadians at World War 3 on November 24, 1996, Sherri won the right to fight Parker for three minutes. Parker was beaten down by Sherri, but the rivals later reconciled and fell in love with one another.

Ouellet won a 'patch match' against The Giant in a house show in Montreal[7] and was fired shortly after.

Return to WWF (1998-2000)

Along with Jacques, Ouellet was rehired by the WWF in 1998 yet again, but rarely utilized.[1] Ouellet competed in the Brawl for All tournament, but lost in the first round to "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. The Quebecers took part in the tag team battle royal at WrestleMania XIV,[8] but disbanded once again soon afterward. Along with other WWF employees such as Mike Barton and Big Van Vader, he worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling as part of a talent loan, and spent time in the WWF's Memphis based developmental territory, Power Pro Wrestling, where he was known as Kris Kannonball.[7] He left the WWF once more when his contract expired in January 2000, unhappy with the way he was being used.[9]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (2000)

Ouellet began working for Extreme Championship Wrestling in mid-2000, squashing jobbers for several weeks before losing to Justin Credible in a match for Credible's ECW World Heavyweight Championship.[9]

Return to WCW (2000)

Ouellet and Rougeau had a second run in WCW in August 2000, briefly joining Team Canada at the New Blood Rising pay-per-view. Rougeau—who had additionally served as a guest referee in Lance Storm's win over Mike Awesome—left immediately afterwards, upset with the WCW creative team's plans for him, while Ouellet worked two more dates in Canada and was awarded the WCW Hardcore Championship by Storm on August 14 as Storm held three different titles at the same time. He lost the title that same night to Norman Smiley.

Due to working visa issues, Ouellet could not work in the US, and had to be released back to Canada soon after.[9]

International Wrestling (2000–2003)

Between 2000 and 2003, Ouellet appeared with Rougeau's International Wrestling 2000 promotion. He headlined an event in the Verdun Auditorium in Montreal on December 29, 2000, facing King Kong Bundy in front of an audience of 4,000.[9] In the summer of 2003 Ouellet decided to begin wrestling in the Quebec area once more.

International Wrestling Association (2003-2005)

Ouellet joined the International Wrestling Association as Jean-Pierre Laffite. He was brought in by Savio Vega to join his stable, the Corporation. Immediately he feuded with then-IWA Intercontinental Champion Ricky Banderas, a feud that lasted around 3 months. He was managed by José Chaparro, another member of Vega's Corporation. At Summer Attitude, after a losing effort to Ricky Banderas. In April 2005 defeated Banderas to win IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for first time in his career. Lafitte left IWA.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2007)

In November 2003, Ouellet debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as X, a masked[3] wrestler who competed primarily in the X Division as he had a feud with Christopher Daniels and Sonjay Dutt. He left after two months. In February 2005, Ouellet began hosting the French version of TNA Impact! from the RDS studios with Marc Blondin, replacing Michel Letourneur. He even had a war of the words against comedian Jean-René Dufort (of Infoman fame), to which Dufort responded by adopting the wrestling gimmick "La Punaise Masquée" (The Masked Tick) and "challenging" Ouellet to a match. However, Dufort backed out before the match could take place. In October 2007 he quit, citing he was going to Britain to wrestle full-time in the hopes of realizing his dream to become WWE Champion. He was replaced by Sylvain Grenier.

Independents and retirement (2005-2011)

Ouellet continues to wrestle in Canada, primarily for the Montreal-based International Wrestling Syndicate and the Hull-based CPW International promotion, under the Pierre Carl Ouellet name once again. In October 2007, Ouellet wrestled a dark match for World Wrestling Entertainment under the name of Carl Ouellet at the ECW / SmackDown! tapings. He was defeated by Tommy Dreamer.[3]

Ouellet also wrestled for All-Star promotions in Britain alongside his friends and tag team partners with Rene Dupree. Ouellet has mainly been working a lot of Tag Team matches with Rene Dupree, Robbie Dynamite, Hannibal and Mikey Whiplash. It has been announced that Ouellet will face Robbie Brookside for the ASW British Heavyweight Championship at a future event. He defeated Sylvain Grenier in an RDS battle on June 21, 2008 in Hawkesbury, Ontario Canada with Marc Blondin serving as the special referee.[10]

He then defeated long-time rival Kevin Nash on May 30, 2009 at the International Wrestling Syndicate's 10th Anniversary show by turning the match into a worked-shoot and taking advantage of his legitimately injured arm by making him submit via an armbar.[11]

In an interview with Slam! Sports on August 6, 2008, Ouellet declared that he would like another stint with the WWE.[3]

Ouellet announced his retirement from professional wrestling on Tuesday February 8. 2011 during an interview with the largest radio station in Quebec, CKAC. He had not wrestled since the previous June, in a match against ROH Wrestler/Announcer (TNA wrestler at the time) Desmond Wolfe.[12]

Return to independent wrestling (2016–present)

On May 21, 2016, Ouellet made his return to professional wrestling at an MWF event, entitled "Collision," in Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada, defeating Jake Matthews, following a cannonball.[13] Under a new gimmick as a "French Frankenstein" as Ouellet described it,[14] he became a regular name in several independent promotions.[15] On April 2, 2018, Ouellet defeated Walter at Game Changer Wrestling's Joey Janela's Spring Break 2 in New Orleans. Ouellet's performance and online footage of his unconventional workout regimen impressed the independent wrestling audience, and led to many higher-profile indy bookings.

PCO doing a dive onto Rickey Shane Page in 2018

On June 18, 2018, Ouellet was announced as the first of twenty-four participants for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's (PWG) annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament. At 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Stage One on September 15, he made his company debut, losing to Brody King in the Opening Round.[16] Two nights later, at 2018 Battle of Los Angeles - Final Stage, he led a losers' ten-man tag team match, in which Team PCO (Ouellet, Darby Allin, Dan Barry, Jody Fleisch and Puma King) defeated Team DJ Z (DJ Z, Adam Brooks, David Starr, T-Hawk and Timothy Thatcher).

Ring of Honor (2018–present)

On December 1, 2018, Ouellet announced his exclusive signing with Ring of Honor.[17]

Personal life

Ouellet lost about 90% sight in his right eye at the age of twelve when a friend accidentally shot him in the right eye with a pellet gun. Frequently, he has also included wearing an eyepatch in the ring.[1]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Pierre Carl Ouellet Profile". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Carl Ouellet profile". OWOW. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e Clevett, Jason (2008-08-06). "Ouellet wants another run with WWE". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. ^ a b Michaels, Shawn; Feigenbaum, Aaron (2006). Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story. Simon & Schuster. p. 206. ISBN 1-4165-2645-5.
  5. ^ Meltzer, Dave. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, October 02, 1995
  6. ^ Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Dungeon Collection, WWE Home Video, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Oliver, Greg (1999-04-30). "Ouelett wants back in spotlight". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ Oliver, Greg (1998-03-28). "Quebecers fiercely competitive, patroitic". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  9. ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (2000-07-19). "Ouellet still working on ECW deal". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  10. ^ http://www.wrestlingsupershow.com/results.html
  11. ^ Adam Martin (May 13, 2009). "Kevin Nash vs. PCO on 5/30 for IWS". WrestleView.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  12. ^ Patric LaPrade. "Pierre-Carl Ouellet retires". Canoe.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "pco vs jake matthew mwf 21 mai 2016". YouTube. May 21, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  14. ^ https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=120438
  15. ^ https://www.solowrestling.com/new/72528-pco-rechazo-una-oferta-de-impact-wrestling-para-intentar-volver-a-wwe-quiero-enfrentarme-a-undertaker
  16. ^ "PWGOfficial on Twitter". Twitter. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  17. ^ Satin, Ryan. "PCO Signs Exclusive Contract With Ring Of Honor". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  18. ^ "Catch Wrestling Association Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  19. ^ https://twitter.com/PCOQuebecer/status/1038688490127540225
  20. ^ "GNW Canadian Championship". CageMatch.net.
  21. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1995". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  22. ^ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  23. ^ "XZW Ironman Championship". October 21, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
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