Rene Goulet

Robert Bédard (July 12, 1932 – May 25, 2019)[2] was a Canadian professional wrestler. better known by his ring name, the "Number One Frenchman" Rene Goulet.

This page is on the pro wrestler. For the tennis player, see Robert Bédard (tennis)
Rene Goulet
Goulet (top) vs. Chris Taylor in 1973
Birth nameRobert Bédard
Born(1932-07-12)July 12, 1932
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
DiedMay 25, 2019(2019-05-25) (aged 86)
Matthews, North Carolina, USA
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Rene Goulet

Buddy Rogers Jr.
Sgt. Jacques Goulet

Worzel Gummidge
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Billed weight236 lb (107 kg)[1]
Billed fromNice, France[1]
Debut1957
Retired1987

Professional wrestling career

Goulet began his career in Quebec City, Quebec, in 1957, with his first match being against Gerard Dugas.

He spent the early part of his career traveling the territories, spending a significant amount of time in the AWA. He achieved his greatest fame in the 1970s and 1980s with the World Wrestling Federation, winning the WWWF Tag Team Championship with Karl Gotch in December 1971.

Goulet was well known as a very dependable wrestler who could always be trusted to have a good match. As a result, he was often selected to have matches with rookie wrestlers so he could carry the match. The list of wrestlers who had either had their first match or one of their first matches against Goulet includes Ric Flair, Chris Taylor, the Iron Sheik, Jim Brunzell, Greg Gagne and Ken Patera. In Japan, in 1981, he teamed with Andre The Giant. While in the AWA in the early 1980s he was known as "Sgt. Jacques Goulet" and used a claw hold he called "le scorpion".

Goulet wrestled regularly until 1986, and he competed in a legends battle royal in the Meadowlands in 1987. He worked as a road agent for the WWF until 1997 and could frequently be seen coming to the ring to maintain control when wrestlers got into fights. He was an avid golfer and regularly competed in celebrity charity tournaments.[3]

Goulet died on May 25, 2019. His death was reported that December.[2]

Career accomplishments
  • The first person to defeat Ric Flair. It was Flair's second match. (Flair's first match, against George Gadaski ended in a draw).
  • The subject of a full-page photo in the third issue of People Magazine (March 11, 1974). The photo was taken of Bédard in a bear hug from Chris Taylor in Taylor's first professional match.
  • He was in the first WWF match ever televised on the USA Network. His opponent was Tito Santana.
  • He had a recurring role in the classic wrestling show, TNT, as the host of "Cafe Rene".

Championships and accomplishments
  • New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • World Wide Wrestling Federation

References
  1. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. Robert Bedard Obituary
  3. Rene Goulet Interview, retrieved May 23, 2010
  4. "N.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  5. "Mick Foley, Terry Funk headline pro hall of fame class at Gable Museum". The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  6. "N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  7. "N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  8. "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.


Achievements
Preceded by
Antonio Inoki & Bob Backlund		 MSG Tag League winner
1981
With: André the Giant		 Succeeded by
Antonio Inoki & Hulk Hogan
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