PCO: The Hero ROH Deserves And Needs
The French-Canadian Frankenstein stomps into Best in the World.
Photo Credit: RING OF HONOR/Joe DeFalco
Vince McMahon didn’t believe that Pierre Carl Ouellet could be a hero.
After all, he was portrayed as a one-eyed pirate almost a decade before Captain Jack Sparrow became a household name. Before that, he was regarded as a cowardly scoundrel who relied upon his partner Jacques and manager Johnny Polo. While Ouellet could certainly reinvent himself (as the world would later witness), McMahon remained steadfast that the American audience would never cheer for him.
“I wanted to be a big babyface all over the states and he said it wasn’t possible,” Ouellet told The Wrestling Estate. “Every time somebody came from Canada, especially from the French part like Montreal or Quebec, they had to make them heel. The Rougeaus, Dino Bravo, The Mountie, they had to be heels. Even when they turned Bret heel, it had to be Canada against the USA. I never understood that. There’s no heat between Canada and the U.S.
So he thought I couldn’t get over as a babyface. I kept that in my mind and refused to accept that as fact.”
Nearly a quarter century later, Ouellet is one of the most popular pro wrestlers in the world. Rechristened as PCO, the French-Canadian Frankenstein, the 51-year-old veteran has mesmerized fans with his jaw-dropping strength, unbelievable endurance and penchant for risk-taking. In an era defined by “workrate” and 5-star matches, he has brought entertainment and spectacle back to the squared circle. PCO may have been born before Woodstock, but he understands the digital age, partnering with his on-screen manager and real-life trainer D. Destro to post videos of batshit feats of strength, such as biting a deck of cards in half and lifting weights while being shocked.
It’s such an over-the-top character that McMahon surely would have sunk his teeth into during the mid-1990s. Ironically, that character has ended up in a promotion founded on action rather than melodrama. “Basically, every single major company approached me around the fall of 2018,” PCO says. “I chose Ring of Honor and so far, I don’t regret it. I’m pretty impressed with the roster we’ve got. They always keep adding people and looking for new talent.”
After Cody, The Young Bucks and “Hangman” Adam Page departed the company at the end of last year, ROH management went on a recruiting spree to replenish its roster. Signing a well-respected veteran and indie darling made sense, especially considering PCO is both. On December 15, 2018, Marty Scurll announced that in the wake of his Elite cohorts moving on to greener pastures, he would lead a new squad to reign supreme in ROH. The lights went out in the famed 2300 Arena and when they came back on, Brody King stood next to Scurll. Then the lights went out again, and the Philadelphia crowd erupted as PCO appeared in the ring.
“I was offered a great opportunity to join Villain Enterprises,” he says. “The chemistry has been there since day one. I’ve known Marty since 2007 and have watched him grow. Brody was touring all over the states last year, like I was, and we crossed paths so many times. When I knew I was going to be put with those two guys, I couldn’t have been happier.”
Over the past six months, Villain Enterprises has picked up right where The Elite left off. PCO and King won the 2019 ROH Tag Wars Tournament, which they followed up with a victory over the Briscoes (who PCO calls “one of the greatest tag teams in the world”) for the ROH World Tag Team Championships in a Las Vegas Street Fight at the ROH 17th Anniversary Show. The following night at the Ring of Honor Wrestling tapings, PCO, King and Scurll defeated The Kingdom to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. As a result, PCO became a double champion within a 24-hour span.
The ROH Tag Team Title reign was short-lived, but he and King redeemed themselves by going the distance in the 2019 Crockett Cup and winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles. PCO almost became a Triple Crown winner in record time when he unsuccessfully challenged World Champion Matt Taven at War of the Worlds in Toronto.
“I know my destination, but getting there is an adventure,” PCO says. “I not only want to impact the wrestling world, but I want to transcend this business. When I go to bed, I think about my career and what I want to achieve. I’m willing to pay the price and make the sacrifices in order to achieve it.”
Although the world title is still out of his reach, PCO has to now focus on retaining the Six-Man Tag Team Titles this Friday in Baltimore. He and his fellow Villain Enterprises comrades are defending against Mark Haskins, Tracy Williams and PJ Black. At Scurll’s request, PCO and Destro have redesigned the title belts and will unveil them at Best in the World.
“We’re going into this event like we never have before,” PCO says. “We always put in 125% of our efforts, but this time there will be a special twist, a special touch that we’ve been working on for a while. All the elements are there for a great match.”
Twenty-four hours after Best in the World, PCO and the rest of the ROH roster will head to Philly for the next set of TV tapings. Although he doesn’t know what role he’ll have yet, he’s looking forward to returning to the place he made his company debut. “The reaction and pop I got from the crowd was absolutely insane,” PCO says. “It feels a little like going back home. I’m hoping it’s going to be even louder and cooler. Let’s try to make a memory again.”
While McMahon may have underestimated the French Canadian, ROH has recognized his value. PCO has lived long enough to become a Villain, but he’ll certainly die a hero.
ROH Best in the World airs LIVE from the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore on Friday, June 28, 2018 at 8 p.m. EDT on traditional cable and satellite Pay-Per-View providers, and streaming free for HonorClub VIP, 50% off for HonorClub Standard members, and through FITE TV. Become a member of HonorClub here.
About Author
