Beloved Wrestling Legend Dies At 83 As Tributes Pour In

Former professional wrestler Denis Gauthier passes away at the age of 83.© NDTV Library

Denis Gauthier, the former Canadian pro wrestler, has died at 83. Wrestling historian Pat Laprade shared the news in a post on X on November 10, saying Gauthier died on Sunday night, November 8. Gauthier wrestled in the 1970s and won tag team gold with Raymond Rougeau, after stints with All-Star Wrestling, Grand Prix Wrestling and the Rougeau promotion. He left the ring in 1976. Laprade also went through some details about his family, whose sporting careers carried over into professional hockey. Gauthier spent his career in Quebec's wrestling promotions, and the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Denis Gauthier moved from bodybuilding into Quebec wrestling and won tag team gold

Gauthier got into wrestling after doing well in bodybuilding. He joined All-Star Wrestling in 1970, then moved over to Grand Prix Wrestling the following year. By 1972 he was back with the Rougeau promotion, where he teamed with Raymond Rougeau and won tag team championship.

Laprade put those career details right in his announcement. He wrote: “After finding success in bodybuilding, Gauthier began his wrestling career with All-Star Wrestling in 1970 and joined Grand Prix Wrestling the following year.”

A Quebec profile says Gauthier won the Mr. Canada bodybuilding title in 1964 and later finished as a finalist in the Mr. Universe competition. Also, the Online World of Wrestling title record lists Gauthier and Rougeau as All Star Tag Team champions in 1974.

His run as an active wrestler was pretty short. He retired in 1976, six years after he started in the sport. The partnership with Raymond Rougeau was the main championship achievement named in Laprade's tribute.

His marriage to Joanne Rougeau connected the family to wrestling and professional hockey

Family ties also linked Gauthier to one of Quebec wrestling's best-known families. He married Joanne Rougeau in the 1970s, and she was the sister of Raymond and Jacques Rougeau, who reached the World Wrestling Federation in 1987 as The Fabulous Rougeaus.

Laprade pointed out what the family did away from wrestling too. Gauthier and Joanne's son, Denis Jr., played 554 games in the NHL, and three of Gauthier's grandsons also went after professional hockey.

Julien appeared in 181 NHL games, while Ethan is part of Tampa Bay Lightning organization. A third grandson played junior and university hockey.

Laprade ended his post with a message to the family: “My sincere condolences to the Gauthier family.