REVIEW - MEDIA FROM THE 2006 TOUR

Jeff Dupre - photo by Mark Boles

Jeff Dupre vs Duke MacIsaac (The Spolier) vs Grand Prix Wrestling August 2006 - Bridgewater (newscott.com)

Jeff Dupre and Spiderman vs Chad Dick and Cuban Assassin (photo Steve Doussaud)

ATLANTIC GRAND PRIX WRESTLING

Buck 65 and a tribute (ironic nostalgia) for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling

"Dang" by Buck 65, from the album "Situation," out now on Strange Famous Records. http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/

Legendary promoter to feature two star sons on 2008 Grand Prix Wrestling tour

by Kirk Starratt/The Advertiser
Article online since May 26th 2008

[inset - 2006 tour poster]

His name is synonymous with professional wrestling throughout the Maritimes and beyond, and legendary promoter Emile Dupre is proud to feature both his wrestling star sons on the same tour for the first time in 2008.

Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling takes to the road again this summer some 52 years after Emile first laced up a pair of wrestling boots and the line-up for the upcoming tour is sure to be considered nothing short of spectacular by Maritime squared-circle fanatics.

The tour makes its return to the historic Berwick Arena Saturday, June 7. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the opening bell rings around 7:30. Admission is payable at the door.Many fans will remember that Grand Prix Wrestling last came to Berwick in 2006 with three 50th anniversary spectaculars. The first in early June drew the largest crowd for a live pro wrestling show in Berwick in the last two decades, close to 300 fans.

Of particular interest is the fact that both of Emile’s sons - Rene Dupre, a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar featured on all three WWE brands, Raw, Smackdown! and ECW, and Jeff Dupre, a rising wrestling star who has been on tours of WWE developmental territories on several occasions - will wrestle on the same Grand Prix tour for the first time this year.“It’s the first time we’ve had that,” Emile said during a recent telephone interview from his home in New Brunswick. “It’s looking very good everywhere we’ve been advertised.”

Emile said it’s a relaxing experiencing for Rene to be back in the Maritimes with the Grand Prix roster and tour the way they used to years ago, especially considering the success of Rene’s recent multi-year run with the WWE. Rene became the youngest champion in WWE history when he co-held the world tag-team championship at age 18.

In what would be a major coup for Grand Prix, Emile said they’re hoping to have Robert Maillet, the Acadian Giant, a.k.a former WWE superstar Kurrgan, make several appearances on the second leg of the tour. There will likely be second and possibly third visits by Grand Prix in some locations. Maillet’s success has transcended the world of wrestling to the bright lights of Hollywood, as he was featured prominently in the controversial box office hit 300 last year.

Women’s wrestling stars will prove to be major attractions again this year, including a somewhat mysterious yet-to-be identified female competitor Rene saw on a recent tour of England. Emile said Rene was impressed with her ability and she will be flying in for the tour.A female star who was a hit on the last tour, She-Nay-Nay, will return and possibly national TV star Krysta Kinisky, who was also a popular attraction on the 2006 tour.

Other stars to be making appearances during the 2008 tour include Grand Prix legend “Wildman” Butcher Vachon, “Nature Boy” Buddy Austin, Pirate of the Carribean, Mighty Atlas, the Wrestling Spider-Man and more.




Buck 65 singing the theme to old TV show Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling.

Behind the Scenes With Buck 65
Leah Collins
Published: Monday, February 11, 2008
Someone's giving Buck 65 a bloody nose. The Nova Scotia rapper is taking the abuse with good humour. It helps, of course, that this particular injury is being applied out of a bottle of fake blood - it's mint-flavoured, in fact, a comforting bit of info should any of it dribble below his '70s handlebar moustache.
Once Buck 65 looks sufficiently beaten and bruised, the cameras begin roll. The rapper is shooting the video for "Dang!" his latest single from Situation - a record that's at No. 3 on the campus charts the day the rapper, his production crew, a gaggle of label reps, friends, photographers and sundry media types all cram together in a living-room-sized Toronto studio for the shoot.
For the afternoon, the camera is all on Buck 65. But when the video appears Feb. 18, he'll be just one member of an entire league of out-of-this world wrestlers including lucha libre little people and lightning-shooting goddesses. Buck 65 plays the part of a retro-styled colour commentator - complete with plaid suit, '70s bling and Bob Barker microphone. Today, he's making it very hard for the packed room to suppress their laughter as he puts on his crazed announcer act for the camera. As for the bloody nose and black eyes, he explains off-camera: "Some of the characters I'll be interviewing get a little overzealous."
The reason for the on-set wrestlemania derives from the crazy bongo beat that rumbles underneath the rhymes on "Dang!." Officially, the sample is a track by a forgotten Vancouver outfit known as the Incredible Bongo Band. But to most who'll recognize it, it's the theme song for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, a regional rock-em-sock-em show that holds a special place in Buck 65's heart.
"I don't know if it exists anymore, but it seems to me its real glory days were in my youth, when I was a kid," says Buck 65 while taking a break from filming. "Quite honestly, my favourite part of it was really this theme music. I'd tune in, even just for the first minute, just to watch the opening credits. It was really exciting," he says.
The show didn't have the big-budget flash of Hulkamania, but Buck 65 lists off the colourful characters - a veritable rainbow of pain - that stuck in his childhood imagination: Sweet Daddy Siki, No Class Bobby Bass, The Great Malumba.
The likes of Killer Karl Krupp wouldn't have had to put Buck 65 in a headlock for the musician to figure a Grand Prix theme was right for this video, and it was the first idea he pitched to the clip's director, Christopher Mills.
Mills, who's known for his distinctive "2 and a half-D" videos (Modest Mouse's "Float On," Interpol's "PDA"), had a slightly different idea in mind. For one thing, the MuchMusic Video Award-winning director was hoping to give the song a more psychedelic treatment (an homage to Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal cult film, The Holy Mountain). For another, Mills didn't exactly grow up watching No Class Bobby Bass duke it out, like Buck 65.
"I don't think he was familiar with it in a firsthand sort of way," says Buck 65. "But luckily we live in the age of the Internet YouTubes, so I was able to scare up some video clips to reference."
The two met half-way for the video treatment, with Mills focusing on playing up "the mythology in the world of wrestling" for the storyline.
"If we focus on the mythology of the world that means we can do crazy things that are wrestling inspired but even bigger than that," he says. "Like we'll have an army of little people tackling gigantic wrestlers who breathe fire and we'll have the goddess of thunder and lightning taking on her opponent in the ring as well, and they have actual supernatural and arcane powers and things like that. It really just blew the door open to having a hell of a lot of fun making the video."
And joining in on the fun is something that Buck 65's been itching to do since he first caught Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling's opening credits.
"Honestly, there was something about the music that really grabbed me. And after the show went off the air I searched for a long time to figure out what the music was and to track down a copy for myself," says Buck 65.
He found it, but getting the song on the record required some heavy legal wrangling, he says, "and a bit of a game of badminton, hitting the old shuttlecock back and forth a few times before we were able to iron out all the details."
Those details entail just about every cent made off of "Dang!" going to the Bongo Band. And that's OK by Buck 65 - especially considering he now gets the added bonus of not just playing the Grand Prix's theme tune, but joining its ranks.
"Yeah, absolutely [it's a bonus]. I mean, this really was a big part of my childhood fantasy world."--The video for Buck 65's "Dang!" premieres Feb. 18

First dates for Grand Prix tour

First dates for the 2008 Grand Prix tour

May 30 - Baie Ste Anne, New Brunswick

May 31 - O'Leary, Prince Edward Island

June 1 - Georgetown, Prince Edward Island

June 2 - Cocagne, New Brunswick

June 4 - Minto, New Brunswick

June 5 - Sussex, NB

June 6 - Church Point, NS

June 7 - Berwick, Nova Scotia

June 8 - Antigonish, Nova Scotia

June 9 - St. John, NB

June 10 - St. George, NB

June 11 - Florenceville, NB

June 12 - Truro, NS

June 13 - Borden, PEI

June 14 - Souris, PEI

THE FABULOUS DUPRE BROTHERS

Jeff Dupre (far right) and above in action in Grand Prix wrestling - 6 foot 1 and 240 pounds - so who's the better looking brother?

Canada's musclemen take to the road in June as Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling commences it's six week summer tour. This time Rene Dupree will be booking the show for promoter Emile Dupre and the booking options are endless - a tag team featuring two brothers with 'the look'; one brother dominating the other, until tempers fray, then it's 'brother vs brother' for control of the book; babyblue babyfaces who break all the rules, until the heels come in and clean them up with support of the fans ....all this and more is possible - don't miss out as Atlantic Grand Prix comes to a hall near you.

Rene vs Chad Dicks in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, Canada for Grand Prix Wrestling, June 21, 2006

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Dupre taking Atlantic Grand Prix back on the road
BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register
May 13rd 2008

When he looks back over the history of his legendary father’s pro wrestling promotion, Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling headliner Jeff Dupre sees similarities between the biggest star to ever compete in the Maritime ring and a current star with enormous potential. Dupre says this is instilling confidence in him to get the promotion back up and running. He hopes to hold another tour of the Maritimes this summer.

Although the tour and line-up have yet to be confirmed, Dupre says all the stars of Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling are excited to return to the Valley - as soon as possible. They’re still talking about the strong show of support from fans in the Berwick area during the promotion’s 50th anniversary tour in 2006.

A major Maritime wrestling star - the 7’1”, 350-pound Robert Maillet, better known as The Acadian Giant or Kurrgan - has indicated his willingness to participate. Maillet was under contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in 1997/1998 and enjoyed worldwide exposure when he appeared in the controversial Hollywood hit 300.

Dupre says, when you look back over the five-decade history of the promotion his father, Emile Dupre, operated, you’d find the largest wrestler to ever compete in Grand Prix Wrestling - and perhaps the biggest star - was the late, great Andre the Giant, “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Hailing from the French Alps and, at his peak, standing 7’4” and weighing 500 pounds, Andre was introduced to the Dupre family by the legendary Eduard Carpentier, “The Flying Frenchman.”

Andre competed in a number of memorable matches in the Maritime ring, including a series of handicap matches where he’d take on two or even three different opponents at once. Grand Prix Wrestling legend Frenchie “Rider” Lamont, one of the most recognizable midget wrestlers in the world who competed on the 50th anniversary tour, recalls working alongside Andre The Giant several years ago.

“A friend and a consummate professional,” he says of Andre.

Maillet could be considered a legitimate giant and, like Andre, has witnessed his stardom grow beyond wrestling into the realm of Hollywood.

Dupre says they keep hearing from fans and people are excited about the possibility of a tour this summer. “

We’re hoping to offer another season of the best in professional wrestling,” he says.

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Jeff Dupre continues family legacy [article from 2006]

By Richard Kamchen - Slam! Wrestling


You could call it business as usual -- another summer tour of Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling and a Dupre son grappling in the ring.

But this time it's promoter Emile Goguen's (a.k.a. Emile Dupre) son Jeff getting a bit of the limelight.

The East Coast's biggest circuit will kick off August 3 in Nova Scotia, and Emile will see his 25-year-old son Jeff compete during the five week run.

Jeff, who wrestles under the 'Dupre' moniker brother René used in the WWE, said he isn't intimidated by Grand Prix's seven nights a week grind, and looks forward to working again with peers like Chad Dick (formerly of WWE's Smackdown!) and Cuban Assassin #2 (Richie Acevedo, son of the original Cuban Assassin).

"Even the WWE doesn't have seven nights a week," Jeff said, pointing out that the hectic pace is part of what makes the Grand Prix tours so special.

Having worked in the last tour earlier this summer, Jeff realizes that it's a hard schedule to maintain, having matches everyday, training, and still managing to keep up some semblance of a personal life.

Still, there can't be many surprises left for Jeff, who prior to his in-ring Grand Prix employment, followed his father's promotion for years working in non-wrestling roles, including putting up the ring, selling merchandise, and whatever else was required of him.

"We've been hanging around the wrestling scene our whole lives," Jeff said.

At around 14 or 15 years of age, his training began as he joined René to drop in on Emile's sessions with other would-be wrestlers. It helped it was in their backyard.

Jeff's first wrestling match came against Eddie Watts in Grand Prix in 2003. Jeff went over, but more important than that, he said, the match taught him to have more confidence in what he could deliver.

Jeff said the Dupre name is one that those in the industry remember, and added people expect him to be as good or better than his father and brother. But the family name and pressure it comes with drive him to excel not overshadow or hold him back.

Now, close to 300 matches into his career, the lean and muscular 6-foot-1, 240-pounder said he's come a long ways from where he started. "I'm not the same wrestler I was the first day I walked in there. I'm a lot more comfortable with what I'm doing."

Brother René agreed. René, who made up one-half of the former WWE Raw Tag Team Champions La Resistance, (and later won the Smackdown! tag belts with Kenzo Suzuki), said Jeff has progressed very far and has now come into his own in the ring.

Jeff called his style an "old-school" one, and noted his influences include Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Terry Funk, and Leo Burke.

Emile said old-school mat wrestling is what he's been teaching for years and is currently in short supply. He suggested more traditional wrestlers would be a welcome contrast in the business. "I don't know if I'm right but I think I'm right," said the veteran of more than 50 years in the business.

Jeff has his sights set on getting into the WWE, with TNA a distant second choice.

"I've always thought about the WWE and (if) that hope is lost, then I'll think about TNA," he said. "But never say never -- TNA is gaining momentum and could be the second WCW. You never know in this industry."

Getting to the WWE wasn't originally Jeff's goal until after René got signed. While visiting his brother a couple of years ago, Jeff decided to take a look at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the WWE's developmental territory. He trained there for two weeks, and returned there last year for a month.

He said OVW guys want to get booked for Grand Prix to practice in front of big crowds, and pointed out his dad's promotion has proven to be a training ground for future stars, the most recent being Edge, Christian Cage, Don Callis, and Kurrgan, all of whom at some point signed with WWE.

Included in his training down south was Jeff's chance to tag with René during a WWE dark match.

"It's something I always dreamed of doing," he said of tagging with his brother, as they wrestled as two brothers from France.

René admitted the match was far from a mat classic and Jeff conceded the same.

"You can always be better. But with the experience I had at the time, I thought I did pretty good," Jeff said.

René, however, added they have tagged since then for Grand Prix, and those matches revealed the brothers developed a good chemistry in the ring. René hoped the two could keep working together in the future.

"Why not have second generation brothers tag-team? There's money to be had there," René said, pointing out the success of the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers during their heyday.

"He has wrestling in his blood -- he's lived around it his whole life, just like me," René said, believing Jeff has a chance to make it to the WWE.

But he added that he's repeatedly reminded his brother that he has to work for everything he desires. "Nothing comes for free."

Emile also felt Jeff is capable of joining the WWE, but stressed that given there are so many wrestlers vying for a position there, it's difficult to get someone's attention over the din.

Being in the business for so many years has given Emile the ability to pick out wrestlers who would stand out and Jeff, he said, is one of them, the proof being his strong merchandise sales and ability to induce crowd reaction.

"He gets over. And that's the bottom line in this business."