Jacques Rougeau
Nicholson started his career wrestling for Ted Hart and Eric Bischoff's Matrats promotion. After a stint with Jacques Rougeau, Jr.'s Lutte Internationale 2000 promotion in Montreal, he began training with Bruce Hart in Calgary's Dungeon. He spent most of his early career in Stampede Wrestling performing as Kid Nichols, regularly training with and wrestling against Teddy Hart, Harry Smith and TJ Wilson.