One day he decided it was time for a career change. A title bout between triple h and randy horton headlines the event, but the undercard includes. They could do far worse than give bill watts the book. The story of bill watts getting fired from wcw for making racist. Bill watts soonerstats historical scores, records, and. As well, many oldschool fans are aware of the rep that bill watts had had over the years a creative genius, but also a tough taskmaster. In 1977, when he wasnt able to personally attend a house show, he would send over a tape recorder with his ideas on how he wanted things to go.
From a 2009 interview with slam sports in canada his first meeting. Rebellion, wrestling and redemption by bill watts, scott williams isbn. Cowboy bill watts came up with the idea of the road warriors using face paint june 8, 2003. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In all fairness to everything else im about to post, it should be noted that bill watts is the one who made ron simmons the wcw world champion. Cowboy bill watts leaves ring for cross former ou footballer.
Im talking about an evenly fought match, where the heel actually triumphs clean. The cover of cowboy bill watts autobiography the cowboy and the cross couldnt be more fitting. The company announced that cowboy bill watts will be inducted into the wwe hall of fame. Bill watts was rumored to show up in tna as the director of authority but that never happened march 2, 2009raw. Sports wrestling cowboy bill watts story archive canoe. Fortunately, this is a story filled with gut wrenching reality, lost hope, and redemption through the one and only jesus christ. Synopsis cowboy watts bares all in a noholdsbarred look at the sport that nearly killed him. This book chronicles the rocky road of one of pro wrestlings most controversial figures, from angry young man, to successful wrestling promoter, to born again christian. Such an illustration is appropriate considering the book revolves around watts becoming a bornagain christian toward. However, any oldschool wrestling fan is aware of the territory and its importance to the sport in terms of angles and stars that were created there.
You may have seen or read arguments over the years in support of bill watts having one of the greatest minds for professional wrestling. A bloodied watts is shown being assisted to the locker room by two referees in a manner that evokes a biblical image of jesus christ being taken down from a cross. His ideas would often be long and very complicated. Watts served as cohost of a sports talk radio show on the sports animal in tulsa, oklahoma until late 2008. Ernie ladd was one cool cat on gridiron, in wrestling ring. Cowboy bill wattsconfirmation of his induction comes from the most recent episode of wwe legends of wrestling on wwe 247 classics on demand where watts was taking part in a discussion on african americans in pro wrestling. The wwe marked the silver anniversary of their most famous annual event, wrestlemania, with a payperview event the included some of the most famous names in the history of professional wrestling. May 12, 2006 feb 15, 2020 the cover of cowboy bill watts autobiography the cowboy and the cross couldnt be more fitting. Such an illustration is appropriate considering the book revolves around watts becoming a bornagain christian toward the end of his. Wild red berry, he of the spinozakant leanings, spotted him and tipped off vince mcmahon, who fetched him east and renamed him cowboy bill. And the top rope rule was a good idea, it was just poorly executed. Cowboy bill watts according to watts, the reason why people either completely love him or completely hate him is that he was passionate. This book chronicles the rocky road of one of pro wrestlings most controversial figures, from angry young man, to successful wrestling promoter, to bornagain.
Nov 29, 2019 the cowboy and the cross isnt an unclear or rambling book by any means, but it gives the distinct impression of a tussle between watts wanting to let rip on the subjects of his choice and williams wanting to produce a narrative that would appeal to the likely audience. Not a typical story of redemption, this autobiography is the compelling narrative of the profound change religion can make in even the most hardened heart. After reading bills story, i realize there was a chasm between the character bill watts and the real man. In the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the university of oklahoma, to his days in the wrestling business, sparing nothing in his details about football coaching legend bud wilkinson, ugly encounters with some of the top names in wrestling in the 1960s, and frightening stories about skirting tragedy and the law in violent. Rebellion, wrestling and redemption through ecw press. Wrestling icon watts traces his fall through the murky waters of professional fighting and his eventual rise to grace in this indispensably honest memoir of a life in the ring. Jan 01, 2005 in the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the university of oklahoma, to his days in the wrestling business, sparing nothing in his details about football coaching legend bud wilkinson, ugly encounters with some of the top names in wrestling in the 1960s, and frightening stories about skirting tragedy and the.
He was a longtime resident of bixby, a tulsa suburb. On the list of panelists taking part in the discussion watts was listed as a 2009 wwe hall of fame inductee. Not that it excuses the things he said by any means, but im just trying to give a balanced version of the story. He is a producer and director, known for uwf power pro wrestling 1984, wcw halloween havoc 1992 and wcw saturday night 1985. In the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the university of oklahoma, to his days in the wrestling business, sparing nothing in his details about football coaching legend bud wilkinson, ugly encounters with some of the top names in. Jan 15, 2006 bill watts was a wrestling character that i looked up to as a child attending midsouth wrestling live events. And whats wrong with heels winning cleanly over top faces. In april 1989, after firing george scott, wcw offered bill watts the chance to book, but he. Cowboy bill watts is a retired professional wrestler. My exposure to watts and midsouth wrestling is extremely limited.
Rebellion, wrestling and redemption by bill watts 2feb2006 paperback on. Dec 21, 2019 watts served as cohost of a sports talk radio show on the sports animal in tulsa, oklahoma until late 2008. Rebellion, wrestling and redemption has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. A recent interviewee, leaping lanny poffo, said that bill watts is the halo to ole andersons horns. Sep 01, 2016 bill watts with a great promo as usual. Im not talking about a cripple h style win, where he dominates the match and wins. The cowboy and the cross the bill watts storyfeatured at personal. A standout character in an entertainment industry where persona is everything, george the animal steele shares how he balanced his real life as jim myers, a highly respected high school teacher and coach, with the green tongued, hairy backed, turnbuckle eating wrestling icon he was in the ring. The cowboy and the cross bill watts kayfabe memories. Surprises expected in watts book bill watts website. Cowboy bill watts interview conducted by a according to watts, the reason why people either completely love him or completely hate him is that he was passionate. In the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the university of oklahoma, to his days in the wrestling business, sparing nothing in his details about football coaching legend bud wilkinson, ugly encounters with some of.
The event was produced by world wrestling entertainment wwe on april 4, 2009 from the toyota center in houston, texas. In this book, watts and williams explore in depth who watts really was and it is a fascinating journey. Professional wrestling had consumed nearly every waking moment of bill watts adult life. Bill watts was born on may 5, 1939 in bixby, oklahoma, usa as willian watts. A c indicates that the player was a captain for that season named before each game in 1982, and 1995 through 1998. In march 2006, watts released his autobiography the cowboy and the cross. Cowboy bill watts walks tall on gcw august 30, 1980 youtube. He also says that its better that people have an opinion of you than not. In the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his s.
Now that his rodeo career is over, kade danning has nowhere else. Cowboy bill watts midsouth wrestling had the reputation of being a tough guys territory, touring through hardened towns in oklahoma, louisiana, mississippi and arkansas. Along the way, cowboy bill watts mixed it up with some of the top names in the unique world of wrestling. The cowboy and the cross by bill watts and scott williams was as good as i expected it to be. Wrestling defends the georgia heavyweight title against bill watts in this rare match from 1973, with gordon solie and les thatcher on commentary. One of bill watts traits was that he liked to spell out, move for move, all the details for the end of a match. After reading bill s story, i realize there was a chasm between the character bill watts and the real man. He worked for promoter cowboy bill watts, a man with a racist reputation because of the character he played inring. Feb 15, 2020 the cover of cowboy bill watts autobiography the cowboy and the cross couldnt be more fitting.
Apollo 50, our hardcover book about the 50th anniversary of the apollo 11 moon landing, has been released. The story of bill watts getting fired from wcw for making. Bill watts, may 5, 1939, is a former american professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his cowboy gimmick in his wrestling career, and. Cowboy bill watts has been known as many things during his career, from main event wrestler to promoter to consultant, and countless unprintable words in between. Scott williams is a reporter, legal journalist, and wrestling commentator. And watts also had a reputation in the past for pushing guys like junkyard dog and ernie ladd as top babyfaces. In april 1989, after firing george scott, wcw offered bill watts the chance to book, but he declined the offer and.
The first time that i met ernie ladd was in the new orleans airport in the mid70s, where i was sent by promoter cowboy bill watts in a rented car to pick up the big cat, who was booked in a. Wwe hall of fame 2009 was the event which featured the introduction of the 10th class to the wwe hall of fame. Bill watts, may 5, 1939, is a former american professional wrestler and. Heyman says his first true encounter with brutal antisemitism was an encounter with legendary booker cowboy bill watts. Watts was famous under his cowboy gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, nononsense promoter in the midsouth area of the united states, which grew to become the uwf.
Bar fights were not uncommon, as drunkards sought to prove they were tougher than the wrestlers. The comic book story of professional wrestling has. In the cowboy and the cross, bill watts takes us from his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the university of oklahoma, to his days in the wrestling business, sparing nothing in his details about football coaching legend bud wilkinson, ugly encounters with some of the top names in wrestling in the 1960s, and frightening stories about skirting tragedy and the. Williams is an awardwinning journalist and wrestling columnist for the galveston county daily news in texas. Not the typical story of christian salvation, the book is still a compelling story of the profound change god can make in even the most hardened heart.