Whipper Billy Watson

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Whipper Billy Watson (July 25, 1917 - February 4, 1990), born William Potts, was a Canadian professional wrestler and two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion. In three decades in the ring, he wrestled more than 6,300 matches. Watson began his career in England in 1936, where English sportswiters dubbed him "Whipper" because of one of his signature throws, the Irish whip. In 1940, he and his wife returned to Canada, and he began wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. He soon became a crowd favorite, and within a few years, was a mainstream celebrity and one of Toronto's most popular citizens. Watson held the British Empire title throughout the 1940s and 1950s; in 1947 and again in 1956, he won the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight title.

Watson was known for his charity work. He made many public appearances across Canada in support of crippled children, and held an annual Easter Seals skate-a-thon at the Gardens. For a number of years, he was director of the Ontario Society for Crippled Children.

Watson retired from wrestling in 1971, when he was struck by a car and nearly lost a leg, but he continued his fundraising activities into his retirement. Watson died on February 4, 1990 at his winter home in Florida after suffering a heart attack.

Contents

[edit] Profile

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] World title

  1. National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title: Won from Wild Bill Longson on February 21, 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri; Lost to Lou Thesz on April 25, 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri
  2. National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title: Won from Lou Thesz on March 15, 1956 in Toronto; Lost to Lou Thesz on November 9, 1956 in St. Louis, Missouri

[edit] British Empire title (Toronto version)

  1. Won from Nanjo Singh on April 30, 1942 in Toronto; Lost to John Katan on October 1, 1942 in Toronto
  2. Defeated Nanjo Singh on January 28, 1943 in Toronto after Katan no-showed his title defense; Lost to Yvon Robert on May 27, 1943 in Toronto
  3. Defeated Yvon Robert on June 10, 1943 in Toronto; Lost to Nanjo Singh on May 13, 1948 in Toronto
  4. Defeated Nanjo Singh on June 3, 1948 in Toronto; Lost to Fred Atkins on March 3, 1949 in Toronto
  5. Defeated Fred Atkins on August 2, 1948 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Lost to Yvon Robert on October 6, 1949 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  6. Won from Yvon Robert on November 17, 1949 in Toronto; Lost to Yvon Robert on January 25, 1950 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  7. Won from Yvon Robert on October 12, 1950 in Toronto; Title vacated on March 15, 1956 when Watson wins the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
  8. Won from Gene Kiniski on June 6, 1957 in Toronto; Lost to Gene Kiniski on April 17, 1959 in Toronto
  9. Won from Gene Kiniski on June 18, 1959 in Toronto; Final champion, title abandoned in 1967

[edit] Canadian Open tag team title

  1. With Pat Flanagan, defeated Lord Athol Layton and Hans Hermann in a tournament final on August 28, 1952 in Toronto (first champions); Lost to Lou Plummer and Dick Raines on December 11, 1952 in Toronto
  2. With Yvon Robert, won from Al and Tiny Mills on June 25, 1953 in Toronto; Lost to Al and Tiny Mills on November 26, 1953 in Toronto
  3. With Hombre Montana, won from Al and Tiny Mills on January 14, 1954 in Toronto; Lost to Al and Tiny Mills on February 11, 1954 in Toronto
  4. With Tex McKenzie, won from Al and Tiny Mills on June 2, 1954 in London, Ontario; Lost to Great Togo and Tosh Togo on July 8, 1954 in Toronto
  5. With Antonino Rocca, won from Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff on August 4, 1955 in Toronto; Vacated title in November 1955
  6. With Tex McKenzie, defeated Fritz Von Erich and Karl Von Schober for the vacant title on December 1, 1955 in Toronto; Lost to Fritz Von Erich and Karl Von Schober on December 29, 1955 in Toronto
  7. With Pat O'Connor, won from Ed and Bill Miller on May 9, 1957 in Toronto; Lost to [[Gene Kiniski]] and Fritz Von Erich on October 31, 1957 in Toronto
  8. With Yukon Eric, won from Gene Kiniski and Fritz Von Erich on February 13, 1958 in Toronto; Lost to Reggie and Stan Lisowski on March 20, 1958
  9. With Bobo Brazil, won from Reggie and Stan Lisowski on May 22, 1958 in Toronto; Lost to Ivan and Nikita Kalmikoff on June 12, 1958 in Toronto
  10. With Bernard Vignal, won from Reggie and Stan Lisowski on August 28, 1958 in Toronto; Lost to Ivan and Nikita Kalmikoff on September 24, 1958 in London, Ontario
  11. With Yukon Eric, won from Ivan and Nikita Kalmikoff on November 13, 1958; Lost to Gene Kiniski and Don Leo Jonathan on October 29, 1959 in Toronto
  12. With Ilio DiPaolo, won from Gene Kiniski and Don Leo Jonathan on January 14, 1960 in Toronto; Lost to Tiny Mills and Stan Kowalski on December 29, 1960 in Toronto

[edit] International tag team title (Toronto version)

  1. With Yukon Eric, won from Chris and John Tolos on December 28, 1961 in Toronto; Lost to Chris and John Tolos on January 4, 1962 in Toronto
  2. With Bill Soloweyko, won from Chris and John Tolos on January 18, 1962 in Toronto; Lost to Chris and John Tolos on March 15, 1962 in Toronto
  3. With Billy Red Lyons, won from Chris and John Tolos on March 28, 1962 in Toronto; Lost to Bulldog Brower and Sweet Daddy Siki on April 4, 1962 in Toronto
  4. With Bruno Sammartino, won from Bulldog Brower and Sweet Daddy Siki on September 27, 1962 in Toronto; Lost to Johnny Valentine and Bulldog Brower on February 28, 1963 in Toronto
  5. With Johnny Valentine, won from Professor Hiro and Fred Atkins on August 13, 1964 in Toronto; Lost to Professor Hiro and Fred Atkins on September 17, 1964 in Toronto
  6. With Johnny Valentine, won from Professor Hiro and Fred Atkins on October 9, 1964 in Toronto; Lost to Masked Yankees on January 9, 1966 in Toronto
  7. With Bulldog Brower, won from The Masked Yankees on July 10, 1966 in Toronto; Lost to Tiger Jeet Singh and Fred Atkins on July 31, 1966 in Toronto
  8. With Bulldog Brower, billed as champions in December 1967 after the titles had been inactive; Lost to Tiger Jeet Singh and Bull Curry on May 26, 1968 in Toronto
  9. With Mark Lewin, won from Tiger Jeet Singh and Bull Curry on August 25, 1968 in Toronto; title abandoned soon after

[edit] External links

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