Whipper Billy Watson

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Whipper Billy Watson (July 25, 1915 – February 4, 1990), born William Potts, was a Canadian professional wrestler and two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.

1 Career
2 Profile
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 External links

[edit] Career

Born in East York, Ontario (now part of Toronto), Watson began wrestling in Toronto under his real name. He was a member of the Scarborough Athletic Club in the mid-1930s and was wrestling on what were billed as amateur wrestling shows in Toronto.

In June 1936, Watson was one of four Toronto wrestlers to go to England with their manager, Harry Joyce. While working there, Potts was renamed Whipper Billy Watson. After four years, Watson and his wife returned to Canada, and he began wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto under 27-year-old promoter Frank Tunney. Watson made his Gardens debut in the opening match of the October 3, 1940 card and worked his way to his first Gardens main event about four months later. 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 he was National Wrestling Association world champion and in 1956, he became National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight champion.

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. He died on February 4, 1990 at his winter home in Florida after suffering a heart attack.

[edit] Profile

From: East York, Ontario, Canada
Born: July 25, 1915
Died: February 4, 1990
Debut: 1936 vs. Tony Bear
Trained by: Phil Lawson
Finishing/Signature moves: Sleeper Hold; The Irish Whip
Other names: Billy Potts

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

National Wrestling Association

World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

National Wrestling Alliance
World

NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

National

NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (9 times) - with Yukon Eric (1), Bill Soloweyko (1), Billy Red Lyons (1), Bruno Sammartino (1), Johnny Valentine (2), Bulldog Brower (2), and Mark Lewin (1)
NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (12 times) - with Pat Flanagan (1), Yvon Robert (1), Hombre Montana (1), Tex McKenzie (2), Antonio Rocca (1), Pat O'Connor (1), Yukon Eric, (2), Bobo Brazil (1), Bernard Vigal, (1), and Ilio Dipaolo (1)