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{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler}}
'''Whipper Billy Watson''' (], ] – ], ]), born '''William Potts''', was a ] ] and two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Whipper Billy Watson
|image = Whipper Billy Watson.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|birth_name = William John Potts
|names = Billy Potts<br />Billy Watson
|birth_date = {{birth date|1915|6|25}}
|birth_place = ], Canada{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=201}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1990|2|4|1915|7|25}}
|death_place = ], U.S.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}}
|trainer = Phil Lawson
|debut = 1936
|retired = 28 November 1971{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=201}}<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
|height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
|weight = 227 lb<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
}}
'''William John Potts''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt}} (June 25, 1915 – February 4, 1990) was a Canadian ] best known by his ] "'''Whipper'''" '''Billy Watson'''. He was a two-time ], having held both the ] and the ]. On February 21, 1947, he became the first man to win a world heavyweight wrestling championship on TV.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSAMsxW6-M</ref>


==Career== == Early life ==
Born in ] (now part of ]), 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. Watson was born in 1915 in ]{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=201}} (now part of ]) to an English-born father, John Potts and a Canadian-born mother, Alice Mary Wilken.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=201}} Watson began wrestling in Toronto under his real name. He was a member of the ] Athletic Club in the mid-1930s and was wrestling on what were billed as amateur wrestling shows in Toronto.


==Professional wrestling career==
In June 1936, Watson was one of four Toronto wrestlers to go to ] 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 ] in ] under 27-year-old promoter Frank Tunney. Watson made his Gardens debut in the opening match of the ], ] 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 ] title throughout the 1940s and 1950s; in 1947 he was ] world champion and in 1956, he became ] world heavyweight champion.
===Exposure to wrestling===
For four years as a teenager, Watson sold the '']'' at the corner of Danforth and Dawes Road. He was convinced by his brother George to play hooky from piano lessons one Saturday to attend a wrestling session at the All Hallows Anglican Church gymnasium. The event changed Watson's life. He furthered his wrestling training with Phillip Lawson at the Bowles Athletic Club and later the Central YMCA.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=202}}


In 1936, wrestling as Bill Potts, Watson appeared on cards at British Consols Stadium in Toronto that were advertised as amateur wrestling shows. In June of that year, he went on a tour of the United Kingdom along with fellow Toronto wrestlers Tommy Nelson, Al Korman, and Ken "Tiger" Tasker and their manager, Harry Joyce. English wrestling often involved hard-nosed shooting and he was sidelined for six months with a fractured shoulder and numerous broken ribs.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=202}} It was on this tour that William Potts became Billy Watson. Booked by former Olympic Gold Medalist ], Watson traveled through England and ].{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=202}} The change of surname was caused by the opportunity to take on the tour engagements of fellow Canadian wrestler, Winnett Wallingford Watson, whose ship had been delayed by bad weather in the Atlantic; the original Watson later changed his ring name to Pat Flanagan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1965/10/16/they-laughed-when-he-stepped-into-the-ring-with-his-clothes-on |title=They Laughed When he Stepped into the Ring with his Clothes On |last=Coleman |first=Jim |date=October 16, 1965 |website=archive.macleans.ca |publisher=St. Joseph Communications |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref> Watson received the "Whipper" nickname from his usage of the "Irish Whip", which involved hurling an opponent into the ropes before throwing him over his back, though sources differ on whether the name was acquired in Canada or the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/torontos-wrestling-saint |title=Toronto's wrestling saint |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= July 29, 1970 |website=www.cbc.ca |publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://historyofwrestling.com/whipper-watson/ |title=Whipper Watson |last=von Slagle |first=Stephen |date= 8 February 2020|website=historyofwrestling.com |publisher=Addscape International LLC |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>
Watson was known for his ] work. He made many public appearances across Canada in support of crippled children, and held an annual ] skate-a-thon at the Gardens. For a number of years, he was director of the Ontario Society for Crippled Children.


===Star attraction at Maple Leaf Gardens===
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 ], ] at his winter home in ] after suffering a heart attack.
After four years abroad, Watson and his wife returned to Canada, and he began wrestling at ] in Toronto under 27-year-old promoter ]. Watson made his ] debut in the opening match of the October 3, 1940. Newspaper reports in November said Watson was frustrated with not getting a main event match in his first six appearances at the Gardens. He appeared in one Gardens main event in February 1941, but his big push came two months later. According to storyline, Watson filed a lawsuit against Tunney for breach of contract, claiming that he had been signed to wrestle a main event against Masked Wolf. When Tunney held an open tournament to determine the number one contender for the world title on May 1, 1941, Watson entered; filing a copy of his entry form with the Ontario Athletics Commission so that Tunney would be unable to claim he did not enter, and then won four matches in one night to win the tournament.


From that point on, Watson was positioned as a legitimate main event performer, a position that was cemented during Watson's feud with Nanjo Singh, which began in January 1942. Watson soon became a crowd favourite and within a few years was a mainstream celebrity and one of Toronto's most popular citizens. ] estimated that Whipper Watson drew more than five million people in main events of shows in Toronto. As one of the most popular wrestlers in the city's history, Watson spent 31 years entertaining fans. His last match was held on November 28, 1971.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=201}}
==Profile==
* From: ], ]
* Born: ], ]
* Died: ], ]
* Debut: 1936 vs. Tony Bear
* Trained by: Phil Lawson
* Finishing/Signature moves: Sleeper Hold; The Irish Whip
* Other names: Billy Potts


===Championship runs===
==Championships and accomplishments==
Watson defeated Nanjo Singh for the British Empire title on April 30, 1942.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} He feuded with ], ], ], ], ], and ], among many others. Watson earned a reputation as someone who was willing to lose clean in the ring.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} He earned an "everyman" image and Watson went on to hold the city of Toronto's regional title and the British Empire title on a regular basis.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}}
*''']'''
:*] (1 time)


Tunney cut Watson in on the business side of things. Their combined booking efforts resulted in large fortunes for the two of them. With connections to St. Louis promoter ], Watson's notoriety resulted in Watson ending Longson's four-year title reign with a victory at the Kiel Auditorium in ] on February 21, 1947.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} The territory of St. Louis became a home away from home for Watson. More than 10,000 St. Louis fans watched local hero ] beat Watson for the world title on April 25, 1947.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} After Packs retired in 1948, Tunney bought into the territory in St. Louis and this resulted in many more matches for Watson in the city.

Watson became one of a small group of wrestlers to have membership in the ].{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} In 1955, Watson expanded his business ventures by purchasing the ] territory from Bob Murray.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=203}} Wrestlers from Toronto such as Doug Hepburn and Sky-Hi Lee wrestled for Watson in Seattle. Ken Kenneth ran the day-to-day operations for Watson and imported wrestlers from San Francisco to compete in Seattle. The territory folded a few months later.

On March 15, 1956, Watson ended Thesz's six-year reign as World Champion in front of 15,000 fans. Former boxing champion Jack Dempsey was the referee in the match.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}} Watson traveled throughout North America and took on legends such as Gorgeous George, ], ], Richard Dempk, ], ], ], ] and Buddy Rogers. Thesz regained the title from Watson on November 9, 1956, in St. Louis.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}}

Outside of wrestling, Watson considered playing football for the ] in the 1950s.

On November 28, 1971, he teamed with ] at the Gardens to beat Dingo the Sundowner and Man Mountain Cannon in less than five minutes which would be his very last match.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}}

He also trained several wrestlers, including ], a ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/brooks_farmer.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802231025/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/brooks_farmer.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 2, 2012|title=Canadian Hall of Fame: Farmer Brooks|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2008-11-05}}</ref> and ], a multiple-time tag team champion and father of ].

==Personal life==
Watson was hit by an out-of-control car while placing a fireplace screen in the trunk of his car on November 30 on ] in Toronto. After a three-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital, his knee eventually recovered, but Watson could never wrestle again.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}} Although he nearly lost a leg, he continued his fundraising activities into his retirement.

Watson also promoted his own soft drink brand.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}}

Watson was well known for his contributions to charity. He raised millions for campaigns such as the ] and was responsible for having 150,000 children join a safety club.{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}} He made many public appearances across Canada in support of children with physical disabilities and held an annual Easter Seals skate-a-thon at the Gardens. In 1974, he also started the "Whipper Watson Snowarama for Timmy" to raise money for the construction of a therapeutic pool. To date, Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids has raised over 16.1 million dollars provincially to help support children and youth with physical disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=44834|title=Riders support Easter Seals Snowarama|date=20 February 2010 |publisher=SooToday|access-date=2014-01-03}}</ref> Today, his campaign to build The Whipper Watson Therapeutic Pool at ] is illustrated in a mural in the facility.<ref></ref>

As Watson was quoted in the ] on January 31, 1979, "They deserve a chance to live life as normally as you or I and we can help them do it. We can tear down some of those needless barriers that the handicapped face everyday. We can give thanks that our kids and families are unafflicted and we can get out and sincerely work hard to make the 1979 Snowarama the most successful yet."

Over the course of the next twelve years, Watson gained 130 pounds to weigh 350 pounds. He died on February 4, 1990, in ].{{sfnp|Hornbaker|2007|p=204}} He is well-remembered in ] where he lived.

==Legacy==
W.J. Watson Public School in ], is named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wjwatson.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/profile.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-07-28 |archive-date=2008-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228032634/http://www.wjwatson.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/profile.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was inducted into the ] in 1995.<ref name="OSHOF">{{cite web |title=Whipper Billy Watson |url=http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/106-whipper-billy-watson |website=oshof.ca |publisher=] |access-date=23 September 2014 |archive-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229012155/http://www.oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/106-whipper-billy-watson |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2003, Watson was ranked number one wrestler in Greg Oliver's book Professional Wrestling Hall Of Fame: The Canadians.

==Politics==
Watson tested the waters of politics as the ] candidate in ] in the ]. Watson placed second with 32% of the vote, falling about 2,500 votes behind ] candidate ].

== Championships and accomplishments ==
*'''International Wrestling Association (Montreal)'''
**] (1 time)
*''']'''
**] (])
**] (]) - with Pat Flanagan (1), ] (1),<ref name=Jan12F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0112-outsiders-win-wcw-tag-team-titles-301496 | title=Pro wrestling history (01/12): The Outsiders win WCW Tag team titles | date=January 12, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref> Hombre Montana (1), ] (2), ] (1), ] (1), ], (2), ] (1), Bernard Vigal, (1), and Ilio Dipaolo (4)
**] (]) - with Yukon Eric (1), ] (1),<ref name=Jan19F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0118-ivan-koloff-defeats-bruno-sammartino-wwwf-title | title=Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title | date=January 18, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref> ] (1),<ref name=F4WMarch22>{{cite web |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0322-dutch-mantel-wins-southern-title-jerry-lawler | title=Daily pro wrestling history (03/22): Dutch Mantel wins Southern title from Jerry Lawler | date=March 22, 2020 | access-date=March 22, 2020 | work=] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref> ] (1), ] (2), ] (2), and ] (1)
*''']''' *''']'''
**] (])
*'''World'''
*''']'''
:*] (])
**] (])
*'''National'''
*''']'''
:*NWA International Tag Team Championship ''(Toronto version)'' (9 times) - with Yukon Eric (1), Bill Soloweyko (1), Billy Red Lyons (1), ] (1), ] (2), Bulldog Brower (2), and ] (1)
:*NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (12 times) - with Pat Flanagan (1), Yvon Robert (1), Hombre Montana (1), Tex McKenzie (2), ] (1), ] (1), Yukon Eric, (2), ] (1), Bernard Vigal, (1), and Ilio Dipaolo (1) **] (]) - with Dan Miller
*''']'''
*'''Regional'''
**Class of 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2014/11/26/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-class-of-2015-announced/|title=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=2014-11-26|access-date=2014-11-28|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=]}}</ref>
:*NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship ''(Toronto version)'' (9 times)
*''']'''
**Class of 1995<ref name="OSHOF"/>
*''']'''
**] (])
**] (Class of 1995)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 |series=Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart |series-link=Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show |first=Ed (host) |last=Whalen |network=] |station=] |date=December 15, 1995 |time=15:38}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo }}</ref>
*''''']'''''
**] (])

== Electoral record ==
{{1965 Canadian federal election/York East}}

==References==
'''General'''
*{{cite book|author=Oliver, Greg|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians|publisher=ECW Press|year=2003|chapter=Top 20 Canadians: Whipper Billy Watson|pages=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPJRPgAACAAJ|isbn=1-55022-531-6}}
*{{Cite book | title = National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling | publisher = ] | last = Hornbaker | first = Tim | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-1-55022-741-3}}
*{{cite book |last=Nevada |first=Vance |author-link=Vance Nevada |date=2022 |title=(Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy |location= |publisher=FriesenPress |isbn=9781039154797 }}

'''Specific'''
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Kreikenbohm">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1816|title=Billy Watson|access-date=July 5, 2022|website=Cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>

}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons}}
*
* *
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031190640/http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/canada/watson.htm |date=2013-10-31 }}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618220422/http://0362dc8.netsolhost.com/halloffamers/bios/William_Potts.asp |date=2016-06-18 }}
*
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=1816|wrestlingdata=1236|iwd=billy-watson-1045}}

{{NWA World Heavyweight Championship|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 10:14, 13 November 2024

Canadian professional wrestler
Whipper Billy Watson
Birth nameWilliam John Potts
Born(1915-06-25)June 25, 1915
East York, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 4, 1990(1990-02-04) (aged 74)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Billy Potts
Billy Watson
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight227 lb (103 kg)
Trained byPhil Lawson
Debut1936
Retired28 November 1971

William John Potts, OOnt (June 25, 1915 – February 4, 1990) was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name "Whipper" Billy Watson. He was a two-time world champion, having held both the National Wrestling Association title and the National Wrestling Alliance title. On February 21, 1947, he became the first man to win a world heavyweight wrestling championship on TV.

Early life

Watson was born in 1915 in East York, Ontario (now part of Toronto) to an English-born father, John Potts and a Canadian-born mother, Alice Mary Wilken. 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.

Professional wrestling career

Exposure to wrestling

For four years as a teenager, Watson sold the Toronto Daily Star at the corner of Danforth and Dawes Road. He was convinced by his brother George to play hooky from piano lessons one Saturday to attend a wrestling session at the All Hallows Anglican Church gymnasium. The event changed Watson's life. He furthered his wrestling training with Phillip Lawson at the Bowles Athletic Club and later the Central YMCA.

In 1936, wrestling as Bill Potts, Watson appeared on cards at British Consols Stadium in Toronto that were advertised as amateur wrestling shows. In June of that year, he went on a tour of the United Kingdom along with fellow Toronto wrestlers Tommy Nelson, Al Korman, and Ken "Tiger" Tasker and their manager, Harry Joyce. English wrestling often involved hard-nosed shooting and he was sidelined for six months with a fractured shoulder and numerous broken ribs. It was on this tour that William Potts became Billy Watson. Booked by former Olympic Gold Medalist George de Relwyskow, Watson traveled through England and Ireland. The change of surname was caused by the opportunity to take on the tour engagements of fellow Canadian wrestler, Winnett Wallingford Watson, whose ship had been delayed by bad weather in the Atlantic; the original Watson later changed his ring name to Pat Flanagan. Watson received the "Whipper" nickname from his usage of the "Irish Whip", which involved hurling an opponent into the ropes before throwing him over his back, though sources differ on whether the name was acquired in Canada or the United Kingdom.

Star attraction at Maple Leaf Gardens

After four years abroad, Watson and his wife returned to Canada, and he began wrestling at Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto under 27-year-old promoter Frank Tunney. Watson made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut in the opening match of the October 3, 1940. Newspaper reports in November said Watson was frustrated with not getting a main event match in his first six appearances at the Gardens. He appeared in one Gardens main event in February 1941, but his big push came two months later. According to storyline, Watson filed a lawsuit against Tunney for breach of contract, claiming that he had been signed to wrestle a main event against Masked Wolf. When Tunney held an open tournament to determine the number one contender for the world title on May 1, 1941, Watson entered; filing a copy of his entry form with the Ontario Athletics Commission so that Tunney would be unable to claim he did not enter, and then won four matches in one night to win the tournament.

From that point on, Watson was positioned as a legitimate main event performer, a position that was cemented during Watson's feud with Nanjo Singh, which began in January 1942. Watson soon became a crowd favourite and within a few years was a mainstream celebrity and one of Toronto's most popular citizens. Frank Tunney estimated that Whipper Watson drew more than five million people in main events of shows in Toronto. As one of the most popular wrestlers in the city's history, Watson spent 31 years entertaining fans. His last match was held on November 28, 1971.

Championship runs

Watson defeated Nanjo Singh for the British Empire title on April 30, 1942. He feuded with Bill Longson, Lou Thesz, Yvon Robert, Gene Kiniski, Gorgeous George, and The Sheik, among many others. Watson earned a reputation as someone who was willing to lose clean in the ring. He earned an "everyman" image and Watson went on to hold the city of Toronto's regional title and the British Empire title on a regular basis.

Tunney cut Watson in on the business side of things. Their combined booking efforts resulted in large fortunes for the two of them. With connections to St. Louis promoter Tom Packs, Watson's notoriety resulted in Watson ending Longson's four-year title reign with a victory at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis on February 21, 1947. The territory of St. Louis became a home away from home for Watson. More than 10,000 St. Louis fans watched local hero Lou Thesz beat Watson for the world title on April 25, 1947. After Packs retired in 1948, Tunney bought into the territory in St. Louis and this resulted in many more matches for Watson in the city.

Watson became one of a small group of wrestlers to have membership in the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1955, Watson expanded his business ventures by purchasing the Seattle territory from Bob Murray. Wrestlers from Toronto such as Doug Hepburn and Sky-Hi Lee wrestled for Watson in Seattle. Ken Kenneth ran the day-to-day operations for Watson and imported wrestlers from San Francisco to compete in Seattle. The territory folded a few months later.

On March 15, 1956, Watson ended Thesz's six-year reign as World Champion in front of 15,000 fans. Former boxing champion Jack Dempsey was the referee in the match. Watson traveled throughout North America and took on legends such as Gorgeous George, Pat O'Connor, Dick Hutton, Richard Dempk, Bobo Brazil, Hans Schmidt, Fritz Von Erich, Killer Kowalski and Buddy Rogers. Thesz regained the title from Watson on November 9, 1956, in St. Louis.

Outside of wrestling, Watson considered playing football for the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1950s.

On November 28, 1971, he teamed with Bulldog Brower at the Gardens to beat Dingo the Sundowner and Man Mountain Cannon in less than five minutes which would be his very last match.

He also trained several wrestlers, including Farmer Brooks, a midget professional wrestler, and Rocky Johnson, a multiple-time tag team champion and father of The Rock.

Personal life

Watson was hit by an out-of-control car while placing a fireplace screen in the trunk of his car on November 30 on Rogers Road in Toronto. After a three-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital, his knee eventually recovered, but Watson could never wrestle again. Although he nearly lost a leg, he continued his fundraising activities into his retirement.

Watson also promoted his own soft drink brand.

Watson was well known for his contributions to charity. He raised millions for campaigns such as the Easter Seals and was responsible for having 150,000 children join a safety club. He made many public appearances across Canada in support of children with physical disabilities and held an annual Easter Seals skate-a-thon at the Gardens. In 1974, he also started the "Whipper Watson Snowarama for Timmy" to raise money for the construction of a therapeutic pool. To date, Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids has raised over 16.1 million dollars provincially to help support children and youth with physical disabilities. Today, his campaign to build The Whipper Watson Therapeutic Pool at Southlake Regional Health Centre is illustrated in a mural in the facility.

As Watson was quoted in the Sault Star on January 31, 1979, "They deserve a chance to live life as normally as you or I and we can help them do it. We can tear down some of those needless barriers that the handicapped face everyday. We can give thanks that our kids and families are unafflicted and we can get out and sincerely work hard to make the 1979 Snowarama the most successful yet."

Over the course of the next twelve years, Watson gained 130 pounds to weigh 350 pounds. He died on February 4, 1990, in Orlando, Florida. He is well-remembered in York Region where he lived.

Legacy

W.J. Watson Public School in Keswick, Ontario, is named in his honour.

He was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

In 2003, Watson was ranked number one wrestler in Greg Oliver's book Professional Wrestling Hall Of Fame: The Canadians.

Politics

Watson tested the waters of politics as the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate in York East in the 1965 federal election. Watson placed second with 32% of the vote, falling about 2,500 votes behind Liberal Party of Canada candidate Steve Otto.

Championships and accomplishments

Electoral record

1965 Canadian federal election: York East
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Steve Otto 18,840
  Progressive Conservative William Whipper Watson 15,312
  New Democratic Party William Smith 13,045
Social Credit R. Beacock 194

References

General

Specific

  1. ^ Hornbaker (2007), p. 201.
  2. ^ Hornbaker (2007), p. 204.
  3. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Billy Watson". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSAMsxW6-M
  5. ^ Hornbaker (2007), p. 202.
  6. Coleman, Jim (October 16, 1965). "They Laughed When he Stepped into the Ring with his Clothes On". archive.macleans.ca. St. Joseph Communications. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. "Toronto's wrestling saint". www.cbc.ca. CBC/Radio-Canada. July 29, 1970. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. von Slagle, Stephen (8 February 2020). "Whipper Watson". historyofwrestling.com. Addscape International LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Hornbaker (2007), p. 203.
  10. "Canadian Hall of Fame: Farmer Brooks". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  11. "Riders support Easter Seals Snowarama". SooToday. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  12. Southlake Regional Health Centre – Foundation – Whipper Watson Therapeutic Pool
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2007-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Whipper Billy Watson". oshof.ca. Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  15. Hoops, Brian (January 12, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/12): The Outsiders win WCW Tag team titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  16. Hoops, Brian (January 18, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  17. Hoops, Brian (March 22, 2020). "Daily pro wrestling history (03/22): Dutch Mantel wins Southern title from Jerry Lawler". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  18. Oliver, Greg (2014-11-26). "Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  19. Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
  20. "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

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