Book Review: The BILLY WATTS Story
Posted: Feb 14th 2008 By: mikeiles
The Cowboy and the Cross
The Billy Watts Story
by "Cowboy" Bill Watts & Scott Williams
Description: You may have seen or read arguments over the years in support of Bill Watts having one of the greatest mind's for professional wrestling. After all, he was the promoter and mastermind behind one of the hottest wrestling promotions before the monopolization of Vince McMahon. However you probably have not heard anyone pushing the name Bill Watts as one of the greatest at anything else - until now. The Billy Watts Story is 300+ pages of self gratifying stories of Bill Watts proclaiming himself the world's greatest everything.
Let's start with the positives. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters about his stint as President of World Championship Wrestling and a three-month stay in the World Wrestling Federation. I guess because it was familiar to me. Watts surprisingly had a lot of good things to say about Vince McMahon, so don't pick up this book expecting an angry tirade against the infamous WWE chairman. He was, however, not as gracious when talking about his predecessor, Eric Bischoff.
The first few chapters were so bad that it literally took me months to get through it because I simply did not want to read it. I kept picking it up, and then putting it down for days and even weeks before pulling together the strength to tackle it again. I read all about Mr. Watts' meathead antics as a young man, growing up in the College football system, showing all the discipline of a toddler with a dirty diaper. Bill exemplified and glorified the very behavior that he would deem unacceptable later in life when he found himself in a position of authority. Somehow this behavior was okay when he did it, but deplorable when performed by others. If I ever had the opportunity to ask Mr. Watts one question, it would be "what would you have done if you were forced to work with the young version of yourself?" I suspect he would have fined and fired himself faster than you could say the word "hypocrite."
I do, however, admire Mr. Watts for turning over a new leaf and giving his life to God. But that doesn't mean that I wanted to listen to the constant preaching on numerous pages of this book. With scattered references during the first 100 pages, and an all-embracing spiritual testimonial dominating the final thirty pages of the book. Do yourself a favor and skip that section of the book.
The book was really well written and I give a lot credit to Scott Williams for that. He is an incredible writer and has a history of writing great wrestling books. I did find the guts of the book very entertaining, once I got into a groove, and found the chapters that really probed into the world of professional wrestling through Cowboy Bill's eyes. So the book has enough content to satisfy the average wrestling fan, but unfortunately contains just enough garbage to cause a little reader remorse.
Rating: 5 / 10
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 2002 Butch Dalton def. Rocco Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
- 2003 Dexter Hardaway def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2003 John O'Malley def. Dexter Hardaway for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2019 The Brotherhood of Holy Hell (Terry Pantera & Dean Lambert) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 2019 Blade [2nd] def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 2019 Karnage def. Naomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Ray Martinez def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Shawn Sanders def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Giganto def. Shawn Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Ray Martinez def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Elijah Sparks def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Karnage def. Elijah Sparks for the BPW 365 Title
- 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 2024 Brandon Groom became the LCW Lionheart Champion
- 2024 Tribal Nation (Nashoba & Brandon Warhawk & Marlboro Slim) became the LCW Tag Team Champions
- 2024 Red River Brawler & Cage Adams def. Tribal Nation (Brandon Warhawk & Nashoba) for the LCW Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 10-04 to Sat: 10-10
- 10-04 1973 Stan Kowalski & Kim Duk def. Alex Perez & El Gran Tapio for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 10-04 2014 Patient Zero became the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 10-04 2014 Psycho Sawyer def. Cody Burns for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 10-04 2014 The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) became the OECW Tag Team Champions
- 10-04 2014 The Brotherhood of Mayhem (Malice & Menace [2nd]) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 10-04 2025 Dan Webber def. Wrangler Rhett for the WFC Prime Title
- 10-04 2025 Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) def. Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 10-04 2025 T. R. A. P. (Remy Devereaux & Marquez Warren) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi the Mad & Tank Bryson) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 10-05 2002 Butch Dalton def. Rocco Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
- 10-05 2003 Dexter Hardaway def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-05 2003 John O'Malley def. Dexter Hardaway for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-05 2019 The Brotherhood of Holy Hell (Terry Pantera & Dean Lambert) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-05 2019 Blade [2nd] def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 10-05 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 10-05 2019 Karnage def. Naomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Ray Martinez def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Shawn Sanders def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Giganto def. Shawn Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Ray Martinez def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Elijah Sparks def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Karnage def. Elijah Sparks for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 10-05 2024 Brandon Groom became the LCW Lionheart Champion
- 10-05 2024 Tribal Nation (Nashoba & Brandon Warhawk & Marlboro Slim) became the LCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-05 2024 Red River Brawler & Cage Adams def. Tribal Nation (Brandon Warhawk & Nashoba) for the LCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-06 1972 Chris Colt & Bobby Duncum def. The Flying Redheads (Red Bastien & Billy Red Lyons) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 10-06 2007 Shane Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 10-06 2012 Austin Tacious became the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-06 2012 Austin Tacious def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW All-American Title
- 10-06 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-06 2018 Era of Chaos (Jerry Storm & Thrash) def. Space Age (Paul Puertorico & Aeronaut) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-06 2018 Spike the Silverback def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 10-07 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 10-07 1979 The Spoiler def. El Halcon for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 10-07 2005 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 10-07 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Michael York for the FCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-07 2017 Chandler Hopkins def. El Fuego for the IWR Revolutionary Title
- 10-07 2017 Damon Windsor def. Dane Griffin for the IWR Heavyweight Title
- 10-08 2002 Li'l Joe def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-08 2002 Jef Tiger def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-08 2005 Beau Dalton def. Lily McKenzie for the SRPW Womens Title
- 10-08 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Womens Title
- 10-08 2006 Cody Jones def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 10-08 2011 Steven Sterling def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-08 2011 The New Age Syndicate/The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Bud Barnes) def. Shane Scott & Tyson Jaymes (substituting for Devan Scott) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
- 10-08 2011 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 10-08 2016 Paul Puertorico became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 10-08 2016 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the WFC Heavyweight Title
- 10-08 2016 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Title
- 10-08 2016 Mikey [2nd] def. Tyson Jaymes for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-08 2022 Beau Betten def. MLP for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 10-08 2022 Bad & Bourgeois/The Sons of Baskin (Flex Zerba & Niles Plonk) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-08 2022 Michael Duplanti def. Mike Gunns for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 10-08 2022 Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) def. Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 10-08 2022 Nova Phoenix became the UWO Women's Champion
- 10-08 2022 Sam Stackhouse def. Super Beast for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-09 1968 The Blue Demons (Blue Demon #1 & Blue Demon #2) def. Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 10-09 1981 Porkchop Cash & Doug Somers def. Frank Hill & Eric Embry for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 10-09 2009 The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the MWA Tag Team Titles
- 10-09 2009 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 10-09 2010 Bad Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 10-09 2010 Mr. Ooh, La, La became the UWE Regional Champion
- 10-09 2010 Big Smooth def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 10-09 2021 Dan Webber def. Sam Stackhouse for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 10-10 1960 Don Kent became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 10-10 2004 Payton Scott & Matt Garza became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-10 2004 Tyler Bateman & John O'Malley def. Payton Scott & Matt Garza for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 10-10 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-10 2009 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-10 2009 The Canadian Red Devil def. Cold Blooded Chris for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-10 2009 Michael H def. Running Wolf for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
- 10-10 2009 Dennis Williams & Ryan Reed def. Blue Thunder & The Unknown for the 412PE Tag Team Titles
- 10-10 2010 Bad Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) became the MERC Tag Team Champions
- 10-10 2015 Michael Duplanti def. Rolling Thunder for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 10-10 2015 Damon Windsor def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 10-10 2015 Simply the Future (Alex & J. D.) def. The Soul Ryders (Mr. Nasty & Tim Rockwell) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 10-10 2015 S. L. U. G. G. became the BCW Intercontinenal Champion
- 10-10 2015 Brandon Groom became the BCW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-10 2021 Drake Gallows def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
- Joaquin Wilde Oct 5th Today!
- Dennis Heflin Oct 5th Today!
- Mr. Nasty Oct 6th
- Rip Oliver Oct 6th
- Smash Oct 6th
- Paloma Starr Oct 6th
- Spike Oct 6th
- Rhino Oct 7th
- Terry Orndorff Oct 7th
- Tennessee Rebel Oct 7th
- Nelly Rivers Oct 7th
- Frankie V Oct 7th
- Moonshine Oct 8th
- Travis Harkrider Oct 8th
- Ripper Collins Oct 8th
- Judy Martin Oct 8th
- Brett Irons Oct 8th
- Andre West Oct 9th
- Brian Breaker Oct 9th
- Betty Niccoli Oct 9th
- Richard Fitzwell Oct 9th
- K. J. Everly Oct 10th
- Shane Morbid Oct 10th
- Rikishi Oct 11th
- Sensei Bolo Oct 11th
- Mike Gallagher Oct 11th
- Sam Houston Oct 11th
- Dusty Rhodes Oct 11th
- Andy Douglas Oct 11th
- Matthew De Luna Oct 12th
- Naomi Sanders Oct 12th
- Rodney Mack Oct 12th
- Randi Lynn Oct 12th
- Devastating Denise Oct 13th
- Elijah Sparks Oct 13th
- Nikolai Volkoff Oct 14th
- Franco D'Angelo Oct 14th
- Beau Betten Oct 14th
- Talon Oct 14th
- Terry Daniels Oct 14th
- Karl Von Stroheim Oct 15th
- Kay Noble Oct 15th
- Jeff Gaylord Oct 15th
- Brandon Warhawk Oct 15th
- Jastin Taylor Oct 15th
- Zak Mason Oct 16th
- K. J. Orso Oct 16th
- Miss Sheila Oct 16th
- Missy Hyatt Oct 16th
- Aaron Helms Oct 17th
- Jenna Love Oct 17th
- Jessy [2nd] Oct 17th
- Moses Manson Oct 17th
- Russ Rogers Oct 18th
- Issac Outre Oct 18th
- John Nord Oct 18th
- Luke Richmond Oct 18th
- Garcia Oct 18th
- Johnny Walker [2nd] Oct 18th
- Carrion Arcane Oct 18th
- Jack Hull Oct 18th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Tag Cloud
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