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Book Review: The BILLY WATTS Story

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

 

Tags: Bill Watts, WCW, WWF, WWE

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Supplemental Information

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Spotlight in History

  • 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-26
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th Today!
  • Karl Kox Apr 26th Today!
  • Havoc Apr 26th Today!
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th

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