WrestleZone Radio has just released an exclusive interview with WWE Hall of Famer “Cowboy” Bill Watts.
You can find some transcribed highlights from Watts’ interview in this post. The full audio can be heard in the embedded player at the top of this post or via WrestleZone Radio on iTunes.
You can meet Bill Watts and his son Erik Watts at the AWE WrestleCon booth this Friday and Saturday.
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On what he thinks is missing from the current WWE product:
BW: I’ve discussed this with Vince to some extent and I think the mistake he made was wiping out everybody. Fortunately, I was one of the ones who saw the handwriting on the wall, sold my company and did very well with it. The bottom line is, I’ve told Vince that he should have kept the old companies around because he would have had a place for the new talent. It’s like everything else, I don’t care if it’s chocolate cake because if you eat chocolate cake every single day you start to want something different. The problem is that he exposed everything at once and now his talent doesn’t have a place to learn, they just go right to stardom. There could have been a wiser way to have done that but, who can deny the success for him and what he’s done? I think he realizes that I doubt he’d have done it any different.
On his hand in getting Jim Ross into the pro wrestling business:
BW: Jim I got right out of college. Jim was an entrepreneur, had already started several businesses and he just has an entrepreneurial spirit. Jim rising to the top in this business was not an easy thing for him. He had to start out at the bottom just like everybody else. He put up the ring, refereed and slowly worked himself up because he just loved the business. When he started talking and getting ideas going he learned the business. He was also a guy that gave me an education about things like demographics and other things that I would not have understood without someone talking to me about them. I learned an awful lot from Jim and I considered him a very important guy in my company. He was not only my syndicator but he also had great ideas and got to be in our booking sessions. Our booking sessions were VERY intense.
On getting to re-unite with his son Erik for a rare appearance at WrestleCon:
BW: Erik called all excited and said, “This is something that I have always wanted to do, will you do it?” And I said, “Yes.” How can you say no? It’s a chance to see him and we’ll have JJ Dillon right next to us. I like JJ, he’s a classy guy and it’s going to be a lot of fun. The last time I was in New Orleans, I don’t remember how long ago, I loved the people I got to see and I really love the fans. The fans at these things are so intelligent. When they ask questions… they are great questions. It shows their love of the business and knowledge of the history of the business. I am really looking forward to it. It’s just great. I’m 78 years old. If the good lord allows me to keep on living then I doubt I’ll be doing anymore of these signings, who knows? Never say never. I am looking forward to it and it will be fun.
