Bill Watts Archives - Slam Wrestling

‘Hacksaw’ Butch Reed dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 5, 2021 | News, Obituaries

Bruce Reed, who wrestled as “Hacksaw” Butch Reed and was in the championship tag team...

Dick Slater, dead at 67, was ‘Mr. Unpredictable’

Posted by Greg Oliver | Oct 18, 2018 | Interviews, Obituaries

Long-time promoter Jim Barnett gave Dick Slater the name of “Mr. Unpredictable,” and...

‘Vader’ Leon White dead at age 63

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jun 20, 2018 | Interviews, Obituaries

Leon White, the football star turned professional wrestler known as Vader and Big Van Vader, has...

Mike McGuirk was ‘a woman in a men’s tuxedos’

Posted by Kari Williams | Apr 10, 2017 | Interviews

Born into a wrestling family, Mike McGuirk’s father — promoter and wrestler Leroy...

Stan Holek was as tough as they come

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 1, 2015 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

When you are a tough guy wrestler, what do you do after your wrestling career for a challenge? How...

Buck Robley, ‘one of wrestling’s brightest minds’, dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 28, 2013 | Interviews, Obituaries

Buck Robley, who died May 28, 2013, was a key figure in pro wrestling behind the scenes. “I...

Back and forth repartee keeps Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction hopping

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 18, 2013 | Interviews, PWHF

JOHNSTOWN, NY – Part of the magic of attending the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction...

Watts, Santana, El Santo among 2013 PWHF inductees

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 2, 2012 | PWHF

The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2013, and will open its doors to Sandor...

Tiger Conway Jr. was born to wrestle

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Apr 7, 2011 | Interviews

To say that Tiger Conway Jr. was born to wrestle would be a major understatement; it was his...

The sale of WCW – 10 years later

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Mar 23, 2011 | Interviews

Perhaps the most significant date in wrestling history is March 23, 2001. It was on that day that...

‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams dead at 49

Posted by Chris Schramm | Dec 30, 2009 | Obituaries

“God has a plan for me,” Steve Williams wrote friends after entering the hospital to...

Karl Von Brauner dead at 78

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 17, 2009 | Interviews, Obituaries

Karl Von Brauner’s passing on July 5, 2009, in northern California at the age of 78 went...

Waldo von Erich: The consummate heel

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 7, 2009 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Waldo von Erich, who died on Sunday at age 75, was always proud to be so hated. Here’s an...

Colleagues respected Lyons’ skills

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 25, 2009 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

It is quickly evident that Billy Red Lyons was one of those few wrestlers out there that no one...

Art Crews a post-wrestling success story

Posted by Chris Schramm | Apr 10, 2009 | Interviews

The Wrestler tells the story of a past his prime grappler who is still trying to figure out what...

Native son Austin headlines Hall of Fame class

Posted by Nick Tylwalk | Apr 4, 2009 | Interviews, WrestleMania

HOUSTON – A night that had a distinct Texas flavor ended fittingly in confetti and beer in honor...

Watts heading to first Wrestlemania — and Hall of Fame

Posted by Jason Clevett | Apr 1, 2009 | WrestleMania, WrestleMania Features

When Jim Ross phoned “Cowboy” Bill Watts to inform him of his induction into the WWE...

Waldo von Erich Q&A: Part 1

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 11, 2009 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

As you will read in this question and answer session, made up primarily of questions from the...

The many looks of marketing — Watts to Heyman

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Jan 23, 2009 | Interviews

The year is 1980. Screaming fans would fill arenas all over the Mid South. They travelled from...

A visit with ‘Handsome’ Johnny Barend

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 21, 2008 | Interviews

Usually stories end with a coffin, but this one begins with one. There is no telling the tale of...

Friends remember Chief White Owl

Posted by Steven Johnson | May 30, 2008 | Interviews, Obituaries

His given name was George Dahmer, his family called him Hootie, but to a generation of pro...

Friends recall the many Dewey Robertsons

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 19, 2007 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Obituaries

Being a biographer means collecting a lot of stories, many of which never make their way into a...

‘The Big Cat’ Ernie Ladd was seldom tamed

Posted by Steven Johnson | Mar 11, 2007 | Interviews, Obituaries, The Sporting Connection

By GREG OLIVER & STEVE JOHNSON – SlamWrestling It almost didn’t happen. All the...

Toru Tanaka: Nice guy villain

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 3, 2006 | Hollywood Headlock, Interviews

Complaints about a lack of ethics from the pro wrestling industry are legion. But according to the...

New peeks into the McMahon empire

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 28, 2005 | Gary Howard Memorial Library

Two recently-published books offer compelling behind-the-scenes looks at the way the McMahon...

Guest column: In memory of Chris Candido

Posted by Guest Column | May 3, 2005 | Obituaries, Opinion

By “COWBOY” Bill Watts – For SLAM! Wrestling I had the tremendous good fortune...

The Olympian life of Dale Lewis

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 17, 2004 | Interviews

To make an Olympic team in any sport is a great accomplishment; to make an Olympic team within six...

Terry Gordy remembered as a great talent

Posted by John Molinaro | Jul 18, 2001 | Classics, Obituaries

he was a handsome man and what i want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death?...

Terry ‘Bam Bam’ Gordy dead at 40

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 17, 2001 | Interviews, Obituaries

Former Fabulous Freebird Terry ‘Bam Bam’ Gordy was found dead Monday at his home in...

Bill Watts story archive

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Jan 7, 1900 | Story Archives

Football player, pro wrestler, promoter, tough guy. Read up on Bill Watts. COWBOY BILL WATTS...

Tag: Bill Watts

‘Hacksaw’ Butch Reed dies

Dick Slater, dead at 67, was ‘Mr. Unpredictable’

‘Vader’ Leon White dead at age 63

Mike McGuirk was ‘a woman in a men’s tuxedos’

Stan Holek was as tough as they come

Buck Robley, ‘one of wrestling’s brightest minds’, dies

Back and forth repartee keeps Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction hopping

Watts, Santana, El Santo among 2013 PWHF inductees

Tiger Conway Jr. was born to wrestle

The sale of WCW – 10 years later

‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams dead at 49

Karl Von Brauner dead at 78

Waldo von Erich: The consummate heel

Colleagues respected Lyons’ skills

Art Crews a post-wrestling success story

Native son Austin headlines Hall of Fame class

Watts heading to first Wrestlemania — and Hall of Fame

Waldo von Erich Q&A: Part 1

The many looks of marketing — Watts to Heyman

A visit with ‘Handsome’ Johnny Barend

Friends remember Chief White Owl

Friends recall the many Dewey Robertsons

‘The Big Cat’ Ernie Ladd was seldom tamed

Toru Tanaka: Nice guy villain

New peeks into the McMahon empire

Guest column: In memory of Chris Candido

The Olympian life of Dale Lewis

Terry Gordy remembered as a great talent

Terry ‘Bam Bam’ Gordy dead at 40

Bill Watts story archive

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