The latest episode of the new internet only, uncensored F' Radio show of Get In The Ring featured an excellent hour long interview with 'Cowboy' Bill Watts.
- Bill Watts joins The Phantom & R.D. Reynolds of http://www.wrestlecrap.com/ and http://www.deathofwcw.com on/ on the show. The interview begins with a discussion about Wrestle Reunion (http://www.wrestlereunion.com/), Bill says this is his first event with the fans since a memorial to Eddie Gilbert. When asked about Dallas Page co-hosting the event, Watts replies that he didn't see the talent that DDP turned into but he saw the desire and is proud of him.
- Phantom asks about stars that never made it, that he thought would make it. Watts said Dewey Robertson who he couldn't get over as a babyface, but later got over as The Missing Link. Also, Dick Byers, who never made a dime under his real name, but later did as the Masked Destroyer.
- Phantom asks why Big Van Vader only had a three week title run in WCW under his watch. Bill couldn't remember exactly why, but got along very well with Leon who had a great work ethic in the ring.
- R.D. asked about the Junkyard Dog. JYD was the greatest diamond in the rough that Bill found. Ernie Ladd was Watts' booker at the time and booked Super Destroyer with JYD who exposed him. Watts fired both Ladd and the Destroyer. JYD ended up with a lot of charisma and was super successful. Watts told a story about Ernie Ladd working with Ray Candy who had never drew, but they constantly sold out.
- Watts called Eric Bischoff a "popcorn fart" and said his greatest claim to fame was destroying one of the greatest wrestling organizations. He said Bischoff had no talent and he only ever honoured his contract. Losing $80 million in one year takes a "special kind of idiot". Watts claimed Bischoff wasn't qualified to be an announcer.
- Watts was bought into WCW to stop the losses of $8 million a year. In 11 months, Watts claimed to have lost just $400,OOO, but the inner circle politics never gave him any credit.
- Watts says WCW was good for the business because it was competition, and Vince needs competition. Watts states that Florida and Jim Crockett went broke because Dusty Rhodes didn't know how to make money. Crockett couldn't book, so relied on his talent, Dusty to book the failed UWF vs. NWA feud.
- Phantom brings up the deaths in wrestling. Watts isn't shocked by the deaths. He said that whilst he was in WCW, Turner wanted to clean the company up. Phantom couldn't understand why a guy like Bubba Rogers who wasn't notorious for drug use died, yet a guy like Jake Roberts is still kicking along. Watts joked that he's probably too fried for it to make any difference. He saw Jake's talent but discontinued business with Jake due to his problems.
- The talk moved onto Watts working with Vince, he was impressed with how hard working Vince was. Vince is a very hands-on guy and can't say enough good about the guy and was treated with a lot of respect, but there wasn't enough room for two titans in Titan.
- Vince wanted to put Stone Cold under a hood, but Watts told him he was crazy. He told Vince to go back to innovating. Before Watts came into WCW, they spent $30,000 on a survey that determined fans wanted a different product to Vince, so they did the opposite.
- Watts talks about Pat Patterson and says that he and Vince have argued before and that he retired once before. Watts talks every night to Jim Ross on the phone but doesn't go into the politics because he doesn't "give a shit!" He'd have no desire working in WWE again.
- Phantom asked about "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, they keep in touch via email, the surgery went well and it looks like they got all the cancer. He says Steve is a very special person. Doc was a very big star in Japan and some territories but was never a superstar in the US. Jerry Lawler was only over in Tennessee before he went to Vince. Bruno Sammartino was only over in two territories. He never considered Williams was the greatest worker in the business but had great charisma and work.
- R.D. asked about Watts' hand in getting Ric Flair back into WCW. Watts said that Halloween Havoc had a great buy rate was a shitty event, and he told the guy, thus the need to bring back a guy who gave his all in Flair. Sting was another guy Watts put in this category.
- Phantom asked the question everyone wanted to know, why did Bill ban moves from the top rope? Watts said because the heels needed heat to win, and coming off the top rope was a "cheat move", he talk away the crash mats because his wrestlers were tougher than the "chicken shit" guys who wrestled for Vince.
- Watts discussed the blinding Junkyard Dog angle. The idea was to make it look like an accident and not the promotions fault. Watts learnt a lot under Eddie Graham and Gordon Solie was a great commentator. The idea was to not make the commentator bigger than the wrestlers. Watts insulted Solie on air, but Eddie Graham told him the needlessness of it as the commentator is the voice of the fans. Watts never did that again. People cried at Simmons winning the World title in Baltimore because of the believability.
- The talk closes with http://www.wrestlereunion.com/, Watts is looking forward to meeting with Bruno Sammartino. Phantom asks about Kevin Nash who'll be at the show. Watts convinced Nash to stay in the business. He says Ultimate Warrior is a "piece of sh**" and "another popcorn fart like Bischoff".
- Listen to the excellent hour long, interview of the year contender at www.getinthering.tv. Also, check out the GIR website for the Best of CD, T-shirt, and upcoming book.
