Former WWE and ECW talent Erik Watts recently spoke with Wrestling Epicenter on topics such as how he started his professional wrestling career in WWE Hall of Famer "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase's short-lived pro wrestling promotion called WXO, which is based out of Florida.
Erik Watts said:
“Ted DiBiase told me ‘I’m starting this new promotion.'” ‘”We’re going to put X number of hours in the can.’ He had already shopped the federation and had huge interest. He flew me down and we did, I don’t remember how many tapings. And on the last day of the tapings, there was a tournament to crown the first WXO Champion. I didn’t know anything about it going in. But, Ted came up to me and said ‘son, you earned it. You did this, you did that. We’re making you the WXO Champion.’ It was awesome! I was honored! And, plus, all the history with Ted DiBiase and Mid South Sports. I mean, I was like ‘I’m honored!’ So, we do the taping and after it, he says ‘listen. It is probably going to be a couple, two, three months but after that, we’re going to do house shows and there is going to be a huge contract. So, be ready!’ I said ‘no problem!'”
Erik Watts then spoke about helping out WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes on his Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion and how it got him started with ECW.
Erik Watts said:
“I was helping out with Dusty Rhodes’ Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, I believe.” “And, I was with Dusty in the office. Dusty always had a story about my dad. So I was sitting there with Dusty having a great time and Dusty says ‘hey, baby. Lets go down and see Paul E!’ I was like ‘Paul E?’ He said ‘yeah, Paul E! He’s got that ECW, baby!’ Now my first match ever was at Center Stage for Saturday Night. So, I was like ‘ok, I’ll jump down with you.’ I guess Dusty didn’t say anything about bringing me down with him. I didn’t bring any clothes. Rule number one is you don’t go anywhere without your ring attire. But, I didn’t! So, I get there. And I know 90% of their card. So, I’m there and Tommy Dreamer comes up to me ‘ERIK WATTS! ERIK WATTS!’ I was like ‘man, that is about as over as I think I’ve ever gotten!’ He was like ‘I watch all of your stuff!’”
“I kind of laughed because I used to always dig recording ECW. I’d record it and watch it when I got home. So I knew all the guys but I didn’t personally know them. I love Dreamer! And I had a million matches with Raven when he was Scotty Flamingo so I knew him. Sandman, oh my God I was the biggest Sandman fan. Rhino! Dreamer goes ‘I didn’t know you were coming to the show.’ I said ‘well, that makes two of us!’ Then here comes Raven. Raven is just different. I love him. He’s one of my good friends. But he’s just Mr. Different. He’s like Willy Wonka! He goes “ah Dusty brings his young prodigy!’ And, starts doing his Raven b------t. Then another person comes out, and another, and Bubba Ray Dudley comes over. And, all these people are there. And Dreamer goes ‘can I ask you something? Is there any way that you would just come out and light me up with a chair and split my head open and leave me in blood?’ I was like ‘excuse me?’ Honest to God, I didn’t know what to say! He was like ‘I’ve watched you. It would be an honor if you would just come out and split me open with the f***ing chair.’ I said ‘it would be my honor!’ I didn’t know what else to say!”
Watts then spoke about Paul Heyman approaching him and talking to him about a spot on an ECW show and how things something just happens suddenly as that was the ECW way.
Erik Watts said:
“Then Paul Heyman walks up and says ‘hey, Erik! I didn’t know you were coming to the show,'” “Dreamer says ‘I just asked him if he would split me open with a chair at the end of the show. Paul goes ‘oh! That’s awesome!’ I was like ‘wait a minute, guys! Isn’t this stuff booked already?’ Little did I know that is just the way ECW was! Things could change 44 times before it was all said and done.”
Watts then spoke about how his father and Paul Heyman never got along.
Erik Watts said:
“Paul E didn’t get along with my dad.” “Not at all. But I liked Paul E because he was brilliant. But he was a s--t disturber. He got into trouble because he, lets just say he made up some expenses. And he got caught. My dad was like (to Paul Heyman) ‘you’re just so smart. You’re the dumbest smart guy I’ve ever met!’ My dad was like ‘I don’t dislike him. I just don’t like b------t artists.’ But I love Paul E!”
You can check out Erik Watts' comments in the video below:
