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Erik Watts
In the dusty heartland of Texas, where the skies are big and the egos are bigger, a giant of a man emerged to shake the very foundations of professional wrestling. Meet Erik Watts, aka Amarillo Slim, aka Troy – the 6'5" behemoth who left an indelible mark on the sport.
Born in 1967, Watts was destined for greatness. Growing up in Amarillo, he developed a passion for athletics, excelling in football and ringen (that's German for "wrestling," for those unfamiliar). But it wasn't until he laced up his boots that Watts truly found his calling. And what a calling it was – a career spanning over two decades, with stops at some of the most iconic promotions in the business.
Watts' wrestling style was as rugged as the Texas terrain he called home. A true all-rounder, he brought a mix of brawn and brains to the squared circle, making him a force to be reckoned with. His signature moves – Lights Out (STO), STF, E-Bomb, and Powerslam – left opponents reeling.
As Amarillo Slim, Watts terrorized the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF) scene in the early 1990s, earning himself a reputation as a formidable competitor. But it was his stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) that cemented his status as a fan favorite. Watts' no-holds-barred style meshed perfectly with the ECW ethos, making him an integral part of the promotion's heyday.
Throughout his career, Watts collected an impressive array of championships – the CAP Tag Team Championship, GCW Heavyweight Championship, GCW Tag Team Championship, and TCW Tag Team Championship to name a few. But it was his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) that showcased his versatility as a competitor.
Watts' final match date was December 16, 2005 – a testament to his enduring presence in the world of professional wrestling. As he rode off into the sunset, fans across the globe bid farewell to Amarillo Slim, the man who left an indelible mark on the sport he loved. Though Watts may no longer be competing, his legacy lives on, inspiring future generations of grapplers.
In the immortal words of Watts himself: "When you're from Amarillo, you're not just a wrestler – you're a force to be reckoned with." Indeed, Erik Watts remains an unstoppable force in the world of professional wrestling.