wrestling / News

Jake Roberts Slams Bill Watts for Racist and Disrespectful Behavior

December 29, 2022 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
Mid-South Wrestling 3-31-1984 Bill Watts Jim Ross Image Credit: WWE/Peacock

– During the recent Snake Pit podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts shared his candid thoughts on wrestling promoter Bill Watts, who he worked under for Mid-South Wrestling in the 1980s. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com):

Jake Roberts on Bill Watts: “Don’t get me wrong, I respect the man for what he can teach you about wrestling, but as far as a human being, he was ugly, racist, bully bastard.”

Roberts on how Watts treated Ernie Ladd: “He disrespected Ernie Ladd, called Ernie Ladd words I won’t say – you know what word I’m talking about. Because he knew Ernie couldn’t do anything about it because he needed the job.”

On how he often had to keep his head down and his mouth shut in fear that Watts would move him down the card: “If you started moving your way up to card, then you don’t want to go back down the card. All it takes is a pencil and an eraser and you can go from making 1,500 a week to making 700 a week. That was good money then.”