Percy Watson
Percy Watson | |
---|---|
![]() McNeil as Percy Watson in April 2012 | |
Birth name | Nick McNeil[1] |
Born | [2] Leland, North Carolina[3] | August 19, 1981
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Nick McNeil[4] Chris McNeil[4] Percy Watson[5] Cordell Porter |
Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[6] |
Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg)[1][5] |
Billed from | South Beach, Florida[5] |
Debut | 2009[1] |
Nick McNeil[1] (born August 19, 1981)[2] is an American color commentator, professional wrestler and former professional football player. He is best known for his work in WWE under the ring name Percy Watson.[1] McNeil currently wrestles independently as Cordell Porter.[7]
College and professional football career
Nick McNeil graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems.[1] He was a three time All-Southern Conference selection at left end for the Catamounts. As a sophomore, he led the Southern Conference in sacks with 10. As a junior, he led the conference in fumble recoveries. He finished his career tied for fourth all time on the WCU tackles-for-loss list with 45. He finished sixth on the WCU all-time sack list with 18.5.[8] McNeil had experience in professional football, playing in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins.[1]
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)
McNeil signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2009 and began training with their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He made his FCW debut in September 2009 under his real name Nick McNeil, however shortly after that he tweaked his name to Chris McNeil. On October 1, 2009, he re-introduced himself as Percy Watson along with his tag team partner Darren Young and they called themselves the South Beach Party Boys.[9]
NXT (2010–2013)
McNeil participated in the second season of NXT under the name of Percy Watson, with Montel Vontavious Porter as his mentor.[10][11] Watson made his debut on the June 8, 2010 episode of NXT with the nickname "Showtime" Percy Watson, teaming with MVP and defeating Husky Harris and Cody Rhodes.[12] Watson was noted for being fun,[13] energetic[14] and similar to Eddie Murphy.[15] As part of his gimmick, Watson wore red glasses and even wrestled with his glasses on.[14]
In the NXT poll on the June 29 episode, Watson was ranked in second place, just behind Kaval.[16] On July 6, Watson won the Talk-the-Talk challenge and is rewarded with the chance to host a talk show the following week.[17] In his talk show segment, Watson had his Pro MVP as his talk show guest. However, in order to make a statement, Watson tried to set up MVP to receive an attack from the other Rookies, but the other Pros came to MVP's aid.[18] On the July 20 episode of NXT, Watson was a guest on MVP's VIP Lounge, where he was confronted by MVP about his actions the previous week. The two made amends after a heartfelt apology from Watson.[19] On the July 27 episode of NXT, Watson became the first Rookie to defeat a Pro in a singles match by defeating Zack Ryder.[20] On the August 17 episode of NXT, Watson was eliminated from the show, finishing fifth overall.[21] After Season 2 of NXT, Watson then competed in various dark matches but never appeared on WWE programming.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Percy_Watson_April_2012.jpg/300px-Percy_Watson_April_2012.jpg)
Watson returned on WWE programming on the September 8 episode of WWE Superstars without glasses and with a more toned-down gimmick, teaming with Titus O'Neil in a losing effort against Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.[22] He then redebuted on the fifth season of NXT not as a Rookie, but as Titus O'Neil's friend and tag team partner.[23] Watson and O'Neil would enjoy success against Derrick Bateman and Tyson Kidd,[24] as well as Bateman and JTG.[25] However, Watson and O'Neil would find themselves unable to beat Darren Young and JTG.[26] Watson would also compete as a singles competitor on NXT, earning wins against the likes of Tyler Reks[27] and Heath Slater.[28]
After O'Neil turned his back on the fans, he urged Watson to do the same on the January 25, 2012 episode of NXT. When Watson refused, O'Neil shoved him and a match between the two was booked, leading to O'Neil defeating Watson. O'Neil continued to attack Watson after the match, leading to Alex Riley saving Watson.[29] On the February 1 and February 29 episodes of NXT, Watson and Riley teamed up to face O'Neil and Young, but were defeated both times.[30][31] On the March 7 episode of NXT, Watson received his rematch against O'Neil and defeated O'Neil.[32] From late April, Watson was involved in a storyline in which he was blamed for various backstage attacks on other wrestlers,[33] but the storyline was abruptly dropped as NXT Redemption drew to a close.[34] On the final episode of the fifth season of NXT on June 13, Watson teamed with Derrick Bateman in a loss to Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.[35]
After the conclusion of NXT Redemption, NXT transitioned into the renamed Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory.[36] Watson continued on appearing on the rebooted WWE NXT show in a loss to Jinder Mahal on the July 18 episode of NXT.[37] It would be the start of a losing streak for Watson, who went on to lose to the likes of Kassius Ohno and Leo Kruger in 2012.[38][39] Watson then formed an occasional team with Yoshi Tatsu, but they could find no success either; losing to the Ascension (Conor O'Brian and Kenneth Cameron) on the November 14, 2012 episode of NXT.[40] On the January 23, 2013 episode of NXT, Watson and Tatsu entered the NXT Tag Team Championship Tournament to crown the inaugural champions but were defeated by the Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) in the first round.[41] On May 17, 2013, Watson was released;[42] his final televised match was a loss in a six man tag match against The Shield.[43]
Independent circuit (2014)
After being released, Watson made his independent debut on June 14, 2014 at Universal Championship Wrestling event called UCW Hometown Throwdown, in Georgia where he lost to Lance Hoyt.[44]
Return to WWE
NXT color commentator (2016–present)
On November 30, 2016, at the NXT taping, Watson returned as the third man in the broadcast booth, joining Tom Phillips and Corey Graves.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Signature moves
- Showtime Splash[46] (Standing 180° turning splash)[47]
- Belly to back suplex lifted and dropped into a high knee
- Hip toss followed by a cartwheel followed by a dropkick to the opponent's face
- Total Elimination[48] (STO backbreaker followed by a reverse STO)
- Leaping clothesline[47][49][50]
- Leaping shoulder block[51][52]
- Sliding clothesline[49][50]
- Stinger splash[45][49]
- European uppercut[49][50]
- Float-over DDT
- With Titus O'Neil
- Double team signature moves
- Double back elbow[53]
- Double shoulder block[53]
- Irish whip (O'Neil) / Shoulder block (Watson) combination[53]
- Double team signature moves
- Managers
- Nicknames
Championships and accomplishments
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "OWOW profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
- ^ a b "NFL Player Profile". NFL. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "Western Carolina story".
- ^ a b "The Internet Wrestling Database profile".
- ^ a b c d e "WWE bio".
- ^ "Percy Watson bio". Florida Championship Wrestling. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ http://prowrestling.net/article.php?Triple-H-conference-call-NXT-go-home-for-Takeover-Brooklyn-TNA-Turning-Point-ROH-TV-Jim-Ross-Steve-Austin-Chris-Jericho-Colt-Cabana-Taz-and-Ric-Flair-podcast-guest-lists-Lilian-Garcia-Percy-Watson-Tim-Horner-43641
- ^ Brian Gaither, Nick McNeil and Michale Spicer Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts. Retrieved 2010-6-29
- ^ "Florida Championship Wrestling results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2010-06-01). "WWE NXT: Barrett wins show's first season". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2010-06-04). "WWE News: NXT Results – Season Two announced, Pro & Rookie pairings revealed". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
- ^ a b Tedesco, Mike (2010-06-08). "WWE NXT Results - 6/8/10". WrestleView. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
- ^ "WWE NXT ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 7/27: Caldwell, Mayer, Parks rate and review". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ a b Keller, Wade. "KELLER'S WWE NXT REPORT 6/8: Follow-up to the big Raw-NXT angle, plus season two Rookies introduced by Pros, some standouts emerge already". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Tedesco, Mike. "WWE NXT Results - 7/6/10". Wrestleview. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 6/29: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 4". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 7/6: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 5". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 7/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 6". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 7/20: Complete "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 7". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 7/27: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 8". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 2, Week 11". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE SUPERSTARS REPORT 9/8: Bryan dominates main event, Fox vs. Tamina, returns & TV debuts & squash matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE NXT RESULTS 9/13: Complete "virtual time" coverage of NXT Season 5, Week 28 with Cole Cameo". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/13: Alt. perspective review of NXT Week 28, overall show Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 10/19: Review of NXT Week 33, talk of Rookie Challenges returns, overall show Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/20: Alt. perspective review of NXT is Showtime Week 29, overall show Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 11/30 - Week 39: Bateman wins & loses, Maxine vs. A. Fox, Showtime vs. Reks". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 1/18 - Week 46: Wedding interrupted, Titus turns heel, Elvis, out-of-control, destructive, and unproductive Cole commentary". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 1/25 - Week 47: Titus vs. Showtime, Slater ends The Streak, overall show Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ Walek, Gregory. "Wrestleview.com - NXT Results - 2/1/12". Wrestleview. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Walek, Gregory. "Wrestleview.com - NXT Results - 2/29/12". Wrestleview. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Walek, Gregory. "Wrestleview.com - NXT Results - 3/7/12". Wrestleview. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/9 - Week 62: JTG debuts new look, Laurinaitis infiltrates NXT, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/23 - Week 64: NXT loses its way during transition phase, Khali & Zeke in main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
[Last] week's show pretty much forgot about most of the on-going storylines ... ... The format of this show has fallen apart in the last two weeks, and they didn't mention one word about the "Percy Watson ambushing people" story in the slightest.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 6/13 - Week 67: Final episode of Season 5, WWE introduces FCW stars for Season 6, Usos close out the season". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "WWE News: FCW name being phased out". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 7/18 - Week 5: Gabriel vs. Slater main event, Steamboat, Vickie's daughter, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT RESULTS 9/5: Hero (Ohno) vs. Steamboats feud, Ross interviews new NXT champ, Clay, Usos, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 10/3 - Week 16: Kidd & Gabriel main event, Showtime is back, Ohno-Steamboat issue continues, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S NXT RESULTS 11/14 - Week 21: Rollins's NXT Title feud advances, Reigns featured, Layla vs. Aksana, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT RESULTS 1/23: Tag Tournament begins, HBK appearance, Big E. in main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "WWE NEWS: Seven NXT cuts confirmed, including Divas; Dolph Ziggler comments on his brother's release". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Percy Watson in 2013". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Percy Watson Matches". Cagematch. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Trionfo, Richard. "WWE.COM NXT REDEMPTION REPORT: POTENTIAL TAG TITLE CONTENDERS IN ACTION; DIVAS IN ACTION; AND A ROOKIE GETS TO WRESTLE". PWInsider. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Percy Watson". Florida Championship Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ a b Tedesco, Mike (2010-07-27). "WWE NXT Results - 7/27/10". WrestleView. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Slammiversary PPV Results - 6/21/09". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
- ^ a b c d Trionfo, Richard. "FLORIDA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING TELEVISION REPORT: FINAL ENTRANTS IN FOUR WAY MATCH FOR FCW TITLE NEXT WEEK DETERMINED; BO ROTUNDO TALKS ABOUT HIS INJURY; AMBROSE/ROLLINS IV". PWInsider. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Trionfo, Richard. "WWE.COM NXT REDEMPTION REPORT: WE HAVE A MARRIAGE PROPSAL, BUT WILL THE MARRIAGE LAST LONGER THAN THIS SEASON OF NXT?". PWInsider. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE NXT REPORT: BATEMAX IS BACK; GOOD ANNOUNCING IS BACK; TITUS IS A BAD MAN". PWInsider. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE NXT REPORT: 100 EPISODES AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FIRST ONE; WE HAD A WEDDING; AND SOME WRESTLING". PWInsider. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ a b c Trionfo, Richard. "WWE.COM NXT REDEMPTION REPORT: THE CHALLENGES ARE BACK; A FORMER NXT CHAMPION RETURNS TO THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR THEM". PWInsider. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ ""PWI 500": 201–300". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
External links
- 1981 births
- African-American players of American football
- African-American professional wrestlers
- American football linebackers
- American male professional wrestlers
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Lawton, Oklahoma
- Sportspeople from Tampa, Florida
- Professional wrestlers from North Carolina
- Washington Redskins players
- Western Carolina Catamounts football players