Remembering Doug Watkins

Published 7:45 pm Saturday, October 8, 2016

When Doug Watkins had a steel folding chair in his hand inside Whitfield County’s Tri-Star Wrestling Association Arena, he meant business.

If a wrestler broke a house rule, Doug was ready to smack the offender across the back with the cold, unforgiving metal chair. The threat of a chairshot from Doug would speed things up if a match dragged on too long. Wrestlers usually scattered when Doug stalked the ring with a chair.

Doug, one of the fathers of area independent wrestling and TWA’s promoter for some 20 years, passed away Monday. He was 69.

It seems that professional wrestlers never really retire. Although they become too old, too injured or too disinterested in the sport, almost every wrestler yearns for one more match under the lustrous lights in front of the adoring — or jeering — fans.

The same can be said for professional wrestling columnists.

From July 1999 to October 2014, I was “the guy who wrote the wrestling column,” penning what became a weekly column on wrestling (or wrasslin’ if you prefer) in the pages of this newspaper. Due to time constraints at work and a waning interest in wrestling, I quietly retired the column without any fanfare.

Now my column is back for one-day only to pay tribute to Doug

Diagnosed with cancer in spring of 2012, Doug — or “Dirty” Doug as I affectionately called him — wrestled an arduous fight with the disease. Because of his health and the financial strain it put on his family, Doug closed TWA in September 2013. He was a fixture in the outlaw wrestling circuit. You may have watched his entertaining shows in the small white building at the corner of Reed Road and Reed Pond Road.

The Watkins family made a name for itself in the wrestling ring. Sons Terry (“The Widowmaker”), Randy (“Top Dog”) and Mikey (“The Upgrade”) all have had long, successful careers on the independent wrestling circuit. And you could always depend on Doug’s faithful wife Peggy being at the TWA shows manning the snack bar.

While the national wrestling organizations — chiefly WWE — sunk to the gutter by glorifying violence against women, foul language and a hyper-sexual product, Doug insisted TWA remain family-friendly. No alcohol allowed. No cursing. No drama. He often lamented what WWE had become, so much to the point he stopped watching its weekly shows and monthly pay-per-views.

Through his years as TWA promoter, Doug impacted the lives of hundreds of wrestlers and fans. He provided a place for men and women to carry out their dreams of being professional wrestlers. That small white building on Reed Road also provided a safe place for kids and adults to go on the weekends. Doug ran shows on Thanksgiving night and also on New Year’s Eve to offer an alcohol-free way to ring in the New Year.

My life is one that Doug impacted.

Fresh out of college with a journalism degree in the summer of 1999, I began working at The Daily Citizen as a cub reporter. Just a few weeks into my tenure I received the perfect story assignment. David Hamilton, the editor of our “Center Stage” entertainment magazine, noticed my obsession with professional wrestling and was quite amused with the fantasy world of pro wrestling. He asked if I would write a feature on TWA.

I said yes quicker than a three-count from a crooked wrestling referee.

Doug, however, was a bit apprehensive. Maybe he was worried I would pull the curtain back on the wrestling industry and give away its secrets. After a few chats I assuaged his fears. The feature story went off without a hitch and a friendship was born.

I spent many nights at the TWA Arena getting to know the workers who love the sport. Most were just normal people with jobs, families and a dream to wrestle. As a lifelong wrestling fan who grew up on the NWA and WWF, I also had the childhood dream of stepping in the ring.

Doug made my dream come true.

My initial wrestling story turned into a weekly wrestling column. Each Friday I reported on the happenings at TWA. In addition to printing the match results, I also wrote about TWA’s storylines. One Friday I jokingly referred to TWA Hardcore champion Jimmy “U.R.” Sharpe, one of the bad guys, as “softcore.” It was all in good fun.

That day Jimmy called me at the office. Uh-oh. I thought he was mad. Actually, Sharpe thought my jab was hilarious and asked if I wanted to be in a wrestling angle. Little did I know the angle include me wrestling in an actual match. After several training sessions and a few weeks to develop the storyline, “The Newsman” Jamie Jones pinned Sharpe for the TWA Hardcore title.

That wasn’t the end of my wrestling career.

I won the TWA Heavyweight title.

I wrestled in a steel cage.

I was derisively called “The Paperboy.”

I refereed a baby oil boxing/wrestling match that pitted three lovely ladies against each other.

I saw a man get thrown through a burning table — and saw him catch on fire.

I duked it out in a boxing/wrestling match.

I commentated on matches from the announce booth.

I was hit with trash cans.

I was suplexed.

But regrettably, I never received one of Doug’s chairshots.

I would have been honored to take one.

Jamie Jones is the managing editor of The Daily Citizen. A memorial/benefit wrestling show for the Watkins family titled TWA presents the Doug Watkins Memorial is Friday, Nov. 4, at the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department on Civic Drive. Admission is $5. In addition to wrestling, there will also be an auction.