Bill Watts Fined Wrestler $350 for Breaking Ring Rope, Jake Roberts Reveals

One Big Thing

WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts shared a troubling story about Mid-South Wrestling promoter Bill Watts imposing a hefty fine on a wrestler for an accidental ring rope break.

The Details

• “Bad Bad” Leroy Brown broke a ring rope during a match in Jackson, Mississippi
• The incident resulted in Brown requiring 18 stitches after hitting his head
• Watts fined Brown $350 for the broken rope
• Adjusted for inflation, the fine would equal approximately $1,100 today

Direct Quote

“He was really brutal with Ernie [Ladd], and ‘Bad Bad’ Leroy Brown was there for a while, and we were in Jackson, Mississippi, and Leroy hit the ropes and when he did the top rope broke, and he went over, he hit the floor on his head, he had like 18 stitches. Bill Watts fined him $350 for breaking the rope,” Roberts said on “The Snake Pit” podcast.

Why It Matters

This incident highlights the harsh working conditions wrestlers faced in the territory days:

• Wrestlers earned significantly less money than today’s performers
• Ring ropes were inexpensive items (cable wrapped with tape)
• The fine represented an excessive punishment for an accident

The Bigger Picture

Roberts also discussed Watts’s broader approach to managing talent:

• Watts had a reputation for being particularly tough on wrestlers
• He focused on recruiting “tough guys” for his territory
• Roberts believed in testing wrestlers but opposed physical abuse

Looking Ahead

Stories like this serve as important reminders of how the wrestling industry has evolved in terms of worker safety and fair treatment.

What do you think about these historical practices in professional wrestling? Share your thoughts in the comments below.