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August 2

Whipper Billy Watson.

I am not qualified to do an edit, and am only writing to ask if there might > be someone in a position to clarify what I think is the origin of the title > "Whipper" in the ring name for "Whipper Billy Watson"? > > The Wikipedia entry for Gorgeous George gives detail as to how his name > evolved but I don't see any indication in the article on Watson as to the > use of the term "Whipper". > Going only on my memory, I thought it was because of his particular > manoeuver of dragging the opponent across the ring and giving him a > peculiar "whip" action. (Similar to doing a 'whip' on ice.) > > My father was a great fan of Watson. I was 10 years old in 1955. > > Grant Alford

The nickname "The Whip" was bestowed by a British newspaper. It referred to a move where he would bend over and toss his opponent over his back. [1] Alansplodge (talk) 18:28, 2 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

That seems a little odd. I think that the source you gave must have gotten confused or left out part of the derivation. What is described there sounds like a simple back body drop. Which is usually preceded by an "Irish whip" where the wrestler grabs his opponents arm and sends him running towards the ropes. Where the second wrestler will "bounce off" and run back towards the first. --Khajidha (talk) 18:44, 2 August 2021 (UTC) PS - I would have guessed it was simply because he would "whip the ass" (ie "beat up") of his opponents. Similar to the common wrestling nickname "Bruiser".[reply]

PPS - seems I was right about the confusion. See here: https://historyofwrestling.com/whipper-watson/ It wasn't just the backdrop, it was the set up for it that gave him his name. Odd to think that what is such a standard move in today's wrestling would be notable enough to give a guy a nickname back then.--Khajidha (talk) 18:47, 2 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I have added both sources to the article, as they differ over the name being acquired in the UK or Canada, but the Irish Whip is definitely a thing. Feel free to edit as wrestling is not really my subject.

PPPS - if the name really was from Britain, "thrashed" would be much more likely than "whipped" as an idiom over here, especially in the 1930s.

Alansplodge (talk) 20:44, 2 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, the memories. It's been way too long since I threatened some poor unfortunate with "a damn good thrashing". -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:43, 2 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

poor unfortunate - as in "whipper-snapper"? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 04:29, 3 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, no, I don't abuse children, and I never threatened my own children unless I was prepared to carry it out. A threat of murder was always pretty effective, since they knew I wasn't kidding. I reserve damn good thrashings for waiters who bring me my steak under- or over-done, or passers-by who let their dogs befoul my property, or Wikipedia editors who don't see things my way. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:53, 3 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I've taken the liberty of rephrasing to focus more on the name and its meaning than on its location of origin. Honestly, I think the CBC source is simply less reliable on this point. --Khajidha (talk) 14:29, 3 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Perfect. Alansplodge (talk) 17:50, 3 August 2021 (UTC)[reply]