Percy Watson leaving WWE to pursue other interests

[Big Red Machine]

Source: www.F4WOnline.com

By Josh Nason | @joshnason | May 11, 2019 1:55 pm


Former WWE wrestler and NXT broadcaster Percy Watson has left the company, first reported by SC Sirens' Casey Michael and confirmed by our Dave Meltzer.

There is no official word as to why Watson quit, but Michael said it was due to Watson (aka Nick McNeil) wanting to go into acting. It has yet to be confirmed whether WWE has granted him a full release.

The 37-year-old was a commentator on NXT TV, 205 Live, Main Event, and Worlds Collide, but with the recent introduction of Beth Phoenix to the NXT team and Aiden English on 205 Live commentary before that, Watson's future in the company was seemingly in doubt.

Watson signed a developmental deal in 2009 and worked in FCW/NXT through 2013. He was part of the season season of NXT under their previous setup, paired with then-WWE wrestler MVP. He did make some appearances on WWE Superstars with Titus O'Neil before returning to NXT for their fifth season. He eventually was released in 2013.

Watson returned to NXT, and eventually WWE, as a commentator in 2016.

[KILLdozer]

Since Beth Phoenix is so great at commentary...*sounds just like Renee Young*.

[Bob-O]

Since Beth Phoenix is so great at commentary...*sounds just like Renee Young*.

Of course she does. If Percy taught us anything it's that WWE has a formula. These guys aren't announcing matches, they're playing characters that are announcing matches. These roles are filled with the people that best perform the character.

Remember way back when Percy was on the original NXT? He was colorful, he was loud, he said "ohYEAH!"... he was exciting and fun! There is ABSOLUTELY no reason that energy wouldn't transfer to the booth unless he were told it wasn't allowed. Corey Graves didn't come into his own until JBL left. Phillips reminds me of Michael Cole in training. Everybody sounds exactly the same except for Mauro who's (imo) the best announcer they've got and Nigel beside him, yet they're tucked away on NXT for some reason? My tinfoil hat says it's because they don't sound like the rest.

Phoenix sounds just like Renee, because that's what they want. The booth is just like the rest of the roster, they want it to be as good as it can be without anybody standing out.

[Big Red Machine]

I actually think guys sound different on the Triple H-world shows.

[cero2k]

I actually think guys sound different on the Triple H-world shows.

i think for you that watches every show, you can notice the difference, but to me they all sound WWEized

[Big Red Machine]

I actually think guys sound different on the Triple H-world shows.

i think for you that watches every show, you can notice the difference, but to me they all sound WWEized

On Triple H shows they just talk about smarter things, and there is more of an established babyface play-by-play/heel color commentator/babyface color commentator dynamic, rather than a third person who says third-person things and usually switches back and forth with no rhyme or reason. Also, there is a lot less bickering. The reason Aiden English annoys me so much on 205 Live is that he is trying to be both the play-by-play guy and the babyface color commentator and just generally hogging all of the air time.

[Bob-O]

I actually think guys sound different on the Triple H-world shows.

i think for you that watches every show, you can notice the difference, but to me they all sound WWEized

Mauro and Nigel sound different, I'll admit that, but there's still no personality. Everybody is interchangeable without disrupting the show, and I think more importantly, everybody is extremely replaceable. With the exception of Cory Graves, if Cole, Phillips, Saxton, Coach, Watson, or whoever were gone and replaced with somebody else nobody would notice, and if Graves were gone nobody would care.

I got really psyched when I found out they'd hired Percy on to be a commentator, I'd envisioned him to be something like Booker T except able to form distinct english words one at a time. I was highly disappointed to get "Ethnic Color Commentator #3", he was so likable as a talent...