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Percy Watson
Percy Watson
Percy Watson
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Nicholas Christopher McNeil (born August 19, 1981), better known by his ring name Percy Watson, is an American professional wrestler, commentator, and former professional football player. He is best known for his time with WWE as an in-ring performer and later as a commentator on NXT, 205 Live, and WWE Main Event.

Key Information

College and professional football career

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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 defensive 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 collegiate 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.[6] McNeil had experience in professional football from 2004-2006, spending time on the National Football League practice squads of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, as well as being on the offseason rosters of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.[1][7] He was promoted to the Redskins' active roster on January 9, 2006, during the playoffs, but he did not play in any games.[8]

Professional wrestling career

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World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

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Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)

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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)

[edit]

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 was 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]

McNeil as Percy Watson against Johnny Curtis in a match on NXT in 2012.

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 NXT 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)

[edit]

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 (2016–2019)

[edit]

On November 30, 2016, at the NXT taping, Watson returned as the third man in the broadcast booth, joining Tom Phillips and Corey Graves. Graves made a full-time move to the Raw brand's commentary booth in early 2017, with Nigel McGuinness joining Watson and Phillips. On April 10, 2018, Watson debuted as a color commentator on 205 Live, alongside Vic Joseph and also on Main Event by next day.

Watson was replaced on 205 Live by Aiden English as of January 22, 2019 and moved to NXT. During WrestleMania 35 weekend he did commentary for Worlds Collide with Vic Joseph.[45] In April he was replaced on Main Event by various people including Sam Roberts[46] and David Otunga.[47] At the NXT tapings in May, he was replaced on the commentary team by Beth Phoenix.[48] On May 11, it was reported Watson would be departing the company to pursue ventures outside of wrestling.[49]

Championships and accomplishments

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See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Percy Watson

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Percy Watson is the of Nicholas Christopher McNeil (born August 19, 1981), an American professional wrestler, commentator, actor, and former player best known for his work with WWE's NXT brand both in the ring and behind the announce desk. Born in , McNeil excelled in football during his youth and earned a to , where he played as a and linebacker from 2000 to 2003. As a sophomore in 2001, he led the in sacks with 10, and as a junior in 2002, he topped the conference in fumble recoveries; he concluded his college career as a three-time All- selection. After going undrafted in the , McNeil signed as a with the and spent time on practice squads for several teams, including the Washington Redskins (where he was elevated to the active roster for playoff games in January 2006) and the , while also playing in for the in 2005, earning All-NFL Europe honors. Transitioning to professional wrestling, McNeil signed a developmental with in September 2009 and debuted in (FCW) as Percy Watson, adopting a charismatic showman persona billed from Miami, Florida. He gained prominence on the second season of NXT in 2010 as a under the mentorship of MVP, showcasing his athleticism and mic skills but finishing fifth after elimination in week 11. Following NXT, Watson continued competing in FCW (which rebranded to NXT in 2012), facing notable opponents like The Ascension and , and participating in the 2013 tournament for the inaugural alongside , losing in the first round to . His in-ring career with ended around 2013, but he returned to the company in December 2016 as a play-by-play commentator for NXT, partnering with , , and later , contributing to events like specials until his release in September 2021 to focus on external projects. Beyond wrestling, McNeil has pursued acting, appearing in supporting roles such as a drill sergeant in Cherry (2021) starring Tom Holland, a factionless guard in The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016), and Randy in Pain Hustlers (2023) with Emily Blunt. His multifaceted career highlights his versatility in sports entertainment and media, including continued independent wrestling appearances, with ongoing involvement in the entertainment industry as of 2025.

Early life and American football career

Early life and education

Nicholas Christopher McNeil, better known by his ring name Percy Watson, was born on August 19, 1981, in . Little is publicly documented about his family background, though his relatives initially expressed disapproval toward his pursuit of in 2009 before offering their support. From an early age, McNeil showed a strong interest in athletics, particularly football, which shaped his path toward higher education and competitive sports. He attended North Brunswick High School, where as a senior in he set a school record with 11 sacks in football, earned StarNews All-Area first-team honors. McNeil received a football to , where he majored in computer information systems as a natural progression from his academic and athletic foundations. He earned a in computer information systems from the university in December 2003.

College and professional football

Watson, whose birth name is Nicholas Christopher McNeil, played at from 2000 to 2003, primarily as a for the Catamounts of the . During his sophomore season in 2001, he led the conference in sacks with 10, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts. He earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Over his collegiate career, McNeil amassed 18.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss, rankings that placed him sixth and tied for fourth, respectively, in Western Carolina program history at the time. Following his college graduation with a in computer information systems, McNeil entered the professional ranks as an undrafted , signing a three-year contract with the in April 2004. He spent portions of the 2004 and 2005 seasons on the practice squads of the and Washington Redskins but did not appear in any regular-season games. In 2005, McNeil played for the Hamburg Sea Devils of , where he was selected to the All-NFL Europe League team as a linebacker. On January 9, 2006, McNeil was promoted from the Redskins' to the active 53-man roster ahead of their NFC Divisional playoff game against the . Although active for the contest, he did not enter the game or record any statistics as the Redskins fell 20–10. Later that year, he participated in training camp and tryouts with the but was released prior to the . McNeil returned to organized professional football briefly in 2008, signing with the of the Canadian Football League, though he did not play in any games there. Unable to secure a sustained role in professional football due to limited opportunities at the NFL level, McNeil retired from the sport after the 2008 CFL stint.

Professional wrestling career

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)

In 2009, following a background in that provided a solid athletic base, Percy Watson signed a developmental contract with and entered its (FCW) territory with no prior experience. Watson debuted in FCW in September 2009, initially competing under his real name Nick McNeil before briefly adopting Chris McNeil. On October 1, 2009, he reintroduced himself as , a that evoked a charismatic, entertaining presence, aligning with his emerging "Showtime" and party-oriented . This character development emphasized Watson as a lively, crowd-engaging performer, drawing from his natural showmanship and athleticism honed during training. Soon after adopting the Percy Watson moniker, he formed a with Young known as the Party Boys, which highlighted their flashy, Miami-inspired gimmick and allowed Watson to build his role as a charismatic party boy in FCW's roster. The duo competed in several matches, contributing to Watson's early experience in tag team dynamics and storyline integration within the developmental system. Under the guidance of FCW coaches including at the FCW Wrestling School, Watson focused on refining his in-ring technique, character work, and performance skills as a high-energy entertainer. A notable singles showcase came on April 1, 2010, when Watson secured a victory over Derrick Bateman, demonstrating his growing proficiency and appeal in FCW events. Throughout 2009 to 2011, Watson maintained a consistent presence in FCW, participating in house shows and taped events to develop his craft as a singles and tag competitor before his eventual shift toward WWE's NXT programming. This period solidified his foundation in , emphasizing entertainment value alongside physical prowess.

NXT (2010–2013)

Watson debuted on the June 8, 2010, episode of NXT during its second season as a competitor under the of (MVP), teaming with his pro to defeat Husky Harris and in a match. His "Showtime" Percy Watson character emphasized high energy and charisma, highlighted by the introduction of his in-ring segment, "The Percy Watson Show," on the July 13, 2010, episode, where he interviewed MVP as the inaugural guest. Throughout the season, Watson participated in weekly challenges and matches, including a singles victory over Zack Ryder, marking the first time a defeated their pro, and teaming with other like and in six-man bouts against established competitors. These performances showcased his athleticism and personality, though he struggled in poll-based fan voting. On the August 17, 2010, episode of NXT, Watson was eliminated from the competition as the first rookie removed that night, ultimately finishing in fifth place overall behind winner . Despite the elimination, Watson remained on the NXT roster in a non-rookie capacity, continuing to compete in matches and host segments that built on his entertaining persona. His FCW training provided the foundational skills that translated to these televised opportunities. In subsequent episodes, he engaged in rivalries, such as a win over on August 24, 2010, and multi-man matches that highlighted his role as an underdog performer. Watson continued appearing regularly on NXT into 2011, evolving his character through consistent mid-card bouts and alliances. He formed a partnership with fellow NXT talent , stemming from their shared face alignment and on-screen friendship, leading to victories like their September 13, 2011, win over and Derrick Bateman. This alliance fueled storylines against heels like Darren Young and , including a six-person mixed on November 2, 2011, where Watson, O'Neil, and A.J. defeated Bateman, JTG, and Maxine. Tensions arose when O'Neil turned to join Young, prompting a personal feud that culminated in a singles on March 7, 2012, which Watson won, solidifying his steadfast babyface role. Key highlights included matches against The Ascension and participation in the 2013 tournament alongside , though without a title win, emphasizing his contributions to NXT's competitive landscape. Watson's NXT tenure wound down with sporadic appearances, including a loss in a six-man tag team match to The Shield on April 10, 2013, which served as his final televised bout. On May 17, 2013, WWE released Watson from his contract as part of broader developmental roster cuts, citing creative evaluations.

Independent circuit (2014)

Following his release from WWE in May 2013, Percy Watson made a single appearance on the independent wrestling circuit in 2014, marking a brief effort to continue his in-ring career outside the major promotion. On June 14, 2014, Watson debuted at Universal Championship Wrestling's Hometown Throwdown event, held at the Jason T. Harper Event Center in . In the show, he faced Hoyt in a singles match and was defeated. This matchup represented Watson's only documented wrestling bout that year, after which he stepped away from active competition, entering a hiatus from that lasted until his return to in 2016.

Return to WWE (2016–2019)

On November 30, 2016, rehired Percy Watson as a for NXT, marking his return to the company in a broadcasting capacity following his earlier in-ring tenure. Initially paired with play-by-play announcer Tom Phillips, Watson quickly adapted to the role, drawing on his prior wrestling experience to provide insightful analysis during NXT broadcasts. In June 2017, Watson joined on commentary alongside , forming a trio that contributed to heightened energy in NXT programming through dynamic callouts of matches and storylines. His energetic and charismatic style, often infused with his "Showtime" persona from his wrestling days, added flair and entertainment value, helping to underscore key moments in NXT's black-and-gold era, including events. Watson's enthusiasm enriched the viewing experience, balancing Ranallo's high-energy play-by-play with grounded perspectives on performer motivations and in-ring action. Watson's role expanded beyond NXT in 2018, when he began providing commentary for 205 Live and , further showcasing his versatility across WWE's developmental and syndicated programming. During his tenure, he lent his voice to memorable NXT segments and matches, enhancing the brand's production quality and fan engagement through his infectious charisma. In early 2019, Watson was replaced on NXT commentary by following tapings in May, and he departed on May 11, 2019, to pursue external opportunities in and other projects.

Post-WWE career

Independent wrestling appearances

Following his departure from in 2019, Percy Watson made a singular in-ring return on the independent scene in 2021, performing under the masked persona of "The Unknown Hand" at the inaugural Free the Narrative event promoted by former talent (EC3). In an unsanctioned cinematic match, The Unknown Hand defeated Jake Logan, portraying an enigmatic enforcer who overwhelmed the cocky opponent in a street-level brawl before symbolically presenting the fallen Logan to EC3 as part of the event's overarching on from controlled storylines. This bout, lasting approximately three minutes, underscored Watson's collaboration with ex-WWE performers in EC3's Control Your Narrative initiative, blending wrestling with filmic elements to explore themes of personal agency. The appearance represented a one-off foray back into for Watson, who had sustained his presence in via commentary duties during his tenure. No additional independent matches or regular schedule emerged for him after 2021.

Acting roles

Following his departure from in May 2019 to pursue opportunities in and other projects outside , Percy Watson, whose real name is Nicholas Christopher McNeil, began transitioning to on-screen roles that often leveraged his athletic background. One of his early post-WWE appearances was a cameo as The Unknown Hand in the 2021 wrestling-themed film Free the Narrative, directed by and starring former WWE performer Ethan Carter III (EC3). This role marked a bridge between his wrestling experience and scripted performance, portraying a mysterious figure in a narrative centered on independent wrestling drama. In 2021, McNeil portrayed Drill Sgt. Cole in the crime drama Cherry, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and starring ; the character involved a military training authority figure, drawing on McNeil's physical presence from his sports and wrestling history. The following year, he made his network television debut as Tom, a , in the "Completely Shattered" episode (Season 11, Episode 3) of the procedural drama Chicago Fire. McNeil's acting profile gained further visibility with a guest spot as Captain Commonwealth, a flamboyant wrestler gimmick, in the "A New Deal" episode (Season 11, Episode 18) of The Walking Dead, where he performed in a scripted in-ring segment that echoed his WWE persona of "Showtime" Percy Watson. This athletic, larger-than-life role highlighted how his wrestling charisma influenced casting in action-oriented parts. His most recent credited role to date is Randy in the 2023 pharmaceutical thriller Pain Hustlers, starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. As of 2025, McNeil has not announced additional major acting projects, though his shift from the high-stakes, live-performance world of wrestling to the audition-based film and TV industry has been described in reports as a deliberate pursuit of creative diversification beyond .

References

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  2. https://www.wwe.com/superstars/percy-watson
  3. https://catamountsports.com/sports/football/roster/nick-mcneil/6891
  4. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/692841-profiling-the-wwes-future-stars-part-2-fcw-superstar-percy-watson
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  9. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3924672/
  10. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=6327
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  20. https://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/percy-watson-6289.html
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  26. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2011-09-13/tag-team-action
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uJVfy_hvs4
  28. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/NXT_Tag_Team_Championship
  29. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2013/05/wwe-cuts-ties-with-seven-nxt-wrestlers-562753/
  30. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=136273
  31. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=6327&page=4
  32. https://gerweck.net/2016/11/30/percy-watson-returns-to-wwe-nxt-as-announcer-photos/
  33. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/percy-watson-nxt-announcer-interview
  34. https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/percy-watson-leaving-wwe-pursue-other-interests-283531/
  35. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/percy-watson-leaving-wwe-outside-projects/
  36. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/07/free-the-narrative-results-7-3-ec3-vs-matt-cardona-matt-sydal-in-action/
  37. https://www.wrestlezone.com/features/1351676-ec3-percy-watson-the-next-rock
  38. http://www.profightdb.com/cards/cyn/free-the-narrative-38319.html
  39. https://411mania.com/wrestling/percy-watson-gone-nxt-wwe/
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9130508/
  41. https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/the-walking-dead-season-11-episode-18-which-former-wwe-superstar-appeared-it
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15257160/
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