The change of surname was caused by the opportunity to take on the tour engagements of fellow Canadian wrestler, Winnett Wallingford Watson, whose ship had been delayed by bad weather in the Atlantic; the original Watson later changed his ring name to Pat Flanagan. Watson received the "Whipper" nickname from his usage of the "Irish Whip", which involved hurling an opponent into the ropes before throwing him over his back, though sources differ on whether the name was acquired in Canada or the United Kingdom.
The surname change occurred because of the opportunity to take on Winnett Wallingford Watson's tour engagements, whose ship had been delayed by bad weather in the Atlantic; the original Watson later changed his ring name to Pat Flanagan. Watson earned the "Whipper" nickname from employing the "Irish Whip," which involved tossing an opponent into the ropes before flipping them over their back, though sources differ on whether he received this moniker in Canada or the United Kingdom.