| a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal3: the natural endowments of a person4 a: a special often creative or artistic aptitude b: general intelligence or mental power : ability 5: a person of talent or a group of persons of talent in a field or activity
| Merriam-Webster Dictionary
~ End Forward ~
PW1�s Behind The Wrestler X-Rated:
Becoming True Talent
On July 11th ,1978 Payton Ryan Waters was born in Toronto Ontario, Canada to Philip David Waters, and Julie Eve Waters, both highly regarded cardiothoracic Surgeons, how ever they didn�t stay in Canada much longer after the birth of their son, as Philip was offered a Chief of Staff Position at Dessert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas, and Julie was offered head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, so the young couple packed up their family and relocated to Las Vegas.
Growing up in Vegas was amazing, I mean I seen and met everyone that came threw town; my parents rubbed elbows with the Who�s Who of Vega Celebrities.
Payton grew up in a life of privilege, attending New Horizons Academy, graduating on the honor Roll and receiving early acceptance into Harvard Medical School, a prospect that thrilled his parents.
Growing up in a life of privilege has it�s advantages and disadvantages. I mean I was able to travel around the world and see a lot of things at a young age, that most people never get to see, but at the same time you are expected to achieve more in life because you have unlimited resources at your disposal, and sometimes that creates a lot of pressure on you
Payton felt the pressure and crumbled under it upon entering Harvard, Payton hit rock bottom fast. With a Mixture of drugs and alcohol and consistent partying Payton didn�t make it through the first semester before failing out, and being forced it to rehab. His parents disappointment was felt when all of Payton�s accounts where frozen, leaving him broke, and without a place to live, sending Payton into a deep depression that almost cost him his life.
When we return, Payton attempt at suicide saves his life in a way he never thought possible. I hit a point in my life where I just wanted to end it all, and I almost did On PW1�s Behind The Wrestler.
On November 4th, 1995 Payton was brought into Cambridge Hospital for an intentional drug overdose. Payton was pronounced dead on arrival but due to the miracles of modern science the Doctors were able to bring him back.
When I regained conciseness and the doctors told me that I was legally dead, but they were able to bring me back I remember thinking to myself �Why? Why did you bring me back to this hell that you call a life?�
The answers came well Payton recovered and was treated drug addiction Payton Met the man that would forever change his life. Well in town for a CEWF show Jack Kronk, better known to wrestling fans as Jack The Ripper, was brought in to Cambridge Hospital after sustaining a knee injury. Upon getting to know each other Kronk seen a lot of potential in the youngster and offered to train him to become a professional Wrestler. With no other prospects in his for seeable future Payton took the opportunity and began down the path that would give Payton�s life new direction.
When Jack first mentioned becoming a Professional wrestler to me, I thought there was no way I would be able to do that, I mean I was lanky 6�5�, and 175lbs recovering drug addict, I figured that I would just out there and get my ass kicked. But Jack insisted that I would be able to do it, and started to train me as a professional Wrestler. Jack kicked my ass, I mean he made me feel pain that I never thought was possible. I remember some days hurting in places I didn�t even know I had places, but Jack wouldn�t let me quit, I tried numerous times, but he refused to let me give up
Payton made his Pro Debut on April 27th, 1996 under the name of X-Rated and became a success with his daredevil maneuvers and technically sound style.
My first match, I went out there scared to death, I don�t think I have ever been that scare, but I went out there and put on a pretty good match, I lost, but I was extremely proud of that match and still am to this day. When I got into the locker room after the match was over I remember all of the guys coming up to me and telling me that I did a great job, and that if stuck with it I would have a good career.
Payton, now known to the world as X-Rated, tour the world having major feuds with the likes of Dark Soul, �Canadian Rage� Chris Cage, �The Prototype� Sean Evans, and Universal Solider. It appeared like he could do no wrong, but then as fate would have it, X-Rated, once again addicted to drugs, crossed the line well doing a segment which lead to the PTIW forcing X-Rated into rehab.
Being on the road 300 days of the year takes a toll on a person. And I made it worse on myself, as I had expectations of what I wanted my career to be, and how I wanted to be remembered when it was all said and done. So I refused to get injuries looked at, and I never took a day off to heal them, as I was afraid that if I did I wouldn�t be able to return. However, still to this day don�t remember much about what lead to my second stint in rehab. I have seen the tape, and I will be the first to admit, that what I did was way beyond crossing the line, it was down right illegal! But, perhaps the silver lining in it all was that it gave me a chance to step back from my life and reevaluate what I was doing. And once again wrestling saved my life, because I know it was just a matter of time before would have over dosed again, as I was starting to take more and more drugs just to be able to function at a level that I thought was functional.
Well in rehab for the second time, X-Rated decided the only way to stay drug free was to stay out of wrestling, so he contacted the PTIW and bought out his own contract.
I just didn�t trust myself to go back to the schedule I was on before and stay off the drugs, so I did what I felt I had to do, and that was leave professional wrestling. So I left and never looked back.
But in the spring of 1997 X-Rated reemerged in the CEWF, clean and ready to go again. Well on tour with the CEWF Payton was introduced to a woman that would become his future wife, Kasie Brook. The two had great chemistry both in and out of the ring and the two quickly became married, but 1997 wasn�t all happiness for Payton, on December 18th of that year his parents died in a plane crash well on their way home for a vacation in Hawaii, leaving X-Rated behind with a small fortune. X-Rated took the lose of his parents hard, as he was never able to make peace with them before their tragic death, and retired from professional wrestling.
After I lost my parents I didn�t know what to do, I never did get back to speaking terms with my parents before their death, something that I have regretted my whole life. Their loss left me lost, and it started to affect my working ability, so I just quit, I told Brandon Arnold that there was no way I was going to finish my contract, as I feared of hurting someone in the ring as my heart nor my head was in it anymore. So Brandon agreed to let me out of my contract.
Next, X-Rated makes a return no one thought possible, and reaches a new career high. I sitting at home and watching everything that was going on and it started a fire inside of me that I was missing When PW1�s Behind the Wrestler returns.
On March 22nd, 2000 X-Rated made a surprised return to Professional Wrestling and captured the CEWF World�s Heavyweight Championship. That night all of X-Rated�s hard work paid off as he was standing proud at the top of the CEWF Mountain, a position he held for nine months. X-Rated would go on to hold the CEWF World�s Heavyweight Championship two more times before the CEWF closed it�s doors in late 2002.
My time in the CEWF is something I�m extremely grateful for as Brandon Arnold gave me opportunities that I never thought I would get. I made some great friends there, most of whom I still talk to now. I stayed with the CEWF to the end, and I don�t regret a moment of it.
X-Rated along with a small group of CEWF member made their way to the PTIW where X-Rated was completely unhappy with the PTIW, found himself becoming disillusioned by pro wrestling all together, so X-Rated quit and left Professional Wrestling again, as he wasn�t happy with what he had become.
When I rejoined the PTIW I didn�t like the creative direction the writing team was taking me, I didn�t like what I was becoming in Pro Wrestling, I mean here I was two years later, I had enough money to do what ever I wanted to do in life, and I was working for a promotion, with a writing team that I wouldn�t even compare to Monkeys with typewriters and it�s not fair to the monkeys. So I just quit, I stopped showing up all together.
After Professional Wrestling Payton Ryan Waters became a successful realtor in Las Vegas, earning himself multi-Million.
I had a successful and happy life outside of professional wrestling. I got time to do things in life that I had missed being able to do. I was also able to find myself again, and get to know my wife outside of the wrestling world. I made the right choice when I left, and I'm not sorry I did.
But Payton has always missed the spot light of Professional wrestling and on March 13th, 2006 he reappeared in the ICWL as Mystery X, only to reveal himself at the March To Glory PPV on March 19th. Payton quickly turned his focus to the World Championship of the ICWL and in record time earned himself the right to face the champion. Payton took full advantage of that chance, and in typical X-Rated fashion (Controversial) Payton won the ICWL World Championship, and went on to hold the championship longer then anyone else in the ICWL history, a record setting 106 days. However it was around the end of his title rein that things started to go sour in the ICWL.�
I have read many, many internet reports surrounding my departure for the ICWL and I will tell you right here and now that not one of them is true. I read that I left because I was mad about losing the World Championship, which wasn�t the case, I also hear that the ICWL planned on releasing my wife from her contract, so I left, which nothing could be further from the truth. The reason I left the ICWL is a simple plan and simple creative differences. The ICWL front office, wanted me to do things, that I just couldn�t personally or professionally see me doing. We did try to work in a storyline between myself and a legend in the ICWL but for one reason or another they angle just couldn�t come together. To be honest, the ICWL was perhaps one of the best organizations I ever worked for, we just couldn�t come up with something we could both agree on, so we just agreed to go our separate ways plan and simple.
After leaving the ICWL, Payton and Kasie welcomed their first child, a son named Philip David Ryan Waters after his father.
Being a father, has been without a doubt the most rewarding thing I have ever done, in my whole life. I thank the heavens everyday for the wonderful blessing that Kasie and I have received.
After the birth of his Son Payton and Kasie signed a deal with the PPW; However, their careers would be extremely short. After only one match in the PPW, Payton and Kasie left the PPW do to Creative Differences, and Management problems within the company.
We came to an agreement with PPW management for the release from our contract, as we didn't like the direction the creative team had in mind for us, it was completely against our characters, and against our beliefs. So we left the PPW, and went back home to enjoy our family.
But X-Rated couldn't stay away from wrestling for very long. After a late night phone call from then ICWL President Scott Jarrett, Payton agreed to a short term contact with the ICWL, in which he would retain 100% creative control.
When I left the ICWL, I did so in a way that would enable me to return should I ever want to. Scott Jarrett and I become friends and had a mutual respect between us, we stayed in contact after I left the ICWL, he even called and sent gifts after the birth of my son, so when he called me and asked me to return to the company and promised me 100% creative control, I couldn't refuse. I have come along way in my career. I have lived the Highest of highs, and lived the lowest of lows. I have very few regrets in my career and the ones I do have I think have made me into the person I am today. I owe most of my success to my lovely wife, because her strength is probably what got me through it all. I have been to the top of the mountain, and been to the bottom of the valley. I�m just thankful that I am still able to do what I have come to love to do. My career has come full circle I have returned to the company in which I have had the greatest success, and I hope to be able to continue that success in the future. Who knows what is in store for me in the ICWL, but personally I look forward to finding out.
Upon his return to the ICWL X-Rated made an immediate impact, Reemerging at ICWL's Lucha Loco to the shock and surprise of everyone. X-Rated's appearance end up costing Anthrax the ICWL Internet Championship. The following week X-Rated faced the new Internet Champion Tsunami and with 7 seconds left before the 10 minute time limit expired X-Rated made Tsunami tap out, winning the Internet Championship for the first time.
It was a great thrill to win the Internet Championship. It reaffirmed to me that I am still capable of competing. I know after my time away from the ring, and the birth of my son I had some doubts going back into the ring. I was worried that I may not be able to compete at the same level I did during my last run. So to win that match against someone like Tsunami, it showed me that I was able to compete at the same level I once did, if perhaps not a better level.
Since his return to the ICWL X-Rated has remained undefeated. With notable battles with Angel of Death, X-Rated has proved to a few of the nah sayers he can still perform in the ring as good as he once was able to. Then in a shocking turn of events X-Rated attacked the ICWL Tag Team Champions with the help of a friend of his, 'Canadian Rage' Chris Cage.
I felt the time was right to define myself as more then just a singles competitor, so I spoke with Scott Jarrett, and after introducing Cage and Jarrett, Jarrett agreed and signed Cage. Chris Cage and I go back a ways. I helped show him the ropes in the CEWF when, at the time, I had formed a group with my mentor, Jack The Ripper, called Gen-X. So I knew what Cage was capable of doing inside the ring, and thought he would be perfect to bring into the ICWL as my partner. So the rest is how they say History, the New Wave crashed into the ICWL.
However, in a strange twist of events the ICWL went under management changes, forcing a temperary closer. The future of the New Wave now filled with uncertainty.
I'm not sure what the future hold for the New Wave. I do know we both plan on sticking around in the ICWL when it reopens, but if we are going to be a tag team still or not is unknown. We both have a great deal of respect for each other, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out when the ICWL reopens.
| End Scene |
-| The Man |-
~ Full Name ~
Payton Ryan Waters
~ Height/Weight ~
6'2"/232lbs
~ Hometown ~
Las Vegas, Nevada
~ AKA ~
X, True Talent
~ Manager ~
XXX (Wife)
~ Entrance Music ~
DMX - X Gon Give It To Ya
-| Next Match |-
~ Vs ~ Saint Eldor
~ Event ~
XWCWF Adrenaline
~ Location ~ Rockford, IL
~ Stipulation ~
XWCWF Hybrid Rules Championship
-| Career Information |-
~ Record ~
| Win 050 || Draw 000 || Loss 010 |
~ People Defeated ~:
Anthrax Cory Phoenix Brandon McCain Shane Kast Shane Jenkins Tsumani Angel of Death Marionette Universal Soilder Jack The Ripper Fury Lightning Shadow Bolt Dawn Dean James Scott Mahon Many More
~ Titles Won ~ :
CEWF World Champion x3 CEWF International Champion x4 CEWF Tag Team Champion x2 (w/ Jack The Ripper, W/'Canadian Rage' Chris Cage) ICWL World Champion x1 ICWL Internet Champion x1 ICWL Summer Smash Champion(Only) ICWL Hardcore Champion x1 XWCWF Hybrid Rules Championship x1
