Erik Watts’ family connection to his Chickasaw heritage, oddly enough, traces to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Estonia June 17, 1940.

This eventually resulted in Erik’s mother, Ene, seeking a new home in the United States. Although not Chickasaw, Ene would go on to marry famed professional football player and wrestling icon Bill Watts, who is Chickasaw.

Bill played football in college for the University of Oklahoma Sooners and professional football for the Houston Oilers, Indianapolis Warriors and Minnesota Vikings before deciding to exclusively pursue a career in what wrestling fans refer to as “the squared circle.”