The Huffington Post has an interview with WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who was promoting tonight’s Reality of Wrestling debut iPPV, Summer of Champions. You can get more details about the iPPV at realityofwrestling.com. Here are a few highlights from the interview:
The new faction with Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods:
“You know, I got mixed feelings about it. They’re forming this faction but I’m not sure exactly where it’s going, especially with Kofi Kingston being part of it. Kofi has always been the ultimate babyface, the ultimate good guy and now I’m going to see Kofi with a dark hat on. I don’t want to see that right there out of Kofi Kingston. So as far as exactly where it’s going to go, I don’t know. We’re going to find out in the coming months, we’re going to see if a couple more guys join that faction as well. So we’ll see in the future.”
What it means for ROW to have an iPPV:
“Well, the iPPV shows that the company is moving onwards and upwards. What makes us different from most independent wrestling promotions is what we put into our wrestling. The storyline and psychology based approach – we go out and entertain the fans first and foremost. I always say that people remember not just what they saw in a show but how they felt, so we try to bring a feeling to wrestling that’s a little bit different. That’s my approach and that was my training, I try to train my students to act and really put themselves in the moment, not just go out and play a wrestler. Even though this is entertainment, I want young people to know that it’s something that’s attainable for them. For many years, people will watch wrestling and see superstars as unattainable figures and think ‘man there’s no way that I could ever be a professional wrestler’ but I try to make it so everyone that’s watching – the young guys and girls , – will say ‘man, I can do that.’ That’s what Reality of Wrestling is about.”
Criticism of part-timers like Brock Lesnar in WWE:
“I look at guys like Brock Lesnar, guys like the Rock, like RVD and Chris Jericho who make their return briefly and then go off again, I look at those guys and think they are still willing to go out and help the product first and foremost. I tell the young guys on the roster that when they start selling tickets, selling out Pay-Per-Views and bringing up merchandise revenue, then they can start talking. Until then they should just shut up and enjoy the ride. That’s the way I look at guys like Brock Lesnar coming back. He’s a major big time superstar. A guy who’s done it in the WWE, who’s gone to MMA and done it and now he’s back again trying to complete the trifecta. So I give guys like Brock Lesnar big, big props for still wanting to be around and do this and bring revenue into the business. When the young guys start selling tickets and creating a buzz for PPVs then we won’t have to bring back guys like the Rock. Until then, just keep quiet and enjoy the ride.”
