WWE hall of Famer Booker T appeared on this week’s Main Event Radio hosted by Ryan Rider and Tony Stabile. During the interview Booker discussed his career, the transition from the ring to commentary, Sting coming to WWE and more. You can listen to the full interview HERE and you can read some highlights below.
The 2001 Invasion of the WWE:
“So many different components play out in a situation like that. A lot of guys were under contracts, a lot of guys were making money; a lot of guys had families. It was a difficult time for most. A lot of guys sat it out and got that pay check before they decided to come over. It was only a few of us that decided to stray away – I walked away from a lot of money, six figures, to keep my momentum going. I thought I was in a position where I could make the money back and keep my legacy going. That’s why the invasion angle didn’t work – it was the timing, it just wasn’t right. I had experienced life, overcame life. I was prepared for WCW folding and then having to go to another company and having to rebuild myself. I always knew nothing would last forever and there were turns in the road, life goes in seasons. I knew when that time came I knew it was time to move on.”
If he was disappointed losing to Triple H at Wrestlemania 19:
“Honestly, even with my 35 championships it’s never really been about titles for me. The fans were disappointed but I didn’t go back to my room upset that I didn’t win. For me it’s always been about performing. People really wanted me to win – and it was a great match, we left everything in the ring. I can always respect HHH, that he was able to take it just as much as he could dish it out. Me not winning, I would not take that as a black mark on my career or anything like that. A lot of people were disappointed, a lot of office people came up to me and said you should have won. But it just wasn’t meant for me that night and we move on.”
If he would like to see Samoa Joe in WWE:
“He can make some waves with WWE: He can make some big waves with the WWE roster; he can come onto the NXT roster and make waves there. WWE is a proving ground. You don’t just come into WWE and say put me on the main roster because I’m Samoa Joe. You gotta take your knocks. I’m no different than anybody else. When I came to WWE I was a 4x Heavyweight Champion, 6x Television champion, U.S. Champion, 10x tag team champion but I started at the bottom all over again to make my rise. These young guys out there coming into WWE won’t have to go through anything that I haven’t gone through myself.”
Sting finally making his WWE in-ring debut at Wrestlemania next week:
“I think it’s great. It definitely solidifies his career. It wouldn’t have been poetic justice if Sting left wrestling, left this earth without having one Wrestlemania match in front of 70,000 people. He needs to get that experience at least one time. He’s done so much for this business; he’s been a great ambassador. I remember watching Sting when I first got in the industry, he had a big impact on me. He’s had an impact on so many people’s lives in so many different ways. Seeing Sting in a WWE ring, it’s great. Sting said a couple of words about me – that he didn’t come to WWE back in the day because of my first outing with the Rock. Now he sees what it’s like now 15 years later. And I’m just glad to see him here in the WWE and hopefully we’ll get a chance to do some work together.”
