Browsing: Booker

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Before solidifying himself as a main event star, Booker T was a part of one of WCW’s most successful tag teams alongside his brother, Stevie Ray, as Harlem Heat. Despite their real-life bond as actual brothers and the time they spent together in the squared circle, Booker admits he isn’t as close to his brother as kayfabe brothers Bubba-Ray and D-Von Dudley are in real-life.

“Those guys did a lot together. They did a lot together, man!” he exclaimed during an episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast. “All those miles and all those trips… For the regular person, you know, that’s just working 9 to 5, it’s just really hard to understand how close those guys had to be to pull something off like that.” Booker noted how the two ended up having to watch one another’s backs all over the world over the decades they spent together as a tag team.

“They spent more time together than they have with their spouses, you know? So, it’s really amazing what those guys did,” Booker said. “I wish… I envy those guys… I envy those guys. I wish I would-could have had that kind of relationship with my brother, you know. I really do.”Â

During an interview years ago, Stevie Ray looked back at his partnership with his brother, but shot down ever returning to the ring alongside Booker, noting that they accomplished everything they wanted and that, as far as he’s concerned, Harlem Heat is dead.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit the “Hall of Fame” podcast, and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Booker T is weighing in on the recent accusations made by D-Von Dudley about alleged racism from a top WWE official—and heâ€s not shying away from addressing the elephant in the room.

On his Hall of Fame podcast,Booker T responded to D-Vonâ€s claim that a WWE official once told him they didnâ€t like him because of the color of his skin. Although D-Von never said a name, he referred to the person as being known for wearing a “ten-gallon hatâ€â€”a clear reference many fans took as being about Jim Ross.

Booker confirmed that when he joined WWE in 2001, the man in charge of talent relations was indeed JR—the same person who held that position when the Dudley Boyz came to WWE in 1998.

“Now, coming to WWE — and that brings me to what happened with D-Von Dudley. D-Von said that someone didnâ€t like him because of the color of his skin, and that one person, I think, was being implied to be JR. They said ‘10-gallon hat,†yeah, thatâ€s exactly who they were talking about. So, I came in around 2001, and the person I had to deal with was JR. Now, I donâ€t know if JR had talent relations at that time — yeah, he was head of talent relations. He was also head of talent relations back in â€98 when D-Von and Bubba had to deal with him.â€

Despite the timeline overlap, Booker made it clear that his experience with Jim Ross was entirely different.

“JR was actually the one guy who convinced me to tell my story — about what I went through — because he told me, and I quote, ‘You can help so many people with your story. You can help so many people.†Thatâ€s what I remember about JR.â€

Booker T acknowledged that different people can have different experiences—even with the same person—and didnâ€t try to discredit D-Vonâ€s account.

“So, a lot of people have different stories about the same person, you know what I mean? I donâ€t discount anything D-Von said — I believe him, I believe him 100%. Iâ€m not going to sit here and deny it. But in my situation — have I dealt with racism in this business? Of course I have. Have I experienced racism? Yes.â€

This comes just days after D-Von Dudley appeared on a podcast and made the following statement about his time in WWE:

“No, I didnâ€t experience it when we were together because when we got together, we were in ECW, and in ECW, I did not experience it. I experienced it in WWE. I experienced it with certain top officials, though I donâ€t really want to say any names. I didnâ€t wear a ten gallon hat or anything, but when a person comes up to you and tells you they donâ€t like you because of the color of your skin, you sit there thinking, ‘Wow, really? Itâ€s 1999 or 2000, and youâ€re still saying stuff like this?â€â€

While Booker defended JR based on his personal dealings with him, he didnâ€t try to silence or disprove D-Vonâ€s perspective—bringing more depth to an ongoing conversation about racism in professional wrestling.

This story continues to unfold, and the ball is now in Jim Ross†court if he chooses to address the allegations directly.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

Do you think Jim Ross should publicly respond to the allegations? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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Booker Tâ€s Reality of Wrestling has postponed an event originally scheduled for the same date as John Cenaâ€s retirement match.

ROW Sub Zero was to take place on December 13. However, Booker posted to social media on Wednesday that they are pushing the event back a week so as not to conflict with Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event in Washington, DC, that night, which will feature the final match of Cenaâ€s career.

Booker wrote:

“In honor of @JohnCena â€s final match taking place December 13th on Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, we at  @TheOfficialROW have made the decision to move our annual winter event, #SubZero, to December 20th. Some moments in this business are bigger than any one show — and this is one of them. We want the entire wrestling world to come together to watch, reflect, and honor the greatest of all time as he takes his final bow.”

The pre-sale for tickets to the December 13 show went on sale today, and fans are reporting long waits to purchase tickets online, with some saying over 50,000 potential buyers were ahead of them. The event is being held at the Capital One Center, home to the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics.

As for who Cena will face in his final match, Dave Meltzer reported recently that a tournament will be held with the winner facing Cena on the show, and that Gunther is expected to win. Meltzerâ€s article is available for subscribers here.

In honor of @JohnCenaâ€s final match taking place December 13th on Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, we at @TheOfficialROW have made the decision to move our annual winter event, #SubZero, to December 20th.

Some moments in this business are bigger than any one show — and this is one… pic.twitter.com/clY9afQm8p

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) October 15, 2025

me to ticketmaster after waiting in the countdown for john cenaâ€s final match since 9 am and then being given the 56,267th spot in the queue pic.twitter.com/0mtFhpL9vW

— gracie (@riptiderhodes) October 15, 2025

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By Ella Jay

Oct. 9, 2025 10:46 pm EST

Brandon Nagy/Shutterstock

Through the partnership between TNA and “WWE NXT,” a number of former WWE stars have recently returned to the company for matches and appearances. This includes former Intercontinental Champion Matt Cardona, who departed from WWE in 2020 following a 14-year run. Looking ahead, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T hopes to see Cardona (formerly known as Zack Ryder) back in WWE in a more permanent capacity.

“I’ve been so invested in the TNA-NXT crossover that they’ve been doing,” Booker said on “The Hall of Fame” podcast. “It’s been so good for both sides to see so many different guys get to come up. Seeing Matt Cardona back in the building. I don’t know, he, Matt Cardona, might have got a raw deal his first time around. I’d love to see Matt Cardona get another shot in WWE and doing his thing. Then seeing guys like Moose, a guy who I had talked about for quite some time. I was just like, man, I wish this guy could get a shot. I’m hoping we can figure out how we can get him in there somehow.”

Since leaving WWE, Cardona has worked on and off for TNA, with his current run beginning earlier this year and including shots at the TNA X-Division and International Championships. Despite this, reports indicate that Cardona is not officially signed to TNA, meaning he is technically a free agent.

Next Tuesday, Cardona will return to the “NXT” ring when he takes on Josh Briggs in singles competition. This comes after the veteran cost Briggs a match against Myles Borne on the September 30 episode of “NXT.”Â

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Hall of Fame” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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In assessing Jade Cargill’s recent performance and injury in a triple threat main event on “WWE SmackDown,” WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently asserted that she needed to better protect herself. He also stated that Cargill is still “fresh off” her run in All Elite Wrestling, where likely she wasn’t given a chance to learn about professional wrestling in depth. A report from Fightful Select later indicated that talents within WWE, AEW, and TNA were “baffled” by the latter remark –something Booker himself has since addressed on the “The Hall of Fame” podcast.

“I want to know who those baffled WWE, TNA and AEW wrestlers are,” Booker said. “I’m willing to talk and challenge and debate with any of those guys. I don’t look at myself above or below any of the guys that’s in the business today, guys in the past or future, none of that. I’m serious. I feel like we’re all on the same level. My thing is I respect the young guys. Say, for instance, a company like AEW, and I don’t see anybody over there that’s working in the main event, that’s been in the business two years or three years. The Young Bucks, those guys got time in. The Kenny Omegas, Edge, Christian, most of the guys over there on that roster got years of experience in this business. So when someone questions me, I’m going to look for your credentials first and foremost.

“I understand when someone who comments who’s never been in the business and they can look at two years in the business and think that’s a really, really long time. But one of my peers that’s been in the business, I think they know what two years is.”Â

In September 2023, Cargill left AEW after a 500-plus day reign as TBS Champion and making her professional wrestling debut in the company 2.5 years earlier. Later in the same month, WWE confirmed that Cargill had inked a deal with it, leading to her WWE in-ring debut at the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Booker Says He Knew ‘Very Little’ In First Two Years Of His Own Career

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Two years out from signing with WWE, Cargill is now a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion and a top star on the “WWE SmackDown” brand. She’s also competed in two WrestleManias, earning wins in both appearances. Still, in the grand scheme of things, Booker believes Cargill remains a work in progress.

Based on his prior in-ring experiences, Booker argues that two years is not a long time in the wrestling industry, hence his previous remark about Cargill still being “fresh” out of AEW. “I know at two years in the business what I knew, which was very, very little,” he said

Early in his career, Booker recalled wrestling in-ring veteran Dusty Wolfe, who had several years of television experience under his belt. Though Wolfe had actually rarely emerged victorious in his own matches on television, Booker found Wolfe’s insight valuable, so much so that he personally asked Wolfe to guide him through their forthcoming bout, which Booker was slated to win.

“I learned so much in that match listening to Dusty Wolfe,” Booker said. “I appreciate Dusty Wolfe. Wherever you are out there, Dusty, I appreciate the knowledge that you gave me to actually hopefully give to some other young guy one day, which I know I did. That’s what being in the business is at that stage. If you ain’t got your ears open learning from someone like a Dusty Wolfe, you’re going to be swimming upstream. I can almost guarantee you that in Jade’s first two years, she didn’t work with anyone like Dusty Wolfe.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Hall of Fame” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Booker T isnâ€t backing down when it comes to defending his recent comments about Jade Cargill—and heâ€s got a message for everyone from keyboard warriors to active wrestlers.

On an episode of The Hall of Fame, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer lit into wrestling journalists and online critics who questioned Jadeâ€s fast rise in WWE despite limited experience. Booker made it clear that many of the people calling him out have zero knowledge of what it takes to survive in the ring, let alone thrive on a main event level. To drive his point home, Booker extended a bold invitation to his critics:

“None of these guys have ever taken one bump. Never taken one wrestling class,†he said. “If they would like to take a wrestling class, I would say come to my fantasy camp. See what a five-hour day consists of and how you make it out of that five-hour day. Trust me, I promise you, youâ€re going to be saying, ‘I wish I wouldnâ€t have never thought about doing something like this.â€â€

He explained the motivation behind his remarks on Jade, saying it wasnâ€t a personal attack but a discussion about how rare it is for someone with limited time in the business to already be in a prime spot. Booker acknowledged her presence and star power, even praising her courage:

“I give her a lot of credit to be able to walk out in front of those people not having the experience of a Charlotte Flair, not having the experience of a Bayley, Naomi… and still say, ‘Man, Iâ€m willing to step in the middle of the frying pan and look as good as I possibly can.â€â€

He then challenged the wrestling world directly, asking for even a single name who disputed what he said:

“Name one wrestler that has snapped back on me and said Booker T is wrong. Name one. Iâ€m baffled.â€

Booker even pointed out that Jade, like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, didnâ€t rise alone. They had veterans like himself guiding them:

“Think about the guys that Kurt Angle was working with. Trust me, I was one of those guys. Think about the people Brock Lesnar worked with—I was one of those guys. Think about Goldberg—I was one of those guys. At two years in the business, I knew very, very little.â€

And if you think Booker is being harsh just to stir drama, think again. Heâ€s open to dialogue—but only with people who actually do this for a living:

“Iâ€m willing to talk, debate with anyone thatâ€s in this business to debate with me about what two years is… because I know.â€

Booker Tâ€s take wasnâ€t just a defensive rant—it was a veteran drawing a line between opinion and experience, and reminding everyone just how steep the climb in wrestling really is. Whether you agree with him or not, itâ€s hard to argue with a man whoâ€s lived it, taught it, and still gives back to the business every week.

Are wrestling critics forgetting what it actually takes to get over in this business? Drop your thoughts below and let us know where you stand—do you side with Booker, or think Jadeâ€s rise is fair game?

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

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WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently shared his opinion about a match concept that was never his cup of tea.

Booker T has achieved many accolades during his in-ring career, including the WWE World Championship, United States Championship, and multiple reigns as Tag Team Champion. Despite all this, Booker asserted that the current WWE Speed matches concept isnâ€t something he can adjust to.

On a recent episode of the Hall of Fame Podcast, the NXT commentator discussed the Speed matches concept currently taking place in NXT and the five-minute time limitation.

“Well, itâ€s just not my cup of tea,†Booker T began. “But if I had to adjust to it, I think I could. I donâ€t think Iâ€d work that match any differently than a 30-minute match, other than it would be a little bit quicker.

“But I still think it would have to have places where we slowed it down just a second to get to where weâ€re trying to go. That might be at the two-and-a-half-minute or the three-minute mark, you know.

Booker T believes wrestlers are working Speed matches with the wrong mindset

“So, I would still be thinking from that perspective and not, you know, just throw the handbook of professional wrestling out of the window and say, ‘Letâ€s go out here and see how much we can get into five minutes.â€Â Iâ€m not going to do that because Iâ€ve had five-minute matches, and you could blow up in five minutes.

“You could be so tired, like youâ€ve worked an hour-long match, and youâ€re just sucking, wondering what the hell happened, you know? Just go and try to run as fast as you can for five minutes and see what happens.†[H/T: Wrestling Inc.]

READ MORE: WWE Superstar Currently Asking An Outrageous Price On Cameo

What do you make of Booker Tâ€s comments? How do you feel about this five-minute concept? Is this something you enjoy for the NXT product? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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Up-and-coming WWE star predicted to follow in the footsteps of Booker T.

There have been several rising stars from NXT who have impressed fans and professionals alike, among them being Je’Von Evans. The 21-year-old has impressive skills that could put up entertaining matches, even against veteran main roster stars like Randy Orton and Sami Zayn.

While still being in WWE NXT, Evans has also been slowly integrating himself on Friday Night SmackDown. Just on this week’s episode, Je’Von put up an exciting tag team match with Rey Fenix against Berto and Angel of Los Garza, even walking away with the victory.

Je’Von’s performance on the brand further showcased that he could compete against main roster talent, and not only that, but he has even showcased to a WWE Hall of Famer that he has what it takes to be a notable wrestling legend like Booker T when the time comes.

WWE Hall Of Famer Mark Henry Sees Je’Von Evans As A Future Booker T

In the recent episode of the Busted Openpodcast, Mark Henry recalled Je’Von’s match on WWE SmackDown and praised the young star and his recent match with Rey Fenix. The Hall of Famer shares that Evans has a bright future as seen from his expression, charisma, and how he captivates the audience.

Je’von Evans is going to be shining in the future when you see some of these guys that are older start to get away from the business. Je’Von Evans is exciting. It’s his energy. It’s his expression. It’s his ability to make you feel. And that’s just charisma and an innate ability to make you care. The match that he had, he and Fenix, they need to have more matches like that.”

Mark Henry added that despite all this, he prefers not to involve the 21-year-old in any WWE title picture now and just focus on his growth and character. The veteran then added that Evans has the potential to be like Booker T or even Sami Zayn.

I’m not ready for him to get in there, in the championship category. You gotta let him grow into the guy that he’s gonna be. He’s got the potential to be a Booker T, a Sami Zayn. Imagine when he grows up and he’s got that grown man feeling inside. Let’s revisit this conversation in a year from now. Let’s see where Je’Von Evans is. The future is really, really bright.”

In other news: Booker T breaks his silence on the controversial Jade Cargill comments.

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WWE Hall of Famer Booker T surprised some people after blaming Jade Cargillâ€s time in AEW for her recent SmackDown match ending with a massive botch. While reports suggested many companies were baffled by his remarks, it seems Booker T is now mocking those reports.

Booker T took to Twitter and said that some people in WWE, TNA, and AEW were baffled that fans still believe everything they read online, saying, “#BREAKINGNEWS According to sources, several talent in WWE, TNA, and even AEW are baffled people still believe what they read online.â€

Booker T was clearly shutting down Fightful Selectâ€s report, which claimed that talent from WWE, AEW, and even TNA were confused by Booker Tâ€s “fresh off AEW†remark about Jade Cargill. Many pointed out that Jade Cargill has already wrestled more matches in WWE than she ever did in AEW.

Booker T talked about the situation on his Hall of Fame podcast, comparing the match to triple threat bouts heâ€s seen in his own promotion, Reality of Wrestling. He explained that the issues in the match came from miscommunication and a lack of chemistry between the three women.

“You could tell there was a lot of miscommunication in the match, as well. For me, itâ€s no different than what we do at Reality of Wrestling with girls and triple threats. Trying to put the girls in the best position to be comfortable in the ring is the most important thing.â€

Booker also talked about the dynamic between Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax, saying that their different levels of experience might have played a role in what went wrong.

“You have NIL talent in Tiffany Stratton. You have Jade Cargill, who is pretty much just fresh off her AEW run. Just think about the time in AEW for her. She probably didnâ€t learn a whole lot. No disrespect or anything, but she was put on a wing and never really got a chance to wrestle anybody. Right?â€

Booker Tâ€s honest and direct style has made him a well-known but sometimes divisive name in wrestling. Whether fans agree with his opinion on Jade Cargill or not, the WWE Hall of Famer just wanted to make it clear to fans that not every report about him is accurate.

Do you think Booker T was right to point out AEWâ€s role in Jade Cargillâ€s development, or did his comments go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below — weâ€d love to hear your take on this heated debate!

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Eric Corbridge to review WWE Smackdown including evaluating the clunky contract signing segment where WWE put Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton in a situation that exposed their weaknesses and didn’t play to their strengths all just to set up a tag match next week. Also, the difference between a Pet Peeve and a meaningful critique of sloppy or lazy habits leads to a fun segment of listeners’ Pro Wrestling Pet Peeves. Plus, Booker T’s commentary fails tonight and ideas on how to improve his contributions, the Sami Zayn-Aleister Black finish, Cody Rhodes playing up the “little brother” demeanor with Randy Orton too much, and more with live caller, email, and chat interaction throughout.

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