Booker T, a revered personality in WWE, has been honored with a Hall of Fame induction twice. Despite his remarkable career and accomplishments, the former World Champion confessed to having initial reservations about the induction.
The first of his Hall of Fame inductions arrived in 2013, in recognition of his impressive solo career. He got inducted again in 2019, when he and Stevie Ray were collectively recognized for their exploits as part of Harlem Heat.
In a recent episode of his aptly titled “Hall of Fame” podcast, Booker T opened up about why he had qualms about WWE’s decision to induct him into the Hall of Fame. He articulated his thoughts by saying,
“I didn’t feel it was the right time, I considered myself too youthful. I believed it was prematurely decided for me to ascend to the Hall of Fame. I wasn’t ready to accept it because I equated being inducted into the Hall of Fame with the end of my career. It felt to me like once I entered the Hall of Fame, everything I had accomplished would, essentially, be my swan song, and I was like, man, I don’t know if I’m prepared for this yet.”
Following his inaugural Hall of Fame induction, Booker T only returned to the ring once for the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
During the match, Booker T managed to stay in the ring for 42 seconds and couldn’t score any eliminations before being ushered out by the match’s eventual runner-up, GUNTHER.