During a recent appearance on “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T opined on his run as King Booker, why he decided to depart WWE, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his King Booker gimmick: “Vince didn’t have anything to do with that character. Brian Gewirtz, he had a lot to do with it. He wrote a lot of good stuff for me, and I could change it. Of course, I had the liberty to change it. King Booker was a very, very interesting time in my career. It was the hottest I could have ever gotten doing a gimmick. Okay, King Booker could have been an asterisk on my career. It could have been a man who was making a fool out of yourself at the end of your career. ‘Wow, man. How far? How far down did you go?’ I mean, literally, it could have been the guy walking around with a cape and a crown acting a fool. That’s what he could have been. But I was determined. I was determined to make King Booker so memorable that no one would ever be able to do the King of the Ring tournament ever again…
“I don’t think anybody has become king after me. It didn’t work. It just couldn’t work because those are really, really big shoes to fill. No one is ever going to be able to do that, that king of the ring, ever again. Just because of what I did and I wanted to. I loved movies when I was a kid; the Shaw Brothers productions were karate movies. They produced karate movies, and they produced some of the greatest karate movies. So, I took a lot of my themes from those karate movies and just brought it to life with King Booker. But then I studied, like the Pope. I studied like the last king of Scotland, stuff like that. So I was always searching to try to figure out how far I could really go with this thing. I changed everybody’s name, like Jerry Lawler. He was Jerome. Jim Ross was James. I just made sure I took it to a level where people were entertained. But I never forsake going out in the middle of that ring and humbling those peasants that were trying to dethrone me, those peasants that were trying to. I was trying to dethrone me. And that part had to be real. I think I was at my best as far as my wrestling when I was King Booker.”
On his WWE departure: “I was so tired at the end of that run. People don’t realize I left WWE at the height of my career. Yeah, I was at the top of my career. I just dropped the World Heavyweight Championship and I was like, I was so tired after that year, going out there and creating that King Booker character every night was so draining. Sharmell was driving for me almost every night after those shows because I would just be so drained. I remember Michael Hayes telling me when I was getting ready to leave, and I was like, ‘Bro, I’m done. I’m finished.’ And Michael Hayes goes, ‘Book, what are you doing? What are you thinking? You still got a babyface run with this thing.’ And I’m like, ‘bro, I’m finished.’
“Yeah, but it was a great time and I would not change that for the world. But all the King, King Booker was all about Sharmell. It wasn’t about me at all. It would have never made me the King if it wasn’t for Sharmell. I call Sharmell my queen all the time. That’s just what I’ve always called her and said, ‘Let’s make it, let’s bring the King of the Ring back.’ But I don’t think the king of the ring was brought back, actually for me. But I say, ‘Hey, when you get something, you have to make the best of it, no matter what it is.’”
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Booker T Reflects on His King Booker Gimmick and WWE Departure
In a recent appearance on “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T opened up about his iconic run as King Booker, why he decided to depart from WWE, and more. Let’s dive into some of the highlights from the podcast.
Booker T began by discussing his King Booker gimmick and how it became one of the most memorable characters of his career. He revealed that Vince McMahon didn’t have much involvement in the creation of the character. Instead, it was Brian Gewirtz who played a significant role in developing the persona. Gewirtz wrote some excellent material for Booker T, but he also gave him the freedom to make changes and add his own touch to the character.
King Booker was a turning point in Booker T’s career. He admitted that it was the hottest he had ever gotten doing a gimmick. The character could have easily been seen as a joke or a way to make a fool out of himself, but Booker T was determined to make it unforgettable. He wanted to ensure that no one could ever replicate the success of the King of the Ring tournament after his reign.
Booker T drew inspiration from various sources to bring King Booker to life. He mentioned being a fan of Shaw Brothers productions, which were famous for their karate movies. Taking themes from those movies, he added a regal touch to his character. Additionally, he studied figures like the Pope and the last king of Scotland to enhance his portrayal. Booker T even changed the names of other WWE personalities, such as Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross, to maintain the entertainment factor.
According to Booker T, his wrestling skills were at their best during his time as King Booker. He emphasized that while he entertained the audience with his character, he never forgot his in-ring performance. He made sure to humble anyone who tried to dethrone him, and that aspect had to be genuine.
When it came to his departure from WWE, Booker T revealed that he left at the height of his career. After dropping the World Heavyweight Championship, he felt exhausted from constantly performing as King Booker. His wife, Sharmell, played a significant role in supporting him during this time. She would drive for him after shows because he was so drained. Despite Michael Hayes suggesting a babyface run for Booker T, he made the decision to leave WWE.
Booker T acknowledged that King Booker’s success was largely due to Sharmell’s involvement. He credited her for making the character work and referred to her as his queen. While the King of the Ring tournament wasn’t brought back specifically for him, Booker T believed in making the best of any opportunity that came his way.
In conclusion, Booker T’s run as King Booker remains one of the most memorable moments in WWE history. His dedication to the character and his ability to entertain while maintaining his in-ring prowess made him a standout performer. Despite leaving WWE at the peak of his career, Booker T has no regrets and cherishes the time he spent as King Booker.
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