Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Booker T - Supermarket Brawl, "King Bookah", Shucky Ducky Quack Quack, NXT Commentary, WCW Mount Rushmore

Episode Date: July 11, 2024

Booker T (@BookerT5x) is a WWE Hall of Famer currently calling the action each week on NXT. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet at Reality of Wrestling in Houston, TX to discuss his time in WCW, WWE and now NXT, the recent partnership between NXT and TNA, the iconic supermarket brawl with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and how much the damage cost, being paired with his wife Sharmell on TV, winning King of the Ring and becoming King Booker, his rivalry with Edge over a shampoo commercial at WrestleMania 18, whether or not he will ever have one more match and more! Quote I'm thinking about: It doesn't take talent to show up on time and work hard. Sponsors: PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank which was designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/ PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT for a first deposit match up to $100! TIMELINE NUTRITION: Save 10% off your first order of Mitopure at http://timeline.com/INSIGHT BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv BLUECHEW: Use the code INSIGHT to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at http://bluechew.com ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and experience financial freedom: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at http://plunge.com For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shocky dokey quack quack. Welcome back to another one here on Insight. I'm CVV, Chris Van Fleet. Man, can we just take a minute to appreciate how good wrestling is right now? So much great stuff happening. I love it. Thank you so much for being with us. And thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on the planet. If you haven't yet, please hit that follow button wherever you're listening to this. if you're feeling extra generous, a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify would be just incredible. I appreciate you. I will thank you in advance for that. It's always such a good conversation when Booker T is on the show. Glad to have him back for the third time, third time, third time. We recorded this at Reality of Wrestling, which is his wrestling school in Houston, Texas. And you have never seen a wrestling school like this before.

It's like a mini performance center in there. They've got three rings in total, a full weight room in the back, and it also serves as their studio when they do live shows and TV tapings. Check it out on their YouTube channel. Reality wrestling, and you can see what it looks like. You also may see a familiar face making an appearance or two. Yes, I'm talking about myself. After we recorded this interview, well, it was Shelton, Booker T, and Charmeltin.

and Charmel. We did those three interviews in a row. And then they had their show that night, a TV taping, and I may or may not, no, I am. I'm on a few episodes. So check it out. I'm also doing some guest commentary on there. But Booker T is such a legend. And think of everything he's done in his career. He's worked as a baby face and a heel. He's done serious stuff and comedy stuff. He's been great as a main eventer, also great in the mid-cart. Such a good promo, so good on comment. He literally ticks every single box, a true one of one. And I had a blast catching up with him during this one. Booker also has a radio show slash podcast that he co-hosts with my good friend Brad

Gilmore. So when you're done with this episode, go check out the Hall of Fame with Booker team, Brad Gilmore, wherever you're listening to this right now. What a fun conversation. Snap a screenshot. Let us know what you thought of this and tag us so we can share it as well. He's at Booker T5X. I'm at Chris Van Vleach.

Let's do it. Please welcome the one, the only. Booker T. What a spot you got here. Look at this. Hey, man. You know, this is reality of wrestling. We've been working on this for 20 years.

That is amazing. Thank you. Thank you very much. You walk in here. This feels like the performance center. Like, and I know this is your wrestling school and also where you have shows. My goodness. There's no other independent wrestling companies doing it like this.

That was all about design to be a replica of the performance center and what those guys are doing down there. I'm trying to give these young guys, you know, that feeling of, man, this really is a show. This is not just an independent, you know, wrestling event or anything like this. I mean, you know, we got the horror cam, you know, we got the roaming cams, you know, we got the trun. You know, we try to make the guys, I mean, we got the, you know, the alumni of the guys who've come through here. here just try to make them feel special by putting them, you know, up in the, in the bright lights. Jimmy and Jay right there, the very first ones. Yeah, man, it's crazy.

You know, you know, Athena, she's over here somewhere. You know what I mean? Come to Roxanne parades. You know what I mean? He's crazy. So many guys, so many girls have come through here. But it's just a beginning that we call this to AAA of professional wrestling. We're trying to really.

do big things. And now being able to work with NXT talent has definitely enabled us to really expand to give the independent world something that nobody else can give. So what is the reality of wrestling?

What is the actual reality of it? The reality of wrestling is something that I thought about many, many years ago when I first got in a wrestling business. It was an underground, you know, sport. It's not something you can just get into.

So I wanted to give young people a chance to actually, you know, be a part of something. But the reality of it is you got to work your ass off for everything here at reality of wrestling. Nothing is given to you. We've had guys, you know, that's been there for many, many years that have, you know, worked on that craft and, you know, didn't get it in the beginning. And they could have easily left. But they stuck it out. And those are the guys that excel. to the next level.

That's the reality of it. Here, reality of wrestling, by lead by example. I'm one of the first guys to get in and get the job done, and I'm one of the last guys, you know, to leave, you know,

just to make sure everything is done properly. So it's, it's a reality of wrestling is just a little bit of everything, especially, it really is. Look at the shape you're still in. You know, I'm blessed,

you know, but it's all about just action. That's what, I think that's what likes all about. You work hard. You know, just staying on a move all the time. I mean, I'm on my way to Jacksonville here in a little while, and then I'm going to turn around and go to Vegas

and then turn around and go to Orlando. And then back home for a minute, but then when I'm home, it's all about, you know, still staying on the grind, you know, working with my partner to Brad Gilmore with the ESPN podcast as well. You know, it's just all about, you know, staying relevant. And sometimes, you know, I'm staying relevant. Relevant means you got to do the little bitty things.

Yeah. I love it, though. You were in the ring recently, Realative Wrestling. Yeah. And people were like, my God, he still has it. Look at the shape he's in. You know what? You know what?

I stay in shape because I stay out of the ring. Both the time. You know, I know my limitations. You know, like Clayleigh's would say, man's got to know his limitations. It's just like I said, hey, man, I feel like I can do one more match. How about a 10-man tag? And you don't tag in?

I'll get in one time. I remember I had the chance to work with Butch Reed back in the day. My brother and I in the Global Wrestling Federation, Butch Reed came in just to tag, a six-man tag with my brother and I against three guys. And Butch Reed, he tagged there one time. And he got out and he goes, I'm done. He was like, man, what my payout fit? Let me get up out of him.

But no, I know about limitations. But it's all about still, you know, being able to give these. young guys, the rub, you know, like working with Trick Williams. He's calling me out. Talking about he wanted to, you know, have a wrestling match with me. And I'm like, man, that's not happening, you know what I mean? But to build the sideline, you know, to be in a passenger seat, navigating for these young guys to be able to give them the rub, you know,

because, you know, I've been there and done that and they still respect me. That's the cool part for me. It really is. I'm living my best life right now. Do you think you have another match in you? Well, I'm never going to retire. I'm definitely going to get back in the ring at some point in time and do something. I mean, they're just, but it's going to be here.

It's going to be here at reality of wrestling. R is Saudi. I hear they pay well. Exactly. You know what I mean? So if we can make that happen, trick, we might do something. What about another Royal Rumble spot? You know, I think that spot was a great swan song for me.

Doing it at that time, you know, the fairs were definitely, it was one of those unexpected entries. it was a moment. And it's kind of hard to really create those moments, you know, and duplicate those kind of moments, replicate that. You know, so I think Rumble for me,

you know, I'm not looking for, you know, do any more rebels. Walk me through an NXT show day. Like how much prep goes into what we actually see on the air? Oh, man,

the talent, definitely do their due diligence. That's where it's really making sure that, it's really a show. They make sure that, We want Bravo at the end of the night. We want encore. We want all of that.

You know, Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Phantom of the Opera. It really truly is all about that. And Vic, Joseph and I, we are, you know, two totally, you know, guys that's on the same page. I work off of him. He works off of me. It's nothing by chance. We really do I do deal. religious to not make it about ourselves,

but making about the show and making about the talent on the show. And I say that because I used to be, you know, one of the young guys, you know, on the show and I would be working. I remember Tony Giovanni was talking about something when I was having a match with Lance Storm. I still remember that to this day, and I was so mad.

But why is he talking about that? that has nothing to admit we was having a hell of a match. And so I try to think about that kind of stuff before I go out and try to make sure preparation is my only luck. I write down everything. You know, but I just want to make sure that

comes off properly. I still want to be authentic. I still want to be myself. I don't want to change anything about Booker T. As far as this run doing commentary, like before I was kind of constrained. I really couldn't be myself. But this time it's just, you know, shucky, ducky quack, quack,

it's a lot of fun. But a lot of prep goes into that day. What is shucky, ducky, quack, quack, is it anything, man. It could be, you know, a hot chick walking by you see it, and you go, shuggy, ducky, whack, whack, you know what I mean? It could be a nice ride rode by, you know, with some 20s, you know. You say, man, shuggy, ducky, quack, whack, check that out right there.

And so it could mean anything. I had to reset, you know, the other night. night, you know, because we had the summit with the ladies going into the big ladder match and I said, let's reset for a minute. Can I get a shuggy, digger, quack, quack. Everybody in the building goes, shuggy, ducky, quack, oh, yeah. So it's all about just, you know, bringing everybody in the fold to war. We having fun.

That's what wrestling used to be. You know, when I was doing it, everybody was having fun. And for me to be, you know, part of the NXT crew and bring a little bit of that. It's really, really cool. the young guys can learn from that. I think that's what it's about more than anything, these young guys being able to learn and understand. I got the script, but shaggy, ducky, quack, quack,

you know, reset, and that's not in the script. Well, you really set the tone, right? Because if you're loose and you're having fun, then everybody all the way down, they can have fun too. Oh, man, the girls totally, you know, they let their hair down because they know I'm going to have some fun, even in rehearsal. You know, I was having so much fun in rehearsal when we had to go over it.

They knew they were going to have fun that night. You know, so I think that's what it's all about giving them that, that feel of being free and going out there. And there's no wrong way of doing it as long as you're doing it right. You know, so that's what I try to teach the guys. No bread, no water, just meat. No bread, no water, just meat, you know what? I mean, just like stuff like that.

What is that? It's saying that this dude is all about business. You don't want no sides. You know what I mean? He don't need nothing extra. All he want is to go out there and chop meat, take care of a bitch. And to be able to give guys monikers like that, you know, it goes a long way. You know, like J.D. McDonough, that number one stoner, you know, for me.

I hate it when that kid had to leave, man, because I was having so much fun. You know, even with brad, no bread, no water, just. meet. I love being able to give these guys a little bit of something to take with them. And, Ms. Parker, you know, I didn't even realize,

you know, I was the one of the, but I said Ms. Parker one day and, you know, goes back to the Friday movie now. Everybody, so it's crazy to be able to,

like J.C. Jane, you know, she's a rock star, baby. You better, you better get a ticket. You know, you know,

so it's like, you know, I mean, come on, Joe Jen the Blackheart. For me, I got so many, you know, references, you know, and movies that I've watched over the years to use with these young guys. It's so freaking awesome.

Who's the talent that's coming to NXT that you've been like, oh, man, we've got to keep an eye on this person? Talent that's coming into NXT right now that I'm high on is, you know, he's not, he hasn't gotten really his full shine right there, and that's Lexis King. He's going to be here this week. kid. And the kid is, he's definitely cut from the same cloth as the old man. The old man was innovative before it's tied. This guy here, he seemed like he's got his head on the shoulder.

I made his ear all the time as well. But to see him from the perspective to work, he didn't have to listen to me. But he sits and listens. He takes it all in. He sucks. it in like a sponge because he wants to be the best. And he knows that it's not something that's going to happen overnight. It's something that he's going to have to put in time. But like I tell them, you know, you put in time, you know, when you get there, everything, it's going to pretty much play itself out. If you put in the work, you know, nothing else, you know, matters, you know what I mean,

talent, you know, trumps everything. Cream rise to the top. So to be able to work with someone like Lexus definitely has, you know, been cool. And then I watch a kid like West Lee, who I, you know, when I first came to NXT and I saw him, you know, and I watched his matches. I thought he was just a regular Philippi guy, like most of the smaller guys. But I watched this kid. And I look at, you know, guys and, you know, base them on whether they can fight. Wrestling is cool.

But I was never really a good wrestler. I mean, I was a good wrestler. I was okay. But I was a good fighter. I was a really good performer. I was a really good entertainer. And when I watch West Lee, no matter who he works, no matter how big, how medium, how small he goes out and perform at that next level. So, yeah, man, there's a few guys down there on the rise.

Do you remember seeing Braun Breaker work for the first time? Oh, yeah, definitely. I could see his dad and his uncle, you know, it was a hybrid. And then I've watched him grow and get more comfortable over his time as well. he went to the main roster, I think, you know, pretty much right at the right time. No sooner, no later, I think perfect timing for him to actually make his way in and make his mark, man, and, you know, have his moment. That dude is a freak athlete. You know, when he hit the ropes one time in NXT, he hit the rope so hard, the ring actually shift a little bit.

It moved. And I was like, wow, man, you know, so. And that's just, I talk about that. Got a little bit of stuff like that. He's found something that's so small, but it's his signature. Boom. He's like, you know, out of the blocks, you know, like B. and Johnson back in.

Seriously? Dave, man. It's so awesome to see this kid, make it to the WWE and do something. His dad and his uncle really didn't get a chance to achieve. I'm talking about that WW. run, you know, and really, you know, that WrestleMania moments, you know, he's going to have a hell of a future.

And he's going to look back and say, man, dad, I did it. We did it. A lot of guys do spears, but nobody does a spear like Bronwyn. Oh, man, it's real. You know, he brings realism to the ring. And that's what a lot of guys don't understand about the business. It's such a small thing, but it's the biggest thing you could

possibly bring to the ring is realism and making those fans, not just see it, but to be able to feel it. When they feel it, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, you were in TNA for a little while. Did you ever think there'd be a time where people in TNA contracted TNA wrestlers would be working in W.W. Well, back then in 2008, you know, you know, to, you know, I couldn't see that. Um, just because two, uh, 2008, TNA was, you know, they were, they were rumbling. They had a lot of steam behind them.

Like they were making a big play to perhaps be you know, that next you know, competition. Is that all of a roster too? Oh, man. Stiles, Joe, rude, all those guys. You know, awesome cold. It was awesome back there. Steing, you know, you know,

Snyder. It was, it was nuts. It was a talent roster went back there. But now I can see it. Just because TNA is not a threat. I think being able to cross-promote and work with someone, a company like TNA, I think it benefits the talent more than anything. I think it helps the company stay alive in their markets, you know, that they do have,

you know, they're going to, you know, they're going to, you know, they're going to, you know, they're not going to go anywhere now. I mean, just because they see the collaboration. So I think it's a good thing for everybody, just because every, just because every, you know, Everybody is not going to be able to work in WWE at one time and be able to get shy. And it's just not going to happen. But, you know, I look at Jordan Grace as far as what she's doing at the Rumble. Yeah.

It was a huge moment for her as well as coming to WWE is not going to be for everyone. It's just the way it is. Jordan Grace, she's the standout. She doesn't look out of place at all. she's a, you know, she's a, she's a star by, you know, any means. No matter how you look at it, she's a bona fide star. And when you got guys like that that need to be looked at like moose, I say you give them a shot.

Yes. I say because it's only going to be good for business. Do you think it goes both ways? Will we see WWE stars in TNA? I think so. I think so because they're, again, some guys and girls in, in WWE, They need to grow as well. I look at, you know, what Deiomi did going over to TNA.

Yeah. That helped her grow. Yeah. Being able to step outside the box for a minute and try to find herself and understand what this thing is really, truly all about. Look what TNA did for Drew McIntyre. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it'll be very interesting. What a time we're in right now. Like wrestling is exciting. I mean, wrestling's always been exciting, but it's like mainstream exciting. now for the first time in a long time.

I mean, we're going to, you know, Vegas, you know, at the UFC Apex. And just think about it. You know, I was just reading just a couple of days ago that they're going to have a bunch of UFC dignitaries in the building that night. You know, how crazy is this for the NXT guys and the girls? I mean, come on. It's so big for them. I never saw, you know, this happening.

But I'm so glad to, you know, be a part of. It's still at this stage of the game for me, you know, it's like a snowball for me going down the hill. I'm wondering, you know, when it's going to melt out. But it seemed to be still working. And I'm still seeing to be having just as much fun. And you also, it feels like you're more popular now than ever. You know, it's crazy.

I think I am. I, you know, the first person I saw, I think, yesterday, I was coming around the corner. He goes, Booker T, you say, man, I've been watching you at NXT, man. You know, and it was the first person I saw it, like, for the day. And, uh, and a great start to the day. No, but it's crazy. Uh, NXT has, you know, revitalized me.

It definitely has given me a lot more fire, you know, that exuberance that I think I needed. Working on the main roster, I couldn't get that. I couldn't get that at all. But working with the young guys, working with the young, talent, seeing them grow, being able to mentor them as well. I think that's been the coolest part for me with NXT. I got a certain crop of guys that have gravitated to me. And, you know, we network, we do film study, you know, we go over stuff.

You know, what I think works, you know, it's amazing how these guys, you know, still make the old man feel. So it's pretty cool. But what you've done over your career transcends wrestling. Like there was such a cool moment where UFC fighter, Israel, Adasanya, is there at the press conference. And he's like, is that Booker T? And you can see the childhood excitement.

Like, stops answering the question he was asked. And he's just like, that's Booker T. Yeah. Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy how far I've come in a business and how long, you know, I've been in. A lot of stuff I really don't think about, you know, until it happened like that. Like, how did that feel? It felt so really cool, you know, because he wasn't even talking to me.

He was talking to someone else. And he noticed me and totally was like, wait a minute, you know, at that bookie, you know. And then he goes right into the... He lost straight of thought, forgot about what he was talking about. And we took a photo after, you know, and, you know, hung out for a minute. But it's so cool. That's been, that's always been something I got so much respect for those guys. Boxers, you know, go to the, you know, boxing.

matches. I got to go to, you know, take Davis, you know, against Frank Martin next week in Vegas. MGM, I'm so looking forward to that. I respect these guys so much. The UFC fighters, they are real true gladiator, real true

warriors. And I remember Frank Sinatra was taking he was a photographer at, you know, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's fight right at ringside. And I remember as a kid, I remember saying that. I go, man, I want to be like Frank

one day. Not like the singer, you know, and the artist, but that guy that was at rings side right in the thick of it, right, with a sweat can fly on you. And now, you know, I get a chance to do that, you know, so for me, and what's crazy is, when I meet

these guys, you know, like, you know, Jamal James, for instance, just, you know, a guy that's not on the upper level, but like on a lower level, a medium level, a medium level, fighter that seemed me to go, bad Booker T, what's going Oh, no, man.

What's tell us? You know, it's awesome that these guys know me and respect me. And then they see me out there in their world putting the work in because I don't act like anyone because I'm a reporter out there. I'm a journalist. I'm trying to get an interview, you know. So it's so cool to be able to make that crossover. And I think that's what to respect come in at, you know, because I don't have an entourage.

You know, I don't have people with me. I'm just me and Brad. And I'm just, just like them. It's so freaking cool. PrizePix is America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members. Prize Picks is the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. Unlike other apps, on prize picks, it's just you against the numbers. All you do is pick more or less on two to six player stat projections and watch the winnings

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Dallas Page, he told me I needed something, you know, back in the day. You know, he goes, you know, because I'm the two-time, he used to say something. like that. You know, so I say, you know, okay,

I'm tired. But, uh, it happened by accident. Like most stuff, happens by accident, you know, the five,

you know, I really wasn't really thinking about the five, you know, more so than I was just performing, you know, doing my moves. And I saw this kid one day in his truck,

you know, with his dad at a stoplight, at a red light. And he looks at me and he's going, it's fucking tea. And he goes, and I go, Okay, I got something here, you know, so I start doing it on my intros, you know,

and everything happened from that at one kid, you know, created the five. And I don't even know what that kid is. She's probably growing up in a day somewhere, hopefully living life well. But that's what sparked a flame of, you know, me doing the five times. I love hearing stories about how stuff just happens by accident. Yeah, just by accident. What's another great happy accident for you in your career? You know, a lot of things tell me you to just say that.

I would just say it's that, you know what I mean? Just like, what? Yeah, uh-huh. I like, oh, yeah, man. I just was playing around. That was an accident that slipped out of a banana bill and Natrick Williams wanted actually in his intro music, you know? So, no, everything for me is I'm just having fun and experimenting.

I slipped out of banana pill and started throwing a mean form just because I hurt my knee and I couldn't land properly. So I made sure I twisted in the air with it, boom. And now, you know, our truth, you know, of course, you know, is his move now. But now, so many things that have been wrestling. Was your first championship win, would you call that a happy accident? Because so many things led up. My first, my first, my first,

single championship win was an accident, happy accident. Rick Martell forgot his gear. He didn't bring his boots. He didn't bring his gear. You got one job, Rick. Yeah, but he thought he was coming in just to do a promo, you know, and he was kind of like a big shot, coming in from WWE back then. And they said, well, we've got to get the title on somebody tonight, you know, let's get

it on Booker T. And we'll get it on Rick Martel in a few weeks, you know, and we'll make something out of that and that's how my six-time, you know, World Television Championship run happened. Wow. Just by accident because I was like, they're not getting this belt back. You know, I can forget about it.

You know, so I went on a hell of a run. Yeah. Was there talk of making you world champion before everything that came together at Batch the Beach? No. Wow. No, not at all. I got a, before,

maybe a week or so before, I found out that I might be, becoming the world but it was like a tentative thing and I was like that ain't gonna happen you know and a lot of people don't remember I wrestled Canyon

earlier that night so I was like can I just go home it's not gonna happen and they kept telling me stick around stick around you know it's gonna happen and it was a

it was a it was a it was a it was a night that it seems like it was just a dark cloud over the arena, over everything, you know. So I want to be anywhere other than in that arena. Was it really awkward backstage with everything going on? It really was.

And I didn't think it had anything to do with me. Yeah. Other than I was a little, I knew it was, you know, about to be my moment and then Hope, you know, pull the creative control card. And for me, once that happened, I was like, this is not going to happen. So I was like, I actually, I can't remember who I talked to. I said, hey, is it all right if I just get my stuff on and get up out of here? And it was like, nah, stick around, man, you know, just stick around, you know, trying to work this out.

You know, like, all right, whatever. I found out 10 minutes before, you know, I was going to be winning the World Everywhere Championship. Wow. And I go out and perform. But I had a professional. that I was working with Jeff Jared. Excuse me. Jeff Jarrett was so professional.

And I'm going out there and doing his work, and he just guided me around and, you know, put the title on me. You know, it was amazing night. When you looked at the rundown or you were told when you lost the championship to Vince Russo, were you like, really? Like that? I mean, he didn't pin you, but.

You know, when that kind of stuff happened, believe it or not. You know, I won the World Championship, I think, four times in WCW my run there. And I only remember the first one and the last one. I swear. Like one in six or one in four? One in four.

Okay. I only remember those two because one was a moment. Sure. And four was a moment. I don't remember that to. With Vince Russo, I was like, I might have been happy about it, because I was going to take a, I knew I'm like taking a vacation. I was like, I was relaxing.

I was just talking about this just yesterday. I was making a lot of money in WCW, and I had a lot of time and a lot of freedom. I really didn't care about the title or anything like that. I didn't care about, you know, the business that way. I cared about how much money I was making. I cared about that check coming in the mail every week. I was, I was, I made sure that everybody around me was taking care of. It was that type of thing, you know, so I really wasn't,

I really wasn't thinking about the championships or anything because that kind of thing for me, my whole wrestling career, I always had a title. No matter what, no matter what. I mean, I don't care for it was when I first got started wrestling, they put the title on me, Global Wrestling Federation Championship, WCW, throughout my whole time there, you know, You know, tag team championship, television championship, U.S. championship, you know, hardcore title. You know, I had everything. Yeah.

And so for me, it was, that was, you know, that was, you know, irrelevant, you know. It really didn't. I never thought once I would be the heavyweight championship, when the heavyweight title. I never thought that way. I just wanted to be the best wrestler. I just wanted to be the best performer. I wanted to be the best entertainer. I used to tell the guys, which was a running theme, I would say,

I was top five worker in the world, okay? I'm top five. Anywhere in the world. You know, I would go out and perform. I would come back in the locker room, and I would tell the guys, go top that, okay? I just, I was listening to my friend, Rick Steiner here, from an old interview back in the day,

and he said some controversial things, which, you know, you know, there. But the one thing you did say was, yeah, Booker T used to always talk about he was top five, you know. He's not that good. You know, it's me personally. You know, I get it. I get it. But I was that good.

That's the thing. I really was that good. Well, think about it. You can work as a baby face. You can work as a heel. You can work as a manager. You're obviously doing great stuff as a commentator. And you do it all at a world-class.

Jim. Yeah. I've done it all. And for me, you've been graded at all. I've been, you know, I'll say it for you.

I appreciate it. I appreciate it. You know, but no, I've, I've always known, you know, that this,

this business, you know, when I first got in it, I tell people all the time, it was like, deja vu. It seemed like I had been there before. Wow.

I watched wrestling on television on my, on my sofa. And I was watching, watching this guy, not going to call his name, but he knows what I'm talking about. Actually, him and I, we had the conversation one time because I was just working, you know, regular menial job, and I was watching WCW. And I, and I go, I could do this better than him right now.

And I was sitting on the sofa and I had never had any training. And when I got in the wrestling school, it was second nature. being able to go out and understand the psychology in a wrestling match not just for me, but the guy that's in the ring, I've always known how to do that. For some reason, I don't know how God, you know, but it's always been like deja vu for me,

even when I train my students now. Everything is locked into my head. It seemed like I knew it like they should know it. You know, but that's my, that's my gift. That's what God gave me because I wasn't a school guide and finished high school or anything like that. You've read my book, hopefully, you know, from prison to promise. God gave me that gift.

When you watch your first promo, your very first promo, you can tell you've got it. You're such a natural. You know, when I got in the business, I watched so many movies. And I think that's where my education, you know, came from. Because when everybody else was at school, getting the, you know, schoolwork, I was downtown, you know, over off, you know, OST at the Majestic OST, the movie theater. And I would be sitting in those movie theaters all day, you know, and I would be watching those freaking movies. And I would almost like be in the movie. I would almost be like a character.

And I watched those movies so many times to where I knew every line. I knew every stroke, every move that they were going to do. I knew exactly where they were going. And even now to this day, it's crazy, man. It's crazy. I'm still there in a lot of ways because I got a VCR set up over my television in my bedroom. And I'll pop one of those tapes in still. down today and watch it, even though I know every line and every stroke, what's going on.

Man. I feel like you were put on this earth to just be an entertainer. I was. I really was. My sister and I, we used to entertain the family at holidays. You know, we used to have like a little dance routine. We used to do or something like that. And it was always like that.

I was always the guy that was willing to, you know, laugh at himself, you know. And that's what, you know, I think wrestling, you got. to be able to laugh at yourself, you know, the stone coast to E. Washington and I had a grocery store, of course. You know, I got a chance to watch that two months ago for the first time in all these years. I've never watched it. I've seen clips of it, but I've never sat out and watched the whole thing just because it's my work. I never really, I watched that kind of stuff sometimes. Most times I don't. And I watched it and I laughed from the beginning to the end. because it was so funny.

I cried with laughter. I mean, literally, real tears the whole time because it was so funny. And now I see why so many fans come up to me when I'm at a convention and they go, hey, man, your best match, man, you a store. I'm like, match, what are you talking about?

You know, but that's the beauty of, you know, professional wrestling, being able to make fans feel a certain way and we did it in a grocery store. How much of that did you walk through? Did you go through each aisle and go, all? There's the flour. We didn't do that at all. There's the milk.

No, no. We just ad-libbed that whole thing and I knew it was what we call the payoff. And whatever Steve wanted to do, I was going to be there to make sure we got it dead. So you just knew we had this amount of time to fill. It was a, it was a match. That's what it was. There was a match where I knew I was going to get about 10%. And if you look, and it was, it was,

based from a psychology perspective as well. You know, but a lot of people think about it or look at it that way, but that's the way we thought about it. So all I know is my job. My job is,

you know, put this guy over. It's this time to shine now. It's time to really go out and, you know, see what kind of acting jobs you got. How much time did you guys have at the grocery store before you started filming?

And it was 30 minutes. It was live to tape, right? 30 minutes. It wasn't a lot. Maybe 30 minutes, an hour at the most. Okay. So is Steve walking down every aisle being like, all right, there's some mill? No, it was more of a lighting set up.

And we went in and we like walked through a couple of little areas. The one scene in the back, I think that's like the only scene that we set up to what we went in the cooler area. It's the only thing. But we didn't have any verbiage. We didn't have any lines, script or anything like that. Everything that Steve said was ad-lib. Everything that I did was ad-lib. It's like giving, you know, guidelines in a movie

to two really good actors and tell them, guys, just make it up as you go. And they're going to make it more funny than you can write. So does someone from WWE approach the grocery store and say, all right, just to let you guys know, we're going to make a mess in here. And whatever it costs will pay for it. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, they let them know it was going to be some damage. And it was all for it. I just went back to the area and walked through the, it's a dollar store now, but in the same neighborhood. But it was so cool. It was so happy to have us there. You know, we did about $15,000 worth of damage. What was the most expensive thing you guys damaged? You know, I think just being in the produce section, you know, underwar, not just the produce, vegetables and stuff, because all the beans and stuff, all that stuff they had to get rid of.

You're sure. They would have to get rid of everything, all the fruit, all this stuff. They would have to get rid of all that stuff. You know, so I think that was the biggest area because that whole section we wiped out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but it was so much fun, you know. I had just started growing my dreads and I had like, you know, eggs, you know, in it. You know, I had milk in it.

It was great flour, you know, in my hair, you know, and I had to go wash it. And I was like, oh, man, this is kind of easy. But, you know, that's show business, you know, lights, camera, action. That's the beauty of the business. That's the part I miss. I don't miss the wrestling other than the moments, but the show side of it, making the fans feel a certain way. Oh, man, it's so great, yeah.

It's so interesting that you say the moments, because wrestling truly is about the moments and not the matches. Like, we remember the moments that happen in the ring, And sometimes we don't even remember who won that match or who the opponent was. It's just amazing that that's really what it all comes down to. You know, I don't remember, you know, too many matches in wrestling until I go back and watch them.

Even a lot of my own matches, I don't remember. Until someone go, hey, book, you remember, you know, you and such and such, you know, such and such. And I go, yeah, okay, now I remember that. you know, but moments, big moments, man, you remember, man, when freaking, you know, the, you know, Triple H and those guys came to WCW and tried to take over and they had to take, you know, DX, you know, and freaking they, we closed the doors. You remember that moment like it was yesterday.

You remember the moment, you know, when Vince Russo went out and cut the promo, you know, and said, you know, Hogan, you know, you. big, deep ball. You remember that stuff, you know? You know, for me, you know, my best of seven, I remember that because there was a moment for me, you know, with Benoit, yeah, it's never really been about the matches for me.

And when I hear people talk about matches, when I hear people talk about, you know, you know, they wouldn't do this because, you know, their manhood. And I go, bro, this is wrestling. You know, wrestling is to be embellished, to be whatever we wanted to be, it's to be, you know,

like I say, me and Stone Cold in a grocery store is a highlight moment in my career to where WWE show it every year. Every year they show that highlight because it's one of WWE's, you know, most valued highlights, valued moments

because it made the fans feel so much joy still 20 years later plus. It's amazing. You know, so wrestling is so many different things. When we think about WCW, I think you're one of the first names that immediately people think about. You're on that Mount Rushmore for WCW. Who, in your opinion, are the other three faces on Mount Rushmore? I got a picture on my wall at home and somebody painted it.

And it's about Rushmore of WCW and it's Goldberg, Stee, Dallas Page, and Booker T. And I go, that's, for my time, that's a pretty good mind. Yeah, that's pretty hard to argue against that. Yeah. When you went over to WWE, not every WCW got a chance. It's almost like- They did. They got a chance.

Okay. Yeah, they did get a chance. But I feel like... Everybody got a chance. I feel like they were trying to bury... They tried to bury everybody. Yeah. But everybody did get a chance.

Did Buff Bagwell get a chance in that match? Buck Bagwell did get a chance. I mean, he really did. I know there's a lot of stories, but I was there. They tried to bury me. I was just like everybody else. You know, I was no different. But the one thing that was different about me,

I was prepared for them to try to bury me. I knew exactly what it was going to take to make it in WW. as well as I knew I was just as good as anybody in the WWW. I was talent, man. There's no way they could deny me. So other than saying, you know, well, it's just blackballed. They weren't going to do that because I was going to make their asses some money. I was going to sell some merch.

I was going to go out before at the highest level every night. They wouldn't have to worry about, you know, if Booker T was going to show up. It wasn't going to have to worry about if Booker T. was going to be, you know, able to perform tonight. That wasn't going to happen. I knew I had to make it in the locker room before I had a chance to make it in the ring. You know, so it was a lot of elements that, you know, coming from WCW, a lot of guys

thought it was going to be easy. They really thought making that transition was going to be easy. And they found out that nobody there was going to give them anything that they were going to have to earn it. And a lot of guys just wasn't in, are ready to put themselves through that. I really think that's what it was more. Is it because they were making so much money in WCW?

No stars, man. They were big stars. They had big houses. You know, they was, you know, living off, you know, they were eating big steak, you know, driving big cars, you know, stuff like that, you know, so. No bread, no water. No bread. Exactly.

You know what I mean? So, so that really had a lot to do with it. And to come to WWE at that. at that time it was all about opportunity. I came in, I had a really great opportunity. I dealt with JR when I first got there

and I got to spiel just like everybody else. This is your downside, but you're going to have the opportunity to make as much money as you want here in this company. And shoot, my first year, I made a grip. And my downside was pretty good too. So I was like, okay,

You know, it wasn't as good as it was in WCW. It was a significant, you know, pay cut. But I had a chance to make more money than I did in WCW. And I did. You know, every year I made more money. So, no, man, everybody had an opportunity. I would say most guys had an opportunity. Of the people who came over after WCW got bought out,

so not the people that came before, like the Radicals or Jericho, it feels like it was you and Ray that really because, came stars. Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's true. I mean, it's because Ray was talent. Still is. Still is.

Still is. Isn't that crazy? No, man, it really is. But Ray was, you know, one of the best you ever saw, ever put on a pair of boots, you know, step in the ring, no matter how big, how small at that time still. I know how good I was. I don't care what people think, you know, what they rank me. I wouldn't have made it to the level I did if I was that damn good.

And I say that because I know I don't get the props, you know, that I should get. I know that. I know that. I don't know. I understand the business, though. I understand people. It's just like just say, for instance, baby face, baby face. You know, Mia gets steam.

I know the fans are going to cheer more for sting in that arena that night. You know what I mean? I know they are. Do they like me? Yeah, they like me. But they're going to like Steve War, you know, that night. You know, so I get it. You're going to like who you like. You're going to give, you know, who you like more praise and more props. That's just the way the business is.

But my fans, man, I got some of the most loyal fans that you will ever meet in your life. And they always, you know, put me on a pelester and tell me, man, you really did something special for us. And I was just talking to Wesley just last week. And he said, man, I just want to think, I just want to give you your flowers. That's what he said. He said, you know, just in case you don't get, you know, enough. He said, man, I just want to give you your flowers for what you did in this business, you know. And I know what I did, you know, but I don't, I don't live off of that.

I don't rest on those loyal. I still got like so much more work still yet to be done. I got so much more talent still yet to put out, you know. So I'm thinking about that kind of stuff, you know, but I appreciate those guys for seeing what my modus operandi was. Yeah. And it was to make sure that guy came up behind me that young African-American kid had a blueprint, you know. And if he followed that blueprint, you could, you know,

it could lead them all the way to that, you know, the end of the rainbow, part of gold, man. I don't know if anything was more entertaining than King Booker. Sorry, King Booker. Booker, you know, King Booker. Man, I was just I was just with some people just yesterday and I was talking about that.

You know, he said, what did the guy say? Can you just say, King Bucker? One time, you know. I was like, yeah, man,

King Bucca, you know. But now, it was a great time in my career. It was a, it was a time in the war. I had a chance to, you know,

create, you know, and do anything that I wanted. I could just be whoever I wanted to be. I was thinking about Hollywood at that time. I was thinking about going Hollywood, you know.

I thought different later on in life just because I don't want to be in a studio and be working all the time like that. I know the money is great and stuff like that, but when I was doing King Booker, I really was thinking Hollywood. I was like, man, some director out there got to be watching this and said,

man, we got to use this guy. We got to, you know, we got to put him this. You know, but. And what a great audition. Oh, it was a great time, you know, for me. And to do it with me. My wife, that was incredible. And then to have, you know, Finley and Regal become a part of it, as well, the King scored.

You know, we did some really, really great work together. Man, you know, and it was just a great team, you know. And the thing is, Finley and Regal, the first time I met Regal, it was at the main event, Jim, in Marietta, Georgia. Stings, O. Jim. and I'm walking in the gym and he's walking out and we look at each other like who the fuck are you?

And he looks like, who the fuck are you? It's the way to look was. We kept walking. Regal and I, we was never really friends in WCW or anything like that. Always respected each other. We always, you know,

because he was in the R&B music, you know, and stuff like that. You know, my brother was offender that. So it was a camaraderie. Finley, who was never really close or anything like that. I remember he kicked me in the back one time, so hard in the match.

And I came in the back and I go, bro, you kick me like that again. We're going to be fighting. All right. Just letting you know. And then we find ourselves in WWE, a team. And it's such a dynamic team because we all had that same mind. and say, go out and just bring the noise, you know,

and just beat the guy to a pope. That's what we all had that. And it was such a great, great team. And we were, we would have lasted another year. We would have gone down as one of the greatest factions, the business that ever seen. Wasn't there a point in time where you were kind of done with WWE? And you wanted to be home with your family more.

And Vince said, well, what if I bring your family with you? What if Charmel is just part of this instead? Yeah, at one point, actually, I'm talking to Vince. And I said, I'm going to wrap it up. It was right after Charmell and I got married, actually. So this would have been like 05? Yeah, yeah. And I said, I'm going to wrap it up.

Yeah, and I think it's time, you know, just got married, you know. I don't want my wife to, you know, be at home while I'm on the road. And Vince goes, well, why don't we hire a Charmel? You know? Well, that would fix the problem. You know, I mean, we can do that. You know, so they hired Charmell and brought her own. And I tell you, that's when I.

I really did some, like my best work. You know, Charmell and I, thank King Booker. That run solidified my whole existence in this business. It really did. I mean, that run, I wouldn't say it overshadowed my career or anything like that, but it definitely highlighted my career in the best way when it shouldn't have. Yeah. The King of the Ring tournament is tricky, winning that thing.

going on and making it something. I don't know. I think I'm the only king to become the heavyweight champion and win the heavyweight champion as king. That's never happened before because it's not a, it's not for, it's not for that moment. It's not for you to have the heavyweight.

Until this year. Yeah. Exactly. Until this year. It's the first time that's ever happened. But for me, like JBL's, you know, say that I was like,

Hercules, you know, I wasn't given to, you know, I rose and took it through power with an iron fish, you know, so it was a time for me to where it really solidified my, my wrestling career because now people looking me as royalty, king, still to this day, people still call me king, which that wasn't the, You know, that wasn't the master plan in the beginning or anything, but wrestling is something that you could make whatever you wanted to be if you're willing to go that extra mile. And as King Booker, it was nothing that I wasn't willing to do. You had one of the funniest backstage segments as King Booker with Sina. And Sina's saying, I want a night with your queen. And you're like, what are you talking about?

And you're like, I'll handle this. And you send her out. And then when Queen Charmelle leaves, you go, so you want a night with the queen? And he's like, what? It's so good. I had a lot of great moments, you know what I mean? You know, even my moments with Batista, you know, was really, really great moments.

I mean, one of the, you know, one of the backstages that him and I had. Now, I was telling him that, you know, doesn't matter, you know. Over, because over again, the result will remain the same. the vector king buck out. Oh, man. That right there was just so fucking majestic. And I'm like, what did that come from? It's just stupid.

That stuff right there for me is that's the part I miss, I think, more than anything. Just because just remember that line, you know, takes me back to that moment. What's the story behind your WrestleMania 18 match? with edge because when you boil it down now, 20 plus years later you're fighting over shampoo. And there's even a sign in the crowd. A shampoo country. A shampoo

country. Japanese, Japanese Japanese Shandha. You know Kung Fu, but do you know Shampo? No, what happened with that, man? I'm crying down, man. What happened with that was? I love the sign in the crowd.

They're fighting over shampoo. You know, we did. But it, you know, It was one of those things that were, we had to do something because the match actually was supposed to be a hair match. Okay. It was supposed to be, you know, I cut my hair, my edge was going to cut his head.

That was the, that's what they approached us with at first. At least they approached me with that. I don't know if they approached edge with that, but they approached me with it. And the first thing I said was, his edge cutting his hair. Because I'm not cutting my. I had just outgrown my dreads.

And I really had really, had become attached to them. And I think I would have been, I think I would have, I think they could have fired me before I cut my hair. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I wouldn't, I wouldn't, I wouldn't, wouldn't, wouldn't,

cut my hair at that time for anything. They couldn't have been a bigger pay, big enough payoff to cut my hair at that time. And I wouldn't, you know, they couldn't have just told me to do it, you know, so that they squashed it, and then they came up with this idea, and that's how the shampoo commercial happened, because the edge wasn't cutting his hair. But it was so funny. Hey, but we were still, you know what? It still was a moment.

I look back on it and, you know, it was cool working Edge more than anything. In his hometown. Yeah, Edge worked on that day. He wanted to do the Spinner Rooney in that match so bad. He definitely didn't do it because he just could not figure it out. But he worked on it all day in the arena. He had strawberries on his elbows and on his knees,

but he still couldn't get it. but he tried. But for me, just work at edge in his hometown, like you say, that's what I get out of it. That's what I remember. Was it one of my greatest highlight moments, WrestleMania? No, it wasn't, but still, it was a great moment.

Let's fast forward to WrestleMania 27. And it might be one of the worst WrestleMania matches with Michael Cole and Jerry the King Lawler. And you're there. You're ringside, you're on commentary. What do you recall from that match? Not a whole lot. you know, just because, you know,

you know, stuff like, moments like that, it's not about anything other than, you know, the entertainment of that type of match. You know, I know Michael Cole still to this day talk about he's undefeated at Russellmania, you know, and that's what it's, I think that's what it's far more than anything, you know, but I don't, you know, I don't remember a whole lot about it at all, you know.

I mean, just because with me, I've never been one of those kind of photographic type of memory type like guys that just remember everything. Just because most of it for me I would say 75% of it,

75% to 80% of what I've done in wrestling has been just work. Like going to my office and just doing the work. It's like thoughtless. even really thinking about it. Like just say, for instance,

especially if it didn't have anything to do with me. You know, I was going to work. You did take a great stunner at the end of that match. You know what? You know, I always took pride in, you know,

what I had to do. Taking a stunner was something I always wanted to do. And taking a stunner, I always wanted to take the best stunter ever. That's my memory of that boy and anything. But, yeah, yeah.

I don't, that I remember. You asked me about that stutter. I would have told you, oh, yeah, man. I could tell you what I, you know, what I had on, I was looking, how fresh I was and everything.

But that was a moment with Steve. And there again, it was about making the stunter the best thing that anyone had ever seen. How mad was Undertaker about the takeruny spot? I don't think he was mad. I think he was taking a bat.

You guys were trying to get him to break characters, So we tried. But I don't think he was mad. He was mad a little bit because he goes, Booker, I'm going to kill you. But I'm going, man, it's not me. I'm just throwing the drone. It was one of those type of deal.

We was trying to communicate with them out there, you know. But one of those type of deals. But it was, that's what wrestling was back then. That's the funny part about the business, the fun part about the business to where we could go out and just do like some of the stupidest stuff, you know, and, you know, the Spinner Rooney. You know, go on.

You know, the one Vince McMahon come out to rock. You know, everybody, you know, come out, big show. Everybody come out and do the Spinnerudy. Just to get the Undertaker to do it one time. Because the thing is, everyone has done the Spinner Rooney. Everyone just about it, except the Undertaker. He's the only one that haven't done to Spinner Root. Triple H.

Yeah. Everybody, you know, Shane McMahon. Yeah, everybody's done the Spinner Rooney. Who's done the worst Spinner Rooney? Big show. Yeah, of course.

No, Vince might have had the worst Spinneroole. He did. He had the worst Spinner. Like Vince has taken the, Vince has also taken the worst stunter, I feel like. Yeah, he had the worst Rooney. Yeah. Who's done the best one?

Believe it or not, I think it was Diva. Yeah, yeah. at that time. Yeah. Diva did a pretty good spinner. I guess John Morrison, too, right? Yeah, John Morrison, too.

I feel like that's just cheating. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

It's crazy. Yeah. When you look back at your whole career, what do you feel is the legacy you've left? I don't know. Maybe people I helped alone away, you know. I've had a great career. But the people I've helped, you know,

getting to the business and help change your lives. I think that's what I want to be remembered for more than anything. When I leave this earth, you know, I want to have a sotla, you know, a gaggle of soldiers, you know, carry me, you know, and all of them, you know, be doing it for one reason, you know, because they love me and they respect me and, you know, what we've accomplished a lot of journey. You know, I think that's what that's what I want to be

remember for more than anything. It's not the wrestling. It's not good. It's not the legacy. It's not the titles or anything like that. All that stuff is cool, you know, but for me, I'm in a place that I've never imagined or dreamt in a million years, you know, reality of wrestling, you know, even my right-hand man, Kevin Bernhardt started with me when he's 18 years old. Wow. You know, Brad Gilmore started me when he's 18 years old. I got so many kids, you know, started with me with me when they're kids and they're adults now and they got kids of their own. You know, being a mentor.

I think that's my legacy. Being a teacher, being a leader. I feel like you did that for Cody Rhodes. There weren't a lot of people that wanted to work with him in, like, 2011. And you had a great program with him. Oh, yeah, we had a great program. And I look at him now. It was all because of, you know, I wanted to have a great program with Cody.

I wanted to make Cody a better person. You know, Cody will tell you now, I think he'll tell you I made him a better person. I think he'll tell you that I made him better as a performer, as an athlete, as a man, you know, all of that. You know, because he was one of the guys I wanted to help so much just because, you know, his dad helped me. You know, his dad gave me like the inspiration

and the motivation to be the best, you know, just by telling me one time, you know, before I went out. Actually, I came back from a match after I went on first. And Dusty was there at the curtain when I came through. And he goes, they won't put you on first no more. And I go, yeah. You know, so I was like, yeah, from that day forward, you know,

Dusty, I always, you know, my name's Booker T. But Dusty, I always called me T-Book. You know, that's, you know, and Cody called me T-Book, you know. So it's always been a, you know, a camaraderie, a family-like type thing. We want to see Cody make it to the next level. That's why I'm so proud to see him have gone out there on that independent scene

because that's a kid who had never worked the independent show to put himself out there and put himself in that position to sink or swim. And damn, man, did he swim, man, to the point of where he helped build another company and then come back and, you know, finish the story. Yeah. Congrats to you on everything.

What a legacy you've built. Look at this place we're sitting in right now. And it's all because of, you know, one man who had a dream and a vision and all the people that you've helped out along the way. Can't I forget about my wife, man. She had the dream and vision for this right here. This wouldn't happen without her because this is her vision

because I didn't think we could do it. And I said, man, it's, you know, there's no way we're going to be successful if we do that, she'd say that's the only way we're going to be successful if we do it. You know, and boom. Wow. I asked you this last time, but maybe your answers are different. I end every interview with this question.

What are three things, Booker, that you're grateful for? Oh, man, my health, you know, my, you know, my, my, my, my family. And, I don't know, just my, still just having my zeal for life. Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate you, man. Oh, definitely. Man, Booker is just so awesome.

I love that we went through all the catchphrases, too, and he can make something as ridiculous as that no water, no bread, just meat. Like, that's a catchphrase. Shucky, ducky, quack, quack. Tell me you didn't just say that. It's all good. He is so, so good. And I just feel like every single time that I have a conversation with him,

whether it's on camera or off camera, I learn something. that I can then apply to my life and apply to my career. And I hope that there are a lot of nuggets in here that you were able to kind of take from this and just put it in your pocket and save that for later. Snap a screenshot. Let us know that you were listening to this and tag us as well. He's at Booker T5X. I'm at Chris Van Fleet.

Go check out Booker's podcast slash radio show. It's on ESPN Radio in Houston. And big congrats to Booker and Brad. their show just got picked up as a nationally syndicated radio show. So Hall of Fame, talking wrestling, is on ESPN radio nationwide. That's amazing. And it really goes to show where we're at with pro wrestling right now. Oh, man, I love it so much.

I posted something on social media yesterday. And if you saw it, I hope that it resonated with you. It was talking about this was pinned backstage at the reality wrestling. And it's the 10 trait. requiring zero talent. Go check that out and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. It leads me to this quote to wrap up this show.

It doesn't take talent to show up on time and work hard. Be great and be grateful. We will see you on the next one. We'll see you tomorrow for Ask CVV number 39. If you've got a question, send it in using that hashtag Ask CVV on social media or shoot me an email. CVV at Chris Vanfleet.com.

We'll see you tomorrow. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media

about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What should be? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.