Why Booker T Wasn’t Bothered By Controversial WWE Loss
Booker T doesn’t seem upset about losing a match that WWE fans really wanted him to win.
As a 2-time WWE Hall of Famer who won 6 World Titles during his WCW and WWE careers, the legendary Booker T can say he worked with some of the biggest names in the history of the business.
When Booker’s WWE career began in the summer of 2001, after WCW’s demise, he came in as a heel and had a good run in that role, but he would go on to become a popular babyface.
At WrestleMania 19 in 2003, which many people consider to be one of the best WrestleManias ever, Booker T was the babyface challenger to the World Heavyweight Title held by Triple H.
In the build-up to the match, Triple H was a rude heel who talked down to Booker T and made comments that had racial undertones. Booker T came close to beating Triple H, but it didn’t happen as Triple H hit a Pedigree to win.
While speaking on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, Booker T talked about the success he had in his WWE career.
“I really want to clear something up man. I’ve been working for WWE now for what, 25 years? Pretty much, off and on. Other than the two years in TNA. This company has done nothing but right by me the whole time.
When I came in I had a healthy contract. I’m serious. I hear stories of these guys had to go get looked at in a tryout, I never had to do any of that stuff. I skipped past all of that.
Booker would go on to mention that WrestleMania 19 match with Triple H.
People even talk about WrestleMania 19 with Triple H. It’s a sensitive subject for a lot of people… A lot of people don’t really remember or think about it, but I won number five and six in the WWE. So I won World Titles, I won tag team, I won Intercontinental, I won all of that.
I always wished to be in the main event of WrestleMania. Always wished to be in the main event at WrestleMania. ‘One of these days I’m going to be in the main event of WrestleMania.’ And then I found myself in the main event against Triple H at WrestleMania and the story was a blueprint for me to win.”
It should be noted that Brock Lesnar beating Kurt Angle main evented WrestleMania 19, but since Triple H-Booker T was a World Title match, some people call it a “main event” even though it wasn’t the last match.
Booker T Looks At Wrestling As A Business
After losing at WrestleMania 19, Booker T says many people thought he should have beaten Triple H to become the World Champion.
“So many people, even office guys after that, said, ‘Book, you should have won man.’ ‘I appreciate it, I appreciate it.’ But I have always looked at the business like acting and I never looked at it any other way. Should I have won? Perhaps. But it just wasn’t my time, that’s the way I looked at it.”
As he continued, Booker made the point that he received such a big payday for WrestleMania 19 that it paid for the house he still lives in to this day.
“I say this all the time guys, and I’m real about it, 100% real: after getting that check, they could have booked the same match next year (laughs). Because that check is what paid for this property that I’m living on right now. I’m serious.
One check… But winning for me, it’s never been my priority. Losing has never been a priority. The way I lose is one thing, people don’t remember the way I lost in that match. A lot of times people don’t even remember that match, and how much I really put into that match either. I did everything in that match, I pulled out all the stops in that match at WrestleMania.”
Booker T continues to work for WWE as a commentator on the NXT brand.
Also Read: Why Booker T Was Left Frightened Before Historic WWE Match