Booker T Desperately Trying To Shine Light On WWE Star
Booker T is doing what he can to help the star power of a rising WWE NXT wrestler.
The NXT commentary team consists of Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. Before Graves joined at the start of 2025, it was just Joseph and Booker on commentary for over two years together.
Fans who watch NXT know that Booker has his favorites, like former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, who Booker helped train to become a wrestler. During the entrance of former NXT Champion Trick Williams, Booker likes to shout adlibs to his “Whoop That Trick” song, which adds to Trick’s presentation. The NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer has also become a Booker favorite since she arrived on the brand.
There is a spot in Vaquer’s matches called the Devil’s Kiss where she puts her legs around her opponent’s head and repeatedly smashes her knees into the mat. The fans get into it while Booker shouts excitedly on commentary. After Vaquer does the spot, fans sometimes chant “Booker T” because they know he loves it.
While speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Booker made it clear that he gets excited about the Devil’s Kiss move to help Vaquer, not himself.
“It’s not for me. It’s not for me, it’s for Stephanie. It’s to shine some light on her because she is so friggin awesome. She’s such a great talent and doing such a great job in NXT.
I didn’t see her being the one. I thought it was going to be Giulia or Zaria. Stephanie Vaquer came in there and has done such a great job as far as her in-ring performance as well as her entertainment value as well. We did the Bad Bunny thing together. She is such a cool person.”
Booker T Knows How Important It Is For Announcers To Put Over Talent In The Ring
During his career as a two-time WWE Hall of Famer and six-time World Heavyweight Champion, Booker T did a dance move called the Spinarooni to get a reaction from the crowd. The Spinarooni was not a wrestling move but something to get fans’ cheers.
When Booker was doing the Spinarooni in WCW, announcer Mark Madden shouted the phrase constantly, which became very popular with the fans. Booker would go on to use the Spinarooni regularly in WWE as well, and it obviously worked.
“I think she liked it because when she started doing it, she would point at me like, ‘Let’s get ready to have some fun.’ A lot of people look at it and go, ‘Booker T is trying to steal the shine.’
When I was a young wrestler coming up, the spinaroonie would not be the spinaroonie if it wasn’t for Mark Madden going crazy when I did it. Then, it became a household name. For me, I’m trying to do the same thing for these young guys and girls coming up.”
Booker T’s wife, Queen Sharmell, was asked about Booker’s excitement on commentary, and she sounded like she was okay with it:
“Luckily, I am used to it, because you never know what is going to come out of my husband’s mouth, but hey, it’s pure entertainment. It’s all for you guys, all for the fans, so I love it.” [H/T WrestleTalk]
The NXT brand presents the Battleground PLE this Sunday, May 25th, in Tampa, and Booker T will likely be there to provide commentary.