WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has become a staple of the NXT commentary his voice is undoubtedly becoming synonymous with the current brand. Sit on the interview “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” Booker reflected on his way to the commentary table.
“This thing goes back to WCW,” he recalled, noting that he would commentate matches from the locker room, especially for the wrestlers, and not for the public. For Booker, it was purely for fun, and he purposely gave the guys different names and called their finishers different to make everyone laugh. “It was just something I did to pass the time and the guys loved it.”
Booker explained that his antics continued throughout his time in WWE, and when he retired, Michael Cole approached him offering to officially commentate on television. “I love Michael Cole, he’s been my biggest supporter. I wouldn’t have commented if it wasn’t for Michael Cole,” he admitted. Booker remembers making a lot of mistakes early on, but Cole kept hitting for him. “A lot of times, you know, I was like, ‘I just know that sooner or later I’m going to get cut,’ and sooner or later that day came for me.”
The veteran said he was happy to be removed from commentary, explaining that he wanted to approach WWE soon about switching roles as he felt he wasn’t ready for the weekly position yet.
Booker T claims he should be in NXT on commentary
According to Booker, most of his comments are influenced by his relationship with Vince McMahon. “I always tell the story that when I was doing commentary the first time I was in Vince’s regime, he got in my ear and said, “Book, say, there’s a lot of outrage,” the veteran recalled with a laugh, noting that he had no idea what that meant and simply said it while looking into the camera.
“I knew if I said that, all my street cred would be gone, so I couldn’t really be myself,” he added. Booker mentions that things were different under Shawn Michaels at NXT, and after the first night of commentary there, he seems to have made an impression on the boss. “Sean is going. “I don’t know what you said, but I liked it. So I said. “Oh man, I love this!”
Working for NXT has become something that Booker lovesBooker loves working on NXT not only because he gets to be himself on commentary, but also because it allows him to watch rising stars and help them compared to the main roster talent. “I am a teacher at heart, I love to teach, explain and try to make you understand what chess is all about.”
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet” and credit ah/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
