King Booker Interview

We open up our favourite Book







By SIMON ROTHSTEIN

Published: 19 Jun 2008








ONE thing is obvious when you meet Booker T – he's definitely enjoying life.



The former WCW and WWE world champion is happier than ever working for TNA and helping them create new main event superstars.



In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Booker chats about his new role, his attempts to get pal Bobby Lashley to join him in TNA and why Samoa Joe is the future of the wrestling business.



He also explains why Smackdown writer Michael Hayes is not a racist, despite his recent suspension for using derogatory language.



Last time we spoke you were loving your role in WWE as King Booker – so what made you leave them and come to TNA?



Life goes in stages and I just felt it was time for me to move on.



I could still be in WWE right now, working at the top of the card.



But I had done pretty much everything I could do there and all that was left for me was to keep putting more pressure and weight on my body and more mental strain on my family life.



After 19 years it was time for me to slow down, kick back and enjoy life for a change.



Do you miss being King Booker?



I definitely miss the character King Booker, no one can do a character like that and not miss it. I still do traits of it.



I set out to be different to every other King that ever wore the crown.



Whenever anybody thinks of King Of The Ring from this day forward – they will always think of King Booker.



So tell us about TNA. You have a reputation for really wanting to help the younger talent and make new stars over there.



It’s about giving back more than anything.



I’m at a stage in my career – after having good runs in WCW and WWE – where I want to do less wrestling and more behind the scenes stuff helping the younger guys come into their own and become household names.



They’ve got everything as far as the wrestling goes, they are some of the most talented guys I have ever seen.



I’ve had help, wisdom and direction from so many mentors over the years – and I want to pass it onto those guys now.



JUST ROODE ... with Bobby


TNA






I hear that when you came into TNA you asked to work with Robert Roode rather than have a world title programme.



That’s true. I didn’t want to come here and jump into the main event picture. That’s not where my head is.



I watched TNA and I saw Robert Roode and I thought he was one of those guys who had a lot of talent and an old school flavour of wrestling.



I wanted to help him and hone his skills as far as what it takes to go out there as a real heel and make people really love to hate you.



We had a great time and I think I did a pretty job with him.



You’ve just turned heel yourself. Is that something you wanted to do?



It’s not necessarily something I asked for, but the opportunity came and I ran with it.



And at this stage of my career I’m a better bad guy than a babyface.



The fans still love me, but being a babyface is a young man’s game. You’ve got to have so much more energy.



If you’ve got a 30 minute match then it’s going to be a really really long night for you as a babyface, but as a heel you can just put it on cruise control and go along for the ride.



How do you find the atmosphere backstage at TNA compared to WWE?



Everybody here is loose and happy. There are a lot of young guys all working towards one common goal – making TNA mean something.



There’s no animosity or backstabbing. There’s not all that testosterone flying around, with guys fighting to be on top.



Everyone here is having fun and that’s why I fit in, because even though I’m the oldest guy on the roster I’m still cracking jokes and playing computer games.