Booker T, future HOF'er?

[Original Sin]

I've been thinking about this specific topic for quite some time. Well, since Booker became the "Legends Champion" in TNA. A lot of people went out of their way to claim Booker T is no where near a legend in the wrestling business. I find that to be a rediculous statement and theory though. He is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the history of American professional wrestling and has been an above average in ring competitor since day one. He was part of an extremely successful tag team in the 90s and went on to become a great singles wrestler.

Looking at his title history is reason enough to send him to the Hall of Fame, and if you don't know his title history, here you go

6 Time WCW Television Champion
1 Time WCW United States Champion
11 Time WCW World Tag Team Champion(10 times in WCW, 1 in WWF)
5 Time WCW World Heavyweight Champion(4 in WCW, 1 in WWF)
1 Time WWF Intercontinental Champion
3 Time WWF(E) World Tag Team Champion
3 Time WWE United States Champion
1 Time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
2 Time WWF Hardcore Champion
1 Time TNA Legends Champion
2006 King of the Ring
He's also a Triple Crown winner in both WCW AND WWE.

Excluding the King of the Ring and TNA Legends Title that's 33 title reigns.

Am I the only one out there who believes he's truly worthy of being called Legend or Hall of Famer?

 

[jmudbake]

I'm not saying he isn't a legend, but if he has a long stint with TNA, and depending on where he goes from there he might have a chance of being in the Hall of Fame.

Lets face it though, there are plenty of people way more deserving who we all thought would make it to the Hall of Fame already. Such as Randy Savage, Owen Hart, British Bulldog...

And as far as legend goes, I don't know really. I would say he's a huge star, and given his history is a legend, but not in TNA. Not in WWE. He is a legend from WCW. In WWE he was mediocre. In TNA he's about a joke. WCW is where he shined. If not Booker, then I really hope Harlem Heat get inducted into the HOF.

 

[Big Sexy]

He deserves it without a doubt. The numbers speak for themselves. It isn't going to happen any time soon because he probably isn't on the greatest terms with the WWE and he obviously is in TNA at the moment, but a few years down the line he will definitely get in. Great wrestler, great entertainer, and he was great on the mic. If guys like Eddie Guerrero and Rocky Johnson are in then Booker T deserves it.

 

[FiveTymeWCWChamp]

How can you say he is not a legend. When you think of legends, it helps to know who they are. You know the name Booker T. To add that he is the only triple crown winner in both wcw and wwf (i refuse to call it the wwe). He was a part of one of the best tag teams of there era. He has consitantly been in or around the main event most of the time. His world title push in wcw was delayed because of the bs politics by the guys on top not wanting to loose there spots. The pop he got when he won his 1st world title, even though it was to late to save wcw. He is a definite hall of famer. He just has to retire first. Now can you dig that.....SUCKAAAA!!!!

 

[klunderbunker]

He's definitely got the numbers, but I think it depends on if he comes back to WWE to end his career or not. If he does then he's certainly in, but other than that's he's boarderline. All the title reigns are impressive, he had a real title reign in WWE, he was pretty much the most successful WCW guy in WWE after the invasion and I'd put him in. Leaving for TNA seemed to be relatively peaceful so that would work in his favor. I'd say yes but it could change.

 

[Zeitgeist]

I'm not sure. For me personally, his run in TNA is ruining anything good I ever thought about him, he has become one of the cheesiest/poorest characters on the show. His runs in WCW and WWE were good but I can't stand him anymore. Yes looking at the numbers he deserves to be there but I'm not sure if he ever will be.

 

[Original Sin]

I am extremely glad I am not the only person that believes he deserves it. I've been busting my ass trying to convince some of my friends that he does, but they just won't listen to the logic.

Lets face it though, there are plenty of people way more deserving who we all thought would make it to the Hall of Fame already. Such as Randy Savage, Owen Hart, British Bulldog...

I'm a huge fan of all there listed, but Martha won't let Vince or the WWE induct him or do anything with his name. Which I believe is why he has yet to be a "legend" in the SvR games. Bulldog though, I think his legacy might be tarnished because of the drug use. I hope he goes in some day though.

Vince and Savage both aren't exactly fond of each other so I don't think he'll be inducted anytime soon. Even though I believe he should already be in there.

 

[Blade]

It doesn't look like he'll be in the WWE HOF anyway, he probably won't go back there by the end of his career.
If they were to induct him into the WWE HOF though, he'd probably return for one wrestlemania match or something, so people, y'know, actually care that he's being inducted.

And also, counting the Legend's championship as a genuine title reign? Really?

 

[Original Sin]

And also, counting the Legend's championship as a genuine title reign? Really?

If I counted that it would be 34 title reigns, that's why I said "Excluding the King of the Ring and Legends"

 

[jmudbake]

Yeah seriously... The Legends Championship... He's defended like what... twice? And he awarded himself. Its amazing TNA acts like it means something.

 

[supergav67]

Stranger things have happened.No stranger than Bret accepting any AwArd from Vince.for example.
I obviously dont think it,ll happen while Booker & TNA can be mentioned in the present tense though.Retired & now running his own Wrestling School Booker perhaps.
Like I said stranger things can happen ,Like Kurt "Kiss my ass Vince " Angle back on WWE ,as did Hulk "Are you watching this (WCW) Mr McMahon" Hogan.Divorce can do funny things to a guy,,,.

 

[travistragic]

This is a good thread, thanks Original Sin.

This might seem obscure but hopefully you guys can follow me. But I have this collection of action figures, the ones I like the best are the short-run Unlimited figures (the ones with the realistic fleshy upper bodies) which they only did a few series (two, I think) that managed to include four of the best wrestlers of our generation (in my book) which I bought all at the same time: Jericho, Booker T, RVD, and Eddie Guerrero. My point is that, I can't imagine, in my wildest dreams, that they all won't appear in the HOF at one point or another.

Sure Booker T's biggest time was in WCW, RVD's was in ECW, Jericho's still wrestling with WWE, and obviously Guerrero's already in the HOF.

What Booker T did for wrestling was pretty incomparable. He got involved with it through his brother Stevie Ray who always wanted to be a wrestler; Booker was just looking to turn his life around after his criminal past and to support his son. He became a big draw and lit WCW on fire (harlem heat pun, sure) At the time they finally gave him a title run, WCW was dying, but I think that at least shows that when WCW knew it was struggling they finally gave the title to someone who they thought had a good shot at running with it instead of throwing it back to one of their decaying veterans.

Booker's time with WWE was an exercise in quiet desperation. If it weren't for Triple H being a *ick, he would've had a nice title run when he was still a face. And to recall a prior thread about "Greatest wrestlers ever" and John Cena, it makes me sick to think that Booker T would easily be in that category if it weren't for *ouches like HHH holding him down so he could be the big thing back in the days when John Cena was doing his stupid heel gimmick with Rodney Mack.

I think a lot of people get down on TNA for reasons I can't particularly gather. The idea with TNA is that if you don't want promos and gimmicks, you just want to watch good wrestling for a change, you go with TNA. Booker's gimmick there is humorous, but not as bad as what WWE put him through with the Goldust and King Booker crap (although, personally I loved the Booker/Goldust team). With the lighter schedule and the possibility of a good title run, I think he'll stay there for a while, assuming TNA stops trying to push midcard pieces of overrated crap like Samoa Joe and gives him a solid run. I just saw Booker T do the announcing for his own beatdown on the last Impact, and I think that's a testament to how awesome he really is even when he's doing silly humor gimmicks.

Long story short, call me verbose, I think Booker T will easily make it to legend status; as I think Jericho and RVD will eventually be. It might not be until we're all going gray, but it'll happen, you do have to look at the waiting list. We got Flyin' Brian, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Randy Savage, Jimmy Snuka, IRS, Jake the Snake, and I haven't even gotten into the seventies and beyond. We might all be having grandchildren before we see Booker go in, but it'll happen, eventually.

 

[Blade]

Defended it against Christian Cage..... who, in all honesty, deserved it more than he did, even if it was a worthless belt.

No self awarded belt should count in HOF criteria so...uhh...good call leaving it out

 

[Jeckyl]

I am not a huge fan of Booker T, but...

I was there the night he won his first WCW world title. I've seen his 'best of 7 series' several times over, and there's no denying his achievements. I don't care how long his stint in TNA lasts, he deserves recognition.

However...

The vast majority of his achievements were while in WCW. Also, you can throw KOTR right out the window. That tournament hasn't meant a damn thing since Mabel was crowned.

It would be the right thing for WWE to induct him when his career is over, but they're not exactly known for doing the right thing, are they?

 

[BDennis69]

he deserves to be in the hall of fame, but i doubt that Vince McMahon will allow Booker T to be inducted because of the fact that he has spent a lot of time in TNA idk its just my thoughts

 

[Shocky]

Yeah. No question Booker T gets in, with or without this stint in TNA. On a side note, why all the hatred on the "Legends Title" I don't understan that entire notion of eh made his own title. Ted DiBiase made his own title, and the Million Dollar Belt is still talked about to this day. Why, because even as an unoffical title, people cared about that belt.

Now onto this. I'll go a different direction. Besides teh incredible range of titles that Booker T has won, the big thing is his World Heavyweight Championship. When an underserving guy like Rocky Johnson can get in based upon his son and incredible luck of timing of being the first African American Tag Champion can get into the Hall, then Why not Booker? Booker T was the first full blooded African American to win a world title with the WWE. If someone like Rocky Johnson can get in for a tag title reign, then certainly someone like Booker T gets in based on that alone.

 

[Original Sin]

Yeah. No question Booker T gets in, with or without this stint in TNA. On a side note, why all the hatred on the "Legends Title" I don't understan that entire notion of eh made his own title. Ted DiBiase made his own title, and the Million Dollar Belt is still talked about to this day. Why, because even as an unoffical title, people cared about that belt.

Now onto this. I'll go a different direction. Besides teh incredible range of titles that Booker T has won, the big thing is his World Heavyweight Championship. When an underserving guy like Rocky Johnson can get in based upon his son and incredible luck of timing of being the first African American Tag Champion can get into the Hall, then Why not Booker? Booker T was the first full blooded African American to win a world title with the WWE. If someone like Rocky Johnson can get in for a tag title reign, then certainly someone like Booker T gets in based on that alone.

Wow, I never realized that. After I first read your post, I went and checked the lineage of the WWE Title and WHC. I can't believe a full blooded African American hadn't won the title in the 40+ year history of the WWE Championship.

Booker T and Ron Simmons are the only two African Americans to have won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship....DAMN!

 

[ZAPX4V1]

The vast majority of his achievements were while in WCW. Also, you can throw KOTR right out the window. That tournament hasn't meant a damn thing since Mabel was crowned.

It would be the right thing for WWE to induct him when his career is over, but they're not exactly known for doing the right thing, are they?

Booker's main event run in WCW started more as a response to the racial discrimination lawsuit filed by Sonny Onoo and other wrestlers than anything else. He is a midcard wrestler that got a great push, but he isn't worthy of being even considered for the Hall of Fame

 

[BoyWonder1985]

I dont see how anybody could deny Booker from being a future Hall of famer. No matter the reason why he got a push, the fact is he got it, and he shined when put in that position. WWE definately did not push him with the same amount of momentum that WCW did, but when they put him in those same positions, shined as well. It comes down to the fact that he is a great talent that most people can recognize, that unfortunately never got the push that others did. I think that the fact that people are debating his worthyness in the HOF is pretty ludicrous, lol.

 

[CenaSux4Life78]

Yeah, I think Booker should get in. I mean why not? I think he has one, MAYBE two more years left in him. So he could get in around 2013 or so. As for this "Legends" title. I dont think of it as a real title. I mean think about it, lets say that Booker defends the title against oh.....Shark Boy. Shark Boy wins the match. Does that make Shark Boy a legend then? I just dont see the logic behind it. Its a figgin huge paperweight. But regardless, YES Booker should get in.

 

[Marquis]

Its no question that Booker T belongs in the HOF. From his multiple title reigns to the fact that he is the first full blooded African American to win a world title in the WWE, it can not be argued that he does not belong the HOF. I don't see the WWE not inducting him, but i do see them holding it off for awhile because of his stint with TNA or whatever other problems he may have had with the WWE.

 

[GUMBO2ndcoming]

Well i do believe that Booker deserves a HOF spot. Looking at his resume' why not? Sure ever since he's come to TNA his character has gone kinda sour but for those of you who don't remember he used to be one of the best pure wrestlers in the industry just for his best out of 7 series in WCW with Benoit he should be in there. All the title reigns he's had sure you can say that he had only one world title reign in WWE and it took him a while but Vince is the cause of that it takes him awhile to make champs out of people who come from other companies, Eddie g, Chris benoit and jericho, RVD..etc. There's no doubt he belongs in there because in my opinion He'll be back in wwe eventually just like Christian and so will kurt angle. But if he doesnt go back it'll be until he's to old to wrestle before he's accepted.