In August 1993, they debuted as the tag team Harlem Heat, with Booker renamed Kole and Lash renamed Kane. Global Wrestling Federation (1992–1993) īooker and his brother Stevie Ray signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) after Sid Vicious recommended they sign with the company. Even though the WWA met its demise some time later, Booker continued to wrestle on the Texas independent circuit, often with his brother Lash, who performed as Stevie Ray. The character was a tie-in to the raging Gulf War and the WWF's Sgt.

Bro' on Putski's Western Wrestling Alliance Live! program.

Įight weeks later, Booker debuted as 'G.I. Booker trained under Scott Casey, who helped to turn Booker's background as a gangster and dancer into 'professional wrestling', teaching the newcomer in-ring psychology and ring generalship. His boss from the storage company sponsored the money to pay for the wrestling lessons. His brother Lash (Stevie Ray) suggested that he and Booker check out a new wrestling school being opened, run by Ivan Putski, in conjunction with his Western Wrestling Alliance organization. Professional wrestling career Early career (1986–1992) Īs a single father working at a storage company in Houston, Texas, Huffman was looking to make a better life for himself and his son. In high school, Huffman was a drum major. He would move in with his older brother Lash at age 17. By the time Booker was 13, both of his parents had died and he lived with his 16-year-old sister. Huffman was born the youngest of eight children, in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, though his birthplace is often misidentified as Houston, Texas. Both he and Lash were inducted together into the 2019 class on April 6, 2019, as Harlem Heat, making Booker a two-time Hall of Famer. He has headlined multiple pay-per-view events for the WWF/E, WCW and TNA throughout his career.īooker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 6, 2013, by his brother, Lash. As the ninth WCW Triple Crown Champion, Booker is one of four men to achieve both the WWE and WCW Triple Crowns. He is also the winner of the 2006 King of the Ring tournament, the 16th Triple Crown Champion, and the eighth Grand Slam Champion in WWE history. With his fifth WCW Championship win (which occurred in the WWF), Booker T became the second African-American to win a world championship in WWF/E (after The Rock), and also the first to be of non-mixed race. Booker was the final WCW World Heavyweight Champion and WCW United States Heavyweight Champion under the WCW banner.īooker is an overall six-time world champion in professional wrestling, having won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship five times, and WWE's World Heavyweight Championship once.

He is the most decorated wrestler in WCW history, having held 21 titles, including a record six WCW World Television Championships (along with being the first African American titleholder), and a record 11 WCW World Tag Team Championships: 10 as one half of Harlem Heat with his brother, Lash 'Stevie Ray' Huffman in WCW (most reigns within that company), and one in the WWF with Test. Booker has been frequently named by peers and industry commentators as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time he was voted WWE's greatest World Heavyweight Champion in a 2013 viewer poll.īooker is known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling holding 35 championships between those organizations. He is currently signed to WWE, where he serves as a color commentator on the NXT brand, and is also the owner and founder of the independent promotion Reality of Wrestling (ROW) in Texas City, Texas. (born March 1, 1965), better known by his ring name Booker T, is an American retired professional wrestler and commentator.

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