Booker T calls out top AEW star over statement against WWE

Booker T is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer and a current commentator on NXT. He has been dedicated to the company for many years, but often praises, and critiques, other wrestling promotions in media interviews and on his podcast. Now the veteran superstar is speaking up after one of AEW's biggest stars made controversial comments about his employer.

King Booker began wrestling in 1986 and joined WCW in 1993. He stayed with the promotion till it was sold in 2001. Besides a three-year run with TNA, the Harlem Heat member has been committed to WWE ever since. Swerve Strickland began wrestling in 2011. After talk of his new lucrative All Elite contract extension, Swerve recently made viral remarks about how there were only complaints when a black person makes money. The former AEW World Champion recently addressed reports of reactions from WWE to his contract.

Booker believes black talents are thriving in World Wrestling Entertainment. Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, the 59-year-old was asked what he thought about Strickland's comments. He mentioned Women's Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair, NXT North American Champion Oba Femi, and 12-time tag team champions, The New Day.

"I'm just wondering, is he talking about someone specific, because I look at the black talent in WWE right now... Like Bianca Belair, Oba Femi, who else? The New Day? They won more tag team championships than anybody. Bianca Belair is headlining WrestleMania. Oba Femi is a young guy out of college that's doing big things in NXT. I'm just trying to figure out what he's talking about. Me, I've been working there twenty years, so I'm just trying to figure out if it's something that happened to him, personally. As far as him not getting the push that he wanted... He felt, perhaps, he should have been a bigger star in WWE," Booker T said. [From 53:48 to 54:39]

Strickland joined the Stamford-based promotion after wrestling for eleven years. He signed on April 17, 2019, and was released on November 18, 2021. Swerve is a one-time NXT North American Champion, and apparently does not want to return to the Stamford-based promotion no matter what.

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Booker T talks race and WWE

The topic of race remains a constant discussion on social media and in real life. The matter often dominates the headlines and conversations in the world of pro wrestling as well.

Booker T recently discussed this topic on his Hall of Fame podcast after the viral discussions on social media in the wake of race remarks made by AEW's EJ Nduka and Swerve Strickland, who are both former NXT and main roster stars. The five-time WCW World Champion made it clear that he's been happy in World Wrestling Entertainment.

"I hate that we're still talking about this race thing, as far as what WWE is doing with black folks. I say that with all sincerity, because I'm black, and I've been working for the company for a long time, and I know how I've been treated for the last twenty years... That's the only reason I say that, it's the only reason," Booker T said. [From 55:04 to 55:29]

Officials inducted Booker into the Hall of Fame in 2013 as an individual, and then again in 2019 as a member of Harlem Heat with brother Stevie Ray. He is WWE's sixteenth Triple Crown Champion and eighth Grand Slam Champion under the original format.