11 Things We Learned From Legends With JBL With Booker T (Part 1)
2. Being Mentored By Ron Simmons
JBL notes that later on Booker became the first ever black WCW Television Champion, defeating Disco Inferno in Baltimore, the same city where Ron Simmons defeated Vader to become the first black WCW World Heavyweight Champion. JBL asks if Booker talked with Simmons much and if his former APA tag team partner was a mentor to him.
According to Booker, Ron was a 'huge mentor' to him, a guy who guided him through his early part of his career, specifically mentioning how he would receive many lessons during those long overseas tours. They were lessons that he needed and were invaluable and Booker doesn't think he could have gotten those lessons from anyone else.
Simmons was very well-respected in WCW and Booker knew he had big shoes to fill, especially if he was to become Heavyweight Champion himself one day. Booker didn't know whether he could fill those shoes but, if given the chance, he would do his best to make Ron Simmons proud of him.
During one particular house show in Germany, Simmons told Booker that he could be the guy and would eventually take his own spot as the top black star in the promotion.