30 Most INSANE Things Wrestlers Have EVER Said On Live TV
6. Triple H Is Even More Racist
The Triple H vs. Booker T feud leading into WrestleMania XIX has been dissected and condemned for years, and for good reason. Not only was it built on racially charged promos that had no place in society nor WWE's version of it, but it also delivered an ending that essentially vindicated the very hate speech used to fuel the rivalry.
Booker T - a former five-time WCW Champion - was finally rising back through the ranks as a fan favourite on Raw in early 2003. But when he challenged Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, 'The Game' made it clear he didn’t see Booker as a worthy contender. And not just as a competitor, but as a person. In one of the most infamous promos in WWE history, Triple H sneered that "people like you don’t get to be World Champion". Years later, it was spun as being a reference to his WCW resumé, with those parroting that line of defence proving themselves just as tone-deaf as the men that crafted the idea in the first place.
The most egregious moment came when Booker confronted Hunter in a bathroom the following week. Instead of showing even a sliver of concern for the peril he was theoretically in, the Champion casually threw money in his Challenger's face and asked him to fetch a towel. It was outright racism, played as just another heel move, and it was infuriatingly brushed aside.
The final insult came in the match itself. After weeks of degrading Booker, Triple H retained. Clean. Not only did he win, but he took an eternity to crawl over for the pin, underscoring that WWE never intended for Booker to be seen as his equal. The messaging from the organisation was clear: the racist villain was somehow vindicated.