5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (March 29)

3. Booker T Reveals Something Deeper Than He Perhaps Intended

Booker T Royal Rumble
WWE.com

Booker T, on the debut edition of his ‘Hall Of Fame’ podcast, revealed a fascinating anecdote at odds with the prevalent gaming culture in WWE today. ‘Up Up Down Down’ wasn’t the name of Xavier Woods’ YouTube channel, originally; it reflected Booker T’s early WWE career trajectory.

Booker, referring to himself as WWE’s first “video gamer”, recounted an early attempt to integrate himself into the locker room. He set up a portable TV, a console, and fired up a game of Madden, just like in the good old days of Dubya See Dubya.

D’Lo Brown joined him for a session. Just as Booker T was “kicking his ass”, influential backstage producer Michael ‘PS’ Hayes walked by, and said “You guys playing video games, huh?”—before immediately storming off. D’Lo shrunk in terror. It was then made clear that video games were henceforth banned. Booker T told Jericho on the podcast that he thought to himself “These guys are crazy here, man.”

"Crazy"...or, given the impetus behind Hayes' 2008 suspension, something a bit more sinister? Was this a good-faith lecture in backstage etiquette - or Badstreet’s introduction to the World Wrestling Confederation?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!