Triple H's removal of Booker T from his orbit in 2003 still triggers annoyance not just for the racially-charged content of their storyline but the sheer machiavellian magnificence of 'The Game'.
Everything about the match required the challenger to go over. Booker was subject to bigotry from the oppressive heel champion and his d*ckhead sidekick Ric Flair but lost clean as a sheet when he got his WrestleMania shot. As if to confirm everything spat at him by Hunter and 'The Nature Boy' beforehand, he was kept away from both the strap and the chap as he slid towards the Intercontinental Title in the immediate aftermath.
It was vintage gamesmanship from somebody identifying as 'That Damn Good' at it. Hunter was a ring general at his year 2000 peak but this was yet another reminder of what WWE used to have, rather than what they were now stuck with.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
