While there's plenty of debate about the effectiveness of HHH's promo on Raw on Monday, there's no doubt that the lack of any Booker response was a major mistake. A top 5 match at your biggest PPV needs to have both guys look strong. It's one thing to have a number of heel beatdowns with the face gamely hanging in until the PPV, but Raw was just a total putdown of a man and his legacy. And it didn't have to happen to Booker. Here's what 10 minutes of (not very talented) thinking on my part came up with for a Booker response......
You know you may be right...aw hell no you ain't right chump! I wasn't the one making those title decisions; I was the one winning those championships in the ring against guys like Nash and Steiner. And don't forget Skippy, I also wore the TV title, US belt, and won the tag belts 14 (??) times beating teams like the Steiners, Outsiders, and Road Warriors.
And you Flair, you bleached out dinosaur. I saw that smirk on your face while H was talking. You forget you wore that WCW belt pretty proudly yourself? Or maybe you're so old you can't remember those titles you fossil.
One more thing chump. Yeah I'm an entertainer and maybe that's part of the reason people are with Booker T. (go nose to nose) But find one man that's been in the ring with me that says I can't go. And you better search wide and you better search far chump cuz you ain't going to find anyone! And come Wrestlemania you're going to be the next one to discover that fact Jack. Now can you dig that SUCKA!
1) It's not like Booker had no response at all. He let Hunter's chit chat slide off him and said that despite all the crap that Hunter went over, he was still going to beat him at Wrestlemania.
2) There's 3 RAWs between now and Mania, and I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a strong Booker promo between now and then, in fact, I'd be surprised if we don't. So just cool your jets and let the story play itself out.
Satire 03/03/03 (wienerboard.com) <- No kidding, right? Buffy 7.16 gets a 7.65372 Andrew is funny, but I'm not sure that we needed "The Andrew Episode".
From the desk of Swordsman Yen Here's my response in half the time and half the talented thinking:
"You didn't say that...tell me you did not just say that. Ya know Trippa H, you can talk all you want about how you think that I didn't earn my spot or how the titles I won didn't mean a thing. For over a decade I've busted my ass to make it to the top of this business. I earned everything I got. I didn't sleep wit the boss's daughter or have titles handed to me to make it this far. While I was in the ring to get this spot, you were doing arm-wrestling contests and posedowns. I'm surprised you didn't try to make our match at Wrestlemania a pie-eating contest to save yo no-talent ass.
And as for you Ric Flair. You used to be The Man. You used to be a champion yourself. Did you hang up yo pride when you hung up yo boots too? Now you're just some has-been, bootlicker livin' yo dream through that jacked-up, big-nosed sucka next to ya.
You call me an entertainer Trip, saying it like it's a bad thing. You know what? I am an entertainer. Every night, I put on a show for the people. But I ain't gonna dance for ya now. I'm gonna save that performance for Wrestlemania. The dance I'm saving for you won't be the spinaroonie, H. It will be kickin yo greasy ass all around the ring and takin' that belt from ya. Now can you dig that.....SUUUUUCKA!"
"I don't care what people think. People are stupid." -- Charles Barkley
1) It's not like Booker had no response at all. He let Hunter's chit chat slide off him and said that despite all the crap that Hunter went over, he was still going to beat him at Wrestlemania.
2) There's 3 RAWs between now and Mania, and I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a strong Booker promo between now and then, in fact, I'd be surprised if we don't. So just cool your jets and let the story play itself out.
Must you play devil's advocate to everything?
Booker looked like a wuss after that HHH promo. He even admitted that HHH "may be right" about somethings, then weakly added that he was gonna beat him at Mania. That's not the way to build up a face.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
If Booker had a strong response to HHH, it would have completely nullified Hunter's promo. As it is, people see Booker T as the underdog and it'll mean much more when he wins the title at Wrestlemania. If he had kicked HHH's ass right then, it wouldn't have given people any reason to care about the feud. As it is, people have a real reason to want to see Booker kick Hunter's ass at Wrestlemania instead of it being a boring repeat of something they've already seen.
It makes him look like a total chump with HHH right there in his face. It would have been far more effective if HHH cut that promo when Booker wasn't in the ring or HHH cut it from the top of the ramp.
Heck, Booker could have given HHH one shot then gotten double teamed by Flair and HHH.
Instead, he just stood there and took it like he was afraid to stand up for himself.
Booker looked like a wuss after that HHH promo. He even admitted that HHH "may be right" about somethings, then weakly added that he was gonna beat him at Mania. That's not the way to build up a face.
And that's the same stupid shit that's been killing Raw for months. Pretty much anybody that cut a promo on Triple H with the exception of Steiner (though I may just be forgetting if Steiner blew him or not) just COULD NOT DO SO without paying him some compliment in the process. I think there's a big difference in a heel giving minor props to a face and the face giving them to the heel. When the heel does it, it's saying that they know the face is good, but they are better and serves to buld cockiness. When the face does it, it makes him look weak.
If Booker had a strong response to HHH, it would have completely nullified Hunter's promo. As it is, people see Booker T as the underdog and it'll mean much more when he wins the title at Wrestlemania. If he had kicked HHH's ass right then, it wouldn't have given people any reason to care about the feud.
Or, if Book had a strong response to a questionably offensive promo, it would make him look strong and like an equal to HHH instead of how it came off, and in my eyes, it positioned Book to appear to be Hunter's bitch instead of an underdog.
What you're basically suggesting is that Hunter standing there insulting Book for 8 minutes, to which Booker offered a 1 minute reply in which he even claimed some of what Hunter said was right, was the right thing to do. Wrestling isn't a thinking man's game, and it's not like it was portrayed that Book was outsmarting HHH by agreeing with him. It's not like Hunter had this shocked look on his face when Booker didn't get totally pissed off, he had just accepted that he was so good, even the guy he just shit on had to agree with him.
1) It's not like Booker had no response at all. He let Hunter's chit chat slide off him and said that despite all the crap that Hunter went over, he was still going to beat him at Wrestlemania.
2) There's 3 RAWs between now and Mania, and I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a strong Booker promo between now and then, in fact, I'd be surprised if we don't. So just cool your jets and let the story play itself out.
Must you play devil's advocate to everything?
If I think it's worth the effort? Yeah.
Satire 03/03/03 (wienerboard.com) <- No kidding, right? Buffy 7.16 gets a 7.65372 Andrew is funny, but I'm not sure that we needed "The Andrew Episode".
Originally posted by InVerseIf Booker had a strong response to HHH, it would have completely nullified Hunter's promo. As it is, people see Booker T as the underdog and it'll mean much more when he wins the title at Wrestlemania. If he had kicked HHH's ass right then, it wouldn't have given people any reason to care about the feud. As it is, people have a real reason to want to see Booker kick Hunter's ass at Wrestlemania instead of it being a boring repeat of something they've already seen.
They could've done that with Booker not backing down, getting in HHH's grill and sticking it to him, then Flair and HHH could do a beatdown on Booker fuming from said promo. It would show that Booker's not afraid yet still keeps his underdog status while HHH would have his heat going into the event. The simplest ideas sometimes work.
"I don't care what people think. People are stupid." -- Charles Barkley
Originally posted by fuelinjectedIt makes him look like a total chump with HHH right there in his face. It would have been far more effective if HHH cut that promo when Booker wasn't in the ring or HHH cut it from the top of the ramp.
Heck, Booker could have given HHH one shot then gotten double teamed by Flair and HHH.
Instead, he just stood there and took it like he was afraid to stand up for himself.
Well, see, then y'all would have bitched and moaned about how badly they were burying Booker by having him verbally punked out AND beaten down afterward.
Booker admitted some of what HHH said was true. BECAUSE IT WAS. Golly, imagine that, a face being honest. It doesn't make him look weak. It makes him look like the bigger man for admitting it.
Booker didn't go nuts and pop HHH because HE HAD BACKUP AND WOULD HAVE LIKELY GOTTEN BEATEN DOWN. Would you honestly have been happier if Booker had ended that segment laying down in pain? He let the shit slide, said he was going to beat HHH, and remained in the ring at the end of the segment, getting his pop. How, in god's name, does this make Booker look bad?
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!
Yeah, I would have been happier if Booker tried to stick up for himself only to get beaten down. It'd make him far more sympathetic then basicly admitting he's nothing compared to HHH.
That combined with ignoring the fact Booker pinned HHH a couple weeks ago and the fluke pin on Steiner just weren't a good start to the feud, IMO.
Originally posted by Nate The SnakeWell, see, then y'all would have bitched and moaned about how badly they were burying Booker by having him verbally punked out AND beaten down afterward.
Booker admitted some of what HHH said was true. BECAUSE IT WAS. Golly, imagine that, a face being honest. It doesn't make him look weak. It makes him look like the bigger man for admitting it.
Booker didn't go nuts and pop HHH because HE HAD BACKUP AND WOULD HAVE LIKELY GOTTEN BEATEN DOWN. Would you honestly have been happier if Booker had ended that segment laying down in pain? He let the shit slide, said he was going to beat HHH, and remained in the ring at the end of the segment, getting his pop. How, in god's name, does this make Booker look bad?
Well, anybody who's played any sport or entered any competition knows that you NEVER let your weaknesses show. Booker did just that by admitting that maybe Trips was right in what he said instead of just throwing it back at him. The backup loophole could've also been plugged by having the usual gang of idiots break up the altercation. There were much better routes to take this angle than what they did on Monday.
"I don't care what people think. People are stupid." -- Charles Barkley
Booker admitted some of what HHH said was true. BECAUSE IT WAS.
IIRC, Triple H said that Booker was not a real wrestler but just an entertainer, that his title runs in WCW meant nothing, and that Triple H was going to kick his ass at Mania.
I honestly don't see any of those points as something Booker should agree with. Winning a battle royale by tossing the Rock for a shot at the World Heavyweight Title at Wrestlemania pretty much says "real wrestler" to me (well, "real" as in "WWE real"...).
Considering that Booker is proud enough of his WCW title runs to call himself the "five time, five time, five time, five time, five time, WCW champion" constantly means that he probably doesn't consider his title runs a joke.
And of course Booker doesn't think he's going to lose at Mania.
So, what exactly the fuck was Booker agreeing with? He DOES have nappy hair, so that could be it. Only possible explanation that makes sense, if you ask me.
Originally posted by InVerseIf Booker had a strong response to HHH, it would have completely nullified Hunter's promo. As it is, people see Booker T as the underdog and it'll mean much more when he wins the title at Wrestlemania. If he had kicked HHH's ass right then, it wouldn't have given people any reason to care about the feud. As it is, people have a real reason to want to see Booker kick Hunter's ass at Wrestlemania instead of it being a boring repeat of something they've already seen.
Glad somebody gets it. I think that is exactly what they are trying to get over. Of course, since it is HHH involved no one can see that.
Bubbles? Oh come on Sharon! I’m Ozzy Osbourne the Prince of Fucking Darkness. Evil, evil, more fucking evil not a boatload of fucking bubbles man.
I had no problem with the HHH promo. HHH was just playing the role of the arrogant jackass heel. I don't have a problem with it now. But, leading up to the match at WrestleMania, things should happen to have HHH openly look at Booker as a serious threat by the Raw before WrestleMania.
As for Booker's side, I was disappointed with the weak and very passive response. I don't mind Booker just taking it while HHH was talking. And, I don't even mind Booker starting his response with "some of that may be true" because, well, some of it WAS true. David Arquette was the WCW champion around that period and Booker T is an entertainer. That stuff was true. But, Booker should have gotten intense and responded in a way that makes him appear serious and completely focused on being the new World Champion at WrestleMania.
The response I would have liked to have seen:
(Booker should keep an intense look on his face. None of that comedian stuff. Just completely intense while staring a hole through HHH while he speaks)
"Some of what you say may be true. So, I'm just an entertainer, huh? I make you laugh your ass off, huh? Well, you didn't look so entertained when I pinned you right here in the middle of the ring on Raw a couple of weeks ago. You weren't laughing your ass off when you were sitting in the ring watching my hand get raised for beating you.
But, hey, don't take Booker T seriously. Just sit back and relax until WrestleMania. Don't even train for the match. Just show up at WrestleMania with that big belt. I'll be there to entertain you. I'll entertain you when me and my nappy hair dance down to the ring (Booker steps up in HHH's face) and KICK YO PUNK ASS!!
You see, at WrestleMania, a person like me is going to take the World Championship from a person like you. Now, CAN YOU DIG THAT, SUCKAAAAAAAA!!!"
I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.
Originally posted by UbermonkeysPretty much anybody that cut a promo on Triple H with the exception of Steiner (though I may just be forgetting if Steiner blew him or not) just COULD NOT DO SO without paying him some compliment in the process.
Are you counting when RVD said that Triple H "spit water real good"?
As for everyone saying that Booker T should be talking about sleeping with Stephanie, arm-wrestling contests, belts handed over to him, and stuff like that: There's a general rule in wrestling that the WORST thing you want to do is make your opponent look like garbage in a promo, because if you win the match, then the win doesn't mean anything because you just beat garbage. If you lose, then you look horrible because you got beat by garbage.
I'm not sure when Booker T's gimmick became "spokesperson for the IWC's booking complaints" either...
Tribal Prophet
Wrestling exists in the eternal present. What is, has always been, and when it no longer is, it never was. It has no past and no future, and sometimes even today is in question. - Madame Manga
Originally posted by Tribal Prophet There's a general rule in wrestling that the WORST thing you want to do is make your opponent look like garbage in a promo, because if you win the match, then the win doesn't mean anything because you just beat garbage. If you lose, then you look horrible because you got beat by garbage.
So when did Triple H get exemption from this rule?
"I don't care what people think. People are stupid." -- Charles Barkley
Booker is agreeing with some of HHH's facts nothing more.
Arquette and Russo were both champions so he's agreeing to that, but not necessarily that his title reigns meant less.
HHH said he was an entertainer and a very good one at that, so Booker might be agreeing with that,
HHH said Booker T had a great 'moment' when he won the battle royal last week so he could've been agreeing with that.
Booker then went on to say that no matter what HHH said, it doesn't change the fact that Booker is going to Wrestlemania (thereby negating HHH's arguement against his past) and that he was then gonna have something else to brag about "because 'somebody like me' is gonna rag-tag your ass, and beat you for the World Heavyweight Championship"
i honestly think that some of you either weren't listening to Booker at all, tuned out after you heard HHH's "racist statements" (which is utter bull) or simply do not know when to stop looking for every little niggling fault.
Triple H had his best promo in months, Booker rebutted with a simple and effective argument, and then HHH left Booker with something to think about (his match with Steiner). both participants put up a good case, they were at a stalemate by the end and HHH played a little mind game just before he left.
Great work all round and somehow 50% of the posts i've read think that it was an absolute travesty that Booker didn't yell a little more. HE DIDN'T NEED TO, DAMMIT!
Got it off my chest, thanks for your time
...But remember this. ROCK...CRUSHES...SCISSORS...but scissors cuts paper...and paper wraps rock...KIFF, we have a conundrum. (Yes, eat all of our shirts!)
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They mean Stacy probably made the right decision for HER career....would we all like to see her naked? I'd like to think so. It's not like we'd boycott the issue if it came out.