Robert Booker Tio Huffman (born March 1, 1965 in Houston, Texas), better known by his ring name, Booker T, is an American professional wrestler, currently performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown! brand, , where he holds the WWE United States Championship.
Career
World Championship Wrestling
Huffman debuted in WCW as "Kole", one half of the tag team Harlem Heat with his brother Lane, wrestling as "Kane". Kole and Kane were later renamed "Booker T" and "Stevie Ray" respectively, and would hold the WCW World Tag Team Championships a record ten times.
In the late 1990s, Huffman began competing as a singles wrestler, while his brother joined the nWo, then became a color commentator. Huffman won the WCW World Television Championship six times, and traded the belt with Chris Benoit in a "best of seven" series which saw the belt contested on Nitro, Thunder and pay-per-views. He was the first ever African American to hold the title.
Huffman was elevated to the main event in 1999; Lane Huffman has speculated that this could in part have been due to a number of racial discrimination lawsuits filed against WCW. After WCW booker Vince Russo grew disgruntled with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan's alleged politicking, he fired Hogan during the live broadcast of Bash at the Beach 2000 and announced an impromptu match between Jeff Jarrett and Huffman for the now-vacant World Title. Huffman won the match, in the process becoming the second ever African American Champion. He went on to win the title three more times in 2000 and 2001, and would win the title once more in the World Wrestling Federation (where he lost the belt to a man whose gimmick Huffman allegedly copied, The Rock).
During 2000, Stevie Ray reformed Harlem Heat with Big T, and had lawyer J. Biggs strip Huffman of his right to use the letter "T" as part of his name. Throughout this period, Huffman was referred to simply as "Booker". Huffman would eventually completely change his in-ring name, joining General Rection's military-themed Misfits In Action faction as G.I. Bro. He regained his more popular alias shortly before his World Title win.
In 2000, Huffman appeared in Ready to Rumble as himself.
Huffman won a total of twenty three titles in WCW, making him the most decorated athlete in the history of the organization.
World Wrestling Entertainment
After WCW was bought by the WWF in March 2001, Huffman invaded the WWF as a senior member of The Alliance. After the Alliance disbanded following the 2001 Survivor Series, he remained a heel. In December 2001, Huffman joined forces with then heel, Vince McMahon and The Boss Man and feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin. After Huffman cost Austin a match against Chris Jericho for the WWE Undisputed Championship at Vengeance 2001, Austin gained revenge by attacking Huffman in a grocery store, humilitating him by covering him in food.
Huffman won the WCW World Tag Team Championships for an eleventh time, this time with Test. In addition, he held the WWE Hardcore Championship twice in May 2002. When the WWE roster was split into two groups, Huffman was drafted to RAW.
Huffman joined the WWE version of the nWo in 2002, but was thrown out of the group by Shawn Michaels, thus turning face. He formed a successful tag team with Goldust, another enemy of the nWo, and won the World Tag Team Championships twice. By 2003, Huffman's popularity had soared, and he amicably separated from Goldust in order to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship. In February 2003 he eliminated The Rock to win a battle royal for the number one contendership, granting him a title shot at WrestleMania XIX.
Several weeks before WrestleMania, the incumbent champion, Triple H, cut a controversial promo on Huffman in order to gain heat. HHH downplayed Huffman's WCW success, pointing out that the WCW World Heavyweight Championship had been held by Vince Russo and actor David Arquette, and implying that Huffman, as a black wrestler, would never win a world championship in WWE. His words rang true, and Huffman lost to HHH at WrestleMania.
In April 2002, Huffman opened a retail outlet in Houston, Texas; Jam Zone, at 12313 Bellaire Boulevard. The shop sells music, video games and hip-hop gear.
Huffman remained on RAW for another two years, trading the WWE Intercontinental Championship with Christian and winning the World Tag Team Championships a third time, this time with Rob Van Dam. On March 22, 2004 he was traded to SmackDown! along with The Dudley Boyz in exchange for Triple H. On SmackDown!, Huffman quickly established himself as a heel again by disparagingly referring to SmackDown! as the "minor leagues". He feuded with former partner Rob Van Dam, then with The Undertaker in a feud which saw him utilise voodoo magic in order to try and overcome his "supernatural" foe.
On October 21, 2004, SmackDown! general manager Theodore Long placed Huffman in a six man tag team match with Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio against John Bradshaw Layfield, René Duprée and Kenzo Suzuki. JBL expected Huffman to betray his partners, but instead Huffman pinned JBL, this turning face once again. Huffman faced JBL for the WWE Championship at the 2004 Survivor Series on November 14, but lost after he was hit in the head with the championship belt.
In March 2005, Huffman and Stevie Ray opened the Booker T & Stevie Ray Pro Wrestling Academy in Houston. At the same time, Huffman signed a two-year contract extension with WWE, quelling rumors that his retirement was imminent.
Huffman married Sharmell, a former Nitro Girl, in March 2005. Sharmell was introduced to SmackDown! as Huffman's valet, leading to a feud with Kurt Angle, who began stalking Sharmell. Angle referred to Sharmell as a "gutter slut", claiming that he "liked it". The feud ended when Huffman defeated Angle at Judgement Day 2005.
In July 2005 Huffman began a feud with Christian, who he defeated at The Great American Bash.
On the October 20th edition of Smackdon, Huffman was placed in a match against Chris Benoit for the United States Championship. He won the match due to an unseen assist from Sharmell. Although Huffman is believed to have become a heel, he has yet to turn due to him being unaware of his wife's doings.
On October 28 edition of Smackdown! G.M. Theodore Long showed a highlight footage of Sharmell interfeering in Booker T.'s matches. Later Booker T and Sharmell wanted to apologize to Benoit and he was supposed to get a re match for the U.S. championship. It turned out to be a set up as Booker T. knocked Benoit with the belt and kicked him in the stomach. Sharmell started laughing at Benoit and started showing off with Booker T. With this, they both turned heel.
In wrestling
Previous managers
- Sister Sherri
- Jacqueline
- Midnight
- Shane McMahon
- Sharmell Sullivan
- Col. Rob Parker
- Shawn Michaels
- Theodore Long
Finishing and signature moves
- Scissors kick / Axe kick
- Book-End (side slam)
- Harlem / Houston sidekick
- Harlem / Houston Hangover (somersault top rope legdrop)
- 110th Street Slam (Alabama slam)
- Missile dropkick
- Spinebuster
- Sidewalk Slam
- Backhand chop
- Arm wrench and side kick combination
- Spin-a-roonie (breakdancing windmill)
Quotes
- "Save the drama for your mama!"
- "Don't hate the player, Hate the game!"
- "Tell me you didn't just say that!"
- "Now can you dig that, Sucka?!"
- "I am the 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time WCW Champion!"
- "You damn skippy hippy"
Championships and accomplishments
- 3-time GWF Tag Team Champion (with Stevie Ray)
Las Vegas Pro Wrestling
- 1-time LVPW UWF Heavyweight Champion
- 5-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- 6-time WCW World Television Champion
- 11-time WCW World Tag Team Champion (10-time with Stevie Ray, 1-time with Test)
- 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 2-time WWE United States Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time WWE World Tag Team Champion (2-time with Goldust, 1-time with Rob Van Dam)
- 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion
- PWI ranked him # 133 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
- PWI ranked him # 62 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Stevie Ray.
- PWI Tag Team of the Year Award with Stevie Ray (1995, 1996)
- PWI Most Improved Award (1998)
- PWI Most Inspirational Award (2000)
| WWE Intercontinental Championship Reigns | ||
| Preceded by: Christian |
First reign | Succeeded by: Christian |
| WWE United States Championship Reigns | ||
| Preceded by: vacant |
First reign | Succeeded by: John Cena |
| Preceded by: Chris Benoit |
Second reign | Succeeded by: Current Champion |
| (WWE) World Tag Team Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Chris Jericho and The Rock | First reign (with Test) | Succeded by: Hardy Boyz |
| Preceded by: Chris Jericho and Christian | Second reign (with Goldust) | Succeded by: Lance Storm and William Regal |
| Preceded by: Ric Flair and Batista | Third reign (with Rob Van Dam) | Succeded by: Ric Flair and Batista |
| WWE Hardcore Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Stevie Richards | First reign | Succeded by: Crash Holly |
| Preceded by: Crash Holly | Second reign | Succeded by: Stevie Richards |
| WCW World Heavyweight Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Jeff Jarrett | First reign | Succeded by: Kevin Nash |
| Preceded by: Kevin Nash | Second reign | Succeded by: Vince Russo |
| Preceded by: Vince Russo | Third reign | Succeded by: Scott Steiner |
| Preceded by: Scott Steiner | Fourth reign | Succeded by: Kurt Angle |
| Preceded by: Kurt Angle | Fifth reign | Succeded by: The Rock |
| WCW United States Championship Reigns | ||
| Preceded by: Rick Steiner |
First | Succeeded by: given to Chris Kanyon |
| WCW World Tag Team Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Marcus Bagwell and The Patriot | First reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: The Nasty Boys |
| Preceded by: The Nasty Boys | Second reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater |
| Preceded by: Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck | Third reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: The American Males |
| Preceded by: The American Males | Fourth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Sting and Lex Luger |
| Preceded by: Lex Luger and Sting | Fifth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: The Steiner Brothers |
| Preceded by: The Steiner Brothers | Sixth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Rocco Rock and Jonny Grunge |
| Preceded by: Rocco Rock and Jonny Grunge | Seventh reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Justin Credible |
| Preceded by: Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Kanyon and Bam Bam Bigelow | Eighth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Barry Windham and Kendall Windham |
| Preceded by: Kendall Windham and Barry Windham | Ninth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Rey Misterio Jr. and Konnan |
| Preceded by: Konnan and Rey Misterio Jr. | Tenth reign (with Stevie Ray) | Succeded by: Billy Kidman and Konnan |
| Preceded by: Brothers of Destruction | Eleventh reign (with Test) | Succeded by: The Hardy Boyz |
| WCW TV Championship | ||
| Preceded by: Disco Inferno | First reign | Succeded by: Rick Martel |
| Preceded by: Rick Martel | Second reign | Succeded by: Chris Benoit |
| Preceded by: Chris Benoit | Third reign | Succeded by: Chris Benoit |
| Preceded by: Chris Benoit | Fourth reign | Succeded by: Fit Finlay |
| Preceded by: Fit Finlay | Fifth reign | Succeded by: Chris Jericho |
| Preceded by: Scott Steiner | Sixth reign | Succeded by: Ric Steiner |
References
External links
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