Booker T has revealed why his first commentary run failed.
Before becoming the voice of NXT, the WWE Hall of Famer had a broadcast run on the main roster. He debuted as color commentator for SmackDown back in February 2011, and the former World Champion spent the next few years having multiple stints at the announce desk on both Raw and SmackDown. Though despite being one of the best mic workers of all time, he never found his rhythm until he joined NXT commentary in October 2022.
The 5-time WCW Champion explained the reason why he was never comfortable on the main roster commentary during his recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Booker T noted that he could never be fully himself on Raw or SmackDown because of how Vince McMahon directed them:
You know what? I always tell the story of when I was doing commentary my first time around under the Vince regime, and he came into my ear and he goes, ‘Hey, Book, say “much to his chagrin.”‘ I didn’t even know what that meant.
First of all, chagrin? I’m thinking about the chin area. I’m just saying, and I look at the camera, got those little cameras that’s looking at us. I knew if I said that, all my street cred would have been gone. So I couldn’t really be myself on Raw and SmackDown.
Just Be You: Booker T
Booker T then also revealed the reason behind his success in NXT. The 61-year-old mentioned that fellow legend Shawn Michaels who heads the development brand lets him be himself, even if HBK doesn’t always know what T is saying:
When I came to NXT, Shawn Michaels was just like, ‘Just be you. Whatever you want to do, just do it.’ I remember after the first night I did commentary in NXT, and I came back through the curtain. Shawn goes, ‘Man, I don’t know what you were saying, but I liked it.’ So I was like, Oh man, I love this.
The wrestling legend later mentioned that being down in NXT is refreshing for him as he is able to help young talent by critiquing their work when he sees a mistake, something which was harder to do on the main roster.
