Booker T is firmly on one side of the fence when it comes to the Texas Death Match at AEW Full Gear.
Very likely to be the most violent match in a major promotion in 2023, the bloody encounter between Swerve Strickland and Adam Page has garnered polarising responses from wrestling fans. While AEW has frequently used blood and presented violent matches, the spots involving staple guns and drinking blood caused the biggest outrage amongst fans.
Speaking on the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T was asked for his take on the match that has divided opinions. The 6 time World Champion admitted that in all his years of wrestling the Texas Death Match was a new experience:
“I ain’t never seen nothing like that before,”
The Hall of Famer went on to describe the stigma wrestling still faces in 2023 when it comes to trying to secure deals with new sponsors. With wrestling not drawing the same ratings as major entertainment shows and live sports, high-end sponsors are not as willing to sign deals as they would be with franchises like the NFL. Additionally, controversial content can make sponsors and even venues reconsider future events.
Recounting a show he performed on early in his career, Booker T described an incident that took place at a high school that caused long-term ramifications:
“I remember going to a high school, way back in the day … and the principal insisted ‘no blood,'” Booker recalled. “Tiger Conway went out there and he bled at this high school, these kids were running around, screaming, hollering. After that, we were never able to go into any high schools ever and promote professional wrestling.”
Concluding his assessment of overly bloody matches, the Hall of Famer blasted the performers due to the biohazard nature of excessive bleeding:
“We’ve got diseases out there that we know [can be] transferred through blood, and god forbid a drop land on a kid, and something happened,” Booker chastised. “It’s the dumbest thing in the world.”
Booker T Criticises Another Recent Controversial Wrestling Incident
This is not the first time that the former World Champion has called out a promotion for a questionable segment on pay-per-view. With the Texas Death Match in AEW dominating the headlines, the NWA incident which seemingly depicted hardcore drug use now feels like a distant memory. Booker T also gave his take on the NWA incident, stating how it is not easy being a promoter.
H/t to Wrestling Inc.