Professional wrestling is a cutthroat business. Even when wrestlers are supposed to be cooperating with each other, disagreements and fights can and do happen. One wrestler who knows this all too well is Booker T after a publicized backstage fight with Batista.
The fight was said to have been over some negative comments Batista made after being drafted from RAW to SmackDown in 2005. Reports at the time alleged that Batista was going around claiming to be “carrying SmackDown on his back” and that he was the one drawing all the money for the blue brand as World Heavyweight Champion.
These comments were seen as disrespectful by many in the locker room, including veteran Booker. So when the two men showed up for a photoshoot to promote SummerSlam 2006, a fight ensued, and by all accounts, Booker won.
Some observers have also speculated that Booker T’s 2006 world title reign as King Booker was influenced by this win. Vince McMahon was said to admire natural toughness and the fact that Booker beat the much bigger Batista in a fight was said to have been a factor in putting that title reign together.
Booker T kills rumor on “continued heat” with Batista
Long after that fight started and ended, some rumors persisted that Booker and Batista continued to have personal problem with each other.
However, Booker refuted these claims on a recent edition of his Hall of Fame Podcast and said it’s all over and done with.
“It was an incident that happened between two men. And if you’re a man, you know something about that. If you’re a man who’s got testosterone running through your body and you’re in a testosterone-driven business, you might get in a fight with somebody. That doesn’t mean you hate them. Don’t mean you don’t like them. It was an incident that happened.”
Booker went on to say that small scuffles happen in the wrestling business, and mentioned that he nearly got into a fight with Eddie Guerrero, over what he doesn’t remember.
Additionally, he also said that if he met “The Animal” in person now, he’d praise him for his success as an actor
h/t WrestlingInc for the transcription