Booker T Responds to Swerve Strickland’s Comments on Vince McMahon N-Word Segment – Swerve Strickland’s recent remarks on Vlad TV have generated significant discussion, particularly his comments on Booker T’s reaction to Vince McMahon’s controversial use of a racial slur in a 2005 WWE segment. Now, Booker T has responded in detail, revealing that he confronted Strickland in person over the matter.
During an episode of the Hall of Fame podcast with co-host Brad Gilmore, Booker T shared that he and Strickland had a face-to-face conversation at an event in Richmond, Virginia.
Booker T’s Confrontation with Swerve Strickland
“I was at an event this weekend in Richmond, Virginia. Lo and behold, who was at the same event with me? Literally the first person I ran into that morning was Swerve Strickland. Just like he said I didn’t have the energy when Vince McMahon said the N-word, rest assured, I had the energy when I saw him, because I approached him, and I had a conversation with him.”
Booker T revealed that he felt disappointed in Strickland for his remarks, especially given the support he had shown him in the past.
“I told Swerve Strickland to his face how disappointed I am in him as a young brother because all I did for him was put him over, put him on a pedestal, say he’s one of the best out there, that he deserved to be AEW Champion. For him to say something like that about me? I don’t know if these guys think racism stopped in 1990 when I got in the business, but it didn’t.
“You may not hear about a lot of racial issues with Booker T because I handled racial issues headfirst. I opened doors, I broke down barriers for people like Swerve Strickland. He might not even be here if it wasn’t for me. I don’t have to apologize for anything I’ve done in this business because I’ve represented inside and outside of the ring from day one until now.”
Booker T’s Criticism of Vlad TV
Booker T also criticized Vlad TV, the platform where Strickland made his comments, accusing the outlet of pitting Black wrestlers against one another.
“I had an offer to be on Vlad TV before, and I turned it down. They even offered me money, and I still turned it down. I wasn’t going to go on there and be exploited. I wasn’t going to go on Vlad TV and have them make me look like a fool in front of the world.
“I wasn’t going to go on there and say anything negative toward any Black man in this business, because I know how hard it is for all of us. I’ve always said, any brother getting his bag, I’m all in 100%.”
Booker T’s Thoughts on Vince McMahon’s 2005 Segment
Regarding McMahon’s use of a racial slur in a 2005 segment with John Cena, which Strickland criticized Booker T for not reacting to at the time, Booker T made his stance clear.
“You speak on Vince McMahon saying the N-word. You want me to be the angry Black man in the company. You want me to not open doors and create spaces for people like you—that’s what you want me to do.
“I hope Swerve Strickland is never in the movies, because if he is, he might hear someone say the N-word. If he’s got a problem with it, they’re gonna tell him to get the hell out, because it’s a movie. I’m upset because, more importantly, I’m disappointed. I told him to his face: You got played. You let that man play you and pit you against me.”
On Representation in Wrestling
Strickland also discussed what he sees as a lack of Black representation in WWE’s major events. Booker T disagreed with the notion, saying wrestlers need to focus on their own performances.
“I hear people like Swerve Strickland talk about how there’s not enough Black representation on PLEs these days. Well, damn it, I didn’t have to worry about that in my day—I was on all of them. I was main eventing some of them, too. Maybe it’s a drop-off in talent, maybe guys need to work up to my level.
“Let’s forget about the ‘Black thing’ and throw it all in and see how good we are. I did it that way. I didn’t have to start anything on social media—I just proved myself. If you think you’re that good, put everything in and let the cream rise to the top.”
Final Thoughts on the Issue
Booker T concluded by reaffirming that he does not see McMahon’s 2005 segment as a racial issue and emphasized that his reputation when dealing with racism in wrestling speaks for itself.
“I’ve said it a thousand times: I don’t think the skit with Vince McMahon and John Cena was a racial issue with me. I just don’t.
“As for my reputation? It’s solid. My reputation is 100% when it comes to dealing with racism. I know how I’ve dealt with it in WWE. I don’t have to go public with it or talk about it on social media.
“But if I’m talking to a young brother on the come-up, I’m going to pull him aside and tell him, ‘You’ve got so much talent, but you’re going to go up against this, and this is how you get through it.’ That’s how you deal with it. You’ve got to know when to pick your fights.”
Booker T’s comments offer a strong rebuttal to Strickland’s remarks, emphasizing personal accountability, experience, and the complexities of dealing with issues of race in professional wrestling.
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Booker T Responds to Swerve Strickland’s Comments on Vince McMahon N-Word Segment
