Booker T Recounts Winning WCW TV Title After Rick Martel Forgot His Gear

On the latest episode of the Hall of Fame, Booker T and Brad Gilmore got onto the subject of plans changing on the night, and Booker pointed to his own WCW television title win as an example. Booker explained that the title, which he first won on the December 29, 1997 episode of WCW Nitro from Disco Inferno, was only put on him because of a gear mishap, and that he was always meant to be a transitional champion. You can check out his comments below:

On How the Title Win Came About:

“Yeah, someone didn’t bring their gear. Rick Martel forgot, didn’t bring his gear, and they say, ‘Well, we’re gonna put the title on you tonight,’ knowing that I was gonna be the transitional to drop it to Rick Martel somewhere. But in my mind, that was never gonna happen. I said, ‘Man, I’m gonna take this belt and run with it.’ Opportunity knocked. But that wasn’t supposed to happen that night. It just happened, and it put me in a great position.”

On Playing the Role You’re Handed:

“Just like I was talking about me going to Japan, and originally Harlem Heat was going to take over the island. And then all of a sudden Booker T got his ass whooped for three days straight or whatever it was. But that’s just the way it is. You play the role, and you get rewarded.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit the Hall of Fame with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.