Booker T Reacts To The Rock Ranking His Athleticism With Kurt Angle & Brock Lesnar

On the latest episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T talked about a recent clip from a Sports Illustrated interview where The Rock named him, alongside Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle, as one of the most “insane athletes” he had ever wrestled. You can check out some highlights below:

Booker T on The Rock and their relationship: “You know, it’s pretty cool though, man. Because Rock and I, we never had any real relationship or anything like that. We’ve never broke bread or anything, or went out and partied or hung out or anything like that. But hen I came to WWE, I was just all about going out there and getting the work done. I think Rock respected me more for being a businessman, and coming in there and knowing what my job was, and going out there and doing that job to the best of my ability.”

On working with a star of The Rock’s magnitude: “I really didn’t always talk about that, the time I had with him. And I really didn’t know how good — you know, some of the stuff was good, and some of the stuff was really, really funny. Especially some of the stuff that we did off television, when the camera stopped rolling on a house show. It was — we did a lot of stupid stuff. And maybe that’s what it was, maybe that’s those times right there it’s what Rock remembers.

“But my times on television, I remember working with Rock. I was very, very tense. I was very, very anxious, butterflies, you know. I don’t know, [it’s a] high-pressure situation. And being in those moments right there, and man, I can only imagine being two years in going into a situation like that. No freaking way. But I always I talk about with my students, you know, know what your job is. Know what the details are when you’re in certain matches. And you know, I was coming into the company, and I was working one of their top guys. And one thing, you don’t want to hurt the guy is the one thing you thinking about. But the one thing also, as you think about not trying to make mistakes. We talk about mistakes in this business. The fans don’t mind if you take your time and get it right. They do mind if you rush it and mess it up. You know what I mean? So I was always thinking about going out there and being precise and knowing exactly what my job was. So that way — I guess that’s the reason I don’t remember a lot of that stuff when I was working with The Rock, because I was totally just in work mode.”

On his own career and abilities: “Hey man, you know, he [Rock] said it. I mean, because, it’s about them hands. You can tell what a by the way a man walk if he can handle himself. And that’s one thing about me man, I always handle myself. I always loved the art of pugilism. Muhammad Ali was my favorite, being able to parry, being able to jab and parry.

“So for me, I wasn’t a Kurt Angle or anything like that. I wasn’t a Brock Lesnar. But I always felt like if I would have went in any of those — you know, any of those ways. Just say for instance, wrestling, basketball, football, I felt like I would have been a really, really good athlete. I really do. But I’m glad I didn’t. I’m glad I found wrestling at the age of 25. And man, it’s been so good to me. I love it.”

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