Booker T on Sharmell’s Importance to the King Booker Gimmick, Vince McMahon Hiring Sharmell to Keep Him From Leaving

During an episode of his Hall of Fame podcast recorded on the Jericho Cruise, Booker T weighed in on how essential Sharmell was to the “King Booker” gimmick. That gimmick, which ran from 2006 to 2007, is arguably one of Booker’s more popular runs in WWE, and answering a fan question about Sharmell and her impact on making it work, Booker talked about how she was responsible for it even happening.

Booker also recalled how Sharmell, who had had runs in WCW and WWE before she left the business, got rehired in 2005 to be Booker’s valet after they got married in February of that year. Booker recalled that Vince McMahon brought her in to prevent Booker from leaving the company. Highlights and the full video are below:

On how important Sharmell was to the King Booker gimmick: “That’s not putting me on the spot, man. That’s my Queen! No, man. I can honestly tell you that without Sharmell, there would have never been a King Booker. Never. Because that wasn’t my thought process or anything like that. That wasn’t my, you know, a master plan that anyone came up with. It was real, it was real as it possibly could be. Because in the locker room, in the back area, in the catering area, when I would talk about Sharmell, I would always refer to her as ‘My Queen.’ No matter what. Before King Booker ever came along, she was my Queen. if anybody stepped to her the wrong way, they had to deal with me. So no, that’s the way I feel about it.

“I remember one time, I was doing this angle and it was a cage match. And one of the agents — I won’t mention any names or anything like that — they wanted to do this angle, and they wanted Sharmell to actually climb up the cage. And I say, ‘Sharmell is not doing that!’ And they go, ‘W-why not?’ And I go, ‘Because she’s my wife! Okay? That’s why she’s not gonna do it.’ She’s always been there for me in every sense of the word.”

On Vince McMahon hiring Sharmell to keep Booker from leaving: “And when Sharmell and I got married, and our anniversary’s coming up here in a few days. Fifteenth anniversary. I literally went into the office and had a conversation with Vince McMahon and said, ‘Hey man. I’m wrapping it up, I don’t wanna do this anymore. And I appreciate everything that you guys done for me.’ And it was like, ‘What the hell, what’s going on? What’s the deal? And I was like, ‘Well you know, I just got married and I don’t wanna end up [with] anything happening.’ And he goes ‘Well, let’s hire Sharmell!’ [laughs] So I’m like, ‘Oh, we get another check?’ [Vince said] ‘Yeah!’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, I can stick around!'”

On becoming King Booker: “Brought Sharmell in, and everything just clicked. Everything was right. We literally was partners, we really was like Bonnie and Clyde. And then the King of the Ring thing came around and lo and behold, ‘How would you like to become King of the Ring?’ It was great. I’m doing it with Sharmell. But honestly guys, I don’t think — you know, being King could have literally left an asterisk on my career. I don’t think being King was something that was made to say ‘Hey man, let’s put you on top’ or anything like that. It could have went totally the opposite way. But I feel like, in this business, when you get something it’s up to you to make it what you actually want it to be. So giving me the role of King Booker, I’m like, ‘Oh my god!’ I’m thinking about Hollywood calling. I’m thinking about producers … ‘Something good is going to turn out of this!’ And that’s what happened. I had a guy by the name of Brian Gewirtz writing for me at that time, and he would write stuff and he would just let me take it and make it whatever I wanted to make it. And it was such a great chemistry, me being King Booker, and being able to create.”

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.