Booker T

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Booker T

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Booker

T

Biography

(1965–)

COMMENT

Booker T enthralled and inspired countless fans over the course of his wrestling career. He later became a two-time inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Who Is Booker T?

Booker T is a WWE wrestling superstar. Orphaned at a young age, he struggled to find his way during his teen years, and served time in prison after committing a string of robberies. Booker worked his way up from wrestling in local venues to national stardom, first with World Championship Wrestling, then WWE. He was an 11-time WCW Tag Team Champion, and as a solo wrestler, he became a six-time World Champion. In 2006 Booker won WWE's King of the Ring Tournament. After stepping back from wrestling, he worked as a commentator and trainer. He also founded his own wrestling school. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2019.

Early Life

Booker was born Robert Booker Tio Huffman Jr. on March 1, 1965, in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. The youngest of his mother's eight children, his father died when Booker was 10 months old. After this loss, his family relocated from Louisiana to Texas. Booker grew up in Houston's South Park neighborhood, where he developed a love of wrestling.

When Booker was 13, his mother passed away following complications during surgery. For a time Booker and his next oldest sister lived alone in their old home, even after the electricity and water had been cut off. Booker next went to stay with an older sister. He had little support or guidance as a teen. School was neglected, and he was surrounded by drug use and partying. Booker became a father at the age of 17.

Arrest and Prison Sentence

Working at a Wendy's restaurant with a disagreeable manager inspired Booker and some friends to rob the fast food joint. After they successfully committed this crime, the group went on to rob other Wendy's franchises until they were arrested in 1987.

Booker took a plea deal and received a five-year prison sentence. He served 19 months, earning his GED behind bars before he was released on parole.

Early Wrestling Career

In 1989, Booker's brother, Lash "Stevie Ray" Huffman, talked to Booker about attending a wrestling school run by bodybuilder and wrestler Ivan Putski. Booker was interested but didn't have the required $4,000 fee. Fortunately, his boss at the storage company where he worked provided the funds.

Booker proved to be a natural for the sport. After completing the wrestling course, he and his brother worked for the Western Wrestling Alliance. When WWA closed down, Booker and his brother moved to Texas All-Pro Wrestling. They then joined Dallas's Global Wrestling Federation, where they formed a tag team known as the Ebony Experience. They made their debut on May 4, 1992.

Members of the audiences they faced felt free to hurl racist abuse, including the n-word, at the duo. However, Booker found he could win wrestling fans over with moves like his breakdance-inspired "Spinaroonie." Booker and his brother went on to win the Tag Team Championship in the Global Wrestling Federation.

WCW and WWE Career

Booker still had to work day jobs in between traveling to and from Dallas for the Global Wrestling Federation. His big break arrived when he and his brother were signed to World Championship Wrestling. At WCW in 1993, the brothers formed a tag team known as the Harlem Heat. The popular duo went on to be 10-time WCW Tag Team Champions