WCW · WWF/WWE · TNA • 1993–2012
Booker T
Booker T is one of wrestling's great crossover success stories — a 5× WCW World Heavyweight Champion who transitioned to WWF/WWE and became a 1× WWE Champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most entertaining performers of two eras.
- Born
- Mar 1, 1965
- Hometown
- Plainview, Texas
- Height / Wt
- 6'3" / 256 lb
- Active
- 1989–2012
- Signature
- Scissors Kick, Spinaroonie
- Tag
- Harlem Heat (w/ Stevie Ray)
The Career Ledger
The record of Booker T
A curated ledger of Booker T's most significant matches. Cross-checked against WWE.com, Wikipedia and Cagematch.
| Result | Opponent | Event | Date | Stipulation | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Jeff Jarrett | WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 | Jul 9, 2000 | WCW World Heavyweight Championship | Booker T wins 5th WCW title — Goldberg assists |
| Loss | Triple H | WrestleMania XIX | Mar 30, 2003 | World Heavyweight Championship | HHH retains — controversial loss many fans felt was wrong call |
| Win | Rey Mysterio | WWE SmackDown | Mar 2006 | WWE Championship — King of the Ring tournament path | Booker T wins via King of the Ring; reigns as King Booker |
| Loss | Batista | SummerSlam 2006 | Aug 20, 2006 | World Heavyweight Championship | Batista wins — King Booker loses throne |
| Win | Steve Austin | WWE SmackDown (Supermarket Brawl) | Dec 13, 2001 | Unsanctioned brawl segment | Booker T and Austin brawl through a grocery store — iconic comedy segment |
| Win | Goldberg | WCW Thunder | Aug 2000 | WCW Title — later reign | Booker T beats Goldberg in WCW title match during the InVasion build |
| Loss | Triple H | WrestleMania XIX | Mar 30, 2003 | World Heavyweight Championship | HHH wins — Booker T loses in controversial finish |
| Win | The Rock | WCW Nitro | 2001 | WCW Championship — InVasion era | Booker T in WCW/WWF crossover storyline with The Rock during Invasion |
- WinJeff Jarrett
WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 · Jul 9, 2000
WCW World Heavyweight Championship · Booker T wins 5th WCW title — Goldberg assists
- LossTriple H
WrestleMania XIX · Mar 30, 2003
World Heavyweight Championship · HHH retains — controversial loss many fans felt was wrong call
- WinRey Mysterio
WWE SmackDown · Mar 2006
WWE Championship — King of the Ring tournament path · Booker T wins via King of the Ring; reigns as King Booker
- LossBatista
SummerSlam 2006 · Aug 20, 2006
World Heavyweight Championship · Batista wins — King Booker loses throne
- WinSteve Austin
WWE SmackDown (Supermarket Brawl) · Dec 13, 2001
Unsanctioned brawl segment · Booker T and Austin brawl through a grocery store — iconic comedy segment
- WinGoldberg
WCW Thunder · Aug 2000
WCW Title — later reign · Booker T beats Goldberg in WCW title match during the InVasion build
- LossTriple H
WrestleMania XIX · Mar 30, 2003
World Heavyweight Championship · HHH wins — Booker T loses in controversial finish
- WinThe Rock
WCW Nitro · 2001
WCW Championship — InVasion era · Booker T in WCW/WWF crossover storyline with The Rock during Invasion
| Result | Opponent | Event | Date | Stipulation | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Triple H | WrestleMania XIX | Mar 30, 2003 | World Heavyweight Championship | HHH retains — widely considered one of WM's most controversial finishes (many felt Booker should have won) |
| Win | Big Show & Kane (tag) | WrestleMania X8 | Mar 17, 2002 | Tag — w/ Edge | Booker T & Edge win tag titles — cross-brand WM match |
WrestleMania record: 1-1
Can you dig it?
How Booker T won — and lost
The Scissors Kick was one of WCW's most visually impactful finishers — a high-impact axe kick that Booker T combined with the Spinaroonie to create one of wrestling's most crowd-pleasing finish sequences.
5×
WCW World Champion — most WCW title reigns of his era alongside Goldberg and Sting
WM XIX
HHH vs. Booker T — one of wrestling's most debated WM finishes; most fans felt Booker T should have won
Supermarket Brawl
Austin vs. Booker T grocery store segment (Dec 13, 2001 SmackDown) — one of WWE's most beloved comedy segments
Commentator
Current WWE SmackDown commentary team member — second career as a broadcaster
Title history
Championship history
Chapter by chapter
Career timeline
Pro debut
Begins career in Texas independents. Early career largely unremarkable — becomes a tag team specialist in WCW with his brother Stevie Ray.
Harlem Heat formed
Teams with brother Stevie Ray as Harlem Heat in WCW — becomes one of the tag division's most dominant teams, winning the WCW Tag Championship 10 times.
Singles breakthrough — WCW TV Title
Breaks out as a singles star, winning the WCW Television Championship and establishing himself as a credible mid-card to upper-mid-card performer.
5× WCW World Heavyweight Champion
Wins the WCW World title five times — cementing himself as one of WCW's top performers in its final years.
WWF InVasion
Crosses to WWF after WCW purchase — one of the WCW stars integrated into the InVasion angle. The grocery store brawl with Austin (December 13, 2001 SmackDown) becomes immediately iconic.
WM XIX title shot
vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XIX — one of WM's most debated finishes; most observers felt Booker T should have won.
King Booker — WWE Champion
Wins the King of the Ring tournament and rebrands as 'King Booker' with Queen Sharmell. Wins the WWE Championship — his only WWE title reign.
TNA / retirement from in-ring
Brief TNA run; transitions to commentary. Now a permanent member of WWE SmackDown commentary team.
WWE Hall of Fame
Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2013.
Personas & alter egos
Many names, one legend
Essential viewing
Signature matches
vs. Goldberg — WCW Thunder (2000)
WCW World Heavyweight Championship · August 2000
Booker T defeating Goldberg during WCW's final year was a genuine surprise — and demonstrated that Booker had grown into one of WCW's most credible world champions.
vs. Triple H — WrestleMania XIX (2003)
World Heavyweight Championship · March 30, 2003
The match most fans remember for the wrong reason — HHH retaining. But Booker T's performance was exceptional throughout, and the crowd wanted him to win loudly. One of WM's most controversial outcomes.
vs. Steve Austin — Supermarket Brawl (SmackDown, 2001)
Segment · December 13, 2001
Austin and Booker T brawling through a grocery store — knocking over displays, fighting into the parking lot, milking the comedy throughout. One of WWE's most beloved non-match segments ever filmed.
Greatest feuds
Rivalries that defined an era
Triple H
WM XIX World title match — one of WM's most debated finishes. Booker T was arguably the more over performer; HHH retained in a controversial decision.
The Rock
WCW/InVasion crossover matches in 2001 — including The Rock defending WWE interests against WCW champion Booker T. A rare inter-promotional programme of genuine star power.
Steve Austin
The grocery store brawl (2001) — not a traditional rivalry but one of the most memorable Austin segments of his final active years.
Tag teams & alliances
Partnerships & relationships
Tag partner (brother)
Stevie Ray — real-life brother; Harlem Heat tag team, 10× WCW Tag Champions together.
Manager
Queen Sharmell (wife) — on-screen Queen during King Booker era; real-life wife since 2005.
Current role
WWE SmackDown color commentator — second career as a broadcaster alongside Michael Cole.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How many world titles did Booker T win?
Booker T won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship 5 times and the WWE Championship once (as King Booker in 2006), plus the World Heavyweight Championship once on SmackDown. He also won the WCW World Tag Team Championship 10 times with his brother Stevie Ray as Harlem Heat.
What is the Austin vs. Booker T supermarket brawl?
On December 13, 2001, Steve Austin and Booker T had an unsanctioned brawl that started backstage and spilled into a nearby grocery store on SmackDown. The segment — featuring both men fighting through store aisles, knocking over displays, and brawling into the parking lot — became one of WWE's most beloved comedy segments.
Why is WrestleMania XIX controversial for Booker T?
Triple H vs. Booker T for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XIX (March 30, 2003) ended with HHH retaining in a manner many fans and critics felt was wrong — Booker T had been built up strongly and the crowd was behind him. The loss is cited as one of WrestleMania's most controversial and disappointing outcomes.
What is the Spinaroonie?
The Spinaroonie is Booker T's signature pose — a spinning breakdance move performed on the mat after a big win. It became one of wrestling's most recognized crowd-pleasing moments and was regularly performed by Booker T throughout his career.
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