Booker T Breaks Down the Future of WWE, Gaming, and Kayfabe

A Champion Off the Mat And Inside the Game

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is frying up more than just finishing moves these days; he’s voicing them. In an exclusive interview with Esports Insider (September 9, 2025), the legend revealed he’s recording commentary for upcoming video games as soon as he wraps this interview. Evidence that even wrestling royalty can hold their own in the digital arena.

Growing up, Booker was as much a kid with a controller as he was a kid chasing squared-circle glory. Now, he’s a full-on gamer: “Heck yeah, man, I’m a huge gamer,” juggling Madden, MLB, tennis during the US Open, and even wrestling games with his son

From Touchdowns to Mongols: What’s Captivated Booker

His favorite? Madden remains his go-to for its dynamic gameplay, “just numbers, pretty much really, but it’s such a dynamic game,” Esports Insider. Yet there’s another game that truly captured him: Ghost of Tsushima. The hyper-detailed landscape of samurai vs. Mongol invasion drew him “somewhere like I’ve never gone before. It’s more than a game; it’s artistry, and he’s in awe of the human brain behind it.

Kayfabe Under Fire: The Battle Between Tradition and TikTok

Booker didn’t hold back when it came to social media’s impact on wrestling. On one hand, it’s a spotlight that can elevate stars; on the other, it’s a minefield. “Everybody has an opinion on your career… they’re going to call you out and belittle you,” he warns. But the upside? Greater visibility sometimes that’s enough to land the job

This concern echoed what The Undertaker recently expressed: his disappointment at witnessing talent backstage filming TikToks instead of watching live performances. Booker backed that wholeheartedly: maintaining character integrity is critical. “If The Undertaker was ‘The Phenom’ on pay-per-view, then on TikTok as a chef… You wouldn’t buy The Undertaker the same way.” Respect the character, he urged, or risk losing it.

The New Era: Carter for Characters Over High-Flying Flair

Booker shifts the focus from flippin’ and flyin’ to bold persona and performance:

• Dominik “Dirty” Mysterio: Booker admires how Dominik lives his heel role. He’s not flashy, he’s just a wrestler, but an entertainer who “figured out what the business truly is,” Esports Insider. Can he eclipse Rey Mysterio? Booker says no and that Dominik shouldn’t try. He’s carving his own path, and the comparison isn’t needed.

• Jacob Fatu: Booker sees Fatu as a “solo artist” with world heavyweight potential. He’s charismatic, he can talk, he can look the part, he’s got the intangibles. Whether solo or in a faction, he can slay with the right script.

• Trick Williams: The rising star in NXT is, in Booker’s eyes, the future of the company. He channels Booker’s older persona down to wardrobe and lingo. “You don’t have to be the greatest wrestler in the world to be the biggest star… You just have to be a really good performer,”.

• Joe Hendry: Another performer Booker believes in, despite not being the “greatest wrestler.” His strength lies in connecting with fans reminiscent of the Attitude Era’s audience-driven energy.

Legacy Reflected: Booker’s Roots in Reality

Booker looks back fondly on his formative years:

• His TV Championship run in WCW was where he laid the groundwork of Booker T’s legacy, Saturday night defenses, and mapped momentum, a raw rise.

• He credits Hulk Hogan for advocating for Harlem Heat kicking off their legendary run, highlighting how legends lift future legends.

His philosophy? “Work for perfection.” As he learned from Vince McMahon, the mandate was always “get it done, no excuses,” a mindset Booker brought into building his own promotion and leading by example.

Reality of Wrestling: Grooming the Next Generation

Booker’s passion extends beyond personal success; he’s growing future stars through his Reality of Wrestling brand:

• The promotion now boasts 60+ talents across two shows, Rogue Platinum and Rogue Glory, with plans for a bigger venue in the next couple of years

• Roxanne Perez, once a 16-year-old trainee, is now a global WWE star like a Sakya daughter living her dream. Booker beams: “Her confidence is sky high… she works so much bigger than she actually is.” Esports Insider. Pure pride.

Generations United: Mentorship, Hype, and Vision

Booker shares his role as a mentor and hype man:

• Oba Femi: Graced with “generational talent,” Booker hypes him up backstage. Just three years in the business, yet Booker believes Oba “could have worked in the seventies, eighties, and nineties” that talent transcends era.

• Dominik again: Even though Dominik trained elsewhere, Booker admits he’s impressed. Dominik absorbs information like “a computer downloading data,” which means he would’ve been a fast learner in any camp.

Dream Matches and Unreal Opportunity

Booker envisions dream matches:

• Roman Reigns: More than just the Tribal Chief, his in-ring prowess, storytelling, and ability to elevate others make him someone Booker would’ve loved to wrestle during his prime.

• Shawn Michaels: A classic dream bout, purely for the match quality and mutual showmanship.

He also tiptoed the line on Karrion Kross & Scarlett’s release, seeing it not as an end but a moment for Kross to seize a new opportunity, an “unreal moment” that could surprise everyone.

Wrapping Up: A Visionary Voice

Booker T’s interview is more than nostalgia; it’s an intergenerational bridge. From gaming passion and character preservation to grooming tomorrow’s headliners, he blends past, present, and future.