One big thing
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T shared his thoughts on two controversial incidents featured in Netflix’s “Mr. McMahon” docuseries, offering insight into the wrestling industry’s past handling of media interactions.
The details
Booker T addressed two incidents on his “Hall of Fame” podcast:
• The 1984 altercation between wrestler David Schultz and “20/20” reporter John Stossel
• The 1985 incident involving Hulk Hogan and talk show host Richard Belzer
Schultz-Stossel incident
• Schultz slapped Stossel twice after the journalist called wrestling “fake”
• Booker T empathized with Schultz’s reaction, calling Stossel’s approach “very disrespectful”
• “I don’t blame David Schultz at all for what he did,” Booker T said
Hogan-Belzer incident
• Hogan put Belzer in a front chinlock, causing him to lose consciousness and require stitches
• Booker T suggested Hogan’s actions were excessive
• “I think you could put a guy in an Armbar and get your point across,” he stated
Why it matters
These incidents highlight the wrestling industry’s complex relationship with media and public perception in the 1980s. They also demonstrate the evolution of wrestler-media interactions and the industry’s approach to kayfabe (maintaining the illusion that professional wrestling is not staged).
The bottom line
Booker T’s comments provide a wrestler’s perspective on these controversial moments, offering insight into the industry’s mindset during a pivotal era in professional wrestling history.
What do you think about how wrestlers should handle media interactions today? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
