Booker T Talks WWE Wanting Him To Carry Steve Austin's Bags After Injuring His Hand, His Response
On episode 85 of Heated Conversations: Hosted By Booker T, WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T and former WWE producer Bruce Prichard talked about Booker T breaking 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's hand during his WWE debut. Apparently, Prichard was told by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to have Booker T carrying Austin's bags. Despite refusing to do the job, Booker T went on to have a very successful run with the world's largest professional wrestling promotion.
According to Prichard, McMahon told him to get Booker T to carry Austin's luggage after the former Harlem Heat member accidentally broke 'Stone Cold”s hand.
"I remember calling Booker late at night. I had gotten a phone call from our owner, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, who suggested that I call Book to suggest to Book that he should call Steve [and] make sure Steve is alright and he should be at Steve's door to carry Steve's bags the next day at the airport. And so, I'm like, 'let me get this straight. You want a fat white guy to call the new black guy and ask him to meet the star white guy and carry his bags through the airport? Okay.' So obviously, that went over like a fart in church... He did and that's kind of the testament to our friendship as well. I was straight up with Book and I just didn't pull any punches and I just told him how it was, man, and where it was coming from and why. And he said, 'okay, great. I ain't carrying nobody's bag.' And he didn't and I respect him for that. And he respects me for being the one to have to make the call and do my job."
In Booker T's view, Prichard suggesting that he carry Austin's bags may have been a test.
"My debut in WWE, where I had to make my debut coming over the rail and dropping 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin on the table. I find out later that Austin supposedly had broken his hand. Bruce Prichard calls me and tells me that, 'hey man, you broke Steve Austin's hand your first night out.' I'm like, 'oh, what? You're kidding me. You're not serious, are you?' 'You broke his hand, you know?' 'Give me his phone number. Let me give him a call and apologize. I didn't mean to do that.' 'No, maybe you should just meet him in his hotel in the morning and pack his bags to the arena.'"
Booker T continued, "maybe it was a test. Do you know what I mean? Maybe it was a test. Do you know what I mean? I passed it, obviously, with flying colors because I ain't packing nobody's bags. You can forget about that. 100% of the time, you speak up. 99%, you keep your mouth shut. We ain't packing no bags, 100%. Do you feel me? So I'm glad I was able to step up and stand up for myself. I saw Steve Austin the following couple of days and he didn't say nothing to me about it. A bunch of them suckers were scared of me anyway, man. They didn't want no trouble."
Click here to check out the show. If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Heated Conversations: Hosted By Booker T with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.