(April 6, 2002) Hello, wrestling fans and welcome back for another injection of Ring Rust. Today I want to talk about Booker Tio Huffman or as he's called in the ring Booker T. But before I start there let me just take a minute and talk about the years biggest Wrestling PPV event, Wrestlemania 18.

WM18 turned into being a great show with many good wrestling matches, and the crowd, man those wacky Canadians love their wrestling. I never ever thought I'd see a crowd give the Rock so much heat, especially since he was supposed to be the good guy in his match against Hollywood Hogan. I can't believe I'm saying this but Hogan still can put on a good show. Some things at WM18 were very predictable while others surprised me. Please Vince, no more live bands performing versions of the wrestler's theme songs, it sucked balls. Will Kane ever get the jobbing monkey off his back? Speaking of monkeys, this here monkey got 7 out of 10 right on my predictions and should have had 9 out of 10. Kane should have won he match against Angle, and Hall was supposed to win until the whiney ass Austin cried about how he didn't like the direction of his character and demanded he won instead of Hall. Of course Vince changed the plans and let Austin win. Vince, who's running your company you or your wrestlers?

Enough of the backstage politics lets get down to the business of Booker T. To those that don't know, Booker T has held the following titles: WCW Champion (5); WCW U.S. Champion (1); WCW Television Champion (6); WCW Tag Team Champion (11); World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champion (1). Pretty impressive huh? The answer to that question is yes and no. While this list of Championships seems long, Booker T has only held the WWF Tag Team Titles since coming into the WWF, and he only held that that title for a mere eleven days. Yes you will say he carried the WCW Championship into the WWF but come on what did they let him do with it. While in WCW Booker T was a fighting champion and a fan favorite. Booker was a big time baby-face, but what did the WWF do when they got a hold of him? They made him a heel and for no reason at all. Worse then that they made him a freaking joke. The once crowd favorite and cunning Booker T that wouldn't back down from any challenge was turned into a stupid coward and racial stereotype. The man that finished people off with the "Book-End" now would rather break dance with the "Spin-O-Rooney" than win his match. Clean wins were gone from the WWF's version of Booker T, from here on out the former 5 time WCW Champion needed help to win his matches.

Why does the former champ need help to win his matches can't a heel win clean anymore? In the WWF's eyes the answer would be no. Booker T couldn't even win back his WCW Belt from the Rock in a 2 on 1 match. The WWF seemed to be telling the world that the former WCW Champ is nothing but a chump. Booker T went from the top of the wrestling world with the WCW Championship, to the bottom with a horrible Shampoo Commercial feud with Edge by Wrestlemania of this year.

I really think the crowd would've liked Booker T if the WWF didn't try and push him as a heel. Imagine this baby-face Booker T comes in the WWF as the WCW Champion feuds with the (then heel) Kurt Angle. Let's say Angle wins the WCW Title with the help of (then heel and running buddy) "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Rock comes back and feuds with Austin, which would naturally team up Rock/Booker T (Faces) vs. Austin/Angle (Heels). Think about how over he would be. Once anyone teams up with the Rock his or her stock rises, and Booker's would have risen even higher.

I think its time to do one of two things with Booker T. Either turn him into a face again and cut out the comedy routine. Or if the guy's gonna be a Heel make him a Mega-Heel by giving him clean wins over high tier WWF Superstars. Either path would take Booker T back to World Title gold one last time, to find out if his star can shine in the WWF. I really hope the fact that Booker is black is not keeping the man down, but at times one has to wonder.

Till next time you marks.

-Scott