Booker T Addresses “Not Putting Matt Morgan Over” in TNA

This is a segment from "The Hall of Fame with Booker T and Brad Gilmore" airing on halloffamepodca...
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[@mringram]

TNA failed Matt Morgan

[@johndamms3567]

I do the spin-a-roonie during some of my matches and the crowd loves it. Thank you for letting me "borrow" your move.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Anytime!

[@ChrisPTender]

TNA back then was always tons of fun to watch. I really hope Impact can regrow into something bigger in the coming years. They seem to be getting something good going right now. Hopefully they can keep this momentum going until (and after) crowds come back.

[@Dewaynesite1]

TNA was cool and they actually gave wrestling fans something to remember for years. I TNA did have good content even in 2014 when their stage was taken by the network, and 2015-2017 also had some good matches and storylines with EC3, Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and etc. Impact should've held their talent and paid them and not blow their money on wrestlers they didn't really need but focused on their home grown talent.

[@King_Kunta]

Booker T you really a legend OG! I was born in 89 and my mom had me going to bed at 8 on school nights back in the 90s. You used to be wrestling for the tag titles and the wcw tv title back then so I could see your matches. When I got older my bed time became later and I seen you rise through the ranks. Easily one of the GOATS OG and you killed it for brothas 💪🏿. Thanks for all you did fam!

[@The_Reverse777]

TNA failed Matt Morgan. Matt Morgan had the look, strength, wrestling ability and his mic skills weren't that bad (maybe his weakest skill but I can see it getting stronger). He should of been champion. Especially his finisher fit his perfectly (the carbon footprint). It legitimately looked like it would knock someone out instantly. I can picture all the good feuds he could of had against Abyss, Samoa Joe, Styles, Angle and much more. He had all that potential and TNA some how screwed it up.

[@michaelsexton70]

I think it was 100% his personality or mostly, his heart was never really in it. I loved everything about him except.. Him. Also, he has an honors degree in public speaking and yes, his mic skills weren't good..

[@michaelsexton70]

@RoboravI think he always consodered wrestling as just a pit stop on the way up to better things.

[@miket2215]

Morgan was slow and rigid even for a big man and after his knee injuries, sadly lost a huge amount of his power. That elevator drop move he used to do was awesome. In his prime, he was arguably good enough to put over.

[@chrissixxx8241]

Didnt his only title win came from a show impact helped create in india

[@chrissixxx8241]

@Roborav Matt's a better mayor then wrestler for sure

[@dentakleen5204]

Booker T is the man. He came into the WWE with the World Heavyweight Championship and United States Championship.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Can ya dig it?

[@SkeetabooTV]

dentakleen Booker Two Belts

[@bigmanolo26]

Had they not try to play Booker T and everyone would've gotten what they wanted

[@Davis84396]

Who says booker is telling the truth?

[@GorillaGlue42]

I don’t wonder why Booker didn’t put Matt Morgan over, I wonder why TNA didn’t put Matt Morgan over!

[@thaglacierboy]

Booker T got some Kimbo Slice action going on lmao

[@CrackstationFilms]

Why Booker T looking like Kimbo slice

[@Lionheartx675]

"That's not gonna work for me brother"

[@Pharaohdefowl]

I wish the DNA OF TNA WAS THE TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BACK IN 2000S BC I WASNT HAPPY WHEN HE NEVER WON THE TNA WORLD TITLE I WAS PISSED AND STILL AM!!!

[@Pharaohdefowl]

Didnt really say anything bout putting matt Morgan over the DNA OF TNA thst was a good gimmick he was only a tag champion with crimson which was okay it be better if he actually was the tna world champion

[@ReeseMan]

Booker T is the man

[@RealityOfWrestling]

✊🏽

[@themadviking5746]

Wouldn't put Morgan over , went back to the WWE got squashed by mustache era Cody and Swagger both green horn rookies . funny he was super cool doing that .

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Actually put Matt over before this. It was TNA trying to “Punish” Booker and change the finish to a 5 minute squash match after Booker walked out of a match where fans over seas were throwing in bottles and TNA didn’t hire any security for the event.

[@RockApe_]

@@RealityOfWrestling where is the match where he put Matt Morgan over? It never happened.

[@PhatGirlLuvr68Comix]

Booker "That ain't gonna happen" T

[@RealityOfWrestling]

😂

[@NoNonsense77]

Yeah, I just heard Booker got upset and then wouldn't lose to Matt. Then tries to say it had nothing to do with Matt. If they had asked him to lose to Angle he would have cause Kurt was a bigger star and he thought Matt was too low in the company. As people thought of him but people helped Booker and he wouldn't help others. He didn't think Matt was worth helping is the reality. He could have made it where anything distracted him for a second and the loss wouldn't have hurt him and may have helped Matt. I hate when guys act all saintly when it is obvious they just were just in it for themselves not helping others. Really Booker helped no one. He just took. He is funny and entertaining but in reality as a talent he just took and never really gave when it came to getting others over.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Booker lost to Matt Morgan on a TV tag match a month earlier. Booker also helped Matt at his school while he was still in TNA. Bookers known for taking younger wrestlers under his wing so not sure where you’ve getting your information from,.. You should ask wrestlers on Twitter if they ever heard of Booker not wanting to put talent over :)

[@RoyalSoul666]

I think all African-American wrestlers should stand up for themselves and mistreated wrestlers as well. Thank you Mr. Booker T

[@roodypoochrisw]

What the hell does this have to do with race?

[@RealityOfWrestling]

✊🏾

[@Romeowilson2323]

@Jay Bradley Bobby Lashley has potential in my opinion but wwe keeps playing him.

[@Hakeem990]

@@Romeowilson2323 Bobby yes but new day are embarrassing

[@mpi9328]

You racist

[@EddieMak1]

Matt Morgan was athletic and was taken advantage of. He should of been a champion at least once.

[@growing.grounds4054]

Yoooo I notice that about you book I remember you told kane " no one makes and example outta Booker t " and yo meant that I many ways ! I dig it

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Real talk

[@REALINCARNATE]

Well first of all the guy has 2 first names

[@RealityOfWrestling]

😂😂

[@wyatthankins2544]

😂

[@mr.perfect8150]

Never trust a man with two first names

[@mr.perfect8150]

@Luiz Rosario never trust a man with two last names especially if one of thems a womens

[@orichalcos6666]

Luiz Rosario callate wei de seguro le vas a las chivas

[@WillieJoyce.]

do you think impact are close to returning to the tna golden era 2006-2014 ? they seem to be turning a corner

[@antucoblack2652]

Not even close. Are they even on TV?

[@TheBlackNostalgiaNerd]

@@antucoblack2652 yeah they are on tv and there last ppv was number one trending on twitter

[@antucoblack2652]

@@TheBlackNostalgiaNerd Ah, I forgot how important Twitter is to the world (no sarcasm, but legit sadness, lol)

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Shows have been better but without fans it’s still very hard to judge

[@faz6877]

I don't consider the time with Hogan part of the "golden era" of TNA

[@jamiemixxismjohnson4193]

I can't go for that! No can do! In Hall & Oates voice

[@RealityOfWrestling]

😂😂

[@tyquanrainey6039]

TNA dropping the ball as usual, Matt Morgan was a possible main eventer, but some of the storylines they put him, were ridiculous. #BookerTTheIcon

[@orichalcos6666]

like withc scotty steiner

[@ickbar]

Matt Morgan had all the tools, but just didn't connect. TNA certainly didn't help with creative decisions.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Agreed

[@atikulislam6359]

Booker T was absolutely awful on TNA. He seems to not care enough for the company.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Was just so unorganized and zero direction so just had fun since the company wasnt even trying either 😂

[@Superman_305]

Matt Morgan's nickname was the blueprint and that's what tna should've made him the company's blueprint because he was an awesome and athletic wrestler who had a ton of upside and potential and like the wwe did with drew McIntyre in his first run in the wwe tna dropped and lost the ball with not making matt morgan the face of tna from the beginning he should've be the face of tna because he deserved to be.

[@hotman718]

I understand Booker T not wanting to lose in that fashion, especially Book being the legend he is.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Just didn’t makes sense and changed last minute

[@Voysh2Voysh69]

Booker out here looking like Kimbo Slice with the epic beard and the swole shoulders! 💪🏼

[@lalberts]

I’ve never disliked Matt Morgan at all but I’ve never considered him a main event material in all reality. If he got to get the Legends/TV title and feuded with Booker, and other big guys in the mid card, it would have made a lot of sense and strap might have actually meant something. But that’s not how it went down.

[@Toobbaa]

Lashley vs Brock 📚 it.

[@tmage23]

I think the only person who actually thought Matt Morgan had something other than a body was Jim Cornette.

[@Will_kid_cortez]

You aren't wrong. I still don't understand why JC loves that guy

[@TheShadowBrigade]

Well you're wrong. I know it's a trendy to hate on giants but Matt Morgan had the potential to be World Champion. The dude had the look, the in ring skills (compared to other giants) and in general a commanding presence about him. He's one of those missed opportunities for both WWE and TNA.

[@knightshousegames]

It's almost like we should all collectively ignore Jim Cornette. The man thinks he knows everything about wrestling, but any time something goes horribly wrong on his watch, he has a million excuses why it was everyone's fault but his. Ask Ring of Honor. He also thinks women shouldn't take bumps, and that racist jokes are OK. Perhaps we just leave that dinosaur in the mesozoic era where he belongs.

[@WingsofHistory]

They should have had security to keep the stars like booker safe while they are focused on wrestling their matches.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

💯

[@LifeAfterDeathTube]

Matt Margan

[@ryanbrutally7515]

Booker should have put Matt Morgan over and you know it

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Matt understood why and we are cool to this day. Even got him a huge payday over seas gig right after. You can’t let people take advantage of you and “punish” you when you know you’re right.

[@asokahanderson122]

Why put someone over with no build in 6 minutes?That would’ve made Booker look weak as hell, since he was in a feud with Angle. It would just be stupid .

[@RockApe_]

@@asokahanderson122 he wasn’t in a feud with Angle. Do people have amnesia? The hostilities with him and Kurt got wrapped up months before this. During this time Kurt was the one feuding with Matt. Booker was in a tag team program with Scott Steiner.

[@Michael-pt8pk]

KING BOOKAHHH

[@dejesusjason9936]

Nah see TNA ain’t about to do my man Booker T like that. Good for you for standing up for yourself like that.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

You know it! Can’t let someone disrespects you

[@samoanjoseph1457]

Can somebody look it up, was this incident before or after they had Matt lose the tag titles to The Band?

[@mikeparrott8304]

Booker is one of my favourite wrestlers of all time. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[@doubles7533]

Booker has to remember that there was a time in his career when he was younger, that a veteran was asked to put him over that probably didn't want to. Booker is a legend but this sounds incredibly selfish.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Booker actually put Matt over earlier in the month so had nothing to do with Matt or putting him over. Was TNA changing the finish and making it a 5-6 minute match as a “punishment” and not going to get punished for something you’re not wrong about :)

[@doubles7533]

@Marcus K I'm not finding any match anywhere where Booker put Matt over

[@RockApe_]

@@RealityOfWrestling Booker T never put Matt Morgan over earlier in the month where is this fictional story from? They have NEVER had a match together and the only times they did it was a tag team match in which Booker T and Steiner defeated Abyss and Matt Morgan. Twice. Booker couldn’t even recall dropping the legends championship to AJ Styles. Fair enough you want to bury TNA and throw shade at them but you seriously can’t remember dropping a championship to AJ freaking styles? Not to mention it was only a decade ago. Questionable.

[@Dakatari]

Booker T stood his ground on management this day for sure with TNA/Impact. But were was his morals during this angle and later on match against Triple H and WWE kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpCudIutjLJsd9U

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Completely different circumstances. The WWE angle with a TV script we all agreed on to create a buzz and make people talk no different than any other movie or TV Show talking about hot topics and wasn’t a “Punishment”. TNA tried to change the match to make me look back as a punishment for something I didn’t do and stood up to it.

[@Dakatari]

@@RealityOfWrestling Buzz.. Huh? This segment only reminded African-Americans on how they're viewed in society by Caucasian Americans.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Lamingus Maytubbie would have loved for a different end to that story but will never let one match and 3 weeks of a storyline over ride over 30+ title runs and being the first African-American grand slam champion in history. So I think we won at the end :)

[@Dakatari]

@@RealityOfWrestling It's kinda how Booker T was so willing to forgive Hulk Hogan for his racist comments. But his counterparts Kofi and Titus wasn't so willing, that alone tells that world alot about Booker.. So I guess we have to agree to disagree.

[@joshingram071]

Hell WWE didn't see much in Matt Morgan between 03-05.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Shame

[@nicksoapdish157]

If you think about it, what happened with Booker T and Matt Morgan is a lot like Stone Cold and Brock Lesnar in 2002. Rather than make an interesting story behind it and make a large feud between Matt Morgan and Booker t and have Matt Morgan come out on top, they tried to just put them in a match together with no build and just have Matt squash Booker which would of been bad for business.

[@FernandoGarcia-rl6gj]

Well sounded like they wanted book to loose in good fashion & have him fued with Kurt angle..it's book that kinda messed it up for himself by not wanting to do that finish so they altered the finish to a shittier finish for book and that's when he decided to cut ties lol idk man TNA sucks ass but sounds like both parties screwed up on this one not just TNA

[@RealityOfWrestling]

It was Booker’s last 2 weeks in the company already and was wrapping up his feud with Kurt. Zero reason to even be wrestling Matt unless unless it involved Kurt.

[@RockApe_]

@@RealityOfWrestling wasn’t Booker T tag team champion with Scott Steiner at the time? Matt Morgan was feuding with Kurt Angle at the time. Kurt and Booker t weren’t feuding at the time what the hell? Booker’s last few months in the company he was in a tag team with Steiner. Matt Morgan was being groomed to face Kurt at Bound for glory not Booker t. You think TNA would leave Kurt Angle off the card so Booker T could take his spot instead? That’s not even what happened since Kurt ended up winning the match and beating Morgan anyway.

[@studentofknowledge3367]

The DNA of TNA Matt Morgan

[@mauriceharper1]

Matt Morgan just didn't have what it takes to be a good wrestler.

[@epayne6]

Every wrestler in the WWE locker room needs to hear this. They need to understand, they have the right to say no. All the screwy finishes, 30sec squash matches, and 'must work during the Pandemic' nonsense the WWE puts its ppl through must be taking a toll. Sometimes walking away is the best option.

[@tmage23]

WWE still has significant financial leverage over its talent - even with other alternatives like AEW and New Japan there's no guarantee that they'll be interested in you - especially now with everything kind of shut down due to the pandemic. There needs to be a shift in the wrestling landscape where more companies can compete financially with the big companies.

[@epayne6]

@@tmage23 Total Agreement! 👍

[@LilKray4556]

Everybody doesn't have the clout or respect of Booker T. He earned his right to say no.

[@epayne6]

@@LilKray4556 I kinda agree with this, but I gotta cry Bullshit on it too. You don't "earn" the right to say no. EVERYBODY has the right to say no. To Anything. Especially at thier job. Whether you're the 20 yr veteran or the lowest person on the totem pole, sometimes, for the sake of your health/sanity, you just have to say no and walk away, despite the consequences. You don't have to "earn" that.

[@LilKray4556]

@@epayne6 This is true I agree but what I'm saying is, a lot of wrestlers ate shit and took gimmicks or finishes they didn't agree with to pay dues starting out. This doesn't mean get degraded or disrespected but that's just how life is. You take a few dues so you can grow into dictating your own future.

[@ny2979]

Booker earned his stripes and deserved the match the way he wanted it

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Honestly if they would have asked to put Matt over from the start wouldn’t have been an issue, but trying to make it a “Punishment” just wasn’t gonna happen.

[@jconny65]

"not gonna happen" lmao

[@andressvelezz]

He was over but if dont put him on tv or give him rivalries tna failed to capitalize Matt would get a pop when he would come out plus that angle of him invading that hulk hogan's shop was great its a shame but dont blame Booker for not doing the match TNA dropped the ball

[@TheBlackNostalgiaNerd]

Matt morgan and monty brown was 2 guys TNA really dropped the ball on

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Two extremely talented guys

[@brianwatts5185]

God I love Book (no homo)!!!

[@seanmartin354]

Ive seen Booker put over many young wrestlers so I don't blame him for saying F TNA

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Had zero to do with Matt. He knows that :)

[@NoNonsense77]

Who? Where? Not on national or worldwide tv. Not when Booker was trying to get himself over when he was in his prime. He only lost to stars bigger than himself.

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Brent B Just looked up his TNA recorded and these are the younger stars that pinned Booker T on TV or PPV: Magness, James Storm, AJ Styles, Samoan Joe, Christopher Daniels & Xavier woods all within a year and a half....

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Brent B not sure where the idea of him not losing comes from because Booker has always lost more than he’s won and had changed finishes to put guys over.

[@antonymarjeram576]

Booker would have put him over just not job to him he's a veteran who knows business and if tna would have let Booker have some creative input they could have had a best of series for the legends title and Booker would have made morgan look like a contender for the TNA heavyweight title

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Yeah was just handled poorly from management. Never had an issue putting over young talent.

[@dracopaul8958]

Matt Morgan..hes a big guy

[@Hakeem990]

Booker should be working behind the scenes in wwe be it producer or trainer

[@RealityOfWrestling]

He’s a trainer at his school Reality of Wrestling and WWE used a lot of his students as a developmental :)

[@ECW5320]

Were there ever plans for Booker to be world champion?

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Small talks but my goal there was to get over the younger talent.

[@ECW5320]

@@RealityOfWrestling Selfless guy Book, never change.

[@YuvrajSingh-wx6rx]

I wish to see Triple H address why he did not put over Booker T at WrestleMania 19. Triple H, is kind of, like a role model to me, but that one thing , I can't understand..

[@RealityOfWrestling]

HHH wasn’t Booking at that time and wasn’t his call. That’s all on the writers at the time

[@rollandcurtis874]

It's simple, they thought that Booker T was a SUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[@RealityOfWrestling]

😂

[@milotin2755]

Booker what happened im not checking out the beard that shine no more

[@dareason7581]

Did not Vince wanted to do this to Austin with Brock Lesnar? Squash Match on RAW? Lol

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself when you know something is wrong

[@bigmanolo26]

Yup... that why he walked out and left. He said there was no build up to or anything like that and he said he wasn't gonna do it

[@faz6877]

I've never heard it was a squash match. Vince wanted Austin to put over Lesner on Raw with no build up, advertising. But I don't recall it being described as a squash match.

[@5LilJoker5]

What advice you got for a green wrestler? 🤔 1 yr in is all I got

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Find a school with a trainer who’s been where you want to go. WWE, Impact, japan etc etc.

[@5LilJoker5]

@@RealityOfWrestling bet, im on the right track then. Thank you

[@jolemays3218]

Booker t ain't doing the J.O.B for 7ft sucka

[@RealityOfWrestling]

Not for no reason as a “punishment” it’s not going down like that 😂

[@jolemays3218]

@@RealityOfWrestling big FACTS

[@j.b.595]

He should be pissed he got a stuttering gimmick in wwe.

[@SlumdoggVII]

The name Main Event Mafia is just fkmg terrible lmao