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WWE's talented Booker thrived on a tag team, now shows much flair working alone in ring
By Scott Fishman Miami Herald
Published on Thursday, Aug 02, 2007
After taking off time to recuperate from nagging injuries, World Wrestling Entertainment's King Booker left the SmackDown! kingdom with Queen Sharmell to invade Raw.
He was sent to Raw during the show's 3-hour draft special. A talented wrestler who made a very successful transition from prominent tag-team glory to singles' stardom, he is ready to conquer new quests.
''I'm a soldier,'' said Booker, who will battle Jeff Hardy when WWE presents the Biggest Party of Summer at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron.
''Just give me my gun, and I'll go into battle. It doesn't matter if I'm on Raw or SmackDown! I really don't want to be on ECW. If I got drafted to ECW, I probably would have resigned to be honest.
''Being drafted back to Raw is a great thing. I'm looking forward to going in there and just continuing what I do, and that's wrestle, performing and giving the crowd what they want to see.''
At 42, King Booker has done just about everything he set to accomplish and more. However, having his off-screen wife and on-screen Queen Sharmell by his side has reignited the competitive fire within him.
''Her and I are a team,'' said Booker, who married Sharmell, a former Nitro Girl dancer and performer for World Championship Wrestling, in 2005. ''Business is always business, and personal is always personal. When we are at our job, we know we have a job to do. We do it, leave it at the job and don't take it home with us.
''When we're at home, it's totally different. It is from a different standpoint.''
Along with his constant road schedule, Booker helps run a wrestling school with his brother and former tag-team partner Stevie Ray near his home in Houston. The training academy runs events under the Pro Wrestling Alliance banner.
Students not only obtain needed and necessary experience in front of crowds but also watch first-hand WWE superstars like Matt Hardy, past superstars like Too Cold Scorpio and TNA's Team 3D (formerly ECW and WWE's Dudley Boys).
King Booker wants to give back.
''Wrestling took me places I never imagined,'' said Booker, the youngest of eight children who didn't let growing up in a rough neighborhood deter him from his goals. ''I never dreamed of being a wrestler. It was just something that worked out for me. I was just a neighborhood kid and nobody around was wrestling.
''It was like a hobby and an escape where I could be a different person at the moment. It wasn't about the money. It was just about having fun. Next thing you know some people call me and offer me a contract. Then it became a job, and then it became a career.
That is the way you have to look at it because you never know where it's going to take you.''
Booker's career began to take off in WCW as a member of Harlem Heat with his brother Stevie Ray. The two enjoyed 11 reigns as world tag team champions.
Women's wrestling trailblazer Sherri Martel, born Sherri Russell, helped lead the charge as their manager during successful times. Martel, a WWE Hall of Famer, passed away at age 49 on June 15.
''It's a tragic event,'' said Booker, who gave away Sherri, the bride, at her wedding. ''My mother passed just about the same age as Sherri.
''She was great. She was the catalyst and the one who made Harlem Heat who we were. She made us bigger than life. It was like she was my sister. We called her Sister Sherri, and that is pretty much what she was to us. We know Sherri is in a better place.''
As the superstar moves along to another phase of his career, the King Booker persona remains.
''I don't ever think I'll be Booker T again,'' said the king, who began his monarchy by winning the 2006 King of the Ring. ''I'm King Booker in the ring, and the people want to see me as King Booker. That character has really taken off. It has really gotten over the top that I think we're just going to keep on rolling with it and see where it goes. It's always good to have royalty around.''
Also at the Akron event, John Cena and Randy Ortonwill battle in the WWE Championship Match; Lashley will take on Umaga in a Special Challenge Match and Paul London and Brian Kendrick will fight Lance Cadeand Trevor Murdochin in a World Tag Team Championship Match.
Candice and Mickie James will face Melina and Jillian in a RAW Diva Tag Team Match; Santino Marella will take on Snitsky; Val Venis will battle Sly (Maryse) and Cody Rhodes will fight William Regal.
Those who can't get enough of King Booker can listen to his radio show Tea Time with King Booker online at the 790 Sports Animal Web site.
For information on King Booker, Queen Sharmell and the wrestling training center in Houston, go to http://www.bookertonline.com.
After taking off time to recuperate from nagging injuries, World Wrestling Entertainment's King Booker left the SmackDown! kingdom with Queen Sharmell to invade Raw.
Get the full article here.
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