The conversation surrounding black representation in professional wrestling, particularly within WWE, has reignited following a public exchange between Swerve Strickland and Booker T. Strickland has been vocal about his concerns regarding an alleged lack of opportunities afforded to black male wrestlers on WWE’s main roster.
Booker T responded to Strickland’s comments, stating that he personally had not experienced unfair treatment during his 20-year tenure with the company. He expressed confusion regarding Strickland’s assertions, suggesting that perhaps Strickland’s perspective stemmed from a feeling of being underutilized.
Strickland, in an interview with Vlad TV, countered Booker T’s perspective by referencing a specific incident involving former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. “That’s not what happened when Vince said the N-word in front of you… that’s not being treated fairly,” Strickland argued.
He further clarified that his concerns were not solely based on personal opinion, but rather reflected a broader sentiment among WWE fans.
“My opinion. And to that statement, it’s not what I’m saying, it’s that I’m saying what people are saying. I’m saying what your audience is saying. It’s not just me talking out of my a$$. It’s what your audience has been complaining about for the better part of 2-3 years—about not seeing black talent getting singles matches on PLEs and stuff like that.”
Booker T had the following to say about the Vince-Cena segment:
“I hear people like Swerve Strickland talk about there’s not a lot of black representation on the (WWE) PLEs these days. Well, damn it, I didn’t have to worry about that in my day, I was on all of them. I was on all of the pay-per-views, alright? I was main eventing some of them as well. I don’t know what the hell he is talking about as far as that goes.
Maybe it’s a drop-off as far as talent, maybe guys need to work up to my level and really think about themselves in a position and say, ‘Hey man, let’s forget about this black thing and let’s throw it all in and see how good we are.’ Let’s do it the way I did, alright?
We ain’t got to start nothing on social media or nothing like that, let’s just see how good we are. I could have sank all the way to the bottom in WWE, just like so many others did. So many of them. More importantly, most of those guys are white guys, I’m just saying. It’s about how talented I was.
As far as he is, it’s about how talented he is. It’s about how talented every other black person that gets what they get. Don’t just throw a tag on them because they’re black. It’s ridiculous.
For him to speak on something like that and make it about that because he had a bad experience, bro, that’s like painting everybody the same way. I don’t see it that way. I don’t put myself in the category with everybody else. I just don’t.
I can tell you this: he never said that he didn’t get played. He never said that and that right there spoke volumes to me. It’s not really about what he said, I just wanted to let him know how disappointed I was in him. I just wanted to let him know how disappointed I was in him for going out there.
I’ve said it a thousand times out of one thousand times, I don’t think the skit with Vince McMahon and John Cena was a racial issue with me. I just don’t. Take it for what it’s worth.”
In the main event of tonight’s AEW Dynasty 2025 PPV, Jon Moxley defeated Swerve Strickland to retain the AEW World Championship.
“Hangman” Adam Page interfered in the match and hit Moxley with his finisher. Death Riders members then took out Hangman. The Opps (Samoa Joe, Hook, & Katsuyori Shibata) came out and brawled with Death Riders.
Strickland had Moxley beat, but the lights went off. When the lights came back on, The Young Bucks were there and laid out Strickland. Moxley then pinned Strickland to win the match.
After the show went off the air, Strickland cut a promo and said “F**k Booker T”.
You can watch it below:
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) April 7, 2025
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