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, a 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, 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.
“I’m just trying to figure out what he’s talking about,” Booker T stated. “I’m black, so I’m just trying to understand if something happened to him personally… maybe he thought he should have been a bigger star in WWE. I hate that we’re still talking about this race thing. I’ve been working for the company for a long time, and I know I’ve been treated fairly for 20 years.”
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.”
Strickland is scheduled to challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at the upcoming Dynasty PPV on April 6.
