Booker T had been a phenomenon over the years, not only in WWE and WCW, but also in IMPACT Wrestling. He worked for the company back when it was still called TNA and left a huge mark both in and out the ring.
However, his parting from TNA in 2009 was far from cordial.
In the latest episode of his podcast The Hall of Fame, Booker T revealed how he felt insulted and “punished” by the way TNA wanted him to leave.
Booker T refused to job to Matt Morgan
For the 2009 Bound for Glory event, the initial stipulation involved Kurt Angle as a distraction for him, allowing Morgan to pick up a win. Booker T was fine with that.
“…We were gonna interject Kurt Angle into this angle, you working Matt Morgan, Kurt Angle come out, distraction, Matt hits you with the boom, the big gimmick, 1-2-3-, boom, we get Matt Morgan over. I was like, ‘Yeah, alright, I’m cool with that, no big deal.'” H/T 411MANIA
But later he was told to straight up lose to Morgan in a short six-minute match. He thought he deserved something better on his last PPV with the company.
“I can’t remember who it was, might have been Pat Buck or somebody like that, I can’t remember who it was, but I remember them coming to me and telling me, ‘Hey Book, we changed the finish up on the Matt Morgan match, Kurt Angle’s not going to come out now and do anything. Matt is just going to beat you right in the middle of the ring, maybe a six minute match and we’ll just move forward from there.’”
The 5-time WCW Champion stood his ground and refused to simply job to Morgan. But he felt upset and disheartened at the sudden decision change – “It felt like it was a punishment”.
TNA agreed to go back to the previous finish involving Kurt Angle. But Booker could not agree to that anymore either because of the disrespect. In the show that was aired, he left the match on a stretcher. Later he made a one-off return at a live event replacing A.J. Styles, who is wanted back at IMPACT Wrestling by the Good Brothers.
There was no heat with Matt Morgan
Booker clarified in the podcast that his decision had nothing to do with Matt Morgan. He revealed that he had a camaraderie with Morgan all along and there was never any friction between the two.
After the incident, Morgan came up to him to clear things up if there were any issues between them. Booker assured him there weren’t any.
