Booker T Talks His Thoughts On Alexa Bliss, His Favorite People In WWE, AJ Styles, Advice For Naomi
On episode 88 of Heated Conversations: Hosted By Booker T, the five-time world champion talked about WWE SmackDown Live's women's division, his favorite people in WWE, and whether he thought AJ Styles would ever be WWE World Champion.
During the podcast, Booker T had high praise for Alexa Bliss, professing that Bliss is "perfect for the job" of WWE SmackDown Women's Champion. According to Booker T, 'Five Feet Of Fury' emotes well as a heel and is technically sound.
"I like Bliss! Do you know what? Bliss is like one of those little TNT firecrackers. Do you know what I mean. You hold it in your hand. Bang! You'll blow your hand off. But she is awesome. Technically sounds. She goes out there and performs at a high level. She has a lot of, she brings a lot of emotion to the table when she works from a heel perspective, from a worker's perspective. From a performer's perspective, she brings it."
As for Nikki Bella, Booker T suggested that her time to be in title contention has come and gone.
"I mean, Nikki [has] been there. She [has] done that. Yeah, [she is the biggest star in SmackDown's women's division], but the thing is, the Edsel was a good car in its day."
On the subject of Naomi, Booker T claimed that she is highly athletic, but needs to show more emotion in the ring.
"Naomi needs to put in time. Do you know what I mean? I really like Naomi, but the thing is, Naomi has a whole lot of athleticism. Do you know what I mean? She can go out there and perform at a very, very high level."
Booker T continued, "she [has] got a lot of talent, but when I look at a performer, I look at their overall range, just like a musician. I've got to see exactly what you can do. If you can just sing, you're not a musician. Do you know what I'm saying? That doesn't make you a musician! If you can play the piano and if you can pick the saxophone and the flute up and play, and you jump on the drums, bop, bop, bop, that's what I look for in an entertainer. I look to see how well-rounded they are and Naomi is good, but her psychology, the reason she goes out there and [does] stuff. She does not bring me any emotion and make me feel when I watch her perform. She's just doing the moves."
On his favorite people at WWE, Booker T named legendary cameraman Stu, 'The Superstar Of All Superstars' Chris Jericho, and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
"Probably a brother named Stu. Stu's a camera guy. Stu's a guy who gave my daughter a blanket when she was an itty-bitty girl. She's six years old now and she still carries that blanket around with her everywhere she goes. And Stu's an awesome, awesome dude as far as favorite people in WWE. I've got a lot of friends that have definitely been along the journey, like Chris Jericho. Very, very good friend of mine. I try not to call the boss or anything a friend because he is the boss. Do you know what I mean? But awesome, awesome mentor that I've learned a whole lot from over my 16 years now being a part of WWE."
According to Booker T, he always knew AJ Styles had the potential to be world champion wherever he worked. Also, the WWE Hall Of Famer suggested that Styles has overcome his southern accent, which seems to work well with his heel persona.
"The guy [does] not do anything but deliver each and every time that he's out there in the ring. AJ Styles has proved that he is a player in the WWE and I hope we see AJ Styles in the WWE for quite some time." Booker T continued, "I thought AJ Styles had the potential to be champion no matter wherever he went. I actually had a chance to perform with AJ down in TNA and I thought he was an awesome performer. I got a chance to see AJ Styles trying to break into the [professional wrestling] business right there at the end of WCW, just trying to do anything to get in and he was an awesome, phenomenal talent even back then, just waiting to get a shot. Everybody always [says] guys with that southern accent don't do very well in the WWE environment, but you can't even really tell AJ is from the south. It seems like he [has] figured it out, how to drop the accent a little bit."
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