The word “retire” means little to nothing in professional wrestling.
Just ask Terry Funk or Ric Flair.
Guys will wrestle retirement matches all the time and then a few months or years later, there they are, back in the ring—somewhere. Often for some minor league promotion.
Other well-known wrestlers choose to go a different route when they’re done as a full-time competitor. Rather than saying they’re retired and then going back on their word, they sort of just fade into semi-retirement.
It’s a smart move, really: to leave open the option of getting back in the ring at anytime.
That’s exactly what Booker T has done.
The future WWE Hall of Famer returned to the company at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, hit his signature spin-a-roonie, was eliminated from the match and then transitioned to his current role as Smackdown’s color commentator soon after.
When Booker T first started as an announcer, fans were quick to criticize his skills at the position. But, just like with anything else, Booker got better through hard work and experience, and he’s become arguably the most entertaining announcer on WWE TV.
Still, that isn’t quite doing it for some of us. We want to see him back in the ring, and since he isn’t officially retired yet, we’ll actually be able to.
We got a little taste of what he can still do in the ring this summer when he faced Jack Swagger in a brief match on Monday Night Raw. We didn’t get to see a whole lot, but it was still pretty clear that Booker T hasn’t lost a step.
He can still go, and he likely can outwrestle most of the wrestlers currently on the WWE roster. That’s why—as much as I enjoy him on commentary—it’s a shame to see him sitting at the announcer's table rather than performing in the ring.
It appears that will change soon, however, as the rumor going around is that Booker T will return to the ring for a feud with Cody Rhodes on Smackdown.
Now, this is a move I can get on board with.
While I can see why WWE fans might not be thrilled by the fact that so many legends—The Rock, Kevin Nash, Triple H, etc.—are being featured so prominently on WWE TV because it limits the opportunities of the younger stars, I don’t think Booker’s going to be stealing the spotlight.
He’s going to be putting it on Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes is one of the fastest rising stars in the WWE, and his ongoing feud with Randy Orton has proven that the WWE brass have a ton of confidence in him and are building him up as a future main eventer. But we also know that Orton—much like John Cena—is going to be protected more than anyone else on the WWE roster.
Thus, as much as Orton has helped the push of Rhodes over the last couple of months, he’s still going to wind up on top once this rivalry is over.
That’s where Booker T comes in.
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He’s 46 years old, a former six-time World Heavyweight Champion, winner of the King of the Ring tournament and a grand slam champion. His legacy will be intact no matter what happens for the rest of career.
Booker is at the point where he doesn’t need to be main eventing Wrestlemania or competing for World titles. He can still contribute to the business that he loves by putting people over.
And he can start with Cody Rhodes.
If you’re going to build up a young up-and-comer like the son of the “American Dream,” you’re going to need him to get signature wins over marquee names. But this is the WWE, and we all know that, outside of Orton, not many major stars are going to give a rub to young guys like Rhodes.
Triple H won’t. Cena won’t. So, who else is there?
Booker T, that’s who.
The WWE would be wise to bring Booker back for a lengthy rivalry with Rhodes that is extremely competitive because it will accomplish two things: keep Booker looking good, while still making Rhodes look strong.
If Booker is the one who’s putting Rhodes over in multiple pay-per-view matches, he’s not going to suffer much from it. He’s Booker T for crying out loud—a couple of losses to one of the best young wrestlers in the business isn’t how he’s going to be remembered.
That wouldn’t be the case, however, if Rhodes simply annihilated someone else on the Smackdown roster. Let’s say Rhodes runs through guys like Daniel Bryan or Sin Cara as he makes his way to the main event.
What’s that going to accomplish? Nothing, besides burying full-time guys on your roster who should be playing big roles in the future of the company.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit if that were to happen, but for the benefit of the WWE, it can’t.
Rhodes needs wins against an established opponent, and Booker T fits that requirement to a T. He’s one of the most decorated superstars of all-time, but one whose best days are obviously behind him.
So, why not have him make sure that Rhodes’ best days are straight ahead?
Can you dig that, sucka?
Source : Bleacherreport.com
