Former WWE head writer Brian Gewirtz gave insight into the booking decision to have Triple H beat Booker T to retain the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 19 in 2003.
Fans have been vocal about this decision since the match, as many felt Booker T should’ve won the title that night due to the build-up. Some people felt Triple H made racially charged remarks in character as part of the storyline leading up to the bout. Fans also thought the story didn’t get to play out.
While appearing on 1140 AM, Gewirtz noted that he agrees from a storyline standpoint the babyface and underdog beating the bad guy in Triple H would’ve had a satisfying pay off
However, Booker T didn’t go over because WWE didn’t want the title change to get overshadowed by the other top matches such as Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon, Steve Austin vs. The Rock, and Brock Lesnar beating Kurt Angle in the main event to win the WWE Title.
“I think that the mindset at the time was that it was the title match that was third or fourth last on the card and the moment would be lost in the totality of the show if we pulled the trigger and named a new champion. Now, I’m not saying that was the smart decision or one that I was necessarily in agreement with at the time, but I think that was the mindset.”
H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcription
