WWE NXT personality Booker T has responded to being voted as the “worst” wrestling announcer of 2025 by readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The top five in the category were Booker T, Pat McAfee, Michael Cole, Vic Joseph, and Tony Schiavone. Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed the results and the influence of Dave Meltzer on the ranking system.
“I hope this quote gets picked up out there. I don’t blame the students. I blame the teachers. I never blame the students. Meltzer got a lot of people that’s following him, that’s listening to him. And when you got people listening, they’re willing to agree. I’m more than likely to disagree. For me, I understand. But hopefully, the people that’s listening to me right now is going to maybe wake up a little bit and go, what the hell was I thinking about professional wrestling? When you take the fun out of professional wrestling, we’ve lost it. We really truly have,” Booker T said.
The AEW World Champion MJF recently came to the defense of the WWE Hall of Famer on social media. MJF called Booker T a “blueprint” for homegrown talent and asked fans to show more respect to legends in the industry.
“Just topping it up as far as me being the worst commentating announcer of 2025, I think that award was created just for me, right? I don’t remember this award before I came along. Seriously, I really don’t. But I want to thank guys like Sam Roberts for coming out to my defense. Guys like Jonathan Coachman. MJF, AEW World Champion, came to my defense. And what he said was quite profound because it’s kind of true. One thing about this business, I always talk about, if you’re really, really good, like an MJF, like a Booker T, your name will get there way before you do. They’ll be talking about you. The locker room will be buzzing and whatnot, whatnot. And for him to say I’m the blueprint of him it’s true. You know, when MJF shows up, he’s going to be MJF. He’s going to be Maxwell Jacob Friedman. You know, when he shows up, his resume is going to speak for itself.”
Booker T mentioned that his longevity in the role—which has lasted five years despite an original expectation of three months—is a sign that he is succeeding in his position. He stated that his goal is to continue having fun and helping develop stars become superstars in the process. He also addressed the idea that his specific style of announcing may not appeal to everyone.
“I don’t want to call it a race card or anything like that, but there aren’t that many black commentators. There aren’t too many people that talk like me. I do talk street a lot, and I do bring that street knowledge to the booth. And I can’t talk like Vic Joseph or Michael Cole—none of these guys. I can’t do it. I’m just me. And if you like it, you like it. And the thing is, a lot of people like it. I can tell you that right now. A lot of people—it’s like gumbo. Somebody like Meltzer, he’s probably never had a bowl of gumbo in his life. If he had, it was chicken gumbo. You feel what I’m saying? So I understand some people’s taste. Don’t think I don’t understand people,” Booker T explained.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit the Hall of Fame podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
