Booker T says he and Triple H have always had a strong relationship, but it has never been a friendship.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Hall of Fame podcast with co-host Brad Gilmore, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer said he and the WWE Chief Content Officer have always kept things professional.
“Even now, you know, people talk about Hunter and I, you know, and our relationship. Hunter and I, we’ve always had a strong relationship, but it’s always been business,” Booker said. “You know, we haven’t been, we haven’t gone out eating together. You know, hanging out.”
“It’s not like that or anything, but the respect has always been there because it’s always been business,” he continued. “I’ve never looked at this like it was, you know, hey, we’re buddies, we’re friends, or anything like that.”
Booker said he has never treated wrestling as a place for friendships because a career in the business does not last.
“And if you don’t understand that and treat it that way, you can really, really, you know, be really upset at the end of the day,” he said. “I never want to be one of those guys.”
The comments came after Gilmore asked whether Booker ever had heat backstage. Booker said he never did.
“I always been, you know, outspoken. I always been one of those guys that was gonna just tell you straight up how it is. I didn’t care about getting heat with the boys because they wasn’t writing the checks,” Booker said.
He said what mattered to him was staying in good standing with the boss, and that he does not remember ever having heat there.
“I was trying to make sure the boss knew I was selling tickets, and I was there for business. I wasn’t there to make friends,” Booker said. “I don’t have a lot of friends, you know, in the wrestling business, you know. I mean, I got a few, but I don’t have a lot of friends because I wasn’t there to make friends. I mean, I had a lot of cool associates.”
Booker and Triple H feuded in 2003, with Triple H defeating Booker to retain the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 19. Booker recently said that loss is the one finish in his career he would change.
Booker, a six-time world champion, remains with WWE as part of the NXT commentary team.
