The fallout from #NaomiDeserves Better trending on Twitter last weekend continues. While we wait to see how WWE incorporates it into storylines on SmackDown tonight (July 24), we at least have some resolution to the flap it caused between Booker T and Naomi a couple days ago.
Booker addressed the back-and-forth with the former SmackDown Women’s champ (and current WWE Womens Tag champ Sasha Banks), on another edition of his Hall of Fame radio show & podcast:
“I said to hell with all of these hashtags. That’s what I said. Maybe because I am old school and I can’t see myself, back in the day, we did have the dirt sheets and could have easily got in the dirt sheets by saying something. I just couldn’t see myself using social media on that platform to try to move up in the business and especially if you’re talented.
“I said Naomi is probably the most athletic female in the locker room and perhaps anywhere in the world as far as the wrestling business goes, but as far as making it to the level, it is channels you gotta go through, it is a learning curve and really in-depth studying you have to go through to actually get to that point. Trust me, it doesn’t happen by accident just because you can go out and do a back flip or a big move. It’s not about the moves guys! It’s really not. I always think about what was told of me by guys like Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboats and that stuff it resonated.
“Anybody out in the world that’s trying to get into this business, if you think someone like Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat cannot help you learn this business better, even still today, okay. That’s your opinion...
“I’m gonna end it on this. If you think I can’t help you at all and that’s all I’m trying to do is help you get to the next level. You think the guys on the Internet, on social media can help you more than I do, go that route. I’m gonna leave it at that...
“You know what it is, man? The truth hurts. The only thing I said more importantly than anything, the hashtag, the social media platform like ‘let’s rally behind this cause’ – you know what, man? The reason I say that, is I think she’s better than that. That’s why and if you don’t see that, I can’t do anything about that, but I just don’t think that’s the route one would want to take and get to that level and then look back and say, ‘Man, the movement was great,’ as opposed to ‘Damn it, I broke all barriers and I did everything I possibly could to do it and if I didn’t do it, hey, so be it,’ but I’m not fitting to get on social media and let social media be what drives me to be the best one in that locker room, male or female.”
Naomi saw that transcription (courtesy of WrestleZone’s Dominic DeAngelo) and tweeted to clear the air with Book. The Hall of Famer responded, and it looks like everything is good.
I appreciate that. I’m only ever here to help and if there’s any way I can, the offer will always stand! https://t.co/UELwM0RpWn
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) July 24, 2020
Based on Booker’s assumptions on how Naomi was taking/using the Twitter trend, I think there’s more room for dialogue between the two. But at least they’ve gotten things smoothed over to the point that won’t be contentious when/if it happens.
We’ll find out in a few hours if “the movement” changed Naomi’s standing on SmackDown.