Various: Booker T on Scripted Promos, Bret Hart to Induct British Bulldog, AEW Notes, Indies

Booker T Comments on Scripted Promos Taking Away Originality of Wrestlers Performing Them

A recent episode of the Chasing Glory With Lilian Garcia podcast had Booker T as the guest and one of the topics discussed included his thoughts on scripted promos taking away the originality and delivery skills of wrestlers performing them.

“It’s a different world now as far as the scripted promos. I think it takes away a lot of the originality of the guy actually being able to put himself against the wall and have to go out there and get over, the guy to have to think about it, opposed to when you just have someone writing it for you. You’re not going to take the time like I did to go and look in the mirror and pretend I’m cutting a promo on myself. You’re not going to do that. You’re not going to go and look in the mirror and just … Just to try to make your top lip move, to see how angry you can make yourself look. It’s just small, little bitty things. You’re not going to take the time to actually try to hone your craft, because you got someone handing it to you, unless you’re that driven.

I remember back in the day, John Laurinaitis, he used to write a lot of my matches for me. Just the finish, he would write the finish for me. In the beginning I told him, I go, “Man, I don’t work like this. I’m an artist.” He’d go, “Just look it over and just try it.” I went out and I was like, “All right, I’ll try it.” I went out and I did, and I was like, “Wow, man, I look like a million bucks.” If I got someone working with me and I know they can make me look better and then they give me the liberty to say, “Hey, use it if you like it. If you don’t, throw it out,” that’s going to make me a whole lot better, opposed to someone just telling me, “Hey, this is what you got tonight.” For me, I had Brian Gewirtz, back when I was doing the King Booker.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Bret Hart to Induct The British Bulldog Into WWE’s Hall of Fame

WWE reportedly currently has plans for Bret “The Hitman” Hart to induct “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith into their Hall of Fame, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that talks backstage during this past Monday’s episode of RAW mentioned Hart’s name as the current choice for Smith’s inductor for this year’s Hall of Fame class.

AEW News & Notes

All Elite Wrestling announced on Twitter that musical band Downstait will be live performing Cody Rhodes entrance theme “Kingdom” during this Saturday’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view event in Chicago, Illinois.

Tony Schiavone announced on Twitter that his broadcasting career in baseball has recently ended and will become a full-time member of AEW going forward.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Wal-Mart has recently agreed to a deal to sell AEW Unrivaled series action figures when they go on sale starting this August.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Ring of Honor announced that Kellyanne is the second official entrant for their upcoming Women’s Championship tournament, which starts on April 24th at their Quest for Gold event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Impact Wrestling reportedly has recently added a new set of television tapings to their schedule for April 24th and 25th at the Columbus Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, according to Post Wrestling.

WrestleCon announced on Twitter that all of their events during WrestleMania 36 weekend in Ybor City, Florida will be airing live on FITE.TV.

Revolution Pro Wrestling announced two new matches for the card of their Risky Business event on March 7th in Sheffield, England:
– Shota Umino vs. Jay Lethal
– Kyle Fletcher vs. Clark Connors