WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has recalled a backstage confrontation with Fit Finlay after receiving a particularly painful kick during one of their matches.
The former World Heavyweight Champion said he threatened to fight the Irish wrestling veteran if he ever delivered another kick like that. Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T explained that while he had no problem working physical matches, he expected his opponents to prioritise safety.
Booker and Finlay crossed paths numerous times throughout their wrestling careers, competing against each other in both WCW and WWE. Finlay developed a reputation for his hard-hitting wrestling style, something Booker said he generally had no issue with. However, he recalled one occasion when Finlay delivered a kick that struck him near his kidneys, leaving him in considerable pain.
“I didn’t mind stiff, but I needed safe at the same time. And I remember working a match with Fit Finlay, and he snapped me and kicked me in the back, but he caught me in the kidney area. Man, it really hurt, man. It really, really hurt,” Booker explained.
Although Booker was accustomed to physical encounters inside the ring, he felt the kick had crossed a line. Rather than ignore it, he decided to confront Finlay after their match. According to Booker, he warned his opponent that another similar incident would result in a physical confrontation backstage.
“I remember telling him when he came back through the curtain, I said, ‘Bro, kick me like that again, we’re going to be fighting next time when you come back through the curtain.’ But that never happened. Never happened again. But, you know, I get it. I get it. I stiffed a lot of guys,” he recalled.
Booker confirmed that Finlay never repeated the incident, suggesting his warning was understood.
Booker T Discusses The Importance Of Safety In Wrestling
Despite his strong reaction to the kick, Booker T acknowledged that he had also worked stiffly with opponents throughout his career. The WWE Hall of Famer explained that he understood the physical nature of professional wrestling and didn’t oppose hard-hitting matches.
However, he maintained that there was an important distinction between working stiffly and putting another wrestler at unnecessary risk. His comments highlight the importance of trust between performers, especially in matches involving considerable physical contact.
Both Booker and Finlay built reputations as experienced competitors in WCW and WWE, where they faced each other in singles and multi-person matches. While the incident clearly left an impression on Booker, he said the matter was resolved after their backstage exchange.
More importantly, he stressed that his issue was never with Finlay’s overall wrestling style, but with ensuring that even the hardest-hitting matches remained safe for everyone involved.
