To Booker T, it's all about preparation.
He spoke to Sports Illustrated about the first time he won the WCW World Heavyweight title back at Bash at the Beach 2000. In his mind, he was worried about becoming champion, as he didn't know if the crowd would accept a black world champion. But once he pinned Jeff Jarrett and captured the gold, any concern he had over becoming champion evaporated.
"There was a question in my mind, because I am black, if the fans would accept a black world champion,” said Booker. “Bash at the Bash was a topsy-turvy night. Finally, when the 1-2-3 came, the fans erupted. All my questions were answered; they really did want to see me win.”
Booker T revealed during the interview that he only had about ten minutes before he went out at Bash at the Beach, and he had already wrestled a match earlier in the night. But he learned early in his career that he had to prepare for everything, so when his time came, he knew he was ready.
"Preparation is the only luck you’re ever going to have in life. If you’re not prepared, someone else is going to take that spot," he said. "I remember my first pay per view in WCW. I was in the ring in the main event with Vader, Sid Vicious, Dustin Rhodes, Sting, and Luger. I remember Vader asked me, ‘You ready for this?’ The night I won the world title, more than anything, I was prepared."
Famously, Booker T would go on to become a five time WCW champion by the time the company closed in 2001.
