Booker T Goes Nuclear on Dave Meltzer After Being Named 2025 Worst Television Announcer

Booker T isn’t staying quiet after being voted Worst Television Announcer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s 2025 Year-End Awards — he’s going straight at Dave Meltzer.

After receiving 516 votes in the category, far ahead of other commentators listed, Booker addressed the controversy on the February 17, 2026 episode of his Hall of Fame podcast. And he made it clear he doesn’t respect the award — or the man behind the publication. Booker called the entire thing ridiculous from the jump.

“For an award like this to be out there, it’s asinine. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has somehow finagled his way into being called a wrestling historian. Something like this is redundant. It makes no sense.”

He then suggested the vote wasn’t about performance at all, but personal tension stemming from a previous encounter between the two during a Jericho Cruise, where Booker T threatened him.

“Me personally, I don’t take it as a knock. That’s just Dave Meltzer taking a shot at me, probably because of what happened at the Jericho Cruise. I cornered Meltzer and told him I would rip his ears off his body. That’s what I said, and Dave was quite frightened. I’m sure if Dave sees me publicly, he’ll walk around his surroundings carefully. He’s not someone I like. I don’t want to go there.”

Booker didn’t stop there. He accused Meltzer of damaging the wrestling business and questioned the independence of the awards, especially with AEW winning multiple categories. But despite the strong words, Booker insisted he isn’t personally bothered by the result.

“But Meltzer is literally a scoundrel of an individual. He’s a guy who’s sucking the life out of the business. All the awards being AEW—it makes no sense. This is supposed to be an independent journalist. That’s where the line is drawn. For me, it doesn’t bother me at all. I appreciate people coming to my defense and shining light on what I do. Pro wrestling is a universal language, and for me to get down in the mud with someone like the Wrestling Observer is just useless. The people whose careers have launched because I put a spotlight on them know what I’m talking about when it comes to what it takes to get to the next level. I don’t take it as a knock at all.”

The comments come after fans flooded social media defending Booker, arguing that his energy and personality are a major part of NXT’s identity. Now, instead of debating whether he deserved the award, Booker has changed the conversation to credibility — and made it personal.

Do you think Booker T was right to go after Dave Meltzer, or should he have brushed it off completely? Let us know your thoughts below.

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