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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Booker T's coming for you in 'WWE LFG' season 2
It's a pretty good time to be Booker T. At WrestleMania 41, Jey Uso became the first alumnus of his wrestling school, Reality of Wrestling, to win a WWE World Championship. His prized protege Roxanne Perez has graduated from NXT with the highest marks, and is now a full-fledged title contender on the main roster "WWE Raw" brand. But the newest trophy on Booker's mantle is a bit different: He's one of the inaugural winning coaches of "WWE LFG," the company's newest reality competition through A&E TV. While he's put 20 years into training the fanatical fighters of the future, he sees value in the new rapid-fire, sink-or-swim endeavor — and he's ready to go even harder for his crew in season two. Advertisement 'I mean, I'm a pretty good coach' Booker half jokes, breaking down what took him to the podium on the show's first go-round. Abbreviated from 'Legends and Future Greats,' the first season of "LFG" paired 17 of WWE's Performance Center athletes with some of its most decorated pugilists of the past. Broken down over 15 episodes, the competitors were given an array of tasks, both physical and creative, and asked to showcase what they picked up through strategically assigned matches, with eliminations happening through their respective coaches for the first three rounds. Then, the final eight were chosen after their performances via panel vote until there was one — or in this season's case, two — winners. In some ways, it's akin to the earliest versions of NXT, but you won't see longtime veterans like Bryan Danielson or Low-Ki in the mix. Fellow WWE Hall of Famers The Undertaker and Bubba Ray Dudley joined Booker as coaches, as did multi-time women's world champion Mickie James, to impart knowledge from their different corners of the wrestling world. Current stars like Gunther, AJ Styles and CM Punk made cameos during training sessions and matches to offer outside looks at the talents who hope to eventually earn a spot in their locker rooms. Advertisement 'We all do it differently. We all speak different languages," Booker says. "But at the end of the day, it all works out because we are all world-class caliber talent. "I think that's what's really cool about the dynamic of the four coaches, is we all teach the same thing, but we all do it differently. But at the end of the day, you're going to get to your goal. I always tell my students, 'Put an asterisk by everything I say because it's the way I think.'' Everyone's approach is a bit different. The Undertaker exudes that kind of even-keeled, proud poppa approach that earns you a moniker like 'The Conscience of WWE.' Bubba Ray leans heavier into 'earning it' tough love than the rest of group, infamously refusing to shake contestant BJ Ray's hand upon his introduction. James, who entered WWE at a time when personalities in the women's division were … less than fleshed out ... seems really focused on helping talent find their 'why,' emphasizing the need to develop and showcase your personality between moves and steps. Booker, who had the toughest path to wrestling superstardom out of the four, seems to have the biggest emphasis on urgency, knowing that one thing you can't teach — but absolutely can harness — is the desire to go and get yours. Advertisement He's shown his desire to stand out from his peers his entire career, and still shows flashes of it throughout the show, with his not-so-subtle frustrations in trying to make sure his voice is heard. '[My mentality was always] it was only one meal on the table," he says. "There's 10 people in the room. Who's going to get it? "I asked a lot of my guys that I work with … 'You ever been in a real fight?' If they say no, they got to go get in a rolling class. They can't even train with the other guy. They got to go start over here.' Booker's pupil and eventual winner didn't have to step away. Jasper Troy, from the appropriately named Huffman, Texas, was a NCAA D-I offensive lineman for four years with the University of Kansas and University of Northern Iowa, so the majority of his formative years were spent battling for space with monsters at close quarters. With his fire, and Booker's direction, he was able to secure victory. 'And that's what I saw in Jasper Troy from Day 1 in season one, over everybody in that thing," Booker says. "[I think] he would have been a close runner-up if he wouldn't have been under my expert tutelage. [Fellow collegiate lineman] Anthony Luke probably would have won. I'm just saying.' Booker T imparts some old-school wisdom to the up-and-coming talent on "WWE LFG." (Photo via WWE/A&E) Perhaps the most interesting part of the series is the push for the competitors to come up with things on the fly. You've heard WWE stories about last-minute name changes, adjustments to finishes, or promos thrown out to better fit the story that have to be relearned right away. With all of the participants almost exclusively having started their professional careers in the WWE system, they don't have the years of independent or promotional experience to have a tried and true persona or moveset that just needs tweaking. So watching the odd couple of Eric Bischoff and Sean Waltman ask them to come up with a faction, or AJ Styles challenge them to come up with a moniker and perform like it in a match, is a testament to how long it takes to not only learn how to wrestle, but to learn how to harness the emotions of the business as well. Advertisement While it seems like an insane amount of pressure, Booker thinks that the kind of mini-mester format "LFG" provides could even benefit some in NXT, where they're getting the same information but in a slightly different package. 'One thing about it, the NXT talent is trained a certain way, and then to be able to get outside of the box and get under somebody else's training, you're going to see it," he says. "They may be telling you the same exact thing, but they may tell it to you totally different. And then you might go, 'Oh man, I've been hearing the same thing.' They'll understand it totally different. "I think they would benefit from it tremendously.' While Booker's student secured an NXT contract by winning, Undertaker was voted the season's overall winner, by virtue of coaching the other winner, Tyra Mae Steele, and for having the most students advance throughout the competition. The man who went from tag-team specialist to World Television Champion, United States Champion then World Champion was never satisfied by what he'd already done. So while Booker is eating right now, he's still dedicated to getting a bigger piece of the pie in season two. "I'm taking the gloves off, I could tell you that," he says. "Because season one, I was robbed. Everybody saw it. Advertisement "For me, I'm taking the gloves off by any means necessary. Like Ernie Ladd said way back in '78, I'm going to have to just step on some toes and step on some toes and keep on walking, Jack. For me, season two, like I say, the gloves off for me.' He's proven to have a winning formula when it comes to preparation and production, so with even more motivation to win, there's a Legend ready to battle it out for the next Future Great to see them succeed.
Fox News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
'Duck Dynasty' star Willie Robertson shares father Phil's touching final words before his death at 79
"Duck Dynasty" alum Willie Robertson is remembering his late father, Phil Robertson, through faith and their final moments together. Willie, who starred on the hit A&E reality series for five years, from 2012 to 2017, mourned the loss of his legendary father following his death on Sunday. The beloved patriarch was 79. "I remember Phil's many prayers on Memorial Day and all the times with my dad. I don't have enough words to tell of all of it, perhaps it will take months or years of remembering," he began his heartfelt tribute on Instagram with a carousel of photos. "Looking back at pics I noticed he was always looking at me funny, [probably] trying to figure out, 'How did this boy turn out like this?'" Willie recalled break dancing for his father at a young age, and he decided to show off his moves to Phil right before his death. "Right at the very end of his life I came into his room… I did another dance, in a much weaker voice he simply said, 'Will, you got moves I didn't know you had.' Not sure why I was always dancing in front of Phil. Maybe I figured it was the last thing he would think I would do, so I just did it." Willie continued to open up about the bond that truly held their father-son relationship together – faith. "Most importantly, he taught me the value of sharing my faith with others. He was the Real Deal, the same on Sundays as Fridays. Most of our conversations were not about hunting or business, but about sharing the Gospel." One of the "Duck Dynasty" alum's proudest moments with his father was when he wrote the book "Gospeler," which honored conversations he had with Phil about the topic of faith. He went on to remember the final words his father said to him. "The last words he said to me as I leaned down over his weakened body was 'You're my brother'. It made total sense to me. He always told me we were coworkers in the Kingdom of God. Maybe that's why I always just called him Phil. Not sure if he is up in Heaven now doing his own dance moves for our Father." Phil, famous for launching the Duck Commander hunting company that became the focus of his A&E show, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in December 2024. His son concluded his heartfelt tribute and wrote, "Phil, I love you and already miss you. Thank you for raising me the right way and teaching me the most important lesson to prepare me for the day you passed on. Not sure how people deal with loss without the Lord. We may be wrong about all this….but I doubt it! Sleep well Dad, can't wait to see you." In the series of social media photos, Willie posted several moments with his father, especially from their time filming "Duck Dynasty" together. Sadie, Willie's daughter, additionally paid tribute to her "Papaw Phil" as she recalled the final words he shared with her before he died. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV," Sadie shared in part. "As I was sitting with Papaw Phil today, I thought about this verse… he has already experienced this on earth—going from dead to alive by the power of Christ!" "One of the last things he said to me was 'full strength ahead!' Amen!" Sadie's mother, Korie Robertson, additionally announced Phil's death on Sunday and wrote online that the family was celebrating that Phil was "now with the Lord." She noted that the family would participate in a private service, but details about a public celebration of life would soon become available. A&E announced earlier this year that the hit show would be revived eight years after it aired its final episode. "Duck Dynasty: The Revival" will focus on Willie, his wife, their adult children, John Luke, Sadie, Will, Bella and Rebecca and their grandchildren, according to a synopsis. The original "Duck Dynasty" aired for 11 seasons from 2012-17. Per A&E, the show peaked at 11.8 million viewers.
