It's somewhat shocking that Booker T, one of the most popular wrestlers of the 2000's and a genuine WWE Hall of Famer, doesn't have his own DVD set.

 

And he still doesn't, even with the release of Booker T: Sentenced To Greatness, which is actually just a WWE Network special from its excellent "24" series. Still, it's worth looking at this special, as it may be the closest we ever get to a genuine biography on the five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time WCW Champion.

 

The special begins with Booker's (or, if you prefer, Junior's) upbringing, which included never getting to know his father, and his mother dying at a very young age. As a result, the Huffman siblings were thrown into turmoil, with Booker rebelling more than his brothers and sisters. Shortly thereafter, he gets involved in an armed robbery and tossed in jail, producing the world's funniest mug shot.

 

Upon returning to civilian life, Booker's older brother Lane (Stevie Ray) makes sure his brother gets a job to help rebuild his life. A touching reunion is shown between Booker and his former employer, a man who gave him a job when others wouldn't and later helped pay for wrestling school.

 

Speaking of which, Booker and Stevie soon head off to wrestling school together and debut as The Ebony Experience in the ill-fated Global Wrestling Federation. The duo experiences success in front of small crowds and are quickly signed by WCW, which dubs the team "The Harlem Heat" because Houston apparently didn't sound like a tough enough upbringing.

 

Harlem Heat are paired with Sister Sherri (Martel) and become 10-time WCW Tag Team Champions, a record acheivement. Following their tag team success, the Huffman brothers go their separate ways -- although the same thing soon happened in real-life, and the two brothers didn't speak for some five years.

 

Booker then achieves success on his own in WCW and decides to give the WWF a shot after WCW closed its doors in 2001. From there, he would go on to feud with The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin (supermarket brawl!), Triple H and others, while teaming with the likes of Goldust and having his real-life wife Sharmell in his corner as he became the regal King Bookahhhh.

 

Throughout the piece, we are given commentary from Booker's entire family, including his sisters, wife and children. But when Booker invited his brother to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, any bad blood between the brothers and former tag team partners quickly disappeared.

 

Overall, Sentenced To Greatness is a great story but it only clocks in at a half-hour, much too short to make any sort of real impact - plus because it's not a DVD, there are no matches or other bonuses. Still, I'd definitely recommend it. Now can you dig that.... SUCKAAAAA?