Booker T Addresses WWE NXT 'Cut' Remark About Josh Briggs

Booker T was on the receiving end of some backlash after he hinted on the January 20 episode of WWE NXT that Josh Briggs could end up being released following WrestleMania 42. Booker T made the comments ahead of Briggs' qualifying match for the NXT Title ladder match against Shiloh Hill, with Briggs ultimately losing the contest.

Booker T said on NXT: "Josh Briggs, like I say, this is a pivotal moment for this guy. WrestleMania is coming up, and you know what happens after WrestleMania, people start getting cut around here."

Booker T addressed his comments on the Hall of Fame podcast, adding:

"Am I too real? Am I too real sometimes? When we get down to the nuts and bolts, the rubber to the road. Normally, when I talk about something, I'm pretty close and accurate to the situation. I don't do anything or step on anybody's toes. I do do things to motivate you. Sometimes, I have to do things a certain way to motivate you. People may have taken it out of context.

"Then again, maybe people didn't take it out of context at the same time. Just like on the main roster, it's hard to talk about things on the main roster. In NXT, people need to understand that NXT is a developmental system. It's there to get young talent ready for the next wave; Raw, SmackDown, maybe go to Mexico. It's for one of three. If you're not getting yourself prepared to move to one of these promotions and doing it quickly, you might need to think about, 'What do I need to do to get there? Who do I need to talk to to put me in that right frame of mind to get to that next level?' Going into self-interrogation mode and asking those serious questions. 'Why am I here? What am I doing this for? What do I need to do to get to the next level?' Is it about stepping on some toes and keeping on walking?

"The young talent around me, they're going to get it raw and as real as they can possibly get it. I need these guys to understand that if they don't get it, they're not going to be around very long. That's what this business is all about. It's about learning, keeping your ears open, watching the guys go out there who are doing it right, and trying to emulate that. We'll keep him on the right track. Or not."

Josh Briggs, who was the final EVOLVE Champion, signed with WWE in August of 2020 shortly after WWE bought EVOLVE. Briggs made his in-ring debut in the summer of 2021 as part of NXT and he has been featured on the brand ever since in tag teams with Brooks Jensen and Yoshiki Inamura and as a singles talent.

Briggs has also competed in Pro Wrestling NOAH as part of WWE's working relationship with the Japanese promotion, finishing with 10 points in the 2024 N-1 Victory tournament.

H/T Fightful