King Booker's Court
Encyclopedia
King Booker's Court was a heel
professional wrestling
stable in World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) on its SmackDown! brand. It was formed shortly after Booker T
(who would become known as King Booker) won the King of the Ring
tournament in mid-2006. King Booker would dub his wife Queen Sharmell and be joined by William Regal
(later renamed Sir William Regal) and Finlay
(renamed Sir Finlay). In November the court disbanded, however, with another return in December without Regal.
The King's Court was unofficially founded on the May 26, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, when King Booker had his Coronation Ceremony, celebrating his King of the Ring tournament final victory at Judgment Day
over Bobby Lashley. The ceremony was led by Sir William Regal, playing the role of a town crier
and repeatedly shouting "All hail King Booker!" as Booker walked to the ring. Sharmell was anointed by King Booker as his Queen, and Finlay/Sir Finlay joined the group to help Booker continue to feud with Lashley.
King Booker would soon end his feud with Lashley after losing to him in a steel cage match for Lashley's United States Championship. He then became the number one contender for Rey Mysterio's World Heavyweight Championship
after winning a battle royal
. Finlay would go on to defeat Lashley during this time to take Lashley's WWE United States Championship
.
At Great American Bash
pay-per-view
, King Booker became the World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Rey Mysterio with help from the heel turn of Chavo Guerrero
. The Great American Bash also saw Finlay take on Regal in a one on one match for the United States Title, Sir Finlay coming out victorious with help from the Little Bastard. These events repeated themselves via rematches on the July 28 episode of SmackDown!, at first making it unclear whether Sir Regal or Finlay had turned face, or whether they would even remain in the King's Court. At Summerslam
, King Booker would lose to Batista by disqualification, thus retaining the title and Finlay and William Regal, along with Mr. Kennedy (who defeated Finlay for the U.S. Title), the Spirit Squad
and the Big Show
attacked D-Generation X
during their match against Vince McMahon
and Shane McMahon
.
On the August 25 episode of SmackDown!, the two members were "knighted" together - thus renaming them as "Sir" William Regal and "Sir" Finlay, as well as signalling the official founding of the King's Court - before teaming up with their King in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match against Lashley and Batista later that night, which they lost.
Booker would later defeat Batista thanks to inference by Sir Finlay, who would continue to attack and bloody him afterward, igniting a feud between the two. The Court's issues with the peasant Bobby Lashley continued as he was set to take on Booker at No Mercy
, however the SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long
, announced the match to be a fatal four-way match that also involved Finlay and Batista.
On the October 6 edition of SmackDown!, Booker and Lashley were each able to pick the other's opponent for that night. Booker had to fight Finlay so he asked Finlay to be a good knight and lay down, but Finlay said that he never lays down for anybody. They went on to have the match, in which Finlay picked up the victory. Afterwards, they interfered in the Lashley vs Batista match, (Batista being the "poison" that King Booker picked). Following this, Theodore Long announced the previously mentioned 4 way at No Mercy, and then booked Batista and Lashley vs Finlay and King Booker. Finlay and King Booker, however, did not get along.
At No Mercy 2006
, King Booker retained his title in the Fatal-4 way match when he pinned Finlay after a Batista Bomb from Batista. Prior to the match, after failing at his task to get Finlay to be allies with Booker, King Booker called Regal pathetic and slapped him in the face. Regal could have no more so he punched Booker and walked away.
After this 'incident' the court disbanded with Regal dropping the 'Sir' part of his name and going into the tag team division with partner Dave Taylor
and Finlay taking on Booker and Batista in singles matches (with Booker losing the World title in the process to Batista at Survivor Series 2006
).
The court returned on the December 8 edition of SmackDown! (without Regal) when they attacked Batista in his match with Finlay with a chair and a shillelagh, leading to a tag team match at Armageddon
with Batista choosing a mystery partner which turned out to be WWE Champion
John Cena
. Batista and Cena would win the match. Finlay and Booker would reunite in various tag team matches on SmackDown! as temporary allies since then.
The April 6 episode of SmackDown! seemed to be the end of the court. King Booker attempted to take revenge on Matt Hardy
for trying to set up Sharmell for a twist of fate in the Money In The Bank
match at WrestleMania 23
. He lost the match to Hardy, however, and Sharmell berated him, declared him to be a disappointment and slapped him. Booker tried to impress her by attacking The Undertaker but got a Tombstone Piledriver on the announce table. It was announced on WWE's official that he suffered a sprain and strained contusion of the neck and would also be treated for his previous injuries of chronic knee pain, where he has a meniscus tear, and a chronic elbow strain and he would be out for several months. The court would then disband for the final time. During the 2007 WWE Draft
King Booker (along with Queen Sharmell) made his return to Raw
and William Regal also returned to Raw in a Supplement Draft from SmackDown!, becoming the Raw General Manager. On October 16, 2007, it was officially announced on WWE's official website that King Booker and Queen Sharmell would be released from their contracts effective October 27, 2007, thus completely destroying any possibility of a reunion. However, Booker T returned to the WWE minus Sharmell in January 2011 as a WWE Tough Enough
trainer and SmackDown commentator since then.
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable in World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) on its SmackDown! brand. It was formed shortly after Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
(who would become known as King Booker) won the King of the Ring
King of the Ring (2006)
King of the Ring was the seventeenth King of the Ring tournament produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . The tournament was held between April 14 and May 21, 2006. It was the second King of the Ring tournament to take place after WWE's brand extension...
tournament in mid-2006. King Booker would dub his wife Queen Sharmell and be joined by William Regal
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
(later renamed Sir William Regal) and Finlay
Dave Finlay
David John "Fit" Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent. He is perhaps best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and WWE as an active wrestler and later as a road agent...
(renamed Sir Finlay). In November the court disbanded, however, with another return in December without Regal.
History
Prior to Booker T becoming "King Booker", he would often enlist the aid of Finlay to do his dirty work for him.The King's Court was unofficially founded on the May 26, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, when King Booker had his Coronation Ceremony, celebrating his King of the Ring tournament final victory at Judgment Day
Judgment Day (2006)
Judgment Day was the eighth annual Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
over Bobby Lashley. The ceremony was led by Sir William Regal, playing the role of a town crier
Town crier
A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court . The crier can also be used to make public announcements in the streets...
and repeatedly shouting "All hail King Booker!" as Booker walked to the ring. Sharmell was anointed by King Booker as his Queen, and Finlay/Sir Finlay joined the group to help Booker continue to feud with Lashley.
King Booker would soon end his feud with Lashley after losing to him in a steel cage match for Lashley's United States Championship. He then became the number one contender for Rey Mysterio's World Heavyweight Championship
World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)
The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the SmackDown brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship of the Raw brand...
after winning a battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
. Finlay would go on to defeat Lashley during this time to take Lashley's WWE United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
.
At Great American Bash
The Great American Bash (2006)
The Great American Bash was the third annual Great American Bash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, King Booker became the World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Rey Mysterio with help from the heel turn of Chavo Guerrero
Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Salvador "Chavo" Guerrero IV also known as Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero, Jr., is a third generation Mexican-American professional wrestler and member of the famed Guerrero wrestling family who was well known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling...
. The Great American Bash also saw Finlay take on Regal in a one on one match for the United States Title, Sir Finlay coming out victorious with help from the Little Bastard. These events repeated themselves via rematches on the July 28 episode of SmackDown!, at first making it unclear whether Sir Regal or Finlay had turned face, or whether they would even remain in the King's Court. At Summerslam
SummerSlam (2006)
SummerSlam was the nineteenth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on August 20, 2006 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, and featured performers from the Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brands...
, King Booker would lose to Batista by disqualification, thus retaining the title and Finlay and William Regal, along with Mr. Kennedy (who defeated Finlay for the U.S. Title), the Spirit Squad
Spirit Squad
The Spirit Squad was a professional wrestling stable in World Wrestling Entertainment and Ohio Valley Wrestling that consisted of Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky, and Mikey. The team's ring personas were those of an all-male cheerleading squad....
and the Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
attacked D-Generation X
D-Generation X
D-Generation X was a professional wrestling stable in WWE . The group originated in the midst of the WWF's "Attitude Era" from 1997 to 2000...
during their match against Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
.
On the August 25 episode of SmackDown!, the two members were "knighted" together - thus renaming them as "Sir" William Regal and "Sir" Finlay, as well as signalling the official founding of the King's Court - before teaming up with their King in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match against Lashley and Batista later that night, which they lost.
Booker would later defeat Batista thanks to inference by Sir Finlay, who would continue to attack and bloody him afterward, igniting a feud between the two. The Court's issues with the peasant Bobby Lashley continued as he was set to take on Booker at No Mercy
No Mercy (2006)
No Mercy was the eighth annual No Mercy professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on October 8, 2006 from the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina and was a SmackDown! brand-exclusive event.The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for...
, however the SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long
Theodore Long
Theodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
, announced the match to be a fatal four-way match that also involved Finlay and Batista.
On the October 6 edition of SmackDown!, Booker and Lashley were each able to pick the other's opponent for that night. Booker had to fight Finlay so he asked Finlay to be a good knight and lay down, but Finlay said that he never lays down for anybody. They went on to have the match, in which Finlay picked up the victory. Afterwards, they interfered in the Lashley vs Batista match, (Batista being the "poison" that King Booker picked). Following this, Theodore Long announced the previously mentioned 4 way at No Mercy, and then booked Batista and Lashley vs Finlay and King Booker. Finlay and King Booker, however, did not get along.
At No Mercy 2006
No Mercy (2006)
No Mercy was the eighth annual No Mercy professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on October 8, 2006 from the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina and was a SmackDown! brand-exclusive event.The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for...
, King Booker retained his title in the Fatal-4 way match when he pinned Finlay after a Batista Bomb from Batista. Prior to the match, after failing at his task to get Finlay to be allies with Booker, King Booker called Regal pathetic and slapped him in the face. Regal could have no more so he punched Booker and walked away.
After this 'incident' the court disbanded with Regal dropping the 'Sir' part of his name and going into the tag team division with partner Dave Taylor
David Taylor (wrestler)
David Taylor is an English professional wrestler best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Finlay taking on Booker and Batista in singles matches (with Booker losing the World title in the process to Batista at Survivor Series 2006
Survivor Series (2006)
Survivor Series was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It was the twentieth annual Survivor Series event, and it took place on November 26, 2006 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The main match on the SmackDown brand was King...
).
The court returned on the December 8 edition of SmackDown! (without Regal) when they attacked Batista in his match with Finlay with a chair and a shillelagh, leading to a tag team match at Armageddon
Armageddon (2006)
Armageddon was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on December 17, 2006 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. The event starred wrestlers from the SmackDown! brand.The main event was a tag team match, in which the team...
with Batista choosing a mystery partner which turned out to be WWE Champion
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
. Batista and Cena would win the match. Finlay and Booker would reunite in various tag team matches on SmackDown! as temporary allies since then.
The April 6 episode of SmackDown! seemed to be the end of the court. King Booker attempted to take revenge on Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
for trying to set up Sharmell for a twist of fate in the Money In The Bank
Money in the Bank ladder match
The Money in the Bank ladder match is a professional wrestling ladder match held by WWE. The match can feature anywhere from six to ten participants from any WWE brand, with the objective being to retrieve a briefcase that is suspended 20 feet above the ring...
match at WrestleMania 23
WrestleMania 23
WrestleMania 23 was the twenty-third annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 1, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan...
. He lost the match to Hardy, however, and Sharmell berated him, declared him to be a disappointment and slapped him. Booker tried to impress her by attacking The Undertaker but got a Tombstone Piledriver on the announce table. It was announced on WWE's official that he suffered a sprain and strained contusion of the neck and would also be treated for his previous injuries of chronic knee pain, where he has a meniscus tear, and a chronic elbow strain and he would be out for several months. The court would then disband for the final time. During the 2007 WWE Draft
2007 WWE Draft
The 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment Draft Lottery took place at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on June 11, 2007. The first half of the draft was televised live for three hours on WWE's flagship program, Raw on USA Network...
King Booker (along with Queen Sharmell) made his return to Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
and William Regal also returned to Raw in a Supplement Draft from SmackDown!, becoming the Raw General Manager. On October 16, 2007, it was officially announced on WWE's official website that King Booker and Queen Sharmell would be released from their contracts effective October 27, 2007, thus completely destroying any possibility of a reunion. However, Booker T returned to the WWE minus Sharmell in January 2011 as a WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...
trainer and SmackDown commentator since then.
Members
- King BookerBooker HuffmanRobert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
- (May 26, 2006 - April 6, 2007) - Queen SharmellSharmell SullivanSharmell Sullivan-Huffman is an American professional wrestling valet and occasional wrestler - the wife of Booker T. She is best known for her work as Queen Sharmell with WWE until her release in 2007. She first came to prominence in the wrestling world as Paisley, a member of the World...
- (May 26, 2006 - April 6, 2007) - Sir William RegalDarren MatthewsDarren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
- (May 26, 2006 - October 8, 2006) - Sir FinlayDave FinlayDavid John "Fit" Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent. He is perhaps best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and WWE as an active wrestler and later as a road agent...
- (August 25, 2006 - October 6, 2006) - Little BastardDylan PostlDylan Postl is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Hornswoggle or Little Bastard. He is employed by WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand...
- (August 25, 2006 - October 6, 2006)
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- World Heavyweight ChampionshipWorld Heavyweight Championship (WWE)The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the SmackDown brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship of the Raw brand...
(1 time) - King Booker - WWE United States ChampionshipWWE United States ChampionshipThe WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
(1 time) - Finlay - King of the RingKing of the RingKing of the Ring is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by WWE. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002, with the exception of 1990 and 1992, and from 1993 to 2002 the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event....
(2006King of the Ring (2006)King of the Ring was the seventeenth King of the Ring tournament produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . The tournament was held between April 14 and May 21, 2006. It was the second King of the Ring tournament to take place after WWE's brand extension...
) - King Booker
- World Heavyweight Championship