King Booker's Court

Last updated
King Booker's Court
Stable
Members King Booker (leader)
Queen Sharmell (valet)
Sir Finlay
Sir William Regal
Hornswoggle (manager)
Name(s)The King's Court
King Booker's Court
Billed heightsKing Booker:
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Finlay:
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
William Regal:
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Combined
billed weight		736 lb (334 kg)
DebutMay 26, 2006
DisbandedApril 6, 2007
Years active2006–2007

King Booker's Court was a villainous 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 was joined by WWE Superstars from the United Kingdom: William Regal of England (renamed Sir William Regal) and Finlay of Northern Ireland (renamed Sir Finlay). Among the members of the Court, Booker, Regal and Finlay remain employed with the WWE as of 2024, while Sharmell joined the Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

Contents

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 over Bobby Lashley. The ceremony was led by 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 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 WWE United States Championship. He then became the number one contender for Rey Mysterio's World Championship after winning a battle royal. Finlay would go on to defeat Lashley during this time to take Lashley's United States Championship.

At The 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 Championship with 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 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 later defeated Finlay for the United States Championship), the Spirit Squad and Big Show attacked D-Generation X during their match against Vince 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 signaling 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 Bobby Lashley continued as he was set to take on Booker at No Mercy for the World Heavyweight Championship, 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 four-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, King Booker retained his title in the fatal-four-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 Heavyweight Championship to Batista at Survivor Series).

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 (a match he lost). 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 website 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 had 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, Booker and Sharmell were drafted to the Raw brand and Regal also returned to Raw in a supplemental draft from SmackDown!, becoming the Raw General Manager in August. On October 16, 2007, it was officially announced on WWE's official website that Booker and Sharmell would be released from their contracts effective October 27, thus completely destroying any possibility of a reunion. However, Booker T returned to the WWE minus Sharmell in January 2011 in various roles since then.

On April 2, 2022, Booker T inducted Sharmell into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022, briefly reuniting the couple of the Court.

The couple of the Court would briefly reunite again during Night 2 of the 2023 WWE Draft, with Booker selecting the draft picks for Raw and Sharmell selecting draft picks for SmackDown, both on the second round of the draft.

Members

*Founding member(s)
LLeader
V/MValet/manager
MemberJoinedLeft
King Booker LMay 26, 2006 *April 6, 2007
Queen Sharmell VMay 26, 2006 *April 6, 2007
Sir William Regal May 26, 2006 * October 8, 2006
Sir Finlay August 25, 2006October 6, 2006
Little Bastard MAugust 25, 2006October 6, 2006

Championships and accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharmell</span> American professional wrestler

Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman is an American former professional wrestling valet, dancer, beauty queen, and professional wrestler. As the wife of Booker T, she is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Queen Sharmell. She first came to prominence in the wrestling world as Storm, a member of the World Championship Wrestling dance troupe the Nitro Girls and she also played a character called Paisley. Sullivan-Huffman performed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Sharmell from 2007 until leaving the company in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fit Finlay</span> Northern Irish professional wrestler

David John Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed with WWE as a trainer/assistant coach. He is best known for his tenures with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name Fit Finlay from 1996 to 2000, and Finlay in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2005 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boogeyman (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

Martin Wright, better known by the ring name The Boogeyman, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE under a legends contract, and is an aerobics instructor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WrestleMania 23</span> 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

WrestleMania 23 was the 23rd annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on April 1, 2007, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was the second WrestleMania to take place in the Detroit metropolitan area. It was also the first WrestleMania to feature the ECW brand following its establishment as WWE's third brand in May 2006. It is the highest grossing PPV event in professional wrestling history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SummerSlam (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 SummerSlam was the 19th annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on August 20, 2006, at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. This marked the first inter-brand pay-per-view to include the ECW brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survivor Series (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 Survivor Series was the 20th annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on November 26, 2006, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the first Survivor Series to include the ECW brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vengeance: Night of Champions</span> 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

Vengeance: Night of Champions was the seventh annual Vengeance as well as the inaugural Night of Champions professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on June 24, 2007, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. It was the final Vengeance event until 2011, as Night of Champions continued in its place. Per the theme of the event, every match on the card was contested for one of WWE's nine then-active championships; only one person won a championship and the others were retained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Night Stand (2007)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2007 One Night Stand was the third annual One Night Stand professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on June 3, 2007, at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. While the previous two years' events were held primarily as reunion shows for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) alumni, the 2007 event was promoted as a WWE event with wrestlers from all three brands participating as following WrestleMania 23, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued. It was the final event to announce each individual brand as co-promoters of the PPV during the introductory graphics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judgment Day (2007)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2007 Judgment Day was the ninth Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on May 20, 2007, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the first Judgment Day event since 2003 to feature multiple brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Way Out (2007)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2007 No Way Out was the ninth No Way Out professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on February 18, 2007, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It was the final brand-exclusive pay-per-view of the first brand extension, as following WrestleMania 23 the following month, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued and then in August 2011, the brand extension ended. Another brand-exclusive PPV would not be held until Backlash in 2016, as the brand split was reintroduced in July that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Way Out (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 No Way Out was the eighth No Way Out professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on February 19, 2006, at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The official theme song was "Deadly Game" by Theory of a Deadman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judgment Day (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 Judgment Day was the eighth Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on May 21, 2006, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the final Judgment Day to be brand-exclusive as following WrestleMania 23 the following year, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued. The event also featured the finals of the 2006 King of the Ring tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Mercy (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 No Mercy was the ninth No Mercy professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for WWE Talent from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on October 8, 2006, from the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the final brand-exclusive No Mercy during the first brand extension, as brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued following WrestleMania 23 in April 2007. It was also the last No Mercy to be SmackDown-exclusive until the 2016 event during the second brand extension when brand-exclusive PPVs returned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night of Champions (2008)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2008 Night of Champions was the second annual Night of Champions professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brand divisions. The event took place on June 29, 2008, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. While it was the second Night of Champions event, it was the first to be promoted solely under the Night of Champions name as the first event was a cross-promotional event with Vengeance called Vengeance: Night of Champions; Night of Champions subsequently replaced Vengeance. As per the theme of the event, every match on the card was contested for one of WWE's eight then-active championships; three were won and five were retained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armageddon (2005)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2005 Armageddon was the sixth Armageddon professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on December 18, 2005, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Great American Bash (2006)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2006 Great American Bash was the third annual Great American Bash professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and 17th Great American Bash event overall. It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on July 23, 2006, at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the final Great American Bash PPV to be brand-exclusive as following WrestleMania 23 the following year, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booker T (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler (born 1965)

Booker T. Huffman Jr., better known by his ring name Booker T, is an American retired professional wrestler and commentator. He is currently signed to WWE, where he serves as a color commentator on the NXT brand, and is also the owner and founder of the independent promotion Reality of Wrestling (ROW) in Texas City, Texas. Booker has been frequently named by peers and industry commentators as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time; he was voted WWE's greatest World Heavyweight Champion in a 2013 viewer poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of the Ring (2008)</span> 2008 professional wrestling tournament by WWE

The 2008 King of the Ring was the 18th edition of the King of the Ring tournament produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held as a special episode of Raw on April 21, 2008, at BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Unlike the previous 2006 tournament that only featured wrestlers from the SmackDown brand division, the 2008 tournament featured wrestlers from all three of WWE's brands at the time—Raw, SmackDown, and ECW. The 2008 tournament was won by Raw's William Regal, who defeated ECW's CM Punk in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of the Ring (2006)</span> 2006 professional wrestling tournament by WWE

The 2006 King of the Ring was the 17th edition of the King of the Ring tournament produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The tournament was held between April 14 and May 21, 2006 and was the first tournament conducted since the 2002 tournament which was won by Brock Lesnar. This was the first time the King of the Ring tournament was not conducted as part of the former pay-per-view event that bore the tournament's name since the 1991 tournament, which was won by Bret Hart. Unlike previous tournaments, this King of the Ring was made exclusive to the SmackDown! brand division and only wrestlers contracted with the brand could compete. The 2006 tournament final was held at Judgment Day on May 21 and was won by Booker T, who defeated Bobby Lashley in the final and began referring to himself as "King Booker" until he left WWE in October 2007.

The King of the Ring tournament is a men's professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held periodically by WWE, a Connecticut-based professional wrestling promotion. Established in 1985, the winner of the inaugural tournament was Don Muraco. The prize for winning the tournament is being crowned the "King of the Ring"; some wrestlers have incorporated this into their character, such as adorning king's attire and acting and speaking with a regal attitude. Only one tournament awarded an additional reward, which was the 2002 tournament where winner Brock Lesnar received a match for the WWE Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam, where he defeated The Rock for the title. The tournament is also notable for beginning "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's rise to stardom after he won the 1996 tournament.

References

  1. ↑ "King Booker's first World Heavyweight Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  2. ↑ "Finlay's first WWE United States Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  3. ↑ "2006 King of the Ring".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.