STW - Ahmed Johnson [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today’s Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is all about a man who left a mark on this industry one “Pearl River Plunge” at a time...Bruce I’m talking about Ahmed Johnson.

Tony Norris was born on June 6, 1963 in Lake Alfred, Florida and was a high school athlete who found his way to the University of Tennessee playing football. It’s also been reported that he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys from 1990-1991. Bruce in all my research I couldn’t find out anything about that. Did you know or hear this?

Also supposedly before joining pro wrestling he was briefly a trainer of wild tigers. Ahmed Johnson as “Tiger King” sounds like the next Peacock special don’t you think?

Ahmed is trained by Scott Casey, Ivan Putski & Skandor Akbar alongside Booker T & Stevie Ray...Harlem Heat down in Houston, Texas. Bruce we know you know Houston. Did you hear about Tony Norris at this time?

He debuts in the Global Wrestling Federation as Moadib. What that is? No idea but here is a 6’2, 305 pound muscular man. I can only imagine Vince McMahon saw one look at him and said, “Goddamn Pal!” Did you see Ahmed when he was first working in Houston as Moadib and know the look is there? When does he land on your radar?

Ahmed continues his path to the World Wrestling Federation by working in the USWA, he fueds with the future John Bradshaw Layfield over the NWA North American Heavyweight Title, and even does a Japan tour in Big Japan Pro Wrestling.

How does he come into contact with the World Wrestling Federation? He send a tape, someone he worked with get signed...maybe Bradshaw? Back in the mid 1990s as you’ve talked about it’s not like he had a YouTube video or anything like that.

Ahmed has said in interviews that he lied to the WWF regarding his age and the miles he had on his body. Does that seem to shake out knowing the rest of this story?

Jim Ross wrote in his book when Ahmed Johnson was due to debut Bill Watts wanted to call him “Buck Johnson.” It was the first time Vince had overruled the Cowboy. Do you remember these conversations about how to bring him in creatively...and why was it a big deal that Vince overruled Bill so quickly in his tenure?

His first match in the World Wrestling Federation is on July 15th, 1995 in Houston, Texas where Tony Norris defeats Rico Suave. Were you at this show and what did you think of Tony?

We’re in the run up to the debut of Monday Nitro and the kicking off of the Monday Night Wars. How important is it to find new talent at this time?

Ahmed actually debuts as Ahmed Williams in a dark match after In Your House #3 in Saginaw, MI happens. If you’re keeping score at home it’s the pay-per-view where Diesel & Shawn win the Tag Team Titles from Davey, Yoko & Owen...go check it out in the Archives it’s in the Diesel Part 1 episode. Anyway Ahmed debuts and defeats Skip...Chris Candido...in what Meltzer called a “messed up finish.” Bruce why the change from Ahmed Williams to Ahmed Johnson and do you remember what happened with the finish?

What is your impression of Ahmed after that match as he walks through the curtains? We got a star?

Ahmed pins Rad Radford in a dark match, then defeats Tim Knox at a Superstars taping. He finally makes his debut on television in one of the biggest ways I’ve ever seen on Monday Night Raw. October 30th, 1995 Owen Hart & Yokozuna are beating down Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid when all of a sudden Ahmed Johnson emerges and BODYSLAMS Yokozuna.

From the Observer…”Ahmed Johnson then came in and bodyslammed Yokozuna, which I'm relatively certain would be the heaviest wrestler in history to ever go up for a bodyslam (the only wrestlers ever legit heavier than Yokozuna were the McGuire twins in the mid-70s (legit mid-700s) and Happy Humphrey in the 60s (billed at 802, no idea what he was legit) and they never went up for any slams. Bulldog then went to attack Johnson and when he saw him, backed off. Smith pinned Jannetty with a powerslam.”

A lot to unpack here. First off this is the last TV taping that Bill Watts was a part of before he leaves. Was Bill the one pushing for Ahmed to have a rocket strapped to his back?

Second...any issues with Yokozuna in having to do this for someone who literally is making his first television appearance for the company?

What did you think of the debut? Did it create the star you were looking for?

From there Ahmed makes his Raw in-ring debut and defeats Jake Steele with the Pearl River Plunge. Who named it and who’s idea was it for Ahmed to use it?

During that match there’s an inset promo where Shawn Michaels talks about tagging with Ahmed at Survivor Series. Bruce this has to be one of the strongest debuts in WWF history. From an intro on TV to being second from the top at Survivor Series. Did Vince just see dollar bills with him?

At Survivor Series 95, the “Wildcard” team of Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, Davey Boy Smith & Psycho Sid defeat Razor Ramon, Yokozuna, Owen Hart & Dean Douglas. Ahmed pins Owen & Yokozuna to get the victory. We covered this in the Archives but here he is across from 3 of the 4 top guys (sorry Shane) and tagging with 3 of the top guys. What was the feedback on Ahmed from the guys in the ring at this point?

Was there ever a concern that pushing Ahmed too much too fast might cause a backlash or his ego might get to be too much?

Ahmed moves onto to be programmed with Dean Douglas for an upcoming In Your House. The rumor and innuendo at the time was Ahmed was to work with King Kong Bundy to get over on another big man but with Shane Douglas wanting out of the company the decision was made to have Ahmed beat him on the way out. Is that how you remember it?

From the Observer on 12/18/95:

“Ahmed Johnson is so strong and clumsy doing his power moves that guys who work long programs with him are candidates for back problems.”

What guy do you think stooged that to Meltzer? Was there already a concern about his work and injuring guys?

Our old friend Jeff Jarrett makes his return at the In Your House in December right before Ahmed’s match. Except Douglas had hurt his back and is now being replaced with Buddy Landel…

From the Observer…

“2. Ahmed Johnson pinned Buddy Landel in :42 with the Pearl River Plunge. Dean Douglas came out and said he was scratched from the show by the doctor with a bad back but was bringing in Landel as his replacement. Landel came out to Ric Flair's old WWF music. Landel jumped Johnson, who didn't sell anything. After the match Johnson spanked Douglas with a paddle.

Jerry Lawler then interviewed Johnson, and when Jarrett came back, he broke a plague over Johnson's head. Jarrett hit him several times with brutal chair shots and the two brawled to the back. Johnson didn't seem to know what to do because the brawl looked pretty bad.”

So Ahmed writes Dean Douglas out of the WWF by spanking him, squashes Buddy Landel in under a minute, and Jarrett tries unsuccessfully to beat him down.

Why Landel here as a last minute replacement?

Was the attempt to program Jarrett & Ahmed together to get some good in-ring time for Ahmed?

Before 1995 is over Ahmed would win the USWA Title from Jerry Lawler and then drop it to Jeff Jarrett. Was this part of the working relationship and an attempt to get Ahmed more ring time?

At the Royal Rumble 1996 Ahmed takes part in his first pay-per-view singles match. We covered this also in the Archives but from the Observer…

“1. Ahmed Johnson beat Jeff Jarrett via DQ in 6:40. Johnson is really green. The transitions from spot-to-spot were weak. Jarrett tried to carry it but it's hard when nobody buys Johnson being in trouble because he's so physically impressive and doesn't know how to sell to overcome the impressive size. After a sidewalk slam Johnson did a dive over the top and crashed into the guard rail in the process. Johnson then did a full somersault splash off the top and missed, selling his knee. Jarrett used the figure four but Johnson reversed it. He tried it a second time but Johnson kicked him out of the ring. Jarrett came in with a guitar and came off the top rope, smashing it on Johnson's head for the DQ. The guitar shot sounded great. Johnson keeled over from the shot, but recovered before Jarrett was back in the dressing room and got up and ran after him but never caught him. *¼”

It’s super impressive to see someone of Ahmed’s size to be doing dives and somersault splashes. Jeff was one of the better workers at the time but you can tell Ahmed still had some limitations as Meltzer pointed out. Were you left more sold on Ahmed after this match or still asking questions about if he was ready?

At In Your House in the Louisville Gardens Ahmed is scheduled to face Jarrett but Jarrett got hurt the night before in a match against Ahmed for the USWA where he did a dive and his back locked up and he couldn’t continue. Was this always a worry about having the guys work elsewhere?

In a dark match Ahmed beat Isaac Yankem.

On to WrestleMania 12 Bruce and as we recently covered Ahmed is going to team with Yokozuna & Jake Roberts to face Vader, Owen & Davey Boy. The immediate pull back on the push Ahmed has gotten is noticeable though. From 2nd from the top in November to a low level 6-man tag match in April...was the concern…”Then the bell rang…”

Check it out in the Archives for what Bruce thought of the match but the influx of roster changes hitting the WWF means there should be room for upper mobility for the guys. Was Ahmed on the list for…”We need to find a way to get this guy on TV more?”

Ahmed is elevated and working with Davey Boy Smith in arm wrestling gimmicks on TV and house shows. Any issues between these two? Both are known to be headstrong about things.

The next In Your House is in Omaha which we also recently covered in the Archives, “Good Friends, Better Enemies.” Ahmed opens the show tagging with Jake Roberts in a losing effort to Davey Boy Smith & Owen Hart with Davey making Jake submit. It’s important to note here that Ahmed Johnson still has not been pinned yet. Did you make an effort to protect Ahmed as long as possible?

The WWF leaves for a middle east tour and Ahmed Johnson ends up winning the Kuwaiti Cup by defeating Triple H in the finals. These were sold shows for the WWF but the thought process behind putting Ahmed over was what?

Alright Bruce we’re here for what everyone is probably waiting to hear about. On Monday Night Raw on May 27th, Vader and Ahmed Johnson are facing off in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match and Owen Hart hits Ahmed Johnson with his cast to help Vader gain the victory resulting in Ahmed Johnson’s first pinfall loss. Ahmed is knocked out by the cast and taken away on a stretcher. From the Observer:

“Johnson did a stretcher job and backstage, Goldust gave him mouth-to-mouth. Johnson revived and saw the gold dust on his mouth and went crazy in a great angle, snatching Bob Holly against the wall and then running a jobber through Goldust's dressing room door.”

We’ve covered this before in our Goldust episode but from Ahmed’s point of view...any issues with him finally getting his first pinfall loss?

Any issues with the angle or qualms he had?

Him busting the jobber through the door is one of the all-time memorable Raw moments from back in the day. How good was Ahmed in this angle?

Coming off the angle we go to King of the Ring 1996 and while it’s remembered by most as the Steve Austin show...Ahmed Johnson gets his first WWF Intercontinental Title reign by defeating Goldust. Also the entrance for Ahmed with the doors being busted open and the guys falling over is one of my favorites. We’ve also covered this show in the archives but it’s important to note that Ahmed Johnson is not only the first African-American Intercontinental Champion but the first African-American singles champion in WWF history. Did Ahmed know that and how big a deal is this in 1996?

The IC Title is known as the “worker’s title” as we’ve discussed but Ahmed wasn’t much of a “worker” at this point in his career. Was there concern he wouldn’t be able to go out there and do 20 minute IC title matches or was it less of a concern as you had Shawn Michaels as WWF Champion at this time?

Ahmed is scheduled to tag with Ultimate Warrior & Shawn Michaels to face Vader, Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith at International Incident but Warrior quits/is fired and the team is instead joined by Sid. Does the appeal of Ahmed get lost when you have a gigantic guy like Sid behind him towering over him?

From the Observer at International Incident…

“5. Vader & Davey Boy Smith & Owen Hart beat Shawn Michaels & Ahmed Johnson & Psycho Sid in 24:32. Overall a very good main event with, as expected, Michaels carrying the match for his side. Johnson tagged in and threw three dangerous back suplexes on Hart, whose landings didn't look too pretty and he appeared to have hurt his elbow and shoulder legit. He used the Pearl River plunge on Smith but Vader made the save. Michaels worked basically the rest of the match taking punishment from the heels and did a great job. At one point, where Vader held him in what was a move similar to a bearhug, a fan hopped the rail and made it all the way to the ring apron. At that point, both Johnson and Smith seemed to notice him and Johnson blocked him first and the fan took one look at Johnson in his face, and voluntarily jumped off the apron to the police to a big pop from the crowd. Cornette gave Vader the racquet but Michaels beat him to the punch and hit him with the racquet. As Michaels set up the superkick, Cornette, grabbed his ankle. Vader then charged into the corner and gave Michaels a bodyblock and a Vader bomb for the pin. After the match, Sid power bombed Hart and Smith and when he went to bomb Vader, Smith & Hart pulled Vader out of the ring. Michaels then did a running tope over the top rope onto Vader. ***¾”

Probably one of the best matches Sid has ever been in and the fan jumping the rail and running into Ahmed is a highlight for sure. Meltzer brings up the suplexes on Owen and they were nasty if you watch the match. What did you think of the match and did Ahmed hold his own in your mind...or were the cracks in his work starting to show?

The next night on Raw Faarooq Asad (Ron Simmons) debuts and literally kicks Ahmed Johnson in the kidneys after Ahmed & Shawn team up to take on the Smoking Gunns. Was the plan for Ron to come in and immediately feud with Ahmed to give Ahmed another rub?

Also...and this can’t be missed...two african american superstars programmed together immediately and with Sunny as the manager of Faarooq...did you think there would be any backlash?

At the same taping later on there’s a battle royal to determine the #1 Contender to face the winner of Shawn and Vader the Raw after Summerslam that Ahmed wins.

It’s not known obviously at the time that Ahmed is hurt since he does the battle royal but when do you find out about his injury?

From the Observer…

“Ahmed Johnson's injury was announced on Raw as being a ruptured kidney from the attack by Ron Simmons. Other reports are that it was really a severely bruised kidney and that Johnson has had blood in his urine, but they don't know exactly when it happened. Johnson also broke his nose during the six-man, presumably from a stiff kick to the face by Owen Hart. He was considered doubtful for this coming weekend but the presumption now is that he'll start back at SummerSlam.”

Did you talk to Ahmed at this time and how frustrating it must’ve been?

Ahmed has to undergo surgery and Kevin Kelly interviews him on television before the surgery. In the interview Ahmed states that he did not know if he would ever again be physically able to defend the Intercontinental Title. Odd comment from a babyface isn’t it?

He’s in and out of the hospital due to complications from the surgery. Was there worry that this was a career ending injury?

On TV there’s periodic updates on Ahmed’s condition and he even makes an appearance on Livewire...Bruce from Connecticut...and we don’t see him again until In Your House Buried Alive where he attacks Faarooq backstage with a 2x4 causing him to miss his IC Title match against Marco...MERO! The reason is Faarooq had a hamstring injury...but how was it to see Ahmed back?

Gorilla Monsoon suspends Ahmed after the attack which is just a cover to give him more time to heal. In the meantime Faarooq forms the Nation of Domination and Ahmed returns on the November 18th Raw to clean house with a 2x4.

At the In Your House, It’s Time pay-per-view Vince McMahon conducts an in-ring interview with Ahmed announcing Ahmed vs. Faarooq at the Royal Rumble. Ahmed in the interview talks about how his injury made him lose his girlfriend, car and his house and all he had now was the fans. Faarooq comes out...calls Ahmed an “Uncle Tom” and says he’ll finish Ahmed at the Rumble. Bruce I know we’re about to walk into the Attitude Era in 1997...but what is this shit?

The PWI 500 comes out and Ahmed Johnson is ranked 5th in the world for 1996. Bruce did anyone give a shit about the PWI 500 back then?

Speaking of awards the Wrestling Observer readers voted that Ahmed Johnson was the worst on interviews. Do you think Ahmed deserved that?

Shotgun Saturday Night debuts on January 4th from the Mirage Nightclub in New York and besides Marlena flashing Bob Backlund the most memorable moment is Ahmed Johnson hitting D’Lo Brown with the Pearl River Plunge on a car. Bruce walk me through this. Who’s idea was this? Did D’Lo have any objections? Who’s car was it?

After 6 months of build up we’re finally here Bruce. Royal Rumble 1997 with Ahmed Johnson finally getting in the ring with Faarooq. We’ve covered the show way back when in the archives but from the Observer…

“2. Ahmed Johnson beat Faarooq in 8:48 when the entire Nation of Domination interfered for the DQ. Johnson cleaned house on most of them, including pressing Wolfie D and throwing him over the top rope onto the other members, and afterwards chased down another member and gave him a Pearl River plunge through the French broadcast table. Better than expected. *½”

Was this what you expected?

The feud between the Nation and Ahmed doesn’t end and Ahmed running around with 2x4s doesn’t either. Who’s idea was it for Ahmed to have a 2x4 and did it give you any reminders of Jim Duggan?

From the Observer…”The belief is that Faarooq at the Continental Arena on 2/9 splintered a board and the splinters got into his arm and it was infected and badly bruised. After (the Raw in) Lowell, the infection got so painful that when he went to the hospital, they had to hook him to an IV and he was there for five days.”

Was this a sign of things to come with Ahmed not being able to stay healthy?

It’s announced that Ahmed Johnson & the Legion of Doom will team up at WrestleMania 12 in a Chicago Street Fight against the Nation, Faarooq, Crush & Savio. Was this just a way to get the LOD on the card since we’re in Chicago and Ahmed was still nursing an injury?

In an interview on Raw Faarooq and Ahmed used terms like “black ass” and “charcoal color” in describing each other. This is the launch of the edgy WWF but this doesn’t sound great in 2021 does it?

At the Rosemont Horizon it’s WrestleMania 12 Bruce and we’ve covered the show in the Archives but from the Observer…

“6. Legion of Doom & Ahmed Johnson beat Faarooq & Crush & Savio Vega in a Chicago Street fight in 10:45. An all-out brawl. Since it was in Chicago, the "home town" Road Warriors got a super pop. Both sets of ring entrances were great, as expected. The NOD came out with a garbage can filled with weapons. There goes another ECW gimmick. Faarooq used a night stick on Johnson. Johnson dove over the rail on Crush. They used garbage cans on each other. Johnson bodyslammed Faarooq through a table. They put a noose around Johnson's head and hung him while he was being pounded on with a night stick. While holding the rope, Faarooq took a bump from the middle rope to the floor which was likely the move he separated his shoulder on, and he's currently out of action. Finally The Road Warriors did the double impact on Crush, and then Hawk and Johnson clotheslined Crush with the 2x4 and Animal pinned him. After the match, Johnson gave D.Lo Brown the Pearl River plunge and Johnson and Animal put Wolfie D and Jamie Dundee on their shoulders and set them up for Hawk to come off the top with a clothesline onto each of them at the same time. ***½”

Great brawl but man the noose stuff does not carry well. Was this the highlight of the Legion of Doom run in 1997? Do you think it gave Ahmed a rub to be in there with them?

Faarooq’s injury throws plans up in the air and Ahmed works Savio & Crush as they build up the Cold Day in Hell pay-per-view where the stipulation is that if Ahmed defeats all 3 Nation members in 3 separate matches the Nation would have to disband. Bruce...who’s idea was it for Ahmed to work 3 matches?

Were there plans or talks at that point to break up the Nation?

From the Observer…

“3. Next up was the Ahmed Johnson trilogy. It was announced on Raw that they would have the three matches at three different times during the show. During the pre-game show, Faarooq said that he was hurt (which he was), that Savio Vega was hurt (which he wasn't) and that Crush had the flu (which he didn't) and wanted all the matches in a row. Johnson agreed providing Faarooq wrestle first. For whatever reason, Faarooq didn't go first but the matches were in a row, which makes me think some communication signals were crossed before the show. Crush was first, and Gorilla Monsoon ordered the rest of the NOD to leave ringside. Crush several times signalled for the NOD to hit the ring and interfere but they never did, seemingly again building a tease for a potential turn. Crush went for the heart punch, but Johnson blocked it and hit a reverse heel kick for the pin in 5:38. This was better than previous Johnson-Crush matches have been, but that's faint praise to be sure. Johnson beat Vega via DQ in 5:57. Vega came out selling his ankle, then jumped around to make everyone realize it was a ruse. He dominated the match and destroyed Johnson with chair shots to leave him easy pickings for Faarooq. There wasn't much to that segment. Johnson and Faarooq went 2:10. It was also better than you'd think considering who was involved. Johnson didn't sell for long and got a good near fall with an inside cradle. He hit the spinebuster and Pearl River Plunge, but Faarooq kicked out of the Plunge to the crowd's amazement. Faarooq then hit a chop block and scored the pin with the dominator. 3/4*”

This booking and this semblance of things makes no sense. And Faarooq kicking out of his finish to beat him makes him look like a bad babyface doesn’t it even without the chair shots?

Speaking of things that make little sense...Ahmed the next night on Raw defeats HHH by DQ in a King of the Ring Quarter Finals match after Chyna hit Ahmed with a chair. The next week...Hunter is allowed back into the tournament after claiming that he would file a lawsuit because he wasn’t told if he was DQed he would be eliminated. In reality...Vader got hurt at Cold Day in Hell from Ken Shamrock and HHH is subbed back into the tournament. It’s hard to fix things sometimes isn’t it?

In the next set of things that make little sense...from the Observer…”Ahmed Johnson did an interview saying that Faarooq was right about the WWF never letting a black hold the title but then said how he's going to win the title for all the fans of all colors.”

I think we can all agree that race is something that really shouldn’t be brought up in a wrestling ring but this is just so messy isn’t it?

Faarooq defeats Ahmed on Raw after Undertaker interferes and it leads to Taker chokeslamming Ahmed. Is this the first time it’s talked about turning Ahmed heel?

At King of the Ring 97 HHH beats Ahmed in the first round before eventually winning. So the guy who wasn’t supposed to be in gets back in and wins. Do you remember what the original plan was?

The next night on Raw Ahmed finally gets a big pinfall win over Faarooq in a WrestleMania 6-man rematch after the Nation of Crush & Savio walk out on Faarooq.

That’s the end of that version of the Nation. The next week Faarooq debuts Kama Mustafa as the newest member of the Nation and they team up to face Ahmed & Undertaker in the main event of Raw. Kama...pins Taker clean...and then Ahmed Johnson turns on Taker and hits him with the Pearl River Plunge. Faarooq & Ahmed just spent months feuding against each other...who’s idea was it to put Ahmed in the Nation?

Was there any thought to making Ahmed the leader of the Nation?

Obviously the idea is to push Ahmed as a new heel challenger against Taker. How do you think Ahmed would’ve done in that role?

I ask how do you think he would’ve done in that role because we never see it. The next week the Nation and the debuting Disciples of Apocalypse get into a brawl and Ahmed blows his knee out. What’s the reaction like backstage when it happens?

Did you talk to Ahmed about the injury?

This is the second time the WWF has put Ahmed Johnson in the position to be at the top of the card and an injury has happened. Does Vince...you...Pat..anyone say maybe this guy just isn’t able to stay healthy enough to stay behind?

Ahmed undergoes the surgery and wouldn’t be seen again until the Raw before SummerSlam when he returns and hits the Pearl River Plunge on Chainz (Brian Lee) on the floor. When Ahmed returns are you guys thinking to put him right back in the same spot?

At SummerSlam Ahmed again gets involved...from the Observer…

“Outside the ring Chains punched Ahmed Johnson. Johnson went to give him a Pearl River plunge but it wound up being a power bomb, as he appeared to be trying to protect his knee and ended up hurting it worse. They did put him in the ring at Raw the next night to do an angle where the NOD turned on him to explain his longer absence and give him an issue to return for, although even before the NOD attack, it was clear in the ring that his knee was gone.”

Was Ahmed rushed back too soon? Did he think he was ready before and then wasn’t?

Ahmed is taken out of the Nation and is replaced with Rocky Maivia. Just the upgrade huh?

Ahmed is back to being a babyface. Was there regret in turning him heel?

The first Raw ever from Madison Square Garden on September 22nd...which is known as the Raw where Austin stuns Vince...Ahmed returns for the Intercontiental Title tournament after it’s vacated by Steve Austin’s injury at Summerslam. Ahmed pins Rocky to advance to face Faarooq but at some point cuts his hand open from an exposed nail at the Garden and tears tendons. Do you remember this and how it happened?

Ahmed is scheduled to win over Faarooq but due to the injury it’s switched to Faarooq who moves on to face Owen in the finals of the tournament.

Man oh man, is Ahmed just unlucky?

Ahmed returns a few weeks later and it’s announced that Ahmed, Ken Shamrock & the Legion of Doom will team up at Survivor Series to face the Nation.

Before we get there Ahmed seems to have some trouble...from the Observer…

“Owen Hart suffered a severe concussion in his match with Ahmed Johnson on the Tulsa show and isn't expected back in the ring until the 11/7 show in Toronto. It was generally believed that Hart suffered the concussion in the match that aired on the 10/27 Raw when Johnson delivered what was called a scissors kick that looked totally brutal and Hart's eyes were clearly glassy from that point on in the match. Hart has told people he believes he was actually knocked out on a clothesline from Johnson right before the kick. There was tremendous heat on Johnson for both that, and because the previous night in Oklahoma City backstage, he got into a small legit fight with D.Lo Brown, and Faarooq ended up trying to break it up and re-aggravated his bad knee in the process.”

What do you remember about the Owen injury? There had to be a lot of heat on hurting Owen for how he was generally revered in the locker room.

Did you hear about the Oklahoma City fight between Ahmed & D’Lo? How pissed is Ron Simmons to get hurt in a backstage fight?

On a Raw not long after Steve Austin and Ahmed get into a promo challenge and the match is made. Later on Ahmed is in the ring waiting for Austin but Kane comes out and destroyed Ahmed with two tombstones. Is this a message to Ahmed?

Here we are...Survivor Series 1997 in Montreal. From the Observer…

“5. Ken Shamrock & Ahmed Johnson & Legion of Doom beat the Nation of Domination in 20:34. The purpose of this match was to get Shamrock over as one of the top echelon guys, and it seemed that goal was accomplished. Shamrock & LOD got huge pops coming out. I can't figure out exactly why it is, but it's undeniable that there is something about Maivia that makes an excellent heel. Johnson pinned Faarooq in 4:39 after the Pearl River plunge. Faarooq stayed at ringside, and ended up tripping Johnson and holding his feet from outside while Maivia pinned him in 6:19. Johnson and Faarooq brawled to the back but the brawl looked bad because Johnson didn't appear to be trying very hard to actually catch him, and when he did, they seemed to more like waltz to the back than brawl. **¾”

Was the bloom completely off the rose for Ahmed at this point? Backstage issues, injury issues, and this just...Bruce they’re just like walking to the back here in the middle of what is a year long blood feud. What went wrong?

Ahmed is scheduled to face Kane at the D-Generation X pay-per-view but on his way to a show in Hampton, VA flipped his rental car 3 times and is again...injured. First off thank god he’s ok but how frustrating is it that every bad thing that can wrong for him...has?

Ahmed comes to the ring on the Raw after to “face” Jeff Jarrett. From the Observer…”Jarrett referred to Johnson, who legitimately couldn't work which is one of the reasons they did the angle, as a "water-retaining idiot" which is a steroid reference. Johnson called him a "chickenshit" although it was somewhat bleeped. Slaughter came out and told Jarrett that on the PPV he'd get to wrestle a major star because he was facing Undertaker.”

Ahmed said in a later interview, “Jeff Jarrett was one of the guys who had a problem, and let me know by his actions that he did not like me very much."

Bruce what in the hell is going on here? Do you think Ahmed & Jeff had heat?

There is talk of sending Ahmed to the camp that Dory Funk & your brother Tom Prichard is holding in Stamford in early January of 98. Was that to get the ring rust off of him?

From the Observer…”Ahmed Johnson showed up at 280 pounds (down about 35 pounds from when he left) and worked his way out of the doghouse with his attitude and willingness to learn.”

Was that what you remember hearing from your brother and others?

Ahmed remains the Worst on Interviews from the Observer readers for the second straight year.

Ahmed returns at the Rumble and lasts a couple of minutes before Mark Henry & D’Lo Brown throw him out.

From the Observer…

“Ahmed Johnson was hospitalized the morning of 2/2 when he collapsed on the airplane in Indianapolis due to dehydration. He did appear in Chainz' corner at the taping but probably will be out of action for a few days”

What’s going on with Ahmed at this point? Does he just not want to be there anymore? Is the feeling mutual?

At No Way Out 98 Ahmed teams up with Ken Shamrock, Chainz, Skull & 8-Ball to take on the Nation (Faarooq, Rocky, D’Lo, Kama & Henry). It seems like all Ahmed does is wrestle the Nation with multiple partners. Match ends when Shamrock made Rocky submit to the ankle lock to push their WrestleMania match.

That match is on February 15th. It is Ahmed’s last match for the WWF. From the Observer…

“Ahmed Johnson (Tony Norris) was officially released on 2/23. This stems from an incident at the television taping on 2/16 in Waco, TX. Johnson had nearly four years remaining on a five-year contract. It's no secret that the company wasn't happy with him, between his injuring people, his own constant injuries, and a poor workrate. In addition, because of losing momentum from the injuries, and losing even more steam with the heel turn and rapid face turn back that made nobody care about him, his stock had fallen tremendously since he was originally offered the deal and thought to be one of the potential top attractions in the company. He was instructed at the Dallas TV to do a job for Kurrgan using the claw, and refused and walked out. He never returned, missing TV the next night and his house show dates over the weekend. My feeling, given the knowledge going in that he would surely react this way because of what was asked, not to mention in being in Dallas where he wrestled in the early part of his career (and rarely did jobs then either due to his size), that the end result may have been more desired than what was asked. As it was, Titan has legally gotten out of his contract because he breached, because God only knows how bad it would have looked had they actually done that match on television and that he wouldn't have been worth a thing coming out of it anyway. Norris has since claimed to friends that he never refused to do the job, was never asked to do the job, but that he felt the company was burying him since he openly spoke on the "wrong side of the fence" on the touchy Survivor Series finish issue. Hey, that's what he claimed”

The rumor and innuendo from Ahmed’s side of the story is that he was booked to appear in a segment with the Truth Commission where he was to be beaten and dragged up the entrance ramp.

From an interview Ahmed did: “"When I left, the reason I did leave, and the reason I didn't tell Vince is because I'm not a crybaby, is that my sister was dying and she died like three days after I walked out the door and they didn't know I was dealing with that, you know?"

Supposedly Johnson’s sister who was an avid fan of the WWF was battling cancer and he didn’t want her to have the image of her brother being beaten and dragged by the neck while she was gravely ill.

According to Johnson, 15 minutes before he was scheduled for the match which would end in his being attacked, he received a call that his sister was "doing really bad" and that he should come immediately to her hospital in Florida. Johnson then met with Vince McMahon and told him he "had some things to deal with" and immediately left WWF and flew to Florida, where his sister died the following week. Johnson has stated subsequently that he did not tell WWF management the reason for his departure at the time because he "didn't like to burden people with his problems" and didn't want to give the impression that he was "telling them something for sympathy"

How accurate is that that Ahmed refused to job to Kurrgan and the company had had enough of him? How did it all go down? Were you involved? Did you agree with the decision?

Ahmed isn’t seen on TV again until WCW brings him in as Big T to be a part of Harlem Heat where he lasts almost 5 months. The highlight of the run I’m sure was the feud with Booker T over who gets to keep the ‘T’ in their name. Somehow...WCW decided that Big T was the person who needed the T over Booker T. Did you see Ahmed in WCW at any time?

Bruce in one of the most rare cases...Ahmed Johnson never returns to the WWF or WWE. He’s never appeared on television again, really been talked about, pushed as a legend...whatever. Why do you think that is?

In an interview Ahmed has stated that he feels Vince McMahon is a bigot and McMahon said to him that, if he wanted to, he could see to it that Norris would never work in the wrestling business again.

Do you think that’s accurate?

What is your overall opinion on Ahmed Johnson’s work and career?

Could he have been a WWF champion?