Ahmed Johnson joined WWE with a world of hype due to Vince McMahon viewing him as a future top star. WWE wanted Johnson to help define the New Generation Era of fresh names getting pushed to move forward after the company lost most of their Golden Era stars. Ahmed had a lot of interesting scenarios unfolding during a rather short run in WWE.

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Most fans would share the same belief that Johnson was a flop given things never worked out the way WWE wanted, nor did he ever reach a true main event spot. Multiple problems caused Ahmed to trend downward. WCW even gave him a chance, but that felt like the end of the road. The following aspects of Johnson’s wrestling career deserve another look.

10 Body Slamming Yokozuna In Debut Was Meant To Make Him A Star

Yokozuna WWE Champion Cropped

The first in-ring appearance for Ahmed Johnson wasn’t actually a match but rather a moment. WWE hyped up the start of Johnson’s career and wanted to have a big moment showcasing why fans should care about him.

Yokozuna was no longer the top star at his peak, but he was still a respected former WWE Champion and the most dominant big man heel at the time. Johnson making his first appearance body slamming Yokozuna after a wild segment in the hopes of it making him feel like a star.

9 Important Tag Team Opportunity With Shawn Michaels

Ahmed Johnson Throws Shawn Michaels

WWE created an on-screen friendship between WWE Champion Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson. Any scenario of two relevant top or potential top faces teaming up is bound to find success, as seen with the Mega Powers or various WWE makeshift tag title reigns.

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This went a step further with the storyline being that Michaels and Johnson were close friends that helped each other. Heels like the Camp Cornette faction or the Smoking Gunns faced Michaels and Johnson in matches designed to give Ahmed more momentum.

8 Never Received His Earned WWE Championship Title Shot Against Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels Ahmed Johnson Promo

The friendship between Ahmed Johnson and Shawn Michaels could have led to a big match between the two. Johnson actually won a WWE Championship title shot in a battle royal and was scheduled to face the champ one night after SummerSlam 1996 on Raw.

WWE ended up having Michaels defeat Vader at SummerSlam 1996 to continue his title reign. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered an injury to miss what would have been the biggest match of his career. The match was likely going to end in a DQ with heels interfering, but Michaels leading Ahmed to his best performance could have done wonders for his career.

7 Every Major Nation Of Domination Member Wanted To Fight Him

The Nation Of Domination

Ahmed Johnson had a lot of issues backstage that hurt his reputation to further ruin his momentum. Stories leaked of almost every Nation of Domination member wanting to fight him at some point. The Rock challenged him backstage when the two had a disagreement that grew quite personal.

Ron Simmons got physical with Ahmed in the ring to deliver some real blows when they started to make it real. The Godfather confronted Johnson backstage when he implied potentially getting violent with Jim Ross. Even the beloved D’Lo Brown had a fight with him due to the headache of working with him.

6 Feuded Over The Letter T Vs Booker T In WCW

Harlem Heat 2000

Many fans have no idea that Ahmed Johnson worked for WCW since it came when the company was hitting rock bottom and he was a shelf of his former self. WCW brought Johnson in to form the Harlem Heat 2000 tag team with Stevie Ray and entering a feud with Booker T.

Johnson debuted as Big T and had the absurd storyline of feuding with Booker over who could use the letter T as their last name. Booker lost and had the slight name change for a short time before WCW ended that idiotic idea.

5 Was In The Third Biggest Match At WrestleMania 13

 Ahmed Johnson, & The Legion Of Doom vs The Nation Of Domination

Every wrestler wants to have an important match on the big stage of WrestleMania. Ahmed Johnson was able to have at least one noteworthy match at WrestleMania 13 during his short WWE run. The trio of Johnson and the Legion of Doom faced the Nation of Domination in a Chicago Street Fight.

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This ended up being the third most important match on the card during the build and on that night itself. Sycho Sid losing the WWE Championship to The Undertaker and the iconic Bret Hart vs Steve Austin match were the double main event, but Ahmed was the main player in the third-biggest match.

4 Controversy Not Putting Over Kurrgan

Kurrgan

Ahmed Johnson leaving WWE provided controversy over the story of his departure. The original rumor was that Johnson did not want to put over the giant Kurrgan in a singles match. WWE clearly viewed Ahmed as less of a star at this time and wanted him to put over a new project.

Johnson’s story revealed that his sister was battling cancer and a huge WWE fan. A phone call detailing things were getting worse was the inspiration for Ahmed not wanting to lose that night and wanting out of his deal.

3 Nation Of Domination Kicked Him Out After A Few Months

Nation Of Domination Ahmed Johnson

The most shocking moment of Ahmed Johnson’s WWE career came when he joined the Nation of Domination faction. Johnson feuded with Ron Simmons and the other members of the Nation for a long time as his biggest feud.

WWE fans were legitimately surprised when Johnson attacked The Undertaker to join the Nation. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Ahmed from following through on WWE’s plans. Johnson was kicked out of the group when he returned to television just two months later.

2 He Was Supposed To Get WWE Championship PPV Match Vs Undertaker

Ahmed Johnson Undertaker

The main reason for the heel turn was to have Ahmed Johnson face The Undertaker while representing the Nation of Domination. WWE even talked about the match before Johnson’s injury forced them to change plans.

Undertaker was scheduled to defend the WWE Championship against Ahmed at In Your House: Canadian Stampede. The injury saw Johnson replaced with Vader and never getting his title shot against Undertaker or anyone else when returning.

1 First-Ever Black Intercontinental Champion

Ahmed Johnson as Intercontinental Champion

The most important thing accomplished by Ahmed Johnson in WWE was becoming the first-ever black Intercontinental Champion. Wrestling finally has more representation these days, but it was rare to see non-white champions at this point.

Johnson winning the respected mid-card title that used to mean more as a steppingstone to the world title picture. Later year interviews saw Ahmed being unhappy with a lot of his wrestling memories, but this was an honor he admitted to being proud of.