AEW Star Recalls Working With Former WWE Superstar Ahmed Johnson

AEW star Lance Archer looked back on a significant moment from his early wrestling career, sharing a story from his days wrestling as “Shadow” in PCW where he took on a former WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Speaking on his podcast “The Hawk’s Nest,” Archer recounted his encounter with former WWE Superstar Ahmed Johnson in 2002. At the time, Archer was just starting out and had caught the attention of Johnson, a well-established name in the industry. Reflecting on the experience, Archer shared:

I was probably one of the biggest guys on the roster, just a young kid at the time, and he wanted to work with me.

The match turned out to be a pivotal moment for Archer’s budding career. Johnson, despite his reputation as being difficult to work with, chose to put the young wrestler over in their match. This act of generosity gave Archer a major confidence boost and helped elevate his status in the wrestling world.

Over the years, Ahmed Johnson has become a subject of discussion among fans and wrestlers, known for his hard-hitting style and sometimes difficult backstage demeanour. However, Archer offered a different take on the situation. When his co-host asked him about Johnson’s reputation, Archer was quick to offer praise:

Unfortunately, he’s known to not be the easiest to work with, but at that time he came in and wanted to work with me, it was great, it was awesome.

Johnson’s career was primarily highlighted by his time in WWE, where he made history as the first African American to win the Intercontinental Championship. He also had a brief stint in WCW, where he partnered with Stevie Ray in a revival of the famed Harlem Heat tag team.

Which Late WWE Hall Of Famer Did Ahmed Johnson Say Was Jealous Of Him?

Ahmed Johnson said that the late WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna was jealous of him because of his very quick rise to the top of the card when he first joined the company. Johnson recalled Vince McMahon contacting him to tell Johnson that he wanted him to bodyslam Yokozuna and when Johnson told Yokozuna this, he responded by telling Johnson that he would refuse to help him with the lift for the bodyslam which Johnson believes was because he was jealous of him.

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