AEW star Lance Archer took a trip down memory lane, recounting a significant moment from his early wrestling career. Archer, known then as “Shadow” in PCW, shared his experience of facing former WWE Superstar Ahmed Johnson in 2002.
Archer discussed in an episode of “The Hawk’s Nest” how he was just starting out when he caught Johnson’s attention.
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.
This encounter proved to be a pivotal moment for the young wrestler, as Johnson, already an established name in the industry, chose to put Archer over in their match. Johnson’s reputation in the wrestling world has been a topic of discussion among fans and fellow wrestlers alike, often characterised as difficult to work with. However, Archer’s experience paints a different picture. When questioned about Johnson’s reputation by his co-host, Archer offered a contrasting perspective:
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, while primarily associated with his time in WWE, also included a brief but notable stint in WCW. There, he partnered with Stevie Ray in a revival of the popular Harlem Heat tag team.
Which Former WWE Superstar Did Ahmed Johnson Stiff For A Bizarre Reason?
Ahmed Johnson spoke about how he stiffed former WWE Superstar Goldust, who now performs for AEW as Dustin Rhodes, because Goldust kissed him on TV while the two were feuding in the mid-90s. Johnson said that he had spoken to Goldust and told him not to kiss him but he did anyway which led to Johnson stiffing him in their match.
H/t to TJRWrestling.net