Skip to main content
Inside The Ropes
  • News

    WWE News

    AEW logo for their Dynamite TV show

    AEW News

    IMPACT Wrestling logo

    IMPACT News

    New Japan Pro Wrestling

    NJPW News

  • Features
    Poster for WWE Royal Rumble ft Roman Reigns

    WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Predictions

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Predictions

    WWE Superstars With The Most Wins In 2022

    WWE Superstars With The Most Wins In 2022

    Breakout WWE Superstars In 2022

    Top 10 Breakout WWE Superstars In 2022

  • Interviews
    20 Questions Deonna Purrazzo FI

    20 Questions With Deonna Purrazzo

    Rick Boogs

    Interview With Rick Boogs

    JONAH

    Interview With JONAH

    Rosemary Interview

    Interview With Rosemary

  • Podcasts
    What’s Going Down #99 – Austin Theory, Bray Wyatt & Tyrus

    Listen
    What’s Going Down #98 – SmackDown Main Event, Crown Jewel & More

    Listen
    Jeff Jarrett stands in-ring on AEW Dynamite 2022

    Listen
    Power Slam Podcast #264 – Steve Austin Comeback, Full Gear Preview & More

    Listen
  • Quizzes
    Play Word Rumble

    Play Word Rumble

    WWE logo

    Can You Name Every WWE Pay-per-view?

    WWE Survivor Series sole survivors quiz

    Can You Name All The WWE Survivor Series Sole Survivors?

    WWE Smackdown logo

    Can You Name Every Wrestler That Competed On The First SmackDown?

  • Live Tours
  • Shop
    Magazine
    Clothing
    Accessories
    Collectibles
  • Trending
  • Follow us:
    • Facebook Facebook
    • Twitter Twitter
    • Instagram Instagram
  • Watch us on YouTube:
    • YouTube YouTube
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
  • Play Word Rumble
WWE News

Ahmed Johnson Claims Shawn Michaels Held Him Back In WWE

By Craig Ballantyne. Published 31st October 2021.
Shawn Michaels WWE Champion

Former WWE Superstar Ahmed Johnson has accused Shawn Michaels of trying to “hold him down” during his time in WWE.

During the 1990s, Shawn Michaels had a reputation for trying to protect his position at the top of WWE. He and his backstage group known as ‘The Kliq’ – which included Triple H, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Sean Waltman – were often accused of using their considerable influence to hold other wrestlers back while boosting their own careers.

Ahmed Johnson was part of WWE from 1995 to 1998 and during that time became the first Black Intercontinental Champion. In 1996, he won a Battle Royal to determine who would face the WWE Champion on the Raw following that year’s SummerSlam, however, kidney problems caused him to be out of action for several months.

The following year, he was again scheduled for a WWE Championship match, this time against The Undertaker at Canadian Stampede in July 1997, but once again an injury forced him to miss the match.

Following his return, he joined forces with Ken Shamrock to feud with the Nation of Domination for several months. he left the promotion in February 1998 after a final appearance where he, Shamrock, and the Disciples of the Apocalypse were defeated by the Nation of domination.

In a recent interview with Monte and The Pharaoh on the LI#1 Pro Wrestling Broadcast, Johnson spoke about his time in WWE and said he witnessed Shawn Michaels politicking firsthand and that HBK “had his hand on” him for a while.

“Trust me, if Shawn seen anybody trying to go up the ladder, he was gonna hold them back. So yeah, he had his hand on me for a while trying to hold me down. That’s a good question [why he didn’t kick Shawn Michaels’ a**]. I mean, at the beginning I didn’t understand it, but later on I got to see what The Kliq was all about. It was all about President Shawn running the nation.”

Related

The Undertaker Admits He “Lost Sleep” Over Disappointing Recent WWE Appearance

However, when asked why he didn’t take his concerns to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Johnson said he didn’t thing Michaels “went too far” with it.

“No, I just let it play out, because I feel as though if you go too far with it, I’m gonna have to do what I have to do. But he didn’t go too far with me with it.”

Following his departure from WWE, Ahmed Johnson briefly joined WCW as ‘Big T’. During his time there, he teamed with Stevie Ray, who had turned heel on his real-life brother and tag team partner Booker T, to form ‘Harlem Heat 2000’. He now works at Booker T and Stevie Ray’s ‘Pro Wrestling Alliance’ training school.

H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the above transcription.

  • Facebook
    Share
  • Twitter
    Tweet
  • WhatsApp
    Send
  • Share

Popular Stories

  1. The Undertaker Admits He “Lost Sleep” Over Disappointing Recent WWE Appearance
  2. Nikki Bella Reveals John Cena’s Surprising Link To Artem Chigvintsev Wedding
  3. Lacey Evans Sparks Outrage On Social Media With WWE SmackDown Return
  4. Sami Zayn Humbly Claims He Couldn’t Be The Face Of WWE
  5. Kevin Owens Was Originally Set To Win WWE Championship Back In 2019
  6. Becky Lynch Once Kissed A WWE Legend On-Screen Before WWE Later Edited It Out
  7. “He Can’t Feel His Legs” – Kurt Angle Provides Worrying Health Update On Hulk Hogan
  8. Jerry Lawler Sets Stunning And Unprecedented Wrestling Record
  9. Bray Wyatt Comments On Divisive WWE Royal Rumble Match
  10. Triple H Confirms Reports Dwayne Johnson Will Likely Miss WWE WrestleMania 39
Inside The Ropes
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
  • Write For Us
  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • Instagram Instagram
  • YouTube YouTube
© 2023 ITR Digital Media Limited. Read about our privacy policy.