The Undertaker’s Iconic WWE Championship Run in the 90s Was Slated to End at the Hands of This Unlikely Legend

Since the time The Undertaker came to Vince McMahon’s WWE, he ruled the wrestling business. Soon after the debut of The Undertaker, he became Mr. McMahon’s favorite. It was because the gimmick given to Mark Calaway, aka The Undertaker, was a precious one of WWE boss.

So, it was difficult for anyone to walk up to Vince McMahon and mention if they could challenge The Deadman in a match. However, a former WWE Superstar and wrestling veteran, Ahmed Johnson, had the opportunity to put over The Undertaker back in 1997.

Ahmed Johnson was one of the prominent superstars prior to WWE Attitude Era. In addition, Johnson defeated Goldust at the 1996 King of the Ring to become the first-ever African American Intercontinental Champion.

Ahmed Johnson spoke if he had the chance to defeat The Undertaker for the WWE Championship!

This accomplishment of Ahmed Johnson almost made him climb the ladder of main event status. Former WWE Superstar recently joined Gregory Iron on his podcast to discuss his planned WWE Championship match against The Undertaker.

During this interview, Johnson revealed he would probably beat The Undertaker for the WWE Championship if it wasn’t for the injury.

“I think I was, I don’t know. I can’t say for 100%. But the way they were building it up, I think it was going to be for me and ‘The Nation,’ and it fell through,” Ahmed Johnson mentioned.

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Johnson was scheduled to face WWE Hall of Famer for the World title at Canadian Stampede In Your House event in 1997. However, Ahmed Johnson suffered a knee injury, and Vader replaced him. According to Johnson, if original plans had gone ahead, Mr. McMahon would have given him the WWE title from The Undertaker.

Whose decision was it to turn Ahmed Johnson into a heel character?

During the mid-90s, Ahmed Johnson was a baby face (good guy) and in a feud with The Nation of Domination faction. However, soon after that, Johnson turned heel (bad guy) and joined The Nation of Domination.

In the same interview, Johnson was asked whose decision was to turn him into a heel persona and whether he was on board with it. Former WWE Superstar revealed that Vince McMahon turned his character into a bad guy, which was necessary.

Johnson added, “Vince made the decision, I believe, for me to turn. I think it was a good one. Because we had so much heat with each other. I didn’t think that the turn was built at the point that they were doing it, but I see why. Once you have me give The Undertaker my finish, it started to come together. That’s what he was planning on doing.”

Vince McMahon’s company couldn’t crown Ahmed WWE Championship because of his knee injury. Later, in 1998, Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, replaced him in The Nation of Domination, who won the same WWE title for the first time.

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Ahmed Johnson was very close to becoming the WWE World Champion, and that too against The Undertaker. However, a knee injury cut short his championship opportunity to become a star who defeated The Undertaker.