Ahmed Johnson facts for kids

Anthony Norris (born June 6, 1963) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name Ahmed Johnson. He became famous during his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1995 to 1998.

Ahmed Johnson was one of the top stars in the WWF during the early Attitude Era. He made history by becoming the first African-American wrestler to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. He also main-evented a major pay-per-view event called In Your House 9: International Incident.

Early Life and Sports

Anthony Norris was born in Kokomo, Indiana, on June 6, 1963. He grew up in Auburndale, Florida, before moving to Texas.

During high school, he was a talented athlete. He excelled in American football, basketball, amateur wrestling, and track and field. Norris also spent some time in the United States Army before starting his wrestling career.

Professional Wrestling Journey

Starting Out (1989–1995)

Anthony Norris trained to become a professional wrestler under coaches like Skandor Akbar, Scott Casey, and Ivan Putski. He made his wrestling debut in 1989. For several years, he competed in smaller wrestling promotions.

In 1993, he joined the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF) using the name Moadib. He also wrestled in Japan with Big Japan Pro Wrestling in 1995.

Joining the World Wrestling Federation

Making a Big Splash (1995–1996)

Norris first appeared in the WWF on July 15, 1995, at a live event. He was soon given the ring name "Ahmed Johnson." His first televised match was on Raw in October 1995. Before that, he made a memorable entrance by slamming Yokozuna during a post-match fight.

Ahmed Johnson made his big pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series. He teamed with Shawn Michaels, Sid, and The British Bulldog. Their team won, and Johnson impressively eliminated both Owen Hart and Yokozuna. He quickly became known for his strength and power.

At the 1996 Royal Rumble, Johnson defeated Jeff Jarrett. He continued to face tough opponents like Vader and Owen Hart. In May 1996, Johnson won the first-ever WWF Kuwait Cup Tournament, defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley in the finals.

Becoming Intercontinental Champion (1996)

At King of the Ring, Ahmed Johnson achieved a major goal. He defeated Goldust to win the Intercontinental Championship. This was a historic moment, as he became the first African-American to hold this title. Many believed he was on his way to becoming a top star in the company.

He often teamed up with Shawn Michaels and helped Michaels against Jim Cornette and his group, Camp Cornette. At International Incident, Johnson, Michaels, and Sycho Sid lost to Vader, Owen Hart, and the British Bulldog.

In July 1996, Johnson was scheduled for a big match for the WWF Championship. However, he faced a health issue with his kidneys. This injury forced him to take time off and give up his Intercontinental Championship. The title was later won by Marc Mero in a tournament.

Battles with the Nation of Domination (1996–1998)

When Ahmed Johnson returned to the WWF in late 1996, he started a big rivalry with Faarooq. Faarooq had formed a new group called the Nation of Domination. Johnson and Faarooq had a match at Royal Rumble 1997.

Johnson then teamed with The Undertaker and later with Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). They had intense battles against the Nation of Domination. At WrestleMania 13, Johnson and Legion of Doom fought the entire Nation in a tough "Chicago Street Fight."

In June 1997, Johnson surprised many by joining the New Nation, turning against The Undertaker. However, he soon faced more injuries. After he recovered, the Nation turned on him, replacing him with Rocky Maivia (who later became The Rock). This led to Johnson becoming a fan favorite again. He restarted his feud with the Nation, often teaming with Legion of Doom and Ken Shamrock. At Survivor Series 1997, their team defeated the Nation.

Leaving the WWF

Ahmed Johnson's last appearance in the WWF was at the No Way Out of Texas event in February 1998. He left the company shortly after due to a family emergency. He later mentioned that he also felt there were issues of racism that contributed to his decision to leave.

World Championship Wrestling (1999–2000)

In late 1999, Anthony Norris signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He debuted at Souled Out under the name Big T. He had gained a lot of weight at this time.

Big T joined forces with Stevie Ray to form a new version of the tag team Harlem Heat 2000. They competed for the WCW World Tag Team Championship but were released by WCW later that year.

Independent Wrestling and Retirement (2002–2003)

After leaving WCW, Norris took a break from wrestling. He returned briefly in 2002 and 2003 for independent wrestling shows. He wrestled his final match on November 8, 2003.

Life After Wrestling

After retiring from wrestling, Anthony Norris returned to college. He earned a degree in criminology from Huston–Tillotson University. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his daughter.

Media Appearances

Ahmed Johnson was a playable character in the video games WWF In Your House and WWF War Zone.

Film and TV Roles

• Witness to the Execution (1994) as Reggie Foster
• Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (2001) as Marion "Suge" Knight
• Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) in episode "Unfinished Business" as Bruno

Achievements and Awards

Ahmed Johnson achieved several honors during his wrestling career:

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him No. 5 among the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996.
  • He was named PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year in 1996.
• Texas All-Pro Wrestling
  • TAP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• United States Wrestling Association
  • USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
  • Kuwait Cup (1996)
  • Slammy Award (1 time)
    • New Sensation of the Squared Circle (1996)

See also

In Spanish: Anthony Norris para niños