Jeff Jarrett says Ahmed Johnson never let himself look vulnerable in the ring.
Johnson beat Jarrett by disqualification at Royal Rumble 1996 after Jarrett hit him with a guitar. On My World with Jeff Jarrett, Jarrett said he was frustrated that Johnson got right back up after the shot.
“I do remember being super frustrated. I’m like, ‘Bruce, if we’re gonna get a DQ off a guitar shot, can’t we at least get off the shot and go to the next segment without him getting up and running off?’ He’s a cyborg, there’s no sympathy on a guy,” Jarrett said.
“I kind of think that’s in a lot of ways the history of Ahmed’s career. He was never vulnerable. He just wasn’t, and I think it hurt his emotional connection with the audience.”
Jarrett said he was disappointed when he came back through the curtain.
“I knew that the match didn’t get over like it could have. That’s the disappointment.”
He said he tried to explain it to Johnson using Hulk Hogan’s comebacks.
“Do you know how and why the Hulk up in Hulkster days works, Ahmed? There’s really only one reason it works, is because he takes them to an emotional low that you have to Hulk up. If you never go low, there’s no reason.”
Transcription by Global Force Entertainment.