[1996-05-27-WWF-Raw] Vader vs Ahmed Johnson

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Joined in progress. Ahmed was knocked out by Owen's cast for the finish, then Goldust tried mouth to mouth to revive him. Vince's reaction to this is great. Ahmed goes on a rampage backstage looking for Goldust.

[PeteF3]

These two have some shockingly great chemistry--or maybe not so shocking, as Vader works great with guys who can toss him around, and if nothing else Ahmed can certainly believably do that. Owen Hart, incensed at Ahmed's senseless attack on Jim Cornette, comes to his manager's rescue and clobbers Ahmed with his cast, sending him to his first defeat.

 

Backstage footage of Ahmed on a stretcher, and Goldust is here to offer first aid. Vince: "THAT'S THE MOST REVOLTING THING I'VE EVER SEEN! GET HIM OUTTA THERE!" Ahmed freaks out and abuses Bob Holly, a guard outside Goldust's locker room door, and a cameraman.

[El-P]

Vader is bumping like a freak for Ahmed Johnson. Way to make Vader look like just another guy, they really had no idea how to present him. But yeah, he makes Ahmed look decent here.

The whole Goldust angle is kinda ridiculous, as although Goldust obvioulsy trolled Johnson, he did not exactly french kiss him either. Vince is so overselling the whole thing. They missed the boat on Goldust as an IC champ who really didn't defend his belt much, and they should have propelled him right to the main event scene at this point.

[soup23]

Match clips did look good which surprised me and Vader looks like a monster here.

 

The Goldust stuff is odd. Vince loses his shit over the mouth to mouth portion and Ahmed still dazed walking around destroying shit was interesting to watch. I have to commend WWF for trying different stuff here even though the tactfulness is still not all together.

[tim]

The crossbody over the top rope was pretty awesome. Another big Goldust angle. It really feels like the direction should be a build to a big time Goldust vs. Shawn Michaels match. It really books itself. Vader hasn't really come across as lighting the world on fire from what we see on the set after that incredible angle earlier in the year. Vince's reaction is hilarious.

[dawho5]

The full match was pretty good.  I get that Vader is a great bumping big man, but he really should have been used differently.  More homophobia from Vince (and add Ahmed Johnson into that once he comes to) when Goldust administers admittedly creepy and probably unnecessary mouth to mouth.