7 Champion wrestlers who are horrible on the microphone
Not everyone is as glib as the Rock. These world champions had trouble talking the talk.
Almost from its inception, even in the days when it presented legitimate athletic contests, pro wrestling has always relied a great deal on the performers to get themselves over with speeches and promos.
And almost as long as that, there have been wrestlers who weren't terribly skilled at addressing an audience. These athletes can walk the walk, but they have trouble talking the talk. Sometimes the problem can be solved by using a mouthpiece or manager, but there are a surprising number of bad talkers who still muddled through all on their own.
Here are seven former and current champions who just aren't that great at talking on the microphone.
#1 Ahmed Johnson
Titles held: The Intercontinental Championship (WWE), World Tag Team Championship (WCW, as part of New Harlem Heat.)
Biggest career moment: Winning the IC title, being # 5 on PWI's top 500 wrestlers of 1996.
His issues on the mike: Bad enunciation and rapid, apoplexy speech.
Ahmed Johnson was born Anthony Norris and attended the University of Tennessee on an athletic scholarship. He played football for several seasons before he ended up signing with the world famous Dallas Cowboys.
As longtime WWE fans know, Vince McMahon loves to hire former NFL players (which explains Mojo Rawley, among others) almost as much as he likes to hire huge men. Ahmed Johnson was both. Johnson was a fixture of the New Generation era and hung on a bit into the Attitude Era as well.
Ahmed was a decent wrestler if a bit injury prone, but his interview skills were atrocious. Even the announcers seemed to have problems understanding what he was saying.