Ex WWE Superstar Reveals Warning Vince McMahon Gives When Wrestlers Ask To Leave

Vince McMahon has a way of making current employees paranoid and keeping ex-employees fearful of him. The recent wave of WWE releases during the pandemic has piqued the public’s interest even more in McMahon’s forays into human resources.

Former WWE superstar Ahmed Johnson recently spoke about his severance experience on the LI#1 Pro Wrestling Podcast. He says the boss left him with a stern warning when Johnson asked him to leave the company in 1998.

“No, I have never, ever called him [Vince McMahon] once [since leaving WWE]. I had a sick family member and things weren’t going great in my life, and I just felt it was time to step away. [Vince McMahon’s response was] basically what he says to everybody, ‘Well, if you leave now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to take you back,’ and things like that.”

Vince definitely values loyalty over a lot of other virtues. He likely saw the former Intercontinental champion walking out as a personal betrayal. Ahmed never did return to WWE after his initial time there ended.

Ahmed Johnson wrestled for the WWE from 1995 until his release in 1998. In 1996, Johnson became the first African American wrestler to hold a WWE singles title. He was, in that way, a pioneer who led the way for future world champions like Kofi Kingston and Big E.

Johnson worked under the name Big T in rival WCW for a short period between 1999 and 2000. After teaming with Stevie Ray to form the tag team Harlem Heat 2000, his career there petered out and WCW released him. It was rumored that he was released due to an inability to control his weight.

Did Ahmed Johnson deserve another run in WWE? Share your opinions in the comments!