Ron Simmons

Ron Simmons (born May 15, 1958 in Perry, Georgia) is an American retired professional wrestler and American football player.

Simmons was a Florida State University All-American football player, and played for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League. He became a professional wrestler in 1986, and went on to wrestle in World Championship Wrestling under his real name and in the World Wrestling Federation under both his real name and the ring names Faarooq and Faarooq Asad.

American football career

Simmons attended Warner Robins High School, where he played American football. In 1976, he was named lineman of the year, and first team All-State by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Simmons was an All-American football player at Florida State University under coach Bobby Bowden (who Simmons described as "a second father"), spending four years as a defensive nose guard. In 1988, Simmons's jersey (number 50) was retired by Florida State University. In addition, Simmons was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame for his accomplishments while playing at Florida State University.

He later had a brief career in the National Football League, playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Professional wrestling career

Simmons returned to prominence several years after the end of his football career when he was recruited by Japanese professional wrestling Hiro Matsuda. Simmons trained under Matsuda and debuted in October 1986.

World Championship Wrestling

Ron Simmons teamed up with Butch Reed to form Doom. Doom defeated the Steiner Brothers for the NWA Tag titles, which would be later renamed to WCW Tag titles (making them the first WCW tag team champions).

On August 8, 1992, a scheduled title match between Sting and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader was cancelled after Jake Roberts injured Sting. WCW President Bill Watts responded by holding a raffle to determine the number one contender. Simmons won the raffle, and went on to defeat Vader to win the Championship. By defeating Vader, Simmons became the first ever African American WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

Simmons held the title for over four months, during which time he consolidated his reputation as a stiff wrestler. His reign ended on December 30, 1992 when Vader defeated him to regain the title.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Simmons appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling from late 1994 to early 1995. During that time he unsuccessfully challenged ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas at November To Remember 1994 and had matches with Mikey Whipwreck and 911.

World Wrestling Federation

Simmons joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1996. His first gimmick was that of Faarooq Asad, a gladiator who wore a black and blue gladiator outfit with a misshaped helmet. Simmons briefly feuded with Ahmed Johnson before changing his ring name to simply Faarooq.

As Faarooq, Simmons and his manager, Clarence Mason, formed a stable known as the Nation of Domination. The Nation of Domination was loosely based on the Nation of Islam, although the members of the stable were not exclusively African American. After Simmons threw the White American Crush and the Puerto Rican Savio Vega out of the Nation, Vega and Crush formed their own rival factions, known respectively as the Disciples of Apocalypse and Los Boricuas, and the three stables feuded with one another throughout 1997. In early 1998, Simmons's leadership of the Nation of Domination was usurped by The Rock, and he spent several months feuded with his former stablemates.

In late 1998, Simmons began teaming with Bradshaw as Hell's Henchmen. They were managed by The Jackyl until he left the WWF, at which point they were repackaged as members of The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness and were renamed The Acolytes, as they acted like acolytes to the Undertaker. The Acolytes recruited Phenius I. Godwinn and Mable to the Ministry by kidnapping and brainwashing them (renaming them Mideon and Viscera, respectively), and feuded with The Undertaker's rivals, such as D-Generation X and The Brood. (The latter of which would later join the Ministry as well.)

After The Undertaker suffered an injury in late 1999, the Ministry of Darkess disbanded. Simmons and Bradshaw continued to team with one another, and eventually adopted the gimmick of two brawlers who enjoyed drinking beer and smoking cigars. After Bradshaw began hiring out the services of The Acolytes as mercenaries and bodyguards, the tag team was renamed the Acolytes Protection Agency.

The Acolyte Protection Agency teamed together until 2002, when Simmons was drafted to the SmackDown! brand of the WWF (by then renamed World Wrestling Entertainment). Faarooq had a brief heel turn when he teamed with Reverend D'von till he retired in December 2002, Ron retired from professional wrestling but on June 2003 he returned to WWE with Bradshaw and the APA had reunited.

In his last WWE storyline, he was fired by former SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman after he disrespected Heyman (due to the WrestleMania XX issue between Heyman and Stone Cold Steve Austin during that night). At first the APA would be fired, but it turned out to only be Faarooq. Ron left the WWE(storyline) with hatred against Bradshaw because of him not being a faithful friend. During that event, Heyman told Layfield that it was time for him to break out on his own again. This made Layfield turn heel again.

Ron Simmons retired from wrestling after this incident but continues to make appearances for the WWE in a promotional capacity.

In 2006, during a rebroadcast of FSU vs Oklahoma in the 1981 Orange Bowl on Sun Sports, Ron stated that since that time he has retired from wrestling action, but would like to continue or even improve his role with the WWE.

In wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

Dominator (Inverted front powerslam)
Scoop powerslam
Spinebuster
Football tackle to the knees
Shoulder block
- With Bradshaw

The Kat

The All American

Championships and accomplishments

Florida Championship Wrestling

NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship

Defeated Kareem Muhammad on November 25, 1986 in Lakeland, Florida, USA.

Lost to Bad News Allen on January 20, 1987 in Tampa, Florida, USA.

Memphis Championship Wrestling

MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (with Bradshaw as the A.P.A.)

Defeated the Haas Brothers (Charlie Haas and Russ Haas) on June 13, 2001 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, USA.

Lost to the Island Boys on June 14, 2001 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA.

National Wrestling Alliance

NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Butch Reed as Doom)

Defeated The Steiner Brothers on May 19, 1990 in Washington, D.C.

Vacated on January 1, 1991 upon the withdrawal of World Championship Wrestling from the NWA.

Ohio Valley Wrestling

OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (with Bradshaw as the A.P.A.)

Defeated The Disciples of Synn (Seven and Travis Bane) on April 10, 2003 in Lafayette, Indiana.

Vacated on May 30, 2003 following an injury suffered by Bradshaw.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked Simmons # 108 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
PWI ranked Simmons # 91 of the best tag teams of the PWI Years (with Butch Reed as Doom).
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler Award (1992)
- World Championship Wrestling