27/02/2021
Today for we honor, Ron 'Faarooq' Simmons. In WCW, Simmons was a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion; as the first African American to win the title, he is recognized by WWE as the first black world champion in professional wrestling history. He was also a one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion with Butch Reed and a one-time WCW United States Tag Team Champion with Big Josh. On July 22, 1996, Simmons made his debut with WWF/E as Faarooq Asad, a gladiator who wore a black and blue gladiator outfit with a misshaped helmet and was managed by Sunny. In November 1996, Faarooq dropped his gladiator gimmick, parted ways with Sunny and formed the Nation of Domination (PG-13 (J.C. Ice and Wolfie D), Crush, D'Lo Brown, and Savio Vega). After losing to WWF World Champion, The Undertaker, at the 1997 King of the Ring, Faarooq blamed Crush and Savio Vega for his loss and threw them out of the NOD. Faarooq recruited K**a Mustafa & Ahmed Johnson to join the Nation of Domination. Following an injury Johnson was expelled from the Nation and in came Rocky Maivia () and Rocky eventually brought in . In early 1998, Faarooq's leadership of the NOD was increasingly challenged by Maivia, who had shortened his name to The Rock and felt he should be the leader as he was now Intercontinental Champion. After being dumped from the Nation, Faarooq feuded with The Rock but failed to win the Intercontinental title. Simmons then teamed briefly with 2 Cold Scorpio. In late 1998, Simmons began teaming with Bradshaw as The Acolytes. They were managed by The Jackyl until he left the WWF, at which point they were reintroduced as members of The Ministry of Darkness led by The Undertaker. The Acolytes recruited Phineas I. Godwinn and Mabel 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 later joined the Ministry as well. After Bradshaw began hiring out the services of the Acolytes as mercenaries and bodyguards, the tag team was renamed the "Acolytes Protection Agency" (APA). Around this time, Faarooq adopted his "Damn!" catchphrase. The APA teamed together until 2002, when Faarooq was drafted to the SmackDown! brand. Around this time, Ron Simmons began wrestling under his real name. In 2012, Simmons was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Ron Simmons helped mold several wrestlers of color and inspired many more to follow in his footsteps. We thank Farooq for the years he spent as an on air inspiration, role model, and representative for the youth (myself included) and we congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career.