Ron Simmons

Infobox Wrestler
name=Ron Simmons


names=Ron Simmons
Faarooq Asaad
Faarooq
height=height|feet=6|inches=2cite web | url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/ronsimmons/bio/|title=WWE: Superstars > Raw > Ron Simmons > Bio|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-10-01]
weight=convert|270|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date and age|1958|5|15
death_date=
birth_place=Perry, Georgia
resides=Marietta, Georgia
billed=Warner Robins, Georgia
trainer=Hiro Matsudacite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/ron-simmons.html|title=OWW Profile|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-09-23]
debut=October 1986|

Ron Simmons (born May 15, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He was the first of only three African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, with Booker T and The Rock being the other two. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment where he does public relations work, appears in backstage segments on Raw, known for his catchphrase, "DAMN!" and occasionally wrestling on the Raw brand.

Simmons was a two-time consensus All-American football player [citeweb|url=http://seminoles.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/ConsensusNCAAAll-Americans|accessdate=2008-06-15|title= CONSENSUS NCAA ALL-AMERICANS|publisher=Seminoles Football] at Florida State University, and played for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League and the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian 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 Asaad (sometimes spelled Asad) and Faarooq (sometimes spelled Farooq).

American football career

Born in Perry, Georgia, Simmons attended Warner Robins High School, where he played American football as a Tight End and Linebacker. 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 from 1977-80 under coach Bobby Bowden (whom Simmons described as "a second father"), spending four years as a defensive nose guard. The Seminoles were 39-8 during Simmons' years at the school, finishing in the Associated Press Top 20 three times ('77,'79 and '80), earning back-to-back Orange Bowl trips after Simmons' junior and senior seasons [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FSUYear-By-Year.pdf] . In 1979 Simmons finished ninth in the Heisman voting [ [http://www.heisman.com/winners/c-white79.html Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy ] ] , behind winner Charles White. In 1988, Simmons' jersey (number 50) was retired by Florida State University, [cite web|url=http://seminoles.cstv.com/trads/fsu-trads-retired.html|title=Florida State University Official Athletic Site|publisher=seminoles.com|accessdate=2007-10-01] the third time a number has been retired in FSU history. In addition, Simmons was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame for his accomplishments while playing at Florida State University. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. [ [http://www.ajc.com/gatech/content/sports/stories/2008/05/01/hallburst_0502.html Simmons inducted into College Football Hall of Fame | ajc.com ] ]

He later had a brief career in the National Football League, selected as pick #160 in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played for the Cleveland Browns, and the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits in 1984 and in 1985, but it was in Tampa where he was a teammate of future professional wrestler Lex Luger and Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton.

Professional wrestling career

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

National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling (1986-1994)

Ron Simmons teamed up with Butch Reed to form Doom. Doom defeated The Steiner Brothers for the NWA World Tag Team Championship and were recognized as the first holders of the WCW World Tag Team Championship in January 1991.On August 2, 1992, a scheduled title match between Sting and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader was cancelled after Jake Roberts (kayfabe) injured Sting.Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.3)] WCW President Bill Watts responded by holding a raffle to determine the number one contender. Simmons won the raffle and defeated Vader with a powerslam to win the Championship. By defeating Vader, Simmons became the first ever African American WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

Simmons held the title for five 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 (1994-1995)

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/Entertainment (1996-present )

Simmons joined the World Wrestling Federation and made his WWF debut on the July 22 1996 episode of "Raw". His first gimmick was that of 'Faarooq Asaad', a gladiator who wore a black and blue gladiator outfit with a misshaped helmet and was managed by Sunny. Simmons briefly feuded with Ahmed Johnson before changing his ring name to simply 'Faarooq'.

Nation of Domination

As Faarooq, Simmons and his new 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, Crush and Vega formed their own rival factions, known respectively as the Disciples of Apocalypse and Los Boricuas, and Simmons recruited more African American members for the Nation. 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 feuding with his former stablemates.

The Acolytes

After being dumped from the Nation, Simmons teamed briefly with 2 Cold Scorpio. 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 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 the Undertaker suffered an injury in late 1999, the Ministry of Darkness 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 (much like The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser before them). 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, Simmons would start saying his trademark "DAMN!" catchphrase, though it wouldn't be emphasized as much as it would be later on.

The APA teamed together until 2002, when Simmons was drafted to the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment. Simmons had a brief heel run under his real name when he teamed with Reverend D-Von until he retired in December 2002, but in June 2003 he returned to WWE with Bradshaw and the APA reunited. One memorable moment during this short return was a joke shared by the two during which they claimed that the Basham Brothers' then-valet Shaniqua was actually Shelton Benjamin in drag.

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). It was assumed the APA would be fired, but it turned out to only be Faarooq. Ron retired from his in-ring career, kayfabe accusing Bradshaw of not being a faithful friend. Simmons had decided to retire quietly in this manner due to injury and age. During that event, Heyman told Bradshaw that it was time for him to break out on his own again. Bradshaw went on to win the WWE Championship. Simmons retired from wrestling after this incident but continues to make appearances for WWE in a promotional capacity.

Occasional appearances

In 2006, during a rebroadcast of 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 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Starting on October 23 2006, he began making short cameos on "Raw" under his given name to say his catchphrase of "Damn", often in awe of or shock at odd happenings.On the November 20 2006 edition of "Raw", Simmons was chosen by Ric Flair to replace the injured Roddy Piper at the Survivor Series to take on the Spirit Squad. He was the first to be eliminated, via countout. He was seen in the ring with Chris Masters in the Masterlock Challenge on the January 15, 2007 edition of "Raw", a confrontation which ended prematurely after interference from Super Crazy. Although Simmons technically broke the masterlock, it was not officially recognized because of Crazy's interference.

On the July 27, 2007 edition of "SmackDown!", Simmons was named the best man for Theodore Long and Kristal's kayfabe wedding.

Ron Simmons also engaged in a feud against Santino Marella. On Monday September 10, 2007 on Raw, Simmons was attacked by Marella. This was the first time that Simmons has been attacked by someone on screen for years. On the September 24, 2007 edition of "Raw", Simmons made a return to the ring and defeated Santino Marella by countout after Marella left the ring and walked out.

A week later, Simmons said, "Damn!" one more time after throwing Steve-O (of Jackass fame) out of a nearby door. After the showing of the event, a short segment was aired, promoting Steve-O's new show, which was premiering after Raw. The segment shown himself and Simmons once again, this time Simmons saying, "Then don't you have somewhere to be?" after Steve-O telling him about his show airing after Raw. This indicated the first time since his return to say a full sentence and not to say "Damn", and/or any word rhyming with it.

Ron Simmons has since been occasionally competing on WWE Heat, taking on unknown wrestlers from the town in which the show is being taped. At the end of each match Ron Simmons holds onto a microphone, pulling it toward and away from his mouth while the crowd cheers then eventually will say "DAMN!"

On December 3 2007 he and Bradshaw (formerly APA) were hired by Hornswoggle to help him in a no DQ handicap match against Jonathan Coachman and Carlito in which they helped him win.

During early 2008 Simmons took up WWE's offer of substance abuse rehabilitation. He entered a center in Atlanta along with Scott Hall and Jake Roberts. Fact|date=March 2008

On May 5, 2008 Simmons made his return to "Raw" in Toronto, Ontario.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Dominator" (Standing or a kneeling inverted front powerslam)
**Snap scoop powerslam pin
**Standing thrust spinebuster - Innovated
**Back elbow strike
**Belly to back suplex
**Double powerbomb
**Football tackle to the knees
**Running leaping shoulder block
**Short-arm clothesline or a short-range lariat

*With Bradshaw
**Aided powerbombciteweb|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/a/apa.html|accessdate=2008-08-10|title=APA Bio|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]
**Back suplex / Neckbreaker slam combination
**Double spinebuster
*Managers
**The Kat
**Clarence Mason
**The Iron Sheik
**Theodore Long
**Woman
**Sunny
**Dusty Rhodes
**The Jackyl
**Jacqueline
*Nicknames
**The All American
**The Powerhouse

Championships and accomplishments

*Championship Wrestling from Florida
**NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/flhtnwa.html|accessdate=2008-06-15|last=Royal|first=Duncan|title=CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA (NWA)NWA FLORIDA /NORTH FLORIDA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie]

*Memphis Championship Wrestling
**MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/sttmcw3.html|last=Westcott|first=Brian|title=MCW - MEMPHIS CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MCW SOUTHERN TAG TEAM TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie] - with Bradshaw

*Ohio Valley Wrestling
**OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ovsttnwa.html|accessdate=2008-06-15|last=Dupree|first=Jim|title=NWA - NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCENWA OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING SOUTHERN TAG TEAM TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie] - with Bradshaw

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1992) [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm|accessdate=2008-06-15|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]
**PWI ranked him #20 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992 [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50092.htm|accessdate=2008-07-08|title=ProWrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1992|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]
**PWI ranked him #91 of the 100 best tag teams of the PWI Years with Butch Reed in 2003. [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm|accessdate=2008-06-15|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*World Championship Wrestling
**WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411011|accessdate=2008-06-15|title=Ron Simmons's first WCW Championship reign|publisher=WWE]
**WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html|accessdate=2008-06-15|title=WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE|publisher=WrestlingTitles.com] - with Butch Reed
**WCW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/usttwcw.html|accessdate=2008-06-15|last=Will|first=Gary|title=WCW - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie] - with Big Josh

*World Wrestling Federation
**WWF Tag Team Championship (3 times) [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|accessdate=2008-06-15|title=World Tag Team Championship official history|publisher=WWE] - with Bradshaw

Footnotes

References

*cite book|author=Mick Foley|title=Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks|publisher=HarperCollins|date=2000|pages= 511|isbn=0061031011
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_2/ai_65858903 An interview with Ron Simmons, conducted by Thomas Chamberlin]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/ronsimmons/ WWE Profile]
* [http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/faarooq.html Ron Simmons at Accelerator3359.com]
* [http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling/faarooq_questions.html Ron Simmons at Canoe.ca]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/ron-simmons.html Ron Simmons at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ Solie's title histories]
*imdb name|id=0799881|name=Ron Simmons
* [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FSUYear-By-Year.pdf Florida State University Year-By-Year Photos]
* [http://seminoles.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/ConsensusNCAAAll-Americans Florida State University Official Athletic Site]
* [http://www.heisman.com/winners/c-white79.html Heisman Trophy]