Full Career Retrospective and Greatest Moments for Ron Simmons

One of the most decorated athletes in the history of Florida State Seminole football, Ron Simmons surely never saw himself in the professional wrestling industry. After all, he was one of a very select few to have his jersey retired at the university, a member of the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame and, eventually, an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. 

He had what appeared to be a long football career ahead of him. But as is the case with life, things do not always go according to plan.

After floating around the NFL and the USFL, Simmons tried his hand at pro wrestling. Recruited by legendary Japanese competitor Hiro Matsuda, he trained under him before making his in-ring debut in 1986.

From there, Simmons would have a career of tremendous highs, including his run as the first African-American NWA world heavyweight champion, and considerable lows.

It was not always easy, but Simmons eventually became one of the most respected competitors in the sport, and in 2012, he was enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame.

This is the story of one of the baddest men to ever lace a pair of boots, told through his greatest moments and matches.

Doom and the NWA World Tag Team Championships

While Simmons spent time plying his craft in Florida, it was his jump to Jim Crockett Promotions, later World Championship Wrestling, that really elevated him into the national spotlight. It was there, after a few months of random teams with Eddie Gilbert and Steve Williams, that Simmons began partnering with Butch Reed in a team known as Doom.

One of the most underrated tag teams in wrestling history, Simmons and Reed were a power-based tandem that could actually work, unlike some of the similar teams from that era.

Originally, Simmons and Reed were masked and managed by the dangerous and devious Woman. She managed them to a victory over the Steiner Brothers at Halloween Havoc, a win that immediately established Doom as top contenders in the promotion.

Eventually, they lost their masks and had their identities revealed. That was not all they lost, as they dropped Woman and picked up a new manager in the form of crooked official Teddy Long. It was with the future SmackDown general manager in their corner that Simmons and Reed would achieve tag team greatness, defeating longtime rivals the Steiner Brothers to win the NWA World Tag Team Championships at Capitol Combat 1990.

During their time as champions, Doom would compete against the top teams in the industry, including the Rock and Roll Express. Against Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, Simmons and Reed would put their considerable power on display, overwhelming the quicker, more agile opponents.

Unfortunately, as is the case with everything, Doom's run would come to an end.

After splitting, Simmons and Reed feuded with each other, leading to a Thundercage of Doom match at SuperBrawl.

While the company had lost one of its finest tag teams, it had gained a singles star who would become extremely important over the next calendar year.

World Heavyweight Champion

The 1991 Halloween Havoc pay-per-view saw NWA world heavyweight champion Lex Luger defend his title against Simmons in a 2-out-of-3-Falls match. Luger was the top dog in a WCW promotion that was coming off of one of its worst years ever, while Simmons was gaining momentum as a singles babyface.

Their match that night has been somewhat underrated by critics. The bout tells a solid story and features great athleticism from both men. Unfortunately, it was not Simmons' night, and Luger managed to escape with his title.

The loss did not deter Simmons, who feuded with Cactus Jack and defeated him at Super Brawl II before setting his sights back on the heavyweight title.

Truth be told, though, Simmons was never supposed to be in the August 2, 1992 match against Vader. It was meant to be franchise player Sting battling the beastly competitor for the top prize in Ted Turner's company.

Bill Watts booked an angle that saw Sting attacked by Rick Rude, leaving the No. 1 contender's spot open. After winning a raffle for the right to challenge the massive WCW champion, Simmons shocked the world by planting Vader with a huge powerslam and becoming the first African-American heavyweight champion.

The fans in Baltimore were elated, and it appeared, at least for a moment, that the company and Watts had stumbled onto the next big star.

Unfortunately, Simmons' title reign died a terrible death, as he was left to compete in the undercard, defending his championship against the likes of The Barbarian and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams while Sting, Rick Rude, Cactus Jack and Vader battled it out much higher up the card.

With his title reign not working, Simmons dropped the gold back to Vader in December before returning to the midcard.

WWE, Faarooq Asad and the Nation of Domination

After kicking around the independents for a few years, including a brief stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling, Simmons made his WWE debut in the summer of 1996, attacking Ahmed Johnson and sidelining him with internal injuries.

When the Intercontinental Championship was vacated by Johnson, many thought it only right that the man now known as Faarooq win the tournament to crown the new titleholder, thus setting up a huge battle between he and Johnson, perhaps for WrestleMania. Instead, he lost in the finals to Marc Mero and disappeared from television shortly thereafter, allowing fans to forget the ridiculous gladiator costume he had been saddled with.

Upon his return, Faarooq did so as the leader of the Nation of Domination, a faction downplaying the oppressive nature of the white man. Of course, he was flanked by rappers/wrestlers PG-13 (both white), recruited Crush to join (again, white) and finished by convincing Savio Vega to turn heel.

Together, the trio made the life of one Ahmed Johnson a living hell. Unable to overcome the numbers disadvantage, Johnson aligned himself with the Legion of Doom, and at WrestleMania 13, the Nation battled Johnson and the L.O.D. in a Chicago Street Fight.

Faarooq's faction lost the battle but won the war, eventually convincing Johnson to join the group down the road.

The 1997 King of the Ring tournament brought with it the first championship opportunity for Faarooq when he challenged The Undertaker for the WWE title. He lost in a bad match that essentially sealed his fate as a midcard worker for the remainder of his career.

Eventually, allowing young Rocky Maivia into the Nation proved to be the emphasis for Faarooq's downfall, as the cocky third-generation star usurped his power and kicked Faarooq to the curb, leaving him aimless and directionless as the Attitude Era kicked into full gear.

Enter Bradshaw.

The APA

In late 1998, Faarooq partnered with Bradshaw, a fellow floundering star, to form The Acolytes, a team of two big bruisers tasked with protecting and serving The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness. Together, they would amass three WWE Tag Team Championship victories and become one of the most dominant teams on the roster.

Throughout 1999, they powered their way through the Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian, Kane and X-Pac and anyone else unlucky enough to oppose them.

As 2000 approached, however, fans got a look at just how entertaining the duo could be as beer-drinking, card-playing badasses.

They began selling their services to anyone with cash, calling their business the Acolyte Protection Agency (A.P.A. for short).

It was as the fun-loving brutes that the team would gain its greatest popularity.

They regularly made mincemeat out of the Mean Street Posse, beat up on Kaientai and pummeled poor Perry Saturn to the point that he fell in love with a mop.

During the brand extension of 2002, however, Faarooq and Bradshaw split, with the former heading to SmackDown, where he would form a mediocre team with D-Von Dudley.

Eventually, with no other options for either man, Faarooq and Bradshaw would reunite for one last run in 2003. 

"DAMN!" and the Hall of Fame

Somewhere along the line, WWE Creative began to put emphasis on Faarooq's "DAMN!" catchphrase. There was something about the way the performer said the word, the bass and explosiveness of it, that really caught on with audiences. 

Whenever something stupid or ridiculous would happen, fans could count on Simmons showing up, looking disgusted and spouting off the catchphrase before walking off camera. It was funny, harmless and kept Simmons on the payroll.

That came to an end in 2009, but he would continue to pop in on television when the situation called for it or Simmons was in town.

In 2012, after nearly three decades in the industry, Simmons took his place among the greats in WWE's Hall of Fame.