Profile of Ron Simmons on Famous Like Me

Ron Simmons (a.k.a. Faarooq Assad or simply Faarooq) is a professional wrestler who wrestled for WCW and later the WWF (now the WWE). Ron spent much of his wrestling career as a tag team specialist. He is currently residing in Warner Robins, Georgia. He was also a former star player for the Florida State Seminoles football team under Bobby Bowden. In early 1990s, Florida State retired Ron Simmons' jersey. Ron was also cut by the Cleveland Browns.

Career

WCW

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).

Simmons is also considered to be the first ever Black man to win a World Heavyweight Championship, when he defeated Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on August 2, 1992.

WWF/WWE

Simmons joined the WWF in 1996 as Faarooq Asad and feuded with Ahmed Johnson briefly before dropping the Asad from his name, and was known as Faarooq until the WWF brand extension in 2002 where he briefly competed under his real name before reverting to Faarooq upon reuniting in the APA.

Simmons was the leader of the Nation of Domination and the former best friend and tag team partner of Bradshaw a.k.a. John "Bradshaw" Layfield. The two were known collectively as the APA (Acolyte Protection Agency) - perhaps one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history. The APA gimmick was about two tough and mean wrestlers who love brawling, smoking cigars, fighting and especially drinking beer. The team of the APA captured the World Tag Team Championship on multiple occasions.

Faarooq is also a former member of the Ministry of Darkness, an old wrestling faction led by The Undertaker. In December 2002, Ron retired from professional wrestling but on June 2003 he returned to SmackDown!.

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 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.

He was one of JBL's bestman during Bradshaw's wedding to Meredith Whitney.

Profile

• Height: 6'2"
• Weight: 275 pounds
• Birthday: 15th May 1958
• Hometown: Perry, Georgia
• Trained by: Hiro Matsuda
• Pro debut: October 1986
• Previous identites: Faarooq, Faarooq Assad, "The All American", Ron Simmons
• Previous manager(s): Theodore Long, Sunny, Clarence Mason, Jacqueline, Woman, Iron Sheik, The Jackyl
• Quote / Catchphrase: "Well, I'll be damned!"; "DAMN!"

Finishing and signature moves

• The Dominator (Inverted front powerslam)
• Spinebuster
• Scoop powerslam
• Shoulder block

With Bradshaw

• Aided powerbomb
• Backdrop, neckbreaker combination
• Double spinebuster

Titles and accomplishments

World Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-Time WCW World Tag Team Champion (with Butch Reed)
• 1-Time WCW United States Tag Team Champion (with Big Josh)

World Wrestling Entertainment

• 3-Time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with Bradshaw)

Memphis Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time MCW Southern Tag Team Champion (with Bradshaw)

Ohio Valley Wrestling

• 1-Time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion (with Bradshaw)

National Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Butch Reed)

Florida Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 108 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 91 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Butch Reed.
• Simmons won the PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler Award in 1992.

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Ron Simmons