Ron Simmons

Ron Simmons joined the World Wrestling Federation and made his WWF debut on the July 22, 1996 episode of RAW is War. His first gimmick was that of 'Faarooq Asad', 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'.

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, Vega and Crush 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.

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 Dennis Knight 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 would later join 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).

The APA 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 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, accusing Bradshaw of not being a faithful friend (in kayfabe; 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 the WWE in a promotional capacity.

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 the WWE. Starting in October 2006, he began making short appearances on RAW just to say his catchphrase "Damn!", and eventually started wearing a shirt with the catchphrase. WWE fans have greatly cheered the catchphrase every time that he has used it.

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. He has since then been used at the end of backstage segments, saying his trademark "DAMN!" catchphrase in many different ways.

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

Ron Simmons has lately gone to be in segments which involve him using words that rhyme with his catchphrase "DAMN"