The WCW Career of Ron Simmons
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Wrestling Bios Presents - The WCW Career of Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons career in WCW was incredibly noteworthy. After a highly succesful football career, Ron Simmons got trained for professional wrestling by Hiro Matsuda and entered the wrestling world as an already established athlete. Ron was made an instant fan favourite when he made his debut in Florida and got success quite early on.
In WCW, Ron Simmons would make history. After competing in singles action, he formed a tag team with Butch Reed known as Doom. Doom would become succesful in the tag team ranks of WCW, capturing the tag team championships while under the management of Teddy Long. When Butch and Ron broke up, Simmons was put on a main event path which led to a match with Lex Luger for the WCW title at Halloween Havoc 1991. While Ron didn't win the title during this showdown, it proved that he was an extremely hard worker.
Ron Simmons did eventually capture the WCW World Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Big Van Vader in the summer of 1992. His win here ensured he would go down in the history books, and while things didn't turn out how he envisioned after winning the title, Ron Simmons is extremely proud of this accomplishment. Ron paved the way for others to follow, and he described his title win as a feeling he will never know again.
This mini documentary from Wrestling Bios takes a look at the WCW Career of Ron Simmons. Topics covered include:
01:44 - Ron Simmons Football Career at Florida State
03:40 - Ron debuts in Florida Championship Wrestling
05:40 - Ron Simmons and Butch Reed become Doom
08:16 - Lex Luger vs Ron Simmons at Halloween Havoc 1991
10:00 - Ron Simmons makes history and becomes the World Champion
12:29 - Bobo Brazil and his NWA Championship "win"
13:59 - Ron Simmon's short run as WCW Champion
- Much More!
If you would like to support the channel and my work, please consider becoming a channel member: / @wrestlingbios
#wwe #wrestling #documentary
I have the coolest Ron Simmons story. When I was turning 10 for my birthday my dad took me to see a wcw house show where Ron would be defending his title against Vader that night. Well my dad had to use the bathroom an wanted to get us drinks an food during the intermission. I some how got lost and stumbled into what I thought was the bathroom i saw my dad go into but it was actually the locker room an right there who I see sitting down tying his boots with the title beside him. Ron Simmons who looks up at me an finishes tying his shoes then takes my hand an walks me out the dressing room asking loudly WHO'S BOY IS THIS! an my dad come out of nowhere frantically surprised to see me with the Champ. Ron hands me over to my dad with my dad thanking him over an over an me waving at Ron an him waving back as he went back into the dressing room. I kept yelling at my dad, daddy daddy daddy I met Ron! just over an over with so much excitement. My dad told me as we were walking back to our seats the importance of Ron being world champion an what it meant to our culture an people. This is truly a moment in my life I can never forget.
I love finding this type of story online. Thanks for sharing.
Sick
They can say it was political and whatnot but I was a 11 yr old boy when he was champ and I loved him cuz he was a football player and standup dude and I’m white
Lies
@@uncommonsence153 no lies here its a moment in my life I'll never forget
Ron Simmons sure was an underrated wrestler. I don’t think he was given enough acknowledgment as a wrestler.
He always got the recognition he deserved in WCW. Vince straight up buried him with the Farooq gimmick.
I always preferred Arn Anderson's spinebuster. But Ron's.. lol. Very underrated. It looked like a All-Pro who played "real" sport just picked up a dude and drove him down like he was trying to take out a QB.
He was a bum.
@@Jonashall1Ok. Say that to his face
@@dominicomegon4714 He's just trolling. Don't pay attention to him.
I remember playing the Superbrawl game for Super Nintendo and when you selected Ron Simmons, he would say "show me some respect".
Respect earned. Ron Simmons is a living legend.
Papa Taurean Yeah, I remember that! My buddies and I would quote lines from that game in e everyday life. Still do occasionally.
Sweet memories!!
That game was terrible (that's the one with Ric Flair on the cover, right?). But that was the best part, about the game (the character select screen with their quotes).
VW DT You are correct! Flair, Sting and Vader are on the cover.
@@justafanofnerdculture7602 yes. I remember constantly eyeballing that game, whenever I went to this Mom and Pop video store called "Movie Time Video". Then one day, I finally decided to ask my Dad to rent it for me. I played that joint for about 30 minutes max.. and wanted to take it back. Lol. And the only redeeming quality I remember about that game, was the player select screen, with them saying their signature quotes.
Ron Simmons actually helped put Florida State on the map become a powerhouse in College Football in the late 70s
king lord I remember a house show the then WWF did in Tallahassee where he and Bradshaw teamed against Mankind and Test. Obviously, the APA (then part of the Corporate Ministry) were the favorites for that match. Still remember Ron doing the Tomahawk Chop on the top of Mankind’s head, after Mick told him “We’re going to give you the one thing you never got at Florida State. An education!!!”😂🤣
glprime2814 that’s a great story. I was there at the house show in Tallahassee. It seems like yesterday.
Ted Williams yep😂😂
DAMN! Ron Simmons was one of the most underrated wrestlers imo.
Agreed. Loved him and Bradshaw's matches. Always super hard hitting. Would have LOVED to see them and the Road Warriors, even the Beverly Brothers, or a dream matchup vs. Demolition.
He was absolutely appauling
@@matthewpilling4828 No way he was appauling
@@donnelladams340 he was diasterous....the horsemen the steiners and the freebirds carried them as doom..and as a single wrestler he was boring and displayed no wrestling skill at .....
@@matthewpilling4828 If he was disastrous he wouldn't have had a job in WCW at that time. The Steiners were a great tag team talent so do you think they would risk their health putting them into the ring with guys that could possibly hurt them in the ring. Your opinion is your opinion but the fact that Ron has has a career that has spanned over 30 years proves that he wasn't terrible in the ring and had no skills. A wrestler with no skills doesn't have a long career and they certainly don't but the heavyweight belt on him.
Love this video. I remember watching him beat Vader for the belt when I was a little boy. It felt so good to see someone like me (African American) be champion
It's legendary it happened then, wwe was racist and a wonder that he won it
Hey I'm white and to me Simmons was inspirational across the board, dude's one of the ultimate awesome guys. Such an underrecognized expert.
@@darkashtar agreed, and he should have had better opportunity
@@confusedtuba4443 oh most definitely, still love seeing him show up on occasion, at least now WWE treats him like the legend he is a lot of the time.
@@darkashtar yeah man no disrespect intended. It was an awesome moment.
As a black man I really appreciated this. Thank you!
E T racist much?
@@darthsoros787 how is this racist?
@@darthsoros787 get bent troll
@@darthsoros787 stfu
Why would being black make you appreciate this anymore than anyone else?
I don't get it?
I always thought that Ron Simmons was criminally underrated throughout his career. Nice to see him finally getting his just deserved due. I still remember my friends and I going batshit crazy when he beat Big Van Vader for the WCW World Championship!
The Doom theme song was the one of the best songs ever. Top 5 for me.
There's people who only know Ron for the APA? DAMN!
And as a huge FSU fan, Ron is a legend.
Thank you for this video. Ron Simmons was/is an inspiration to many of us in the African American community..I was seven when he won the belt, and I remember my brothers and I snot nose crying when he beat Vader lol. An underrated legend in the game 🙏🏿
@Swanyay if I may, not just to the African American community, to many a scrawny white Englisher as well. He just comes across as a genuinely nice guy and if you're a normal human being it's all about being a decent person and nowt more 🙂
@@charliehallam Way to miss the point.
Charlie Hallam missed the point completely, giving the title to Ron empowered many colored boys
@@aoclive6710 and embrace society
Swanyay what part of Africa you from?
The dominator was a damn good finishing move used it in a lot of my CAW’s
i always preferred when he used the spinebuster as a finisher. he just made it look so nasty.
@@thomasjenkins7506 I liked how after he did it, he would just stare at his opponent on the mat as if to say, "You want some more?" LOL
He absolutely wrecked Ahmed Johnson with the dominator
Facts
Bobby lashley does this Finnish aswell right?
Love this never understood how significant Rob Simmons was to the business despite him not having a lot of championships to his resume
"And Simmons...he got him in the powerslam! HE GOT HIM IN THE POWERSLAM! He gah...HE GOT IT! SIMMONS GOT IT! SIMMONS HAS WON THE MATCH! SIMMONS IS THE CHAMPION! SIMMONS HAS WON THE WORLD TITLE!"--Jim Ross
As a young black kid watching the highlights of that moment...I'll never forget that call. Ever.
The fact that Simmons was never given his due but we had to endure a year long Bradshaw title reign still irritates me now
Because wwe had nobody for wwe title at time wheras for farooq when he was in his prime bischoff didn't wanted to push him it's just what circumstances they were when they were in their prime jbl had better circumstances than ron Simmons
🤣🤣
If you really appreciate Ron at all you’ll know that he loved the fact that his best friend JBL became world champion and he said it himself that right after winning the world title his tag years with Bradshaw was the best part of his career
JBL was an incredible heel and no one was more proud of his success than Ron Simmons.
JBL is one of the best heels ever
Ron probably would have been a record setter in the NFL had he stayed. It was a gift that he chose wrestling. His WCW work was the best part of his wrestling career. Loved DOOM & World Heavy Weight Champion Ron Simmons. No catchphrase needed.
I still get goosebumps when I watch that championship match against Vader. It was so unexpected and that's what made it special. The narrator is right on this one about the pure emotion after Ron had won and seeing the crowd with a huge pop.
Damnedest thing. I tracked down a video of Ron Simmons winning the belt and shortly after he got the pinfall I somehow got dust in both my eyes at the same time. Imagine that.
Now I got to go watch a Ron Simmons Damn compilation 😂
One of the most underrated wrestlers in both WCW and WWE
The one dislike deserves a... DAMN!!!
It's great to see Ron get his due and proper. I still wish he'd have won the WWF title, but Vince always seems to be well behind the curve, when it comes to "coloured" champions. A World title run as Farooq, would have been a license to print money.
WWE Dropped the ball on Ron, like the guy had history in NWA/WCW and they never talked about it. Guys like Flair, Duggin, and Race got all their accolades acknowledged
As a young black kid growing up watching wrestling Ron Simmons was my dude !!!!! 👍🏾
Much, much respect and love for the great, Ron Simmons!
Ron Simmons is one of my favorites, I'm a tag team guy and he had some awesome tag teams my favorite being APA but also like Doom and the Nation Faction.
DOOM was so nasty. Damn I love that team.
That team doesn't get talked about much but yeah, DOOM was great.
Dominic Omegon Yeah, Doom most definitely deserves more recognition.
Thank you for doing this one. Ron Simmons has been overlooked far too long.
Much agreed!
The most underrated wrestler of all time thank you for making this video he's got some fans that are very appreciative
One of the real tough guys in the dressing room, you wouldn't want to mess with this guy, A real badass, and how can we forget the APA, with bradshaw, what an impact their made in WWE Damn!!
Ron Simmons and Kofi Kingston, both are history makers as the first black world champions with both the big gold belt and the WWE Championship respectfully.
Two great moments in pro wrestling history for sure.
Ultimat3 SonicFan Years ago Butch Reed beat Rick Flair..he didn't keep the belt long
Old rasslin fan here!
The video is on here somewhere
Ron Simmons is legendary professional wrestling! Hands down!!!! If we wouldn't have Ron Simmons, we wouldn't have Mark Henry, The Rock, and all professionals who paved the way for all of us that broke color barriers in the professional wrestling history today!😊👍👍👍👍👍
I know right! Ron Simmons went back in time and created Bobo Brazil and Ernie Ladd too. He also enabled Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson to have careers before he did. Whadda guy!
Ron deserved to be a multi WCW champ, but his win was historic. Doom so woefully underrated.
Doom was awesome to watch.
Doom was a great tag team in an era of hof tag teams. It was short lived but they held their own.
If your not a Mark you know Ron’s a LEGEND
Theres only one word that can describe Ron's career!
Mediocre?
@@zerocool1ist - What a legacy!
DAMN
one of the most underrated of two different generations
I do remember Ron Simmons went to Florida State University. He started in 1980 year. He was the very first black WCW World Champion in 1993 year. Ron Simmons and Hack saw Butch Reed was the very first black WCW World tag team champions in 1990 year.
Ron was a beast. He was able to do Hindu pushups on his fingertips.
I remember seeing that match when he won that title WCW live I wasn't there I remember watching it on TV I'm 38 years old and seeing you just replay that brought back all of my old memories feelings that power slim he's hitting with off the ropes Goosebumps right now thank you for bringing back a great part of my childhood
Simmons wrestling style always looked so brutal. It was power moves done right.
Young people will remember him in apa lol I’m old
moon dawg ... I think you’re right
@moon dawg I can agree with that.
I'll remember him teaming with butch reed in wcw
Brian B3_Hoops ...Doom was a good team
@Michael McDade I just missed that part I'm 33 I was little I did my research on a lot of wwe wcw stars they were in nwa or other promotions back in the day Scott hall changed a lot from his time as tag champs with young Mr perfect to him becoming razors Ramon in wwe before Scott looked like one of the smoking guns lol
one of the best wrestling channels by far
Wrestling Bios i see what you doing you think i would not notice getting on my good grace with your excellent videos keep up the good work guy and thank you for doing a video on Ron Simmons early years on WCW
Ron Simmons pre-DAMN days!!!
Ron Simmons was a great WCW legend he was World Champion,World tag team champion ,US tag team champion,
Awsome!! I remember him being a extraordinary athlete when I first saw him in da ring. Moved well with quick feet. What actually really blew me away, (this is in hindsight) was that man can cut a promo!! hes ill on the mic and he knows what to do when the camera is rolling. Considering that era, in that profession. Speaks volumes of his talent✊🏾🔥😁
Not sure if you done these bro, would love to see them:
Juventud "Juvi" Guerrera
Dino Bravo
Orient Express
(Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato)
He fully deserved the WCW world title and good god he deserved the WWE title too. More so than so many others out there.
Damn! Such a overlooked legend.
1992 WCW 🌎 Champion Ron Simmons vs. 2000 WCW 🌎 Champion Booker T.
Who wins and which was the better Pro Wrestler? Ron Simmons or Booker T. ???
What about 1990 NWA/WCW 🌎 Tag Team Championships: Doom(Ron Simmons & Butch Reed)
vs.
10 time WCW 🌎 Tag Team Championships: Harlem Heat(Booker T. & Stevie Ray)????
I don’t know. I loved both and their tag teams.
I loved the Luger Simmons fued as a kid
Much respect to Ron Simmons
HUGE RESPECT 2 RONN SIMMONS
@@MIKEJ788 facts brother
@@johnrodriguez8233 Mos Def
I remember watching Ron Simmons on WCW but when I was a kid I never linked him to his WWF characters, then again I never knew the Godfather was also Papa Shango 🙈
I had no clue till I was an adult either lol
He would've made a good wwe champion.
@Domo Jones
Don't bring race into it, when you aren't a mind reader. The Rock was a multiple time champion, so your little theory doesn't have much merit now does it.
@@igorivanov299 true...Rocky Johnson was a tag champ. Wasn't Ernie Ladd champ of something too.
@@igorivanov299 Living in america - Race has everything to do with it, - he was however First Black WCW World Champion - The rock was half black and samoan so he got a passed, The rock was way to good on the mic to be ignored.. Simply ahead of his time breaking barriers. Kofi winning the belt after 15 + years tells you "race isn't an issue".
@@user-rp8bi1ys2j
America cheered and accepted Ron Simmons as World champion, and that was WCW, a southern promotion. The Rock got a pass?, yet in the same sentence you say he was too good to be denied.
You debunked your own argument. Exactly my point, if they are good enough they will be rewarded. WWE first and foremost wants to make money, if it's good for business, they will reward with a title. Merit and currency based, nothing to do with race. You're reading your own prejudices and preconceived narratives into the equation. When in reality it's not the case. Vince McMahon's business the WWF, a northern based company was all too happy to strap the intercontinental belt, (when the intercontinental title actually meant something) on Ahmed Johnson, WWF strapped many titles on other black performers such as D-Lo Brown in a period when black wrestlers were a rarity in the business. That's what you are forgetting about the business itself, it was largely a white dominated business. Going by per captia and population size alone, black wrestlers have done quite well, probably overrepresented. So many white wrestling legends haven't had the distinction of wearing the ultimate gold. Jake the snake Roberts, Scott Hall, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ted DiBiase, Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, William Regal just to name a few. They certainly deserved it, but it never will be questioned that they never held the title was because of their race. No, of course not, not everyone is so lucky. Race was irrelevant. It's just the way it goes sometimes.
If race held people back then why was Booker T declared the World's heavy weight champion in WWE, as was Mark Henry. Why weren't they denied by Vince? They are as black as they come, yet they got a pass and held the pinnacle distinction of World's heavy weight champions.
@Domo Jones race has nothing to do with it. i love simmons, but he couldn't cut a promo to save his life. that was horrible timing because he was in the WWF when they had their biggest personalities.
I became a fan right around the time that Ron won the belt. He was one of the first people that I really marked out for. He was so talented, and doesn't get anywhere near the amount of credit that he deserves.
My dad and I cried when Ron Simmons won the belt. Black men and women wrestlers were mistreated especially in the Southern territories. Thank you for this Bio.
Ron Simmons needs a dvd about his career.
I remember that match with Vader and the pop it got when he landed that powerslam and pinned him. I was young but I remember my older cousin going crazy when it happened. Ron Simmons was one of his favorite wrestlers. Good video. Can't wait til you do one on the alcolytes in WWE. That tag team was underrated
Eddie's and Ron Simmons crowd Pop's were the most emotional crowd Pop's, I have ever had the honor of witnessing
MAKE LONGER VIDEOS PLEASE DX idk what to watch when these end and I done watched all your vids lol been here with ya since The Life and Death of Brian Pillman vid. Certainly one of my all time favorite channels.
Watch them on half speed
The guy was built like a god! Hands down the best body in wrestling 💪🏾
The biggest Fan crow pop ever! Wow never had a pop like this before. I remember watching it on TV. The fans went crazy
I did watch a bit of WCW as a kid but I only remember Ron as Farooq in WWF. This is cool insight to what I missed. Thanks for all the videos.
The Rock credits Ron Simmons for the "know your role " catch phrase. 👍
I was looking at a Table for 3 with Kama, D Lo and Mark Henry they stated that Rock's mannerism was also due to Ron Simmons. They said he is a stand up guy that helped them all on and off the air and that they can still call on until this day. Gave him very high praises as a person
Thank you for this video. White Americans probably wouldn't make a serious video about Mr. Simmons. Thank you wr/bios for understanding who Mr. Simmons is and what he did in history. Thank you U.K. wrestling fans for knowledge and content like this.
The NWA does recognize Bobo Brazil Reign now
I mean, cool. But we SAW Ron win that title. It's the first time for me. That Bobo 'recognition' feels like them trying to usurp something...should've given him the belt THEN.
Butch reed doesn't get enough credit for putting Ron over and igniting the rocket for him. Passing of the torch as they say.
Many thanks for this video. i was and am a massive fan of Ron from his WCW days. The power the man showed was terrifying and his suplex's were just a wonder to behold.
i remember watching Simmons winning the title I was probably about 10) and they pushed it like Jackie Robinson. I was so proud and happy to witness real HISTORY. haha
Ron Simmons is My Top 5 Favorite Wrestlers of All Time Legendary video Wrestling Bios. and Thank you and Keep it up please 🏆🐐🎯🙏❤️
Thank you for this, I was getting worried there for a minute even though wrestling wasn't very well diversed I was hoping your Bios were going to be! Thank you so very much for this in depth Piece and your unbiased opinions!! Thank you!!!
He was never pushed the way he deserved. THAT IS RON SIMONS. DAMN!!!
That's why I love this DAMN boy.
He's a man not a boy smh
Where the hell you see a "boy"?
@@RJAce-ql3ey in his racist mind
The greatest ron simmons love the guy I met him once greatest day of my life
As the first African American male to win the WCW world heavyweight championship 28 years ago (august 1992), it is absolutely mind boggling to say everyone was very proud of him for achieving his goal for someone who overcame the impossible odds in his life. He proved that no matter who you are, where you come or what people say about you never achieving success, only you and god can conquer that. You, as a human being, have the potential to be anything in life to prove that through your hard work, dedication and faith, trust and belief in yourself and jesus christ that nothing is impossible for you to overcome and to keep things together and pushing forward! Way to go, ron Simmons! You set the standards for winning against all odds!
I bet Ron Simmons watched this video with a tear in his eye and saying..............DAMN.
Brilliant upload as always, Simmons always stood out to me as a no nonsense tough guy and was a great talent who could have (and should have) had a better run in WWE but we can say that about a lot of talent
I love all your videos keep it up!!!! You give all the facts and the true history. I cant get enough
I've gotten to where I just go ahead and like your videos as soon as they start because I know they will be good, and once again, you knocked it out of the park. Looking forward to part two.
Doom is my favourite tag team of all time. 🤷♂️
They're the most underrated tag team ever.
Mojo Jojo Butch Reed straight Savage
I was 5 when Ron Simmons won the title it was a huge deal for me as a boy it was 100% unexpected and he was a favorite at the time goosebumps is still my reaction
Ron Simmons from his collegiate football career and into his professional wrestling career really is unparalleled. Yes, kofi in wwe, yes others but Simmons and Butch Reed broke the mold. Simmons alone. I would have killed to see a Booker T in his Prime one on one with Farooq. Ron Simmons though. Legitimate strong competitor through and through. This man is a True Icon.
Edit: when Ron Simmons beat Vader for the WcW title. And he was smothered by the faces and as he held his arms up high in the win as they secured the title around his waist. EPIC.
When the WWF did a house show in Tallahassee. I can remember Mick Foley tell Ron Simmons “ I am going to give you something you didn’t get at Florida State a Education”.
Thank you for making this video! Ron is so underrated and, sadly, remembered more for his tag work (Doom, APA) than his singles success. True trailblazer than many (Booker, Kofi, etc.) owe a debt of gratitude for opening doors.
Damn!
APA was my fave gig for RS. So much fun outside the ring, and tear you up in the match. Use the door. :P
This story brought me to tears. Thank you. This means so much for people of color.
Man I jumped up in the air when he won that championship against Vader Ron Simmons had a great career and doom that tag team was one of the greatest I say top 20 all time
Ron Simmons WCW days always like seeing him wrestling. Good career in college football and Pro wrestling . Man his run with APA in WWF was good and funny promos also
I got to experience Ron Simmons in real time, from DOOM to world champion, I think that was my favorite time ever to be a wrestling fan. I even got to see DOOM live a couple times. When he won that world title...like he said, there was literally no feeling like it, I think I was in middle school, it was legit the coolest thing EVER!
Thanks for the video. I'm glad to know more about the great Ron Simmons.
I’ve met tons of pro wrestlers over the years (from being involved in it) and Ron Simmons is by far the biggest sweetheart of all of them!
He will walk right up to you go my brother give you a fist bump and slap on the back. Really awesome guy to talk to.
You're page is a inspiration definitely
I was at Ron's very first match in Florida. He & a guy named Dewey Forte teamed for a little while before Ron became a singles wrestler. 2 of Dewey's brothers worked w my dad & they used to give us tix to the show.
Great video would love to see 1 of Tony Atlas.
Butch Reed also.
I’ve always held this man in high regard and always felt legitimately intimidated by him even though he’s always shown how kind he truly was. Ron Simmons is a legitimate legend. Dude looked and wrestled like a bull dozer
As a wrestling fan I am happy to have watched this. Thank you.
I liked Ron Simmons in WCW.
One of my Favorite Old school wrestlers... When he walked out you knew it was time for fight and he was going to kick butt!! 👍🏾👍🏾No games No BS...lol
I really appreciate your objective take on everything…. Ron Simmons in my mind has always been an amazing wrestler and a force to be reckoned with… I look back on the classic days of pro wrestling- Simmons was legitimately a scary dude
In fact - every time I think about him being paired with Bradshaw- it’s a real trip because they were an odd couple that worked perfectly. I was never much a jbl fan but apa was ultra badass and worked like a perfect storm
I've met Ron Simmons years ago one of the nicest dudes ever
when my dad left I used to look at Ron Simmons as a father figure and I was so happy when he won the championship against Vader I can remember being a kid being so scared for him