WrestleZone.com reader Lekisha F. Oliver sent along the following …
Simmons Headed to Crossfire
Ron Simmons has had one of the most prestigious careers any person can have in wrestling.
With a solid background in football as an All-American at Florida State University, anyone who knew Ron Simmons knew that he was destined for greatness.
Being brought into wrestling’s spotlight as one half of Doom, with Butch Reed, Simmons would be part of one of the most dominant tag teams in National Wrestling Alliance in 1989. The team would successfully defend the titles against the Rock-N-Roll Express, The Four Horsemen, but it would be the win over The Horsemen to solidify Simmons and Reed as the new World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions.
The always controversial Freebirds would take the titles off of Doom and Simmons/Reed would dissolve Doom and end up feuding with each other.
It would take until 1992 before management saw that Ron Simmons was one of the top wrestlers of his time by giving him a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship held by Vader. While Simmons would pick up the victory, he would be recognized as the first African American WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
Simmons proved to be a fighting champion taking on all comers, including Crossfire’s Mick Foley, as Cactus Jack, The Barbarian and more, but it would be Vader who would unseat the champion.
He would then take his talent up to ECW and then to WWE were he would form the Nation of Domination. The Nation, which started in USWA, was brought up to New York with Simmons, now going as Faarooq, and bringing some of the top stars to television and to his group, including Crossfire’s own PG-13 (Wolfie D and JC Ice (Jamie Dundee)), Crush, D’Lo Brown, and Savio Vega. The reemergence of The Nation spotlighted not only Simmons, but future stars like The Godfather and The Rock.
But Simmons would continue to be one of the ring generals in and out of the stadium. After forming APA with John Bradshaw Layfield, the duo would dominate both the WWE Tag Team Championship circles and the WWE.
Now, Simmons will be bringing his brand of strength and adversity to Nashville’s Crossfire Entertainment.
On Saturday, March 17, 2012, Crossfire Entertainment will present Crossfire Live! from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Sports Arena.
“I am very happy to announce that Ron Simmons will be joining the Crossfire team on March 17,” said Crossfire Entertainment owner Marcus Pastorius. “This is truly a rare opportunity to have an athlete such as Ron to be coming to Crossfire. Mr. Simmons has a huge list of accomplishments being a former WWE Tag Team Champion, being the first African American World Champion, former NFL athlete, a legend in the world of professional wrestling and a big supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is a real treat for fans around the country to meet one half of one of the most popular teams in WWE History “APA” and see him up close and personal as only Crossfire can provide. Crossfire keeps moving in the right direction and be sure to secure your tickets today for the March 17 show as we keep granting wishes with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and you never know what Ron Simmons has in store at the fairgrounds!”
Crossfire Entertainment presents Crossfire Live! tickets are available online at www.crossfirellc.vze.com for $15 for VIP seats and $10 for ringside seats. With every ticket sold $2 will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Make sure to pick up your tickets to support Crossfire Entertainment and the Make-A-Wish Foundation!
