Ron Simmons

Ronald Simmons is a retired American professional wrestler and football player He performed for World Championship Wrestling WCW under his real name and in WWE under both his real name and the ring names Faarooq Asaad sometimes spelled Asad and Faarooq sometimes spelled Farooq He is currently signed with WWE working in their Legends program In WCW he was a one time World Heavyweight Champion as the first of two African Americans to win the title he is recognized by WWE as the first Black heavyweight world champion in professional wrestling history He was also a one time World Tag Team Champion with Butch Reed and a one time United States Tag Team Champion with Big Josh In the WWF he was a three time Tag Team Champion with Bradshaw as one half of the Acolytes Protection Agency He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Prior to becoming a professional wrestler Simmons was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League Canadian Football League and United States Football League for four seasons during the 1980s He played college football for Florida State University and was recognized as an AllAmerican He played professionally for the NFLs Cleveland Browns the CFLs Ottawa Rough Riders and the USFLs Tampa Bay Bandits