Collection: Ron Simmons Butch Reed : WCW World Heavyweight Champion , Doom , Farooq

DAMMM ! Former WCW World Champion .

Ron Simmons is a man of few words, but his actions as a pioneer speak volumes.

A multiple-time tag champ in both WWE and WCW and a College Football Hall of Famer, the big man’s greatest achievement came on Aug. 2, 1992 when he defeated Big Van Vader to become the first officially recognized African-American world champion in sports-entertainment. Like "Sailor" Art Thomas, Bobo Brazil and Rocky Johnson before him, Simmons broke down barriers and paved the way for future Superstars like The Rock and Booker T.

The powerhouse’s journey to sports-entertainment immortality began in his native Perry, Ga., where he excelled on the football field. A nose tackle on defense, he earned All-American honors playing at Florida State University, where he ruled the turf under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. His No. 50 jersey was retired by Florida State University, and he was ultimately inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame for his accomplishments at FSU.