RON SIMMONS ~ A RIGHT TURN TO SUCCESS
“Dad got in a car and drove away in a ’65 Pontiac, turned right, and never came back.” — Ron Simmons
To really grasp the importance of the moment here in August of 1992, I would like to take you back to August of 1979. The “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion for the first time by defeating the defending champion Harley Race in Tampa, Florida. After Dusty won the title, he told famed announcer Gordon Solie, “That is history being made!” Now, fast forward thirteen years. Dusty Rhodes joins Ron Simmons in the ring during the celebration becoming the first African American World Champion for WCW while Harley Race looked once again defeated but this time as a dejected manager of champion Big Van Vader. Oh, the irony as history was made yet again!
August 2, 1992
“Luck is what happens when Preparation Meets Opportunity!” — Seneca (Roman Philosopher)
Though Seneca might be right sometimes, in this case Ron Simmons was not lucky. He was prepared and ready to win. This night is supposed to be Sting’s moment to shine. He is scheduled to meet Big Van Vader for the opportunity to win back the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Their rematch was to take place at a house show in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a hotbed for professional wrestling. Sting was at the announcer’s table commentating with the great Jim Ross and watching “Ravishing” Rick Rude, the United States Champion, defend his belt against “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff. The match went sideways when the unpredictable Cactus Jack jumped in the ring holding a steel chair and began double-teaming Nikita Koloff. Sting could not tolerate seeing his good friend Nikita getting beat up, so he took the headset off and said to Jim Ross, “Rossi, I’m outta here”! Sting leaves the broadcast table in the back, runs down the aisle, and enters the ring to help his buddy. Sting cleans house and knocks Cactus Jack out of the ring with a chairshot and presses Rick Rude over his head for a long length of time before depositing Rude over the top rope onto Cactus Jack who is standing on the outside of the ring. Suddenly, Jake “the Snake” Roberts appears in the crowd and makes his way down to the ring. This was even more of a surprise because Roberts was working in the WWF. Once Roberts entered the arena, it became total chaos! He does his patented clothesline on Sting which sends him to the canvas. Meanwhile, Jim Ross is going absolutely nuts while announcing the action! Then Roberts throws a steel chair to the ground and does two DDT’s which drop Sting on his head. He is just about to put the giant and deadly python on Sting from his evil bag of tricks when help arrives from the back dressing room — in the form of none other than Ron Simmons. You see, Cowboy Bill Watts was in charge of WCW at that time, and, after Sting was not going to be able to compete against Big Van Vader for the World Title, Bill decided he would have a “luck of the draw” to determine Vader’s opponent. There were eight wrestlers who were all worthy opponents for Big Van Vader, and Bill Watts drew the “All-American” Ron Simmons to compete for a chance to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship!
The Main Event
“The odds are against us? What do we care about odds!” — Malcolm X
Right before the bell rang, Big Van Vader looked to the camera and told the television audience, “I fear no man and I feel no pain!” He was a devastating human being standing tall at 6’5” and weighing in at 448 pounds. Big Van Vader dominated the match in that squared circle as he hammered Ron Simmons like he had never been hammered before. However, the electric Baltimore crowd would not allow Simmons to stay down long. Ron got up and began to punch and push and slug his way to finally hurting Vader. Simmons had Vader up against the corner turnbuckles continuing to punch him down to the canvas while his manager Harley Race could only look on in concern. This All-American, college football Hall of Famer had his Florida State #50 jersey retired, and he worked hard to retire Van Vader that night, too. The unbelievable power of Simmons was on full display. The two combatants stood toe to toe in the center of the ring. Ron Simmons landed three straight right hands to Big Van Vader’s head then dropped him with a left-handed clothesline. Simmons then lifted the big man up into a belly-to-back suplex as the crowd went nuts. But Big Van Vader, the WCW World Champion, would not stay down long. As quick as a cat, he turned the tide again on Simmons. He hit a devastating corner Splash on Ron and many thought the match was over. Vader then had Ron in a waist-lock and brought him up around his shoulder, but he slipped off. Vader ran into the ropes but Ron Simmons, as fast as he used to come off the line to sack a Florida Gators quarterback, hit Big Van Vader with a power slam that shook the ring. Jim Ross yells, “We got it, Simmons got it, Simmons has won the match, Simmons is a Champion, Simmons has won the world title!”
The following interview of Ron Simmons was conducted by Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Dave Rosenbaum,
“I wish I could’ve jumped up and down and celebrated all night,
but I just wasn’t in the mood,” Simmons said. “Sure, I’m
very proud of winning the World title. It’s something I deserve
and have worked for. But I wish it could’ve happened under
better circumstances. After the match, the first thing I did was
call the hospital and see how Sting was doing. Then I told him
what I was doing, and now I’m going to tell everyone else: I
dedicate my World title to Sting. This one’s for him. Some people
just refuse to do things the right way,” Simmons said. “I guess
I know all about that because I was that way once. But I don’t
see where the joy is in beating a man to a pulp, especially when
that man has so much talent. Sting is good for the sport,
he’s good for everyone in this federation, and we should be glad
to have him. Those guys think they got rid of Sting, but they’re
wrong,” Simmons added. “Now I feel like I have the strength
of two men. I talk to Sting each day and we talk about everything.
He knows what I’m doing, and you’d better believe he’s
behind me 100 percent.”
History is Made
“Any hurdle can set you back, I’ve been there. You can find a way.” — Ron Simmons
This incredible moment will live on for eternity. Ron Simmons. The boy whose mom died when he was eight years old. Ron Simmons. The boy whose dad got in a car, turned right, and never came back home. Ron Simmons. The boy raised by a loving grandmother until she, too, passed away. Ron Simmons. The boy that the world tried to forget. Ron Simmons made history on August 2, 1992, by becoming the first black World Heavyweight Champion in the modern era! Ron Simmons told JBL on their WWE Network interview, “It is a day I will relish until the end of time. History making night for sports entertainment. This is a huge deal for all people, not just black people. If you want to get something out of this life, get off your ass, and make it happen!”
In February each year, we celebrate Black History Month. I am reminded of a statement made by my great friend and brother Duke Bennett of the Duke Loves Rasslin’ podcast when another great wrestler became the first African-American WWE Champion: “It’s just…DIFFERENT…Kofi winning the WWE Championship is the most significant moment in the lives of most Black Wrestling fans…Stop telling us “Well, Mark Henry”…Stop telling us “Well, The Rock”…This is DIFFERENT…Means more…The Most…Either you get it or you don’t!”
From Ron Simmons to The Rock to Mark Henry to Booker T to Jay Lethal to Kofi Kingston, Duke, WE GET IT and so do millions upon millions of wrestling fans all over the world!
Scottie’s Book “FAMILY BACON RASSLIN’” is on Amazon.com! Pick up a copy https://www.amazon.com/Family-Bacon-Rasslin-Scottie-Richardson/dp/1546561382
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