Ron Simmons on the Nation of Domination’s Success and His Hall of Fame Career

Fred: Fred Richani here for The Sports Courier at Pro Wrestling Syndicate with professional wrestling and college football legend Ron Simmons. Mr. Simmons, what brings you here today at PWS?

Ron Simmons: Since retiring from the ring, I never really had the opportunity to come out, mingle with the fans and answer a lot of their questions. Now I get that opportunity, and this provides the atmosphere and the platform to answer their questions, give back to them and thank them for all the wonderful years they came out and supported me. This is great. I’m enjoying it.

Fred: What’s also great is that a lot of your former Nation of Domination stablemates are having a lot of success. D’Lo Brown has had a bit of a career resurgence in TNA with Aces & Eights. The Rock won the WWE Championship for the first time in over a decade, and Mark Henry is a former world champ. What are your thoughts on your former stablemates’ success?

Ron Simmons: When we formed the Nation, we formed it with a group of guys who were already proven wrestlers, and some of them come from a long history of wrestling in their families. So it was almost certain that each of them would go on from the Nation and be successful in the ring and out of it. We had a good bond then, and we have a bond now that continues.

Fred: How happy are you for Mark Henry, who for a lot of years was considered a bust and proved all the naysayers wrong?

Ron Simmons: Mark Henry was never a bust. I have no idea where they got that misconception. Mark Henry was destined to be a success anyway, particularly when he got with me and the Nation. That harnessed everything he already had going on, which is strength and agility, and molded and enhanced it. Later on, he went on to prove, just like you said, that they were all wrong, and they continue to be wrong.

Fred: You’ve had a phenomenal career in college football and professional wrestling, with so many great moments, including becoming the first African American world champion and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Can you name a few?

Ron Simmons: Let’s see: three-time All-American at Florida State University, Sports Illustrated freshman player of the year, a Heisman Trophy candidate who finished ninth as a junior, and the College Football Hall of Fame. I’m in five halls of fame altogether, including the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame, the state of Georgia’s and WWE’s. I’ll stop there.

Fred: What do you feel is your crowning achievement?

Ron Simmons: I’d probably say it’s a little bit of each one, because I enjoyed doing each one, and I’ve had a wonderful time doing it. I’ve had a very fulfilled life and career up to this point. I’m not angry at anything. I thank God for all the wonderful opportunities I’ve been given. Life has been good.

Fred: You look good. Thank you for sparing my life and not hitting me with the Dominator.

Ron Simmons: Well, not yet. This is not over yet. I’m looking at your neck, and I’m wondering how it would feel in my hands.

Fred: You’ve got some loyal fans waiting in line for you. Where can fans find you online, sir?

Ron Simmons: I don’t do too much online. I like to do it mostly in person, like here. I’m kind of a people person, so I do a lot of my things here and thank people in person.

Fred: Can we please get the magic word?

Ron Simmons: Damn!