Damn! Ron Simmons to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Photo via WWE.com.

John Bradshaw Layfield, eat your heart out.

One half of the APA will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as Ron Simmons will be introduced as the next inductee into the hallowed halls, according to Whatculture. Simmons is recognized as the first African-American world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling. Simmons earned that right after he powerslammed Vader to the mat on August 2nd, 1992.

Simmons would hold on to the belt until December 30th of that year, where he lost the title to Vader. In addition to his reign as WCW world heavyweight kingpin, Simmons captured the WCW United States tag team strap with his partner Big Josh (known to most at the original Doink the Clown) and the WCW world tag team belt with Butch Reed.

After a brief stint with ECW, Simmons took over what was likely his most recognizable character of Faarooq. Initially a gladiator character, he would be written in as the leader of the notorious Nation of Domination, a stable that notably included D'Lo Brown, Mark Henry, Kama Mustafa (The Godfather), Ahmed Johnson, Owen Hart, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

The Rock eventually usurped Faarooq as the leader of the group and Simmons was paired up with Bradshaw in a team managed by The Jackyl known as Hell's Henchmen. Once Jackyl left the WWE, the group joined The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness as The Acolytes. They would capture their first WWE tag team titles as part of this faction.

In their final incarnation that began around 1999, The Acolytes became the card-playing, beer-swilling hustlers that became a staple of the new millennium WWE. The duo would capture the WWE tag team gold twice more in their partnership.

For the last five or so year, Simmons has been making occasional appearances as a more comedic character in backstage segment. You could always count on him showing up during an awkward situation, only to proclaim "DAMN!"

Simmons will be inducted along with The Four Horsemen, Mil Mascaras, Edge, and Mike Tyson on March 31st in Miami prior to Wrestlemania XXVIII.