Jim Ross shoots on Ron Simmons going off TV after the APA broke up

For over forty years Jim Ross has been the Voice of Wrestling. From starting as referee in the regional territories to becoming the Executive Vice President for WWE, nobody has a story quite like Jim Ross. From recruiting and hiring some of the biggest superstars in the industry to providing the soundtrack for the most important moments in wrestling history, “Good Ole JR” was there for it all. Join us every Thursday morning as Conrad Thompson grills JR like you’ve never heard before, uncut and uncensored!
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[@9952275]

The wwf never used Ron to his full potential.

[@sleepalaska]

NEVER. Big Waste.

[@Halbared]

I concur, Ron was brilliant.

[@big_dro1713]

@ShadowAngel y did nobody want to see him?

[@nickkosavvy8225]

He could’ve been a wwf champ he was good enough to be one

[@MrBanks119]

Man Ron Simmons Dominator is by far one of the best finishers out there, sad he rarely used it

[@shootwithjets]

Out of the two in APA Ron stood out to me the most. The way he slammed opponents was satisfying.

[@nekromachine]

Absolutely. The only thing that was entertaining about big goon Bradshaw was them deliberately OTT aggressive "clotheslines from hell" that he would deliver but everything Ron did was intense without needing to go OTT/quality operator and he was and I'd bet still is "unf#ckable with"! I'd essentially stopped watching just before Bradshaw got his JBL gimmick and title run, from all the bits I did and have seen, I don't feel as though I missed anything. I'd have given Ron a run as a champion over Bradshaw as a no brainer, Ron didn't politic like JBL most likely, JBL was more of the company man too but Ron had success anywhere, Doom were intense and as a very young kid looked like superheroes, same with the Steiner Brothers as another example of a power move tag-team that I totally believed in. Nowadays tag teams seem to be mostly made up of 5.6 manlets that flip, fly and spring around but are utterly forgettable to me. All the best Jason

[@101frustrations]

Nekro Dean FrogZwell I loved both, still do but Bradshaw was my guy. I found him entertaining as hell as Bradshaw and JBL but I loved their chemistry together.

[@nekromachine]

@@101frustrations good to hear 101, those days as a young kid to me were just fun, no worries at all, stresses of life absent, everything just seemed and was fun...now not so much! I had no issues with Bradshaw at all, the APA at the time were one of the best tag teams around, I could have been to young to appreciate the JBL character as stock market trading and such just wasn't anything I was familiar with to be fair and honest, so maybe I just couldn't relate. All the best your way/cheers! Dean

[@Vikashar]

Ron did the slams, Bradshaw did the clotheslines

[@matthewanthony4606]

Ron definitely was the leader between the two

[@matthewjenkins7488]

“Ron Simmons was The Man. Don’t let nobody bullshit you.”

[@Fightclubfgc89]

DAAAAAMMMNNN!!!

[@jordansimpson3553]

Oh man, I lost my shit when I heard "unfuckwithable". You know a guy is a badass when even the Steiners won't mess with him.

[@lianataylorr]

I thought Ron was just retiring, I didn’t know he was actually fired.

[@joshhines7374]

Yeah Bruce prichard even said he was retiring

[@RicoSuavae]

Ya even in the new interview on broken skull Ron says his body was starting to give out and he was on his way out just wanted to make sure Bradshaw would be ok and ofc the JBL character was created and he felt satisfied with that

[@shamarbeckham2643]

I guess they figured “forced retirement is still retirement” 😂

[@MasGood]

I love the APA. Simmons and Bradshaw at their best. Those clothes lines could never be duplicated

[@eligarcia215]

Things that made me sad in wrestling history. Eddie’s death. Owens death. Montreal screw job. Shawn’s retirement. Undertaker’s retirement. The breakup of the APA.

[@eastbayej]

I remember xpac having some seizure and not being able to finish the match.

[@CampChamp00]

APA used to get some big ass pops back in the day

[@0therun1t21]

I thought they were hella cool, still do.

[@howtomoscow4764]

Ron fighting the Big Show. Jesus Christ. Not enough cops there to stop that

[@MrGrxxx123]

Ron Simmons was/is legit tough guy bad ass!

[@erikhuerta2759]

"I'm unfuckwithable" Epic.

[@Jbeeze82]

Black people was saying that in the 70s

[@Vikashar]

Dude, if Ron and Big Show actually fought, they'd destroy the building

[@Luke-kg7vu]

Literally would’ve been a earthquake in that building

[@Scurge237]

So they fired him cause of a argument with the big show ? That seems like weak sauce.

[@99somerville]

Never any reason to break up the APA in the first place.

[@HypePerformanceGroup]

JBL’s great title runs say otherwise

[@mywifesexualpartner984]

They push JBL and he did very well for himself

[@chadk890]

All great tag teams come to an end eventually.

[@davidnelson4347]

JBL became the heel they needed in 2004

[@HypePerformanceGroup]

@@davidnelson4347 yup, can’t remember the last time WWE created a heel that good that you genuinely could dislike

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Ron Simmons is the last guy that should ever get fired! Btw; i fckn laugh when i hear that ppl get fired for steroids!

[@0therun1t21]

Ron always got my attention even in that stupid cartoon gladiator outfit. He was just so good at his job, I was really happy he got to wear the Necronomicon pants.

[@bardofsteel]

I watched him in the gladiator outfit as a kid and I thought he was terrifying😂

[@Dakatari]

No doubt Ron and Butch were two of the best performers ever. I would rank Doom over APA in comparison to Ron' s tag teams

[@harrydaniels2788]

WWE wasted Ron Simmons in the WWE. He would have made a good wwe champion.

[@Robber30]

Hard to imagine anybody messing with Butch Reed back in the day. He might not have been Simmons category but certainly a tough customer.

[@braddorcas9363]

Yeah, but the steiners were also lunatics and very physically impressive themselves. Apparently just not quite crazy enough to fuck with Ron. Which was probably smart by them.

[@mrsinister8943]

It also could of been that they were always joking with butch and ribbing him and he could of been ribbing them sometimes. We don't really know all the intricate details and how well everyone took things.

[@chadk890]

As much as I liked APA, I liked Ron better with Butch Reed with Doom. Their matches with the Steiners were good.

[@TheTruth-pl3mk]

Butch had a lot more natural talent and ability than Bradshaw, which makes Doom an easy pick over the APA. Ron was Ron; just a badass, even 10 years later.

[@T.H.U.G]

I know Ron was that guy but if big show falls down or grabs anyone at that time with all his fury.... Man thats truly a Grizzly Bear.

[@pikkon899]

Show was taken down by Steve Blackman - while Blackman was on his back. Blackman never got off of the floor when he took Show down although I agree. A man of that size falling on top of you or has you in his grip, you better believe it will be a bad day.

[@Murphenom]

You guys need to listen to podcasts more about Ron. EVERYONE said he was a freak genetically and would wreck anyone.

[@neneshubby]

I understand Ron threw around 500 lbs on the bench like it was nothing

[@exactinmidget92]

i dont remember Ron having a solo run at all in 2002.

[@nolan2.064]

Right? Must've been on Velocity or Heat or something

[@freddyfree9195]

I remember,they tried to put him and DVon Dudley together but didn't last long

[@NitroNEXT]

All I remember is they randomly added a catchphrase before his APA theme played, "well I'll be damned!"

[@TheProphegy]

@@nolan2.064😂 idk why that shit cracked me up lol Having a run on Sunday Night Heat 🤣

[@jackjohnson2123]

All the information you retained, you all of sudden forget about this with Ron.

[@gazof-the-north1980]

Meng was wrestlings number 1 tough guy. I think the number 2 slot could be claimed by the Barbarian, Paul Orndorff or Ron Simmons.

[@batmanofsanantonio5331]

The WWE did Ron Simmons wrong. He was a former world champion, but they had no idea how to properly give him a run.

[@mamayl8592]

Public Enemy found out just how "unfuckwithable" Ron Simmons was. Facts.

[@darnellpittman7708]

I feel JR lying he knows more than he is telling

[@joebaron9035]

He does that ALOT some people don't catch it though, I can always tell when he's bullshitting

[@DungTran-li2wn]

@@joebaron9035 he has a really good memory

[@darnellpittman7708]

@@DungTran-li2wn okay he can remember all that 90s stuff but not this

[@DungTran-li2wn]

@@darnellpittman7708 that's my point. He was being deceitful here. "If I had to guess" is his go to line for bs.

[@leelohaskin7941]

@@darnellpittman7708 he knows why Ron was fired in fact he knows a bit about the bs the went on back in the day

[@reginaldshort8486]

From 96-2002 he should’ve feuded with Bret Hart Stone Cold post injury HHH The Rock and possibly Kane and the Big Show. Should’ve had 2 title runs.

[@mrsinister8943]

They should of done so much more with Ron Simmons. I would of liked to see him win the World title at least once.

[@Realhiphop1988]

He did win one against Vader.

[@josgor9061]

Jim Ross is full of it. He can remember every detail of the Ultimate Warrior dealings 25 years ago but not Ron Simmons.

[@jcrobinson37]

Yeah total bullshit

[@jn6305]

He does the same thing with the Buff Bagwell story man. JR is the best commentator of all time, but he’s full of crap about some stuff

[@matsalvatore9074]

APA use to scare me lol. They werent scary looking but they made shit seem so real. They were the epitome of doom

[@wnrr2696]

I would’ve been happy for APA to have gone to TNA and be kept together, I couldn’t stand solo JBL

[@bradpaton3927]

Interesting....🤔

[@VenomousHigh]

Solo JBL was a great heel. He clearly did what he was supposed to in order to make people hate him. But I do agree that he was a million times better with Ron as the APA.

[@gazof-the-north1980]

The APA was amazing.

[@BigLee1901]

I take it that's why Big Show was off TV for a few months around that time (in storyline when he failed to win the Championship from Eddie Guerrero in a stipulation that he would quit if he didn't win the belt and then thinks Torrie Wilson was laughing at him that led to Commissioner Kurt Angle taking a chokeslam off the ledge)

[@drphot6050]

Bittersweet behind-the-scenes story.

[@cruzcorp914]

DAMN

[@jimmysmith9273]

1 Bad Man Thankful To Watch Him Wresting 👈He was a Pleasure to Watch Thank You Ron Simmons

[@EssDotBetts]

APA was pretty much stonecold as a tag team. Got over organically just being themselves. Drank beer n smoked cigars n played cards, they just happened to wrestle

[@joshuaoneill3118]

0:22 DAMN!

[@wesmyone9562]

Really? They fired him? I thought he retired🤔. But yeah, Ron would have hurt Paul Wight🤷🏿‍♂️

[@stylore]

.........DAMN

[@StarCityAudits]

"bowling shoe ugly" lol

[@TheFlock83]

Upon hearing “unfuckwithable” there’s only one thing I can think... DAMN!!!

[@yellaboymike561]

DAMN!!!! (I'm 1st)

[@jordanlamarche3983]

You’re first?! ....DAMN!

[@Ft.Gagiano]

Jbl as a single act. left me kinda more cold than hot. jbl needed Simmons.

[@101frustrations]

I miss their chemistry together but he did a great job as JBL for me. He was an incredible heel.

[@flashthompson1085]

Crazy. Two stables that are in my top five are NOD and APA. Ron Simmons was done dirty. Bradshaw's character never got as much of a pop.

[@SW-pm3ls]

WTF I thought it was JR, till I heard JR. daDaq!

[@MrGrxxx123]

Big Ron Simmons is unfuckwithable!

[@brandongary8234]

Ron cleared all this up 2 years ago

[@freshforeman6071]

Ron was gone dawg big show

[@leatherface964]

Ron with the Nation when he wore the big leather coats should've been Champion.

[@ArchangelRG09]

Highly doubt he was fired bc i met him at a mall where WWE had few stars give autographs and he was one of them, this is months later after being "fired" on tv, October i believe. Unless he really was fired but rehired in like 2 months which makes it meaningless...

[@BeastNationXIV]

"Inappropriate contact"???? DAMN. Smh

[@GrumpleslamAlabaster]

Only thing Ron was missing was the promos

[@antonymarjeram576]

Should have been WWE champion and been Ron Simmons since he's debut then would have been the first wcw and wwe African American champion never understood WWE booking of Ron

[@QuentinDude]

I would of loved to see Simmons and Big Show in a street fight

[@MrGrxxx123]

APA was great!

[@jn6305]

Lol Ron would have beat the piss out of the big show

[@gerardparker4220]

I hate he’s turned into some 1 word joke. The young fans don’t remember him outside the stupid cameos.

[@nasirjones9149]

JR is full of shit. Steroids? Did his boy Austin get fired for using steroids? What about Ahmed? Triple H? I could go on. Vince didn’t care about who took steroids… as long as they drew and made him the most money, creative wise they had nothing for Ron Simmons, especially after the APA split.

[@tonyclifton2230]

Yeah but if you were not a top guy and they had nothing for you. Something that would not matter starts to matter.

[@DValedof]

I would put my last dollar on Ron Simmons kicking Big Shows ass… You don’t step to Ron … there was an entire song written about it

[@troystaunton254]

I always liked farooq far more. I always felt jbl was a sidekick.

[@101frustrations]

I love Ron but JBL did more of the work in the ring and in promos/backstage segments. That was the intention from the start though according to Bruce Prichard. Let the younger guy do most of the work and let Ron have his moments. They worked perfectly together. For me there'll never be another tag team like them.

[@davidmiles4678]

Slobber Knocker!

[@octasian]

I’m going to start saying “ I’m unfuckwithable.” I’ll probably get my arse whipped because of it but it would be glorious to say to someone.

[@matsalvatore9074]

I akways wondered what happen to DAMN

[@namelessentity5851]

I got no problem with Mr. Simmons but, put him against a golden gloves. Size and ferocity are not everything.

[@derekdash2179]

APA broke up???

[@ShorterTheBetter]

"I'm not gonna speak out of my ass, but if i had to guess it'd be steroids". Love you to death JR but to shift gears from not remembering what happened to basically telling the whole world Ron Simmons did drugs and multiple failed tests? That's pretty disrespectful

[@bestlifenow2285]

Bowling shoe ugly 😂😂

[@glenn5517]

The real reason was because of his age. He was no longer in his prime and was retiring from the business. It wasn't because of an altercation or steroid use, What a load of bs.

[@angeloup]

Almost half of this was slogging thru conrad loving his own voice

[@grantcopley1218]

Mania 20 he was still farooq

[@eastbayej]

Wait..... Al Farooq? Lmfaooooooo

[@vincentdimurro8246]

I don't believe any of that shit Ron Simmons retired because of his injuries.

[@royce1041]

WWE has always struggled with black talent let's be honest Ron Simmons, Shelton Benjamin both could had world title runs

[@cutekanjii]

That sort of thing just proves that these "ribs" were nothing of the sort, they were not ribs at all but schoolboy mentality bullying. Pure and simple! If they were ribs and im sure there were some genuine actual ribs that went on, perhaps the kind Owen Hart would play. Then you would be doing them equaly to everyone, you wouldn't only do them to guys that wouldnt be able to beat u up etc. That's called bullying and its the same mentality as guys that beat up on women, they only do it because shes smaller, thinner and weaker than you are.

[@PrezidentHughes]

Why Ron's run came to an end? 🤔 Hmmm the usual hurdles all ppl like him have in the WWF, like D-Lo, God father, Mark Henry, and Booker T.

[@chadk890]

How did Sasha, New Day, Bianca and Lashley do if thats where you're going with this. Even Omos?

[@TheLarryjohnson187]

@@chadk890 you do know that times were different back then? No black wrestlers were getting over. They're getting over now because of everything that went down last year. And by the way, R-Truth should have been World Champion 10 years ago

[@joebaron9035]

@@TheLarryjohnson187 Facts, I remember watching r-truth bacc when I was 12 he was *K KWIK* bacc then, this man deserves way more respect

[@chadk890]

@@TheLarryjohnson187 Has nothing to do with race I dont buy that. The only thing in Wrestling that WWE sees is green you know that. JYD was over like crazy but he had drug problems. Ahmed Johnson could've been something but he kept hurting people and got out of shape. Mark Henry did well and people still talk about his angle he did with Cena. He's in the HOF. Booker did well, 2 time HOF. It's not about color but more politics which wrestlers played alot of. Truth is doing just fine right now .

[@TheLarryjohnson187]

@@joebaron9035 R-Truth deserved to be World Champion when he was doing the Little Jimmy gimmick and he had the tag team with Miz.

[@kevinpeoples376]

APA was Bradshaw's only good gimmick.

[@mvpdjwcc6844]

Dr Death gets KOed in brawl for all no career. Bradshaw gets KOed in brawl for all Future WWE Champion.

[@Dr_Magi]

Dr Death also tore his achilles in that dumbass brawl 4 all

[@HamanKarn567]

I always felt like Ron Simmons was a legit tough guy who didn't need to bully people. JBL on the other hand seemed like from interviews that he'd just an asshole and has gotten his ass beat by people he pushed too hard and the only reason more people didn't stand up was probably backstage politics.

[@usdjpy8929]

Jim ross aint shit.

[@abdulrahamshabazz4903]

I liked the apa gimmick. Ron should been given better run. Not jbl

[@Tom_TheDon]

I'm sorry, don't care how tough you are, if Big Show hulks out you are toast

[@TheSophisticatedSavage]

A 500lbs man kills a 260lbs man...... Ron's tough, 500lbs is 500lbs....

[@erictina4137]

If u can fight🤦🏿‍♂️

[@tresfielder3148]

So the Big Show kills Jon Jones?! 😂😂😂

[@DaveTheDopeFiend]

Yeah, no.

[@extremeking425]

I never knew that as to why Ron changed his name to Farooq.

[@Justincase994]

DAMN