Ron Simmons Says His WCW World Title Win Means ‘Everything’ To Him, Reflects on How It Inspires Others

During a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic at Wrestleverse Fest, WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons reflected on winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Big Van Vader in 1992 and becoming the first African American world champion in wrestling history. Below are some highlights:

Ron Simmons on What Winning the WCW World Title Means to His Career

“Everything. Okay. Everything, bro. You know, I’m just very proud and like I’ve always stated, you know, I’m glad it happened to me. You know, it’s a badge of honor, man. Look, I proudly wear it, okay? And I mean, like every day, you understand? So, it’s not too many months that goes by that I don’t often reflect back on that, you know, and I’m constantly, and I hope it never stops, reminded of that with fans and people like today come up [to me], and this is very moving and touching, you know, just like today like I just spoken of. I had a young man that come up to me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Hey man, I finally get the opportunity to meet you and say thank you for what I was going through at that time and what you meant to me at that moment when you won the world title, and it just went on to inspire me to do what I’m doing today.’ So, you can’t get a better, you know, inspirational moment than that.”

On His Title Win Being the Match He Would Show To His 10-Year-Old Self

“I, look, I would often always go back to show him, ‘Hey, look, this is the point right here, brother, when you won — became world champion, okay? And not just the significance of becoming champion, but the significance of being groundbreaking and what it’s going to mean to a lot of people for years to come.'”

During his illustrious career, Simmons became WCW World Heavyweight Champion and Tag Team Champion with Butch Reed as part of Doom. Also, he and JBL won the WWE Tag Team titles on three separate occasions as The Acolytes (later The APA). The 67-year-old Ron Simmons was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit The Wrestling Classic, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.