10 Ways Wrestlers Became The Most Badass Versions Of Themselves
5. The Acolytes: Goths No More
Faarooq and Bradshaw both endured some awful, awful bullsh*t prior to coming together as a tag team.
Signed in 1996, wrestling's first (official) African-American World Champion was decked out in a goofy black and blue gladiator costume, paired with Sunny, and rechristened "Faarooq Asad." It was a disaster, and his future partner was made to endure similarly destructive runs as Justin 'Hawk' Bradshaw and as a member of The New Blackjacks before they finally joined forces at Survivor Series 1998.
A run as the Ministry of Darkness' burly bruisers followed. It wasn't until the Undertaker's Acolytes shed the goth aesthetic that they truly took flight, however. The Ministry's late-1999 split paved the way for Faarooq and Bradshaw to be reborn as two hard drinking, cigar smoking brawlers who hung out in their makeshift office, playing cards and offering their mercenary services to anyone willing to pay their fee.
The Acolytes Protection Agency was born. Neither man had ever been so over, and while they weren't as successful as the Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, or Edge & Christian, they were popular as hell, bags of fun, and had a niche of their own.