10 Wrestlers Who Saved Their Careers TWICE With Gimmicks

8. Faarooq (Nation Of Domination and APA)

Ron Simmons could've been forgiven for saying, "Damn" when seeing the headgear he was expected to wear upon his WWF debut in 1996. Looking like a pastel-clad baddie from a kid's cartoon, Faarooq ambushed Ahmed Johnson and...people laughed at his gladiatorial outfit. It was a rough start.

The Nation Of Domination (and a costume change) saved Faarooq's fortunes. Dispensing with the Nerf helmet, he became more of an outspoken leader who challenged his Nation to rise up as one. It was a bold new direction, and that 180 degree turn saved the Faarooq character

Once the Nation started to wind down and The Rock became Faarooq's natural successor in the leader role, Simmons was on the prowl for something else to extend his run. That's when he brought his real-life friendship with Bradshaw to the screen as part of The Acolytes. Eventually, they showed more of their natural chemistry as the ass-kicking, beer-drinking, card-playing APA.

Their rugged manliness was too much for Attitude era audiences to resist.