10 Wrestlers Who Saved Their Careers TWICE With Gimmicks

8. Faarooq (Nation Of Domination and APA)

Faarooq Nation Of Domination APA
WWE

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.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.