Ron Simmons reflects on his historic WCW Championship victory.
On August 2, 1992, wrestling was changed forever when Ron Simmons defeated Big Van Vader to become the first recognized Black World Heavyweight Champion in wrestling history. During the historic moment, there is one fan that stands out because this young fan ran down to the ringside barrier and was filled with absolute elation as Ron Simmons toppled the monster.
Speaking with Highspots, Ron Simmons revealed that over the years, he got to meet that fan and every time, it was like traveling back to 1992 and reliving that moment and truly gaining an appreciation for how much he helped people outside the industry with that historic moment.
?I've had an opportunity to talk and sit down with him a couple of times,? Simmons begins. ?Yes, throughout the years, you know, and each time that I did, it feels like I'm going [and] reliving it again because I had no idea the impact that was going to have. I know what it did to me, but what it had on others, and not just young black kids. But I mean, of course, speaking of white kids, people of all nationalities. When they come up to me after that happened, [and tell me] what it meant to them, what they were going through in their life. At that moment, it changed for them, as it did for me. So it's a wonderful thing when you hear that, that the impact you had on somebody's life and how it changed them.?
Ron Simmons was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012. He was inducted by his longtime tag team partner, John Bradshaw Layfield.
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