Nation of Domination

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Nation of Domination
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From left to right, Kama Mustafa, Faarooq, The Rock & D'Lo Brown
Stable
Members Faarooq[1]
Rocky Maivia/The Rock[1]
Crush[1]
Savio Vega[1]
D'Lo Brown[1]
JC Ice[1]
Wolfie D[1]
Kama Mustafa/The Godfather[1]
Ahmed Johnson[1]
Mark Henry[1]
Owen Hart[1]
Clarence Mason (manager)[1]
Name(s) The Nation of Domination
The Nation
N.O.D
Debut 1996
Disbanded 1998
Promotions USWA
WWF

The Nation of Domination (N.O.D.) was a professional wrestling heel stable in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from November 18, 1996 to November 28, 1998. In WWF, they were 1 time Intercontinental Champion (The Rock)[2] and 2 time European Champion (D'Lo Brown).[3]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] United States Wrestling Association (1996)

The original Nation of Domination was formed in 1996 in the USWA. The group was led by PG-13, (a tag team consisting of JC Ice and Wolfie D). The group also consisted of Kareem Olajuwon, Sir Mohammad, Akeem Mohammad, Elijah, Shaquille Ali, Randy X, and Queen Moisha. This group never really got off the ground in the USWA but they saw greater success in the WWF.[1]

[edit] World Wrestling Federation (1996-1998)

[edit] First NOD In WWF (1996-1997)

The heel group was originally formed in the WWF when wrestler Faarooq was joined by manager Clarence Mason. The two men were also accompanied by two unnamed actors, Albert Armstrong and William Beach, who were supposed to represent other members of the Nation. The group was based loosely on the Nation of Islam. The extremism of the group's pro-black theme at times including the 'Nation Salute' and Faarooq's angry tirades on the microphone garnered them an excessive amount of heat from fans in arenas. Many wrestlers joined the heel stable over time including PG-13 (J.C. Ice and Wolfie D), Crush, D'Lo Brown and Savio Vega. Their first feud was with Ahmed Johnson, who had a rivalry with Faarooq since summer 1996. At Royal Rumble 1997, Nation assisted Faarooq during his match against Johnson. Faarooq lost by disqualification after Crush interfered and attacked Johnson.[4][5]

Faarooq, Crush and Vega were the members of Nation of Domination, who wrestled while others were supporters who supported them during their matches. These three men often teamed up together in six-man tag team matches at Final Four against Bart Gunn, Goldust and Flash Funk[6] and most notably in a Chicago Street Fight at WrestleMania 13 against Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) and Ahmed Johnson.[1][7] At A Cold Day In Hell, Nation faced Johnson in a Gauntlet match. Johnson defeated Crush and Vega in the Gauntlet before losing to Faarooq.[1][8]

This lineup of the group remained intact until Faarooq became angry with them and fired the entire group with the exception of Brown[1] after Faarooq's loss to The Undertaker at King of the Ring 1997, where Faarooq lost the match (in part) to the distraction caused when Vega and Crush were arguing at ringside.[9]

[edit] Black Version (1997)

On June 16, 1997 edition of RAW is WAR, Faarooq promised that he would deliver a "bigger and blacker" version of the Nation,[10] which led to the induction of Kama Mustafa and Ahmed Johnson into the group after Johnson turned on WWF Champion The Undertaker during a tag team match against Faarooq and Kama Mustafa[10]. Johnson would be forced out of the group due to injury. Faarooq said that Johnson was not black enough and that he was a white boy waiting to come out. He was replaced by Rocky Maivia.[1] Meanwhile, former Nation members Vega and Crush formed their own rival factions, Los Boricuas (made up entirely of Hispanic and Latino wrestlers) and the Disciples of Apocalypse (made up entirely of White biker wrestlers) respectively. This led to a WWF style "gang war", based on racism.[1]

In the following months, the Nation feuded with Los Boricuas and the Disciples of Apocalypse. This feud culminated in a triple threat match between Faarooq, Vega and Crush who were the leaders of Nation, Los Boricuas and DOA respectively at Ground Zero, which Vega won.[11] They restarted their feud with Legion of Doom. At Badd Blood, Nation defeated LOD in a 3-on-2 handicap match.[12] Rocky Maivia shortened and changed his ring name to The Rock. Around this time, Ahmed Johnson eventually restarted feuds with the Nation as well and joined LOD again while Ken Shamrock also joined them. This lead to a Survivor Series match at Survivor Series 1997, which Nation lost to LOD, Johnson and Shamrock.[13] At D-Generation X pay-per-view, Rock got a shot at the Intercontinental Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin which Rock ended up losing after Austin Stone Cold Stunnered the first referee and the second referee came down.[14]

As a result of this controversy,[14] Austin was forced to defend the title against Rock the next night on RAW is WAR. However, Rock was awarded the WWF Intercontinental Championship after Austin forfeited him the title instead of defending the title in a rematch.[15][16] Ken Shamrock, who was already a rival of Nation began feuding with The Rock for the Intercontinental title. On January 12, 1998 edition of RAW is WAR, Mark Henry turned heel and joined Nation by assaulting his tag team partner Ken Shamrock in a tag team match against Rock and D'Lo Brown.[17]

[edit] Leadership of Rock / Fall of Nation (1998)

On March 30, 1998 edition of RAW is WAR, The Rock went on to usurp leadership of the Nation from Faarooq, at which point the group dropped "of Domination" from its name and its militant focus permanently.[1][18] Instead, The Rock's 'cool' gimmick spread throughout the faction with Nation members taking on considerably more hip characters, the most notable being Kama Mustafa's transformation into The Godfather. The Nation's primary focus by now saw to it that The Rock retained the Intercontinental title at any cost. They mainly feuded with Faarooq, who had been just kicked out of NOD. At Mayhem in Manchester, Rock and D'Lo Brown lost to Ken Shamrock and Owen Hart.[19] At Unforgiven: In Your House, Nation lost to Shamrock, Faarooq and Steve Blackman in a six-man tag team match.[20] On April 27 edition of RAW is WAR, Rock and Mark Henry faced Shamrock and Hart in a tag team match where Hart turned heel by attacking Shamrock and joining the Nation.[21]

The group engaged in a memorable rivalry with D-Generation X (DX). This highly popular feud saw the infamous parody DX performed in which they spoofed Nation members,[22] The Rock thoroughly humiliating Chyna by alluding to a possible 'romantic' encounter between the two while the rest of DX were held at bay in their locker room by a forklift, a street fight between the two groups that wound up in Triple H being, in particular, singled out by the rest of the group and being beaten down with a ladder, and X-Pac & D'Lo trading back and forth the WWF European Championship.[23][24] DX and NOD also wrestled each other in matches, which included a six-man tag team match at Over the Edge 1998.[25]

Toward the end of the year, the group showed signs of dissension as The Rock's mannerisms and swagger began to catch on with fans. The WWF could no longer ignore the cheers and adoration of the live crowds, so The Rock once again turned face. Owen Hart left the group when he believed there wasn't enough room for The Rock's ego and himself. The Rock would later be assaulted by D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry in October 1998 which would ultimately be the end of the Nation.

[edit] Aftermath

Shortly after Nation was disbanded, The Rock decided to run solo, riding his immense rise in popularity. He won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series 1998[26] and was added to Vince McMahon's Corporation stable,[27] which would later make him one of the greatest superstars in WWF history and he would subsequently enjoy several years of success.[28] Owen Hart would go on to form a successful tag team with Jeff Jarrett, and later revive his Blue Blazer character before his untimely and tragic death in May 1999.[29]

D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry would remain a tag team following the dissolution of The Nation, enjoying moderate success. After D'Lo attempted to help Mark Henry lose weight, Henry turned on D'Lo in the summer of 1999, ending the final remnants of the Nation of Domination. D'Lo would eventually hold both the Intercontinental and European titles at the height of his popularity. Mark Henry would form his "Sexual Chocolate" character and be involved in some angles of questionable quality until the development of his "Silverback" gimmick. As of now he, Faarooq (using his real name, Ron Simmons) and D'Lo Brown are the only former members who are still employed by the WWE.

[edit] Legacy

Similar stables and tag teams in promotions outside of the WWF have used the 'militant minority' gimmick that The Nation was well-known for. The Latino World Order in WCW was an nWo parody led by Eddie Guerrero consisted of almost every Hispanic wrestler on the roster and sought to 'take over' the promotion. Latino wrestlers Homicide and Kane D. partnered together as The Nation of Immigration in Jersey All Pro Wrestling. The Latin American Exchange (LAX), also co-formed by and including Homicide, were just as, if not more, militant than The Nation because of their street thug gang mentality and use of a particularly brutal style of violence as they pushed their political agenda. Theodore Long managed a loose stable of black wrestlers (including former Nation members Mark Henry and D'Lo Brown) known as Thuggin & Buggin Enterprises on WWE Raw from 2002-2004, whom he claimed were held back from main event success by WWE management because they were African-American.

[edit] Members

[edit] USWA

[edit] WWF

[edit] Incarnations

[edit] D Generation-X parody

D-Generation-X, along with comedian Jason Sensation, parodied The Nation on July 6, 1998 edition of RAW is WAR, with each member of D-X dressing as a Nation member and impersonating their characteristic mannerisms.[22]

Nation member: D-X member: Parody character: Distinguishing features and mannerisms:
The Rock Triple H The Crock [22] Self-deprecating catchphrases, exaggerated version of "The People's Eyebrow".
D'Lo Brown Road Dogg B'Lo Brown [22] Chest protector, head-shaking, yelling and climbing the turnbuckles, use of the word "brother."
Mark Henry X-Pac Mizark Henry [22] Pecs which went "all the way around to the back", voracious appetite.
The Godfather Billy Gunn The Gunnfather [22] Use of the word "Westside."
Owen Hart Jason Sensation Owen Hart [22] Large prosthetic nose, nasal voice, costume made out of caution tape, use of the word "damn."

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Nation of Domination (N.O.D.) Profile. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  2. ^ a b WWE Intercontinental Championship official title history. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  3. ^ a b WWE European Championship official title history. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  4. ^ Royal Rumble 1997. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. “Ahmed Johnson vs. Faarooq. Faarooq was disqualified when Crush entered the ring.”
  5. ^ Royal Rumble 1997 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-11. “Ahmed Johnson def. Faarooq via DQ”
  6. ^ In Your House 13: Final Four. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. “Flash Funk, Bart Gunn, and Goldust vs. Nation of Domination. While Bart Gunn was dominating Faarooq, Crush came in and hit a leg drop. Faarooq scores the pinfall, getting the victory for the Nation.”
  7. ^ WrestleMania 13 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Chicago Street Fight: Ahmed Johnson & Legion of Doom def. Nation of Domination”
  8. ^ In Your House XV: A Cold Day In Hell. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Ahmed Johnson vs. Nation of Domination (Savio Vega, Crush, and Faarooq). Running the Gauntlet--Ahmed would have to defeat all three men in a row. Ahmed pinned Crush with a reverse heel kick, Savio was disqualified for his use of a chair, and Faarooq pinned Ahmed.”
  9. ^ King of the Ring 1997. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “The Undertaker (WWF Champion) vs. Faarooq with the Nation of Domination. Savio Vega and Crush argue outside the ring, which gets Faarooq distracted. Undertaker tombstones Faarooq, and retains the title.”
  10. ^ a b Petrie, John (1997-06-16). Raw is War: June 16, 1997. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Faarooq promises that the two new members of the Nation that he will be debuting tonight will be "bigger, better, badder, and blacker!" THE UNDERTAKER/AHMED JOHNSON (w/Paul Bearer) vs. FAAROOQ/KAMA MUSTAFA. Faarooq then calls in his newest NOD member: Kama Mustafa! Ahmed drops to the floor and shoves Paul Bearer down. Kama tags in and grabs him around the neck, applying a belly-to-belly suplex. He then covers for the upset pin, beating the current World Heavyweight Champion in his Nation of Domination debut. Ahmed climbs up the ramp and takes his rightful place alongside his Nation and raises his fist into the air.”
  11. ^ In Your House: Ground Zero. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Savio Vega vs. Crush vs. Faarooq. Triple Threat Match. Savio pinned Crush for the win”
  12. ^ In Your House: Badd Blood. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Legion of Doom vs. Kama Mustafa, Rocky Maivia, & D'Lo Brown. Handicap Match. Rocky pinned Hawk for the win.”
  13. ^ Survivor Series 1997 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Legion of Doom, Ahmed Johnson & Ken Shamrock def. The Nation of Domination. Sole Survivor: Ken Shamrock”
  14. ^ a b In Your House Degeneration X. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWF Intercontinental Champion) vs. Rocky Maivia. Stone Cold won when a second referee came down after he accidentally Stone Cold Stunnered the first one”
  15. ^ Petrie, John (1997-12-08). Raw is War: December 08, 1997. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Because Austin's got "bigger fish to fry" he forfeits the title, offering the belt to Maivia”
  16. ^ a b The Rock's second Intercontinental Championship reign. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  17. ^ Petrie, John (1998-01-12). Raw is War: January 12, 1998. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “MARK HENRY/KEN SHAMROCK vs. ROCKY MAIVIA/D'LO BROWN. Henry eventually wanders into the ring, stands there for a bit, then clotheslines Shamrock! Henry has joined the Nation.”
  18. ^ Petrie, John (1998-03-30). Raw is War: March 30, 1998. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “D-Lo, Kama and Mark Henry attack Faarooq from behind! Just like that Faarooq is out of the NOD. Finally! The Rock declares himself the new "ruler" of the Nation.”
  19. ^ Mayhem in Manchester results. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Ken Shamrock & Owen Hart beat Rocky Maivia & D-Lo Brown when Shamrock forced Brown to submit”
  20. ^ Unforgiven 1998 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “Ken Shamrock, Steve Blackman & Faarooq def. Rocky Maivia, D'Lo Brown & Mark Henry”
  21. ^ Christopher Robin Zimmerman (1998-04-27). Raw is War: April 27, 1998. The Other Arena. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. “KEN SHAMROCK & OWEN HART v. MARK HENRY & THE ROCK (with Kama Mustafa and D-Lo Brown). Owen Hart hits a spinning heel kick on Shamrock! Owen Hart actually joins the Nation of Domination”
  22. ^ a b c d e f g D-X's Nation Parody. YouTube. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  23. ^ a b D'Lo Brown's first European Championship reign. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  24. ^ a b D'Lo Brown's second European Championship reign. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  25. ^ In Your House: Over the Edge. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. “Owen Hart, D'Lo Brown, and Kama Mustafa vs. Billy Gunn, The Road Dogg, and Triple H. Owen Hart pinned Triple H after a Pedigree”
  26. ^ Survivor Series 1998 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. “The Rock def. Mankind to become new WWE Champion”
  27. ^ Corporation Profile. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  28. ^ The Rock's Bio. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  29. ^ Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett Profile. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.

[edit] External links

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