Nation of Domination

[JoeDirt 0]

Watching some old RAWs from 1996, the night after Survivor Series 1996 Sunny introduces the NOD. Farooq comes out with Clarence Mason and of course the two rappers (PG-13, right?) leading the way.

 

Was there any setup to this, or did Farooq just all of a sudden go from helmet wearing weirdo do NOD leader?

 

How long did Sunny have anything to do with the NOD?

 

When did D'Lo, Crush, Savio, and all the other members join?

 

Was the gimmick Vince Russo's idea? This was around the time he was getting a lot more creative power in the WWF, and the gimmick sort of seems Russo-esque.

[Guest Fook]

Well Sunny managed Farooq when he first debuted, but I don't remember her ever being in the NOD. Crush joined within a few weeks. Savio was a face at the time and I think turned in a match with Farooq/Crush vs Savio/Ahmed Johnson somewhere between Royal Rumble 97 and WM13.

[The Metal Maniac 0]

I think D-Lo was in the Nation for a while, but he never did anything. He was just one of the faceless guys who wore a suit and walked to the ring.

 

But then Ahmed powerbombed him through a table, and he started wrestling shortly after, I believe.

[Guest jm29195]

Was there any setup to this, or did Farooq just all of a sudden go from helmet wearing weirdo do NOD leader?

 

 

Ahmed Johnson put Farooq out of action prior to Summerslam 96 with a damaged Kidney, and Farooq formed the NOD to get back-up for his feud with Ahmed...

 

 

How long did Sunny have anything to do with the NOD?

 

Sunny never had anything to do with them as far as I can remember, she was being used intermittently as a ring announcer (similar to Torrie Wilson today) at the time so maybe that was why she announced them....the only other connection with them might be that it was done to establish some continuity between Farooq's two gimmicks (she used to manage 'gladiator' Farooq...

 

When did D'Lo, Crush, Savio, and all the other members join?

 

 

I'm not sure about Crush but D- Lo's first appearance was at the first Shotgun Saturday taping in January 97 where he was pearlriver plunged through a car by Ahmed Johnson...

Savio joined the weekend before the Tueday Raw Tuesday show when he turned on Taker at a MSG house show

Kama joined on the Raw after KOTR after Farooq had fired the rest of the NOD, he teamed with Farooq against Taker and Johnson who in turn went heel and joined the NOD at the end of that match, supposedly setting him up for a title match against Taker at Canadian Stampede...

When they realised Ahmed wasn't getting over or sustaining momentum as a heel, they had him turn face and Rock Miavia turn heel to replace him, this occured shortly before Badd Blood 97 when he ran in on a Farooq vs Chainz match...

Mark Henry joined by turning heel on Shamrock in a tag match, not sure when though....

[Nighthawk 0]

I'm not sure about Crush but D- Lo's first appearance was at the first Shotgun Saturday taping in January 97 where he was pearlriver plunged through a car by Ahmed Johnson...

Through a car? How did that work?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

It wasn't through a car, just on top of it.

[Guest jm29195]

Poor D-Lo he must have been the Nations big bump guy, I seem to remember him getting chucked through the windshield of a truck and stunnered on its roof at IYH DX aswell.....

[cawthon777 0]

Watching some old RAWs from 1996, the night after Survivor Series 1996 Sunny introduces the NOD. Farooq comes out with Clarence Mason and of course the two rappers (PG-13, right?) leading the way.

 

Was there any setup to this, or did Farooq just all of a sudden go from helmet wearing weirdo do NOD leader?

 

Farooq debuted the Nation gimmick at the Survivor Series with very little set up, aside from Mason being his new manager after Sunny. That was also PG-13's unscheduled return to the WWF.

 

How long did Sunny have anything to do with the NOD?

 

She never had anything to do with them aside from putting them over when she was working the heel color commentator bit.

 

When did D'Lo, Crush, Savio, and all the other members join?

 

Best I can tell, Crush joined a few weeks after Survivor Series. He was already being managed by Mason so it was a natural progression.

 

Savio joined 1/25/97. It's true that he did turn on Ahmed during a tag match at MSG but later that evening (MSG was a matinee) he played down the incident during the live Shotgun and apologized for his actions. He fought Rocky Miavia that night and won via count-out. Mid-way through the match, Crush and Farooq came out to watch and from that point on Savio was a lot more aggressive in the match. He officially joined at the conclusion of the bout.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

D'Lo was also put through a table (at the time this was ~!~!~!) at Mania 13 by a PRP from Ahmed, I believe.

 

Faarooq was in Nation gear/mode AT the 96 Series, as well.

[Epic Reine 0]

I remember after awhile they stopped calling it the Nation Of Domination and just started calling it "The Nation".

[brighty 0]

Was there any setup to this, or did Farooq just all of a sudden go from helmet wearing weirdo do NOD leader?

 

 

Ahmed Johnson put Farooq out of action prior to Summerslam 96 with a damaged Kidney, and Farooq formed the NOD to get back-up for his feud with Ahmed...

other way round.

[JoeDirt 0]

I was just wondering if there was anything to spurn the sudden transformation from gladiator to cult leader, but I guess he just debuted it out of the blue, huh?

 

Was the group a controversy at all at the time for any racial reasons or was it not really that big of a deal?

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

The Nation was the quasi-official name once Rocky took over.

 

Not really controversial, only two things I remember even mentioned their skin color:

 

"Faarooq, it's not a black thing, it's not a white thing, it's a me kicking your ass thing!" - Austin

 

And DX writing racist remarks in the Nation's locker room and blaming it on The Hart Foundation to start a fight. "Uncle Tom!" and other stuff, with subliminal "CANADA RULZ!" spray-painted elsewhere, lol.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

Call me crazy, but I miss the Nation. For some reason, I liked it. PG-13 rapping all the way, Faarooq leading the way, and about 100 people following behind him. I dug it for some reason. Hell, they had a NOD chapter in Memphis wrestling! Picture Tracey Smothers calling Muhammad X. Now that's gold.

 

The whole group seemed pretty damn intimidating. I thought it would lead to big things for Faarooq... but it never turned out that way.

[Epic Reine 0]

how exactly did the Nation break up? All I remember is Rock starting to turn face in late '98 and D'Lo and Mark Henry attacked him out of nowhere.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Faarooq and Rock couldn't handle each other's egos (Rock's more specifically) after WM 14. They traded blows.

 

Faarooq became a loner in the next few days, and at the next Raw was jumped in the parking lot by Rocky, Henry, Kama, and D'Lo.

 

Faarooq wore his Nation tights still (red/green/yellow stripe), including at Backlash, where he PINNED Rocky (IC Champ) in a 6-man, as Faarooq turned face.

 

Faarooq lost to Rocky in a brutally boring IC Title bout at Over the Edge 98. At this point it was clear. Rocky = Over heel. Faarooq = Zzzzz. Faarooq got new tights, with just the emblems and stuff changed (Aztec symbol stuff instead of red/green/yellow and the tire mark looking things).

 

Faarooq went on to form a boring team with Scorpio. They did nothing, save for a meaningless unadvertised PPV match victory over Terry Funk & Bradshaw, another meaningless unover team that quickly fissled.

 

As for the Nation, Owen Hart turned heel on Raw and attacked Shamrock, who was feuding with the Nation. Hart began wearing the "DANGER" yellow and black singlet and became a member of The Nation.

 

At Over the Edge, the Owen (he was billed sometimes as a co-leader type and sometimes just as an evil little prick) led Nation 6-man team (minus Henry, I believe) defeated the freshly face-turned DX team of NAO and HHH. Owen pedigreed HHH on the European Title to pin him.

 

Come June, Rocky was predicting the big KOTR win. He'd get to the finals, but lose to Shamrock. Owen was feuding with X-Pac, who he attacked during a HHH Vs. X-Pac KOTR Qualifier, causing him to be counted out. They had a decent, I guess, match at KOTR, with Pac taking it. D'Lo did an angle where he had to wear an enforced chest protector, due to his chest muscles being torn in a KOTR qualifier against Dan Severn, when Severn used his finisher submission hold. D'Lo got revenge at KOTR, using an AWESOME frog splash to squash Severn and have Rocky advance.

 

So onto July...

 

Rocky and HHH were feuding, leading up to their Euro Title Vs. IC Title 2/3 Falls match at Fully Loaded. D'Lo got his biggest win with Rock's help, winning the Euro Title on Raw from HHH. From there, D'Lo (seconded by the cigar-smoking kinda-pimp-looking Godfather) went into FL to face X-Pac. He refused to put the title on the line, but won anyway. Rock and HHH split falls, with HHH looking pretty weak and needing Chyna's help. 30 minute draw. Henry was feuding with Vader, and actually defeated him. Godfather was D'Lo's manager. Owen was still feuding with Shamrock, they had a Lion's Den match, with Owen using sneaky tactics to win "by submission".

 

SummerSlam was pretty much the end of the Nation's run. Owen and Severn alligned (Severn NEVER a member), with Owen pretty much doing his own thing. Shamrock defeated Owen in the first "Lion's Den Cage" via anklelock. Rock and HHH were feuding, with the Nation having humiliated Chyna on Raw and brutalized HHH with a ladder. Rock lost the IC strap to HHH in a ladder match, but HHH's damaged knee was the issue. Both men looked like a star. D'Lo had an extremely underrated bout with Val Venis as the opener, defending the Euro Title, with D'Lo winning by DQ in a crappy ending to a terrific match.

 

From there, The Godfather started getting more matches on Heat. He debuted the "Pimpin Aint Easy" thing, and gradually started getting huge fan support. OFFICIALLY, they announced The Rock had permitted The Godfather to leave The Nation and "go into business for himself". The Pimpin' Business!

 

D'Lo and Henry watched each's others backs. Henry was the brawn, and D'Lo the obnoxious brains. D'Lo and X-Pac began trading the Euro Title back and forth between Sept-Oct.

 

Rock was beginning to get booked with and alongside Shamrock (who was quickly getting "you're not charismatic like Rocky so we're gonna boo you" heat, as well as Mankind, who was getting "you're not so mean anymore, so we'll be a little nicer" cheers. ROCKY, however, insulted The Undertaker (heel) and Kane (heel), as well as Shamrock (new heel).

 

The BIG MATCH for Rocky was the Breakdown PPV three-way cage match, where he defeated Shamrock and Mankind. He was getting MONSTER responses, and Shammy was turned heel here, joining Mr. McMahon weeks later.

 

The Nation was never acknowledged as "dead", until D'Lo and Mark Henry brutally attacked Rock on Raw to complete his face turn. A match was set for Judgment Day, with The Rock expected to easily defeat Mark Henry. With some help, MARK HENRY PINNED THE ROCK (!?!?!?!?!?!?!?).

 

Rock got his job back from Henry though on Raw, and went on to start the "People's Champ" push towards Survivor Series' World Title Tournament.

 

Then he went heel.

 

This has been: Nation History of 1998.

[MillenniumMan831 0]

Nice writeup.

 

It actually took me a while to realize The Nation was completely dead since D-Lo and Henry remained a tag team and had a new Titan Tron video which had "The Nation" still all over it. I figured they'd add another member or at least remain a tag team called "The Nation" but that name was obviously dumped.

 

And I should add that the techno theme the lower Nation members used from May-Nov(ish) 1998 was a boss tune.

[Guest JMA]

Sometimes I wonder how different the Nation of Domination angle would've been if Booker T was in Ahmed's position. It's too bad Vince didn't get him at the time.

[Jericholic82 0]

Faarooq and Rock couldn't handle each other's egos (Rock's more specifically) after WM 14. They traded blows.

 

Faarooq became a loner in the next few days, and at the next Raw was jumped in the parking lot by Rocky, Henry, Kama, and D'Lo.

 

Faarooq wore his Nation tights still (red/green/yellow stripe), including at Backlash, where he PINNED Rocky (IC Champ) in a 6-man, as Faarooq turned face.

 

Faarooq lost to Rocky in a brutally boring IC Title bout at Over the Edge 98. At this point it was clear. Rocky = Over heel. Faarooq = Zzzzz. Faarooq got new tights, with just the emblems and stuff changed (Aztec symbol stuff instead of red/green/yellow and the tire mark looking things).

 

Faarooq went on to form a boring team with Scorpio. They did nothing, save for a meaningless unadvertised PPV match victory over Terry Funk & Bradshaw, another meaningless unover team that quickly fissled.

 

As for the Nation, Owen Hart turned heel on Raw and attacked Shamrock, who was feuding with the Nation. Hart began wearing the "DANGER" yellow and black singlet and became a member of The Nation.

 

At Over the Edge, the Owen (he was billed sometimes as a co-leader type and sometimes just as an evil little prick) led Nation 6-man team (minus Henry, I believe) defeated the freshly face-turned DX team of NAO and HHH. Owen pedigreed HHH on the European Title to pin him.

 

Come June, Rocky was predicting the big KOTR win. He'd get to the finals, but lose to Shamrock. Owen was feuding with X-Pac, who he attacked during a HHH Vs. X-Pac KOTR Qualifier, causing him to be counted out. They had a decent, I guess, match at KOTR, with Pac taking it. D'Lo did an angle where he had to wear an enforced chest protector, due to his chest muscles being torn in a KOTR qualifier against Dan Severn, when Severn used his finisher submission hold. D'Lo got revenge at KOTR, using an AWESOME frog splash to squash Severn and have Rocky advance.

 

So onto July...

 

Rocky and HHH were feuding, leading up to their Euro Title Vs. IC Title 2/3 Falls match at Fully Loaded. D'Lo got his biggest win with Rock's help, winning the Euro Title on Raw from HHH. From there, D'Lo (seconded by the cigar-smoking kinda-pimp-looking Godfather) went into FL to face X-Pac. He refused to put the title on the line, but won anyway. Rock and HHH split falls, with HHH looking pretty weak and needing Chyna's help. 30 minute draw. Henry was feuding with Vader, and actually defeated him. Godfather was D'Lo's manager. Owen was still feuding with Shamrock, they had a Lion's Den match, with Owen using sneaky tactics to win "by submission".

 

SummerSlam was pretty much the end of the Nation's run. Owen and Severn alligned (Severn NEVER a member), with Owen pretty much doing his own thing. Shamrock defeated Owen in the first "Lion's Den Cage" via anklelock. Rock and HHH were feuding, with the Nation having humiliated Chyna on Raw and brutalized HHH with a ladder. Rock lost the IC strap to HHH in a ladder match, but HHH's damaged knee was the issue. Both men looked like a star. D'Lo had an extremely underrated bout with Val Venis as the opener, defending the Euro Title, with D'Lo winning by DQ in a crappy ending to a terrific match.

 

From there, The Godfather started getting more matches on Heat. He debuted the "Pimpin Aint Easy" thing, and gradually started getting huge fan support. OFFICIALLY, they announced The Rock had permitted The Godfather to leave The Nation and "go into business for himself". The Pimpin' Business!

 

D'Lo and Henry watched each's others backs. Henry was the brawn, and D'Lo the obnoxious brains. D'Lo and X-Pac began trading the Euro Title back and forth between Sept-Oct.

 

Rock was beginning to get booked with and alongside Shamrock (who was quickly getting "you're not charismatic like Rocky so we're gonna boo you" heat, as well as Mankind, who was getting "you're not so mean anymore, so we'll be a little nicer" cheers. ROCKY, however, insulted The Undertaker (heel) and Kane (heel), as well as Shamrock (new heel).

 

The BIG MATCH for Rocky was the Breakdown PPV three-way cage match, where he defeated Shamrock and Mankind. He was getting MONSTER responses, and Shammy was turned heel here, joining Mr. McMahon weeks later.

 

The Nation was never acknowledged as "dead", until D'Lo and Mark Henry brutally attacked Rock on Raw to complete his face turn. A match was set for Judgment Day, with The Rock expected to easily defeat Mark Henry. With some help, MARK HENRY PINNED THE ROCK (!?!?!?!?!?!?!?).

 

Rock got his job back from Henry though on Raw, and went on to start the "People's Champ" push towards Survivor Series' World Title Tournament.

 

Then he went heel.

 

This has been: Nation History of 1998.

great summary there, though I will point out that Farooq came out at the end of the wm 14 match when shammy attacked rock and put him in the ankle lock again, rock screamed for help, but Farrooq just shook his head and left. the next night on Raw,Rock and Farooq had a heated arguemnet in the ring, rock left the ring while henry, kama, and dlo remianed with farooq. farooq said "no no boy not like that get your ass back down here" rock started to walk forward, then shot the yetasnamed peoples eyeborw toward the nation, and they all attacked farrooq, thus his face turn complete.

 

 

shammy turned heel after breakdown but didnt join vince as yet, he won the vacant ic title in a one night tourney on raw, defeating xpac in the finals, then beat mankind at judgment day in october. sham lost his ss tourney match to rock after "botched" interfernce by bossman (he threw the nightstick supposably to sham but rock caught it-later revealed a s aplan since rock went corporate) the next night on raw, sham was angry, but vince convinced him to join his corporation.

 

owen bascially left after summerslam when he "injured" severns neck in a match after they had a falling out since dan left ownes side during the summerslam lions den match. he basically gave severn a similar tombstone like he did to really hurt austin in 97. owen then claimed he was going to retire, except for that he returned as the blue blazer shortly thereafter, and by december returned to action as himself, no longer allied with dlo or henry.