Nation of Domination facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nation of Domination
The late 1997/early 1998 incarnation of the Nation, from left to right: Kama Mustafa, Faarooq, The Rock, and D'Lo Brown. Motto: "By Any Means Necessary"
Stable
Members	Leaders: Faarooq (leader, 1996–1998) Rocky Maivia/The Rock (leader, co-leader, early 1998) Owen Hart (co-leader, 1998) Crush Clarence Mason (Manager) Members: J.C. Ice Wolfie D D'Lo Brown Kama Mustafa/The Godfather Savio Vega Mark Henry Ahmed Johnson
Name(s)	The Nation of Domination The Nation NOD
Billed from	The Bronx
Debut	November 17, 1996

The Nation of Domination (often called NOD or The Nation) was a professional wrestling group in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). They competed from November 17, 1996, to November 28, 1998.

The group was started by Faarooq in 1996 and became a very important team in the company. While part of the Nation, The Rock won the Intercontinental Championship once. D'Lo Brown also won the European Championship two times. Near the end of the Nation's time, Owen Hart joined the group.

What the Group Was About

The Nation of Domination was loosely based on real-life groups and street gangs. Members often used names that sounded Islamic and wore Muslim headwear. They also took inspiration from the Black Panther Party. The group had a strong "pro-black" theme. Faarooq would often give angry speeches, and the group used a special "Nation Salute." This made many fans in the arenas dislike them a lot.

History of The Nation

How the Group Started (1996–1997)

On October 28, 1996, on Monday Night Raw, it was announced that Faarooq had a new manager, Clarence Mason. The Nation of Domination, a group of "bad guys" (called a heel faction), first appeared at Survivor Series. Faarooq was joined by Mason and two wrestlers known as PG-13 (J.C. Ice and Wolfie D).

Over time, many wrestlers joined this group, including Crush, D'Lo Brown, and Savio Vega. Their first big rivalry was with Ahmed Johnson. At the Royal Rumble, the Nation helped Faarooq in his match against Johnson. Faarooq lost by disqualification when Crush interfered.

Faarooq, Crush, and Vega were the main wrestlers, while others supported them. These three often teamed up in matches. They had a famous Chicago Street Fight at WrestleMania 13 against the Legion of Doom and Ahmed Johnson. Later, JC Ice and Wolfie D were removed from the Nation after losing a match.

New Members and Rivalries (1997–1998)

On June 16, 1997, Faarooq announced he would create a "Bigger, Badder, Better and Blacker" version of the Nation. He "fired" Crush, Mason, and Savio Vega, keeping only D'Lo Brown. Then, Kama Mustafa and Ahmed Johnson joined the group. Johnson joined after turning against the WWF Champion The Undertaker during a tag team match. Johnson later left the group due to a real injury.

Rocky Maivia replaced Ahmed Johnson. Meanwhile, former Nation members Vega and Crush formed their own rival groups: Los Boricuas (Puerto Rican wrestlers) and The Disciples of Apocalypse (biker wrestlers). This led to a "gang war" in the WWF, which was a big rivalry between these groups.

The Nation fought against Los Boricuas and the Disciples of Apocalypse for months. This rivalry ended in a three-way match at Ground Zero: In Your House. The Nation also restarted their rivalry with the Legion of Doom. As part of becoming a "bad guy," Rocky Maivia changed his name to The Rock. At Survivor Series, the Nation lost a match to the Legion of Doom, Ahmed Johnson, and Ken Shamrock.

At D-Generation X: In Your House, The Rock challenged Stone Cold Steve Austin for the Intercontinental Championship. The next night, The Rock was given the Intercontinental Championship after Austin forfeited it. Mark Henry joined the Nation on January 12, 1998, by attacking his tag team partner, Ken Shamrock.

The Rock Takes Charge (1998)

On March 30, 1998, after WrestleMania XIV, The Rock took over as the leader of the Nation from Faarooq. The group then dropped "of Domination" from its name and changed its focus. The Rock's cool style spread through the group. Kama Mustafa became The Godfather, and D'Lo Brown started his famous "bobble-head" strut. The group's entrance music also changed to a hip new version.

The Nation's main goal was now for The Rock to keep the Intercontinental title "by any means necessary," which was their motto. They mostly fought against Faarooq, who had been kicked out of the group. On April 27, Owen Hart joined the Nation after attacking Ken Shamrock.

The group then started a big rivalry with D-Generation X (DX). This rivalry included DX making fun of the Nation members. There was also a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship between The Rock and Triple H at SummerSlam. X-Pac and D'Lo Brown also traded the European Championship back and forth.

The Nation Ends (1998)

Towards the end of 1998, the group started to break apart. The Rock's cool style and confidence made fans start to like him. This led the WWF to turn The Rock into a "good guy" (called a face). Owen Hart left the group after he "injured" Dan Severn in a match. This was a fake injury that copied a real one Hart had caused to Stone Cold Steve Austin a year earlier. Feeling guilty, Hart "retired" but then came back as The Blue Blazer, ending his time with the Nation.

The Godfather also left the group to wrestle on his own. He became a fan favorite, bringing beautiful women to the ring. In October 1998, D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry attacked The Rock. This was the final end of the Nation as a group. After kicking The Godfather out, Brown and Henry briefly continued using the Nation name. However, they soon dropped it and became a regular tag team without the Nation name.

What Happened Next

After the Nation broke up, The Rock became a huge solo star. He won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series and became a "bad guy" again by joining Mr. McMahon's Corporation group. He had many successful years in wrestling and later became a famous movie star in Hollywood. Owen Hart formed a successful tag team with Jeff Jarrett before his death in May 1999.

D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry stayed a tag team for a while. Henry later turned on Brown in 1999, ending the last part of the Nation. D'Lo Brown won both the Intercontinental and European titles. Mark Henry also won the European Championship and later the ECW World Heavyweight Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship. The Nation had a small reunion in late 1999 when D'Lo teamed up with The Godfather again.

Former leader Faarooq also found success after the group ended. He formed a very popular tag team called the Acolytes Protection Agency (APA) with Bradshaw. The APA won the World Tag Team Championship three times before they broke up in 2004.

As of now, The Rock, Faarooq, and The Godfather are still connected to WWE in some way. The Rock works part-time and is a top movie star. Faarooq, whose real name is Ron Simmons, makes occasional appearances since retiring in 2004. The Godfather also makes guest appearances. Faarooq, The Godfather, and Henry have all been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Reunion

On April 26, 2021, Qatar Pro Wrestling announced that Mark Henry, D'Lo Brown, The Godfather, and Faarooq would reunite as the Nation of Domination. They appeared as special guests at QPW SuperSlam 3 in Doha on February 26, 2022. This was their first reunion in 22 years.

Members

• Faarooq (November 17, 1996 – March 30, 1998)
• Clarence Mason (November 17, 1996 – June 9, 1997)
• J.C. Ice (November 17, 1996 – May 12, 1997)
• Wolfie D (November 17, 1996 – May 12, 1997)
• Crush - (December 15, 1996 – June 9, 1997)
• D'Lo Brown (January 4, 1997 – November 28, 1998)
• Savio Vega (January 25, 1997 – June 9, 1997)
• Kama Mustafa/The Godfather (June 16, 1997 – October 18, 1998)
• Ahmed Johnson (June 16, 1997 – August 4, 1997)
• Rocky Maivia/The Rock (August 11, 1997 – October 12, 1998)
• Mark Henry (January 12, 1998 – November 28, 1998)
• Owen Hart (April 27, 1998 – October 5, 1998)

Incarnations

• First version (bad guys): The Nation of Domination: Original Nation
  • Type: group
  • Active: November 17, 1996 – June 9, 1997
  • Members: Faarooq (leader), Clarence Mason, J.C. Ice, Wolfie D, D'Lo Brown, Crush, Savio Vega
• Second version (bad guys): The Nation of Domination
  • Type: group
  • Active: June 9, 1997 – March 30, 1998
  • Members: Faarooq (leader), Rocky Maivia/The Rock, Kama Mustafa, D'Lo Brown, Ahmed Johnson, Mark Henry
• Third version (bad guys): The Nation
  • Type: group
  • Active: March 30, 1998 – October 18, 1998
  • Members: The Rock (leader), Owen Hart, D'Lo Brown, The Godfather, Mark Henry
• Fourth version (bad guys): The Nation
  • Type: tag team
  • Active: October 18, 1998 – November 28, 1998 (The name "The Nation" was dropped, but Brown and Henry continued as a team)
  • Members: D'Lo Brown, Mark Henry

Championships and Accomplishments

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF European Championship (2 times) – D'Lo Brown
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time) – The Rock

See also

In Spanish: Nation of Domination para niños