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The Thesz/Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Iowa announced the following:
Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame Board President Gerry Brisco is proud to announce that Ron Simmons is receiving the 2025 Frank Gotch Award from the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The Frank Gotch Award is given to a wrestler who, through their athleticism and toughness in the ring, brought a higher level of respect to professional wrestling from both inside and outside the business.
Ron Simmons first burst onto the national spotlight as a member of the Florida State football team, where he twice earned All-American honors, and finished ninth in the 1979 Heisman Trophy voting. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
After a career in professional football, Simmons then began training for the squared circle in the Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion. He moved on to Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling, where he captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
Simmons continued his career in ECW and New Japan, before moving on to WWE. He formed a feared tag team with John Bradshaw Layfield, known for their rough and brawling style. Together they captured the WWF Tag Team Championship on three occasions.
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