D’Lo Brown, a celebrated star of the Attitude Era and a current TNA producer, made a definitive and passionate case for the WWE Hall of Fame induction of The Nation of Domination. In a new exclusive interview on “The Velvet Ropes with SoCal Val,” Brown laid out a two-pronged argument for the faction’s inclusion, citing both the individual success it generated for its members and its undeniable, lasting “footprint” on the wrestling industry.
Host SoCal Val raised the topic, noting that fans are unified in believing the Nation’s induction is “long overdue”. Brown immediately agreed, making it clear his opinion was not based on personal bias.
“Here’s my things. I believe, not just because I’m part of the Nation. If I wasn’t part of the Nation, I would say the Nation deserves being a Hall of Fame,” Brown stated.
His first argument contrasted the Nation’s function with that of other legendary stables. “If you look at what a faction does, usually, a faction is to elevate one person out of the group, i.e. Flair with the Horsemen,” he explained.
The Nation, he argued, was fundamentally different. “The thing with the Nation was every member, and we think about the core unit of Rocky, Mark, Godfather, Ron and myself… every one of us got better after being in the Nation,” Brown said. “So that shows what kind of foundation the Nation gave all of us. And it lifted… it lifted us all up”.
This claim is supported by the trajectory of its members. The “core unit” Brown referred to—himself, Ron Simmons (Faarooq), The Godfather (Kama Mustafa), Mark Henry, and The Rock (Rocky Maivia)—all achieved significant, defining success after or during the faction’s run. Ron Simmons, already a trailblazing world champion, was cemented as the formidable leader. Mark Henry transitioned from his initial persona into the “Sexual Chocolate” character. The Godfather became one of the most popular and memorable acts of the Attitude Era. D’Lo Brown himself became a decorated champion, holding the European and Intercontinental titles simultaneously.
The most prominent example, of course, is The Rock. Earlier in the interview, Brown described his front-row seat to The Rock’s transformation within the group. “It was no surprise when the rocket ship went off and he started skyrocketing,” Brown said. “And I just said, You know what, I got the coolest job in the world, because I got a front seat to watching the brightest star in the whole damn universe light up”. This ascent began directly within the Nation.
Brown’s second argument focused on the group’s long-term cultural impact on the business, which is still seen today.
“For the fact that the Nation should be in the Hall of Fame, because 30 years later, anytime you put a faction of two or three black guys together, people are already calling it the new Nation,” D’Lo stated.
This observation highlights how the Nation of Domination became the definitive archetype for all-Black factions in modern wrestling. Groups in the decades since, whether or not they were booked with similar intentions, have almost always drawn immediate comparisons from fans, proving the “footprint” in wrestling that Brown described.
“That tells you… its footprint in wrestling,” he emphasized.
Brown concluded his case by placing the faction among the industry’s elite. “And just for that mere fact alone, it should be represented in the Hall of Fame with the other great… great acts of the last 100 years”.
This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.
