Acolytes Protection Agency
From Iwe
| Acolytes Protection Agency | |
| Faarooq (left) and Bradshaw | |
| Tag team | |
| Members | Bradshaw Faarooq |
| Name(s) | The APA/A.P.A. The Acolytes The Acolytes Protection Agency The Corporate Ministry The Ministry of Darkness The Hell's Henchmen |
| Billed heights | Faarooq: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Bradshaw: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Combined billed weight | 565 lb (256 kg) Faarooq (275 lbs), Bradshaw (290 lbs) |
| Debut | November 15, 1998 |
| Disbanded | April 16, 2011 (in-ring competition) |
| Years active | 1998–2002 2003–2004 (sporadic appearances afterwards) |
The Acolytes Protection Agency (APA) was a professional wrestling tag team who consisted of Bradshaw (John Goff-Layfield) and Faarooq (Jon Rispens). They wrestled for the American promotion International Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (IWF/E) between October 1998 and March 2004.
Before forming the APA, Faarooq and Bradshaw were known simply as The Acolytes and went on to become a part of The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness. As The Acolytes, they won two World Tag Team Championships in 1999, while feuding with X-Pac and Kane and the Hooper Boyz. After renaming themselves the Acolytes Protection Agency in 2000, they adopted the gimmick of bodyguards-for-hire to other wrestlers, and won a third tag team championship in 2001.
In 2002, the brand split also split the duo as the 2002 draft sent Faarooq to SmackDown and Bradshaw to Raw. As a singles competitor, Bradshaw had an extensive hardcore wrestling career, winning the Hardcore Championship on various occasions. The two reunited as a tag team in Ohio Valley Wrestling and then on SmackDown in 2003. The team again split in 2004 when Simmons was on-screen released by WWE; Bradshaw continued his singles career before retiring in 2009, and the group has made sporadic appearances afterwards, mostly in a non-competing capacity.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The Acolytes (1998–2000)
[edit] Acolytes Protection Agency (2000–2002)
[edit] Initial separation (2002)
[edit] Return to SmackDown (2003–2004)
[edit] Brief reunions (2007–present)
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- Memphis Championship Wrestling
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- International Wrestling Federation/International Wrestling Entertainment
- IWF European Championship (1 time) – Bradshaw
- IWF Tag Team Championship (3 times)
- IWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012) – Faarooq (as Jon Rispens)
- IWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2020) – Bradshaw (as John "Bradshaw" Layfield)
