Clarence Mason
Encyclopedia
Herman Stevens, Jr. is an American
attorney
and former professional wrestling
manager
, best known for his attorney gimmicks as Clarence Mason in the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF) and as J. Biggs in World Championship Wrestling
(WCW) from 1996–1999.
. Ladd managed to get Stevens a meeting with WWF. He went to New York to meet with Vince McMahon
and was signed to a contract.
trial
. The name Clarence Mason may have came from the Disbarred New York Civil Rights Attorney C. Vernon Mason (or possibly the fictional attorney Perry Mason) or Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, whilst his character and speaking style were based on Johnnie Cochran
.
Clarence Mason was introduced as the legal counsel for Jim Cornette
, who was attempting to reverse a decision at an In Your House
pay per view
event that had seen Owen Hart
and The British Bulldog
, whom Cornette was managing, lose the WWF Tag Team Titles. Following this, Mason continued his association with Cornette and his stable of wrestlers.
In early 1996 Mason left the Cornette stable and managed Crush
(Brian Adams). Adams had been arrested in March 1995 and spent some time in jail; upon his return the WWF gave him a biker gimmick and used his real-life incarceration as part of a storyline, with Mason as his attorney. Later that year Mason became manager of Faarooq
and the two formed the Nation of Domination
, a heel stable loosely based on the Nation of Islam
and Black Panther Party
, Mason still managed Owen & Bulldog while with The Nation, but got fired by the Bulldog in March 1997, In mid 1997, Faarooq "fired" Mason from the Nation of Domination, and Mason was written off television and released from his WWF contract.
and Big T
. The team feuded with Booker T
. Biggs gained a (kayfabe
) court order against Booker T, which stated he could not use the letter "T". Shortly thereafter, Biggs was released from his contract and left the wrestling business.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
and former professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
, best known for his attorney gimmicks as Clarence Mason in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) and as J. Biggs in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) from 1996–1999.
Early life
As a child, Stevens had always wanted to be a WWF Superstar. With no prior experience in the business, getting a foot in the door was difficult for the aspiring law school student. While in college, Stevens unsuccessfully attempted to obtain an internship with WCW. When Stevens was in law school, he befriended Ernie LaddErnie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd , nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.-Pro Football career:...
. Ladd managed to get Stevens a meeting with WWF. He went to New York to meet with Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
and was signed to a contract.
World Wrestling Federation
Stevens entered the WWF in 1995 as Clarence Mason, a lawyer primarily introduced to play off the publicity lawyers had gotten during the ongoing O. J. SimpsonO. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
trial
O. J. Simpson murder case
The O. J. Simpson murder case was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J...
. The name Clarence Mason may have came from the Disbarred New York Civil Rights Attorney C. Vernon Mason (or possibly the fictional attorney Perry Mason) or Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, whilst his character and speaking style were based on Johnnie Cochran
Johnnie Cochran
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. was an American lawyer best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O. J...
.
Clarence Mason was introduced as the legal counsel for Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
, who was attempting to reverse a decision at an In Your House
In Your House
In Your House was a pay-per-view series created by the World Wrestling Federation . The original concept was that, in months when the WWF was not holding one of its major PPV events , they would offer a two-hour PPV, priced at $14.95...
pay per view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
event that had seen Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
and The British Bulldog
Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler, better known as "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling...
, whom Cornette was managing, lose the WWF Tag Team Titles. Following this, Mason continued his association with Cornette and his stable of wrestlers.
In early 1996 Mason left the Cornette stable and managed Crush
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
(Brian Adams). Adams had been arrested in March 1995 and spent some time in jail; upon his return the WWF gave him a biker gimmick and used his real-life incarceration as part of a storyline, with Mason as his attorney. Later that year Mason became manager of Faarooq
Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
and the two formed the Nation of Domination
Nation of Domination
The Nation of Domination was a professional wrestling stable in World Wrestling Federation from November 18, 1996 to November 28, 1998. The Rock was a 1 time Intercontinental Champion and D'Lo Brown was a 2 time European Champion while in the group.-United States Wrestling Association :The...
, a heel stable loosely based on the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
and Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
, Mason still managed Owen & Bulldog while with The Nation, but got fired by the Bulldog in March 1997, In mid 1997, Faarooq "fired" Mason from the Nation of Domination, and Mason was written off television and released from his WWF contract.
World Championship Wrestling
Stevens resurfaced in WCW as J. Biggs, where he managed Chris "Champagne" Kanyon. A few months later, Kanyon dropped his association with Biggs, which left him to search for a new client. This time, Biggs picked the newly-established tag team of Harlem Heat 2000, which consisted of Stevie RayLane Huffman
Lane Steven Huffman is a retired American professional wrestler who is better known as Stevie Ray. He is best known as being part of the tag team Harlem Heat with his younger brother Booker T...
and Big T
Anthony Norris
Anthony "Tony" Norris , better known by his ring name, Ahmed Johnson, is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation, where he is a one time Intercontinental Champion and the first-ever winner of the Kuwait Cup.-Global Wrestling...
. The team feuded with Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
. Biggs gained a (kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
) court order against Booker T, which stated he could not use the letter "T". Shortly thereafter, Biggs was released from his contract and left the wrestling business.
Post-wrestling career
After leaving WCW, Stevens headed to south Florida and returned to his original profession, a practicing attorney. He currently practices out of offices in Delray BeachDelray Beach, Florida
Delray Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 60,020. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S...
.