[66], Warrior had been largely alienated from his peers in professional wrestling in the decade before his death, and was sometimes described as a bitter man on bad terms with various wrestling figures such as Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts. The Ultimate Warrior became the first wrestler to defeat Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania when he used his finishing splash for the pin. [81] The DVD has provoked some controversy due to Warrior's own allegations of libel by WWE against him. On November 17, 1986, Warrior and Von Erich defeated Master Gee (substituting for champion Buzz Sawyer) and Matt Borne to win the title. Maple Leaf Gardens -- June 2, 1991. As a teenager, he. [31] "Macho Man" Randy Savage was also introduced as a potential rival after interfering in a The Main Event IV title match at the behest of DiBiase. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Following a few confrontations with Hogan, most notably at the 1990 Royal Rumble, the Warrior was written in as Hogan's opponent in the main event for WrestleMania VI at the SkyDome in Toronto. At WrestleMania VI, Warrior won the WWF Championship in a title vs. title match over Hulk Hogan, making him the first wrestler to hold both titles concurrently. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted: "We are all so sad the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. The Ultimate Warrior joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in June 1987. Lorenzo "Enzo" Tanos is a freelance writer from Manila, Philippines whose articles have appeared, and continue to appear on sites such as The Inquisitr, Blasting News, Modern Readers, and others. The warrior was captivating. (It was later revealed in a 2010 interview with Bearer that, in preparation for the segment, he and his team had to remove the airtight rubber seal or "gasket" from around the coffin's lid and drill air holes in said lid to allow for breathable space, so that Warrior would not suffocate because "he had enough brain damage as it was, and we wouldn't want to give him any more", implying that Warrior had been faking his own death the whole time. This was a serious mistake on your part". The ULTIMATE WARRIOR-3 DISK DVD or 2 DISK BLU-RAY Sets-DVD DISK 1: Ultimate Warrior Life Story and Ring Career, Singles Matches against Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Sgt. [53], WCW signed Warrior "at great expense" in May 1998. [45] However, his return coincided with the government's crackdown on steroids in wrestling. [41][42], Upon receiving the letter, Warrior refused the suspension and left the WWF. He wanted $550,000 for performing at WrestleMania VII, a guaranteed number of working days, travel accommodations and a higher percentage of merchandise sales. As Warrior, weakened from the effects of the cobra's strike, Roberts made a heel turn and was joined by the Undertaker and Paul Bearer, revealing the three were working together all along. The 54-year-old wrestler's given name was James Brian Hellwig. [67][68] During what turned out to be his final public appearance, Warrior gave a speech to the fans and wrestlers past and present as his Ultimate Warrior character. Warrior defeated Hogan to win the world title at the SkyDome in Toronto that year. Professional wrestling veteran Bruno Sammartino, who attended the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony alongside "Warrior" -- an inductee -- last week, told CBS', He added, "He had two beautiful little daughters that he has, and they were on stage with him. [33], The next chapter of Warrior's career was an encounter with The Undertaker, after Undertaker and his manager, Paul Bearer, locked Warrior in a coffin on the set of Bearer's Funeral Parlor. Mark Clark said he collapsed while walking with his wife to their car at a hotel . The Ultimate Warrior personified the larger-than-life cartoon characters who helped skyrocket the WWE into the mainstream in the late 1980s and early 1990s. [24] He made his television debut as The Ultimate Warrior on the October 25 episode of Wrestling Challenge, where he defeated another jobber, Terry Gibbs. He was replaced by Sycho Sid at in Your House 9. At the time it was rumored to be Kerry Von Erich, who was then under contract to the WWF. Hellwig was "Blade Runner Rock" and Borden was "Blade Runner Sting". Perfect. Roberts said that he was "Deeply saddened. The 54-year-old wrestler's given name was James Brian Hellwig. The Ultimate Warrior, the former WWE professional wrestling champion, has died at 54. [95] Warrior's colleagues said Warrior appeared frail during WrestleMania weekend, and said that he was sweating profusely and breathing heavily backstage. Warrior interacted in full wrestling costume with Westway's wacky character, "Mean Joe Greed. [64], On July 15, 2013, Warrior was featured in a WWE 2K14 game trailer and revealed he was in the roster as a pre-order bonus. And now to see her stand up like she has something to say thats worth listening too [sic], its pathetic. Warrior began his career with the World Wrestling Federation in 1987, and by 1990 he had become one of the biggest stars in the company, rivaling the popularity of Hulk Hogan. PACER.GOV. The DVD featured clips of his more notable feuds and matches along with commentary from WWE stars past and present (most of which are unflattering), with Triple H (by this point one of WWE's top main eventers and the husband of Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon) adding that his WrestleMania debut loss against Warrior at WrestleMania XII left him with mixed emotions, saying that Warrior "ruined the experience" for him and was "one of the most unprofessional guys" he's ever performed with. He remarked that $550,000 "was fair", and that "[Warrior] meant as much or more to the show than Hulk [Hogan]". Warrior formally sent a letter of resignation to the WWF in October 1991. They divorced in 1992. James Hellwig or as popularly known in the wrestling world as the "Ultimate Warrior" dies at the age of 54. [35] For the third test, the Warrior entered a room full of snakes,[35] to find "the answer" in a chest in the middle of the room. Actor: WrestleMania VI. ", "Raw news: Bryan's first night as champ, Taker update, Cesaro joins Heyman, Warrior returns, RVD returns, Paige debuts & wins Divas Title, other NXT intros, more", "Ultimate Warrior dead days after WrestleMania 30 and Raw appearances", "Why the Ultimate Warrior Was Such a Legend", WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENTINC WWE Quarterly Report (10-Q) NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), "Interview with the Ultimate Warrior Part 3 of 4", WWE: Ultimate Warrior files lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment, "The Ultimate Warrior Loses Lawsuit Against WWE", "Interview with the Ultimate Warrior Part 4 of 4", "An illustrated history of wrestling comic books", Warrior's Machete: Before the House of Hilton Bred Whores, Warrior's Machete: Warrior wins. [30] At SummerSlam, Warrior defeated Rude to regain the title and become a two-time Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. He made his debut with the promotion when it was known as the World Wrestling Federations in 1987 and wrestled on and off for the sports entertainment empire until 1996. 17 talking about this. All rights reserved. WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior's family, friends and fans.". He was in the spotlight again earlier this week, making appearances at the latest WrestleMania in New Orleans and on "Monday Night Raw," and being inducted into the WWE Hall of fame. [29] In the summer of 1988, he wrestled Bobby Heenan in a series of weasel suit matches, in which Warrior won by sleeper hold. The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, passed away, April 8, 2014 in Arizona. "[124] As Of 2019, Sue Aitchison would be the first WWE employee to be given the warrior award. His first contest took place in Florida, where he placed 5th. He was 54. [58], Warrior only participated in three matches in WCW. Referring to his brother by his original nickname of Jim, Jay claimed that he had long been trying to talk about Warriors issues, only to see his comments deleted or blocked. Death Year: 2014 Death date:. God Bless his family, February 25, 2020 | Houston, TX | Friend. The news comes just days after Warrior, who was born James Hellwig but legally changed his name in 1993, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. [75], In 1993, Hellwig legally changed his name to the mononym Warrior. Ultimate Warrior Mask Pro Wrestling FanArt Tribute Essential T-Shirt Essential T-Shirt. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball, Alonso says Aston 'living a dream,' eyes podium, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live'. McMahon personally ended the letter by saying, "I would like to express my deepest appreciation and admiration for you as a performer, as a member of the WWF family, as a man, and as my friend". Warrior maintained a blog on his personal website titled "Warrior's Machete", where he discussed his personal life, his personal views on politics, sexuality, patriotism, and his legacy as a wrestler, amongst other topics. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. Perfect and Ted DiBiase. "No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own," he said. Sign up for Peacock to watch. Bruce Prichard stated that Vince McMahon did not know what a "Dingo" Warrior was, but because there was the "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry von Erich and The Road Warriors there should not be one more simple warrior, but the Ultimate Warrior. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters. [74] WWE announcer Tom Phillips claims that the rumors likely originated from Gene Okerlund's WCW Hotline as well as the WCW debut of Warrior doppelgnger The Renegade. The Greatest Moments in Imagery & Video of the Most Intense and Entertaining Wrestler Ever The Ultimate Warrior! At the UFC Fight Night 40 weigh-ins, fighter Lorenz Larkin wore an Ultimate Warrior mask, tassels and wristbands as a tribute. "[71][72], Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania VIII after nearly eight months on hiatus since SummerSlam 1991. The downfall of The Ultimate Warrior continued in one of the most controversial moments in WWE history at the 1991 edition of SummerSlam. They led the WWE's transformation from a promotion running weekend arena shows and Saturday morning TV into one booking events at the largest stadiums around the world with millions watching every Monday night. There were no signs of foul play, Clark said. Among other things, McMahon said, "You threatened to stay at home thereby not even appearing at Titan's major summer pay-per-view event SummerSlam. A tribute to the memory of The Ultimate Warrior: Raw, April 14, 2014 WWE 93.4M subscribers Subscribe 262K 23M views 8 years ago The WWE Universe honors the memory of WWE Hall of Famer, The. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [125], In 2017, WWE started promoting the "Unleash Your Warrior" breast cancer awareness campaign in partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, where Warrior's likeness was promoted on television by WWE wrestlers and breast cancer survivors. In the context of the Gulf War, this made Slaughter one of the most hated heels at the time. The Ultimate Warrior fought like a rabid beast. During his run from the 1980s-90s, Warrior became known for high high energy when running down to the ring with his music hits, shaking the ropes during his entrance, his signature move, the Gorilla Press Drop and the Big Splash, which . Warrior would be a star in the Golden Age of WWE and Michaels would be leader of the New Generation Era, yet their . "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. [17], In June 1986, Warrior debuted in the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) promotion, where he wrestled for $50 a night. Warrior eliminated Andr by knocking him out of the ring, where he was counted out. [1], Warrior was scheduled to team with Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson to face Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Vader at In Your House 9 later that month, but the WWF terminated Warrior's contract when he missed several house shows, taking time off allegedly to grieve the death of his father. Warrior was born in 1959 as James Brian Hellwig,[4] in Crawfordsville, Indiana, about 50 miles northwest of Indianapolis. His appearance was so popular that a second print run of tickets had to be ordered. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? The WWE said Warrior, who legally changed his name from James Hellwig to his. Warrior dressed in face paint, had tassels dangling from his super-sized biceps and sprinted to the ring when his theme song hit. ", "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior," read a statement from the company. Warrior died on April 8, 2014, at the age of 54 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born James Brian Hellwig, Warrior legally changed his name in 1993. Hogan was among the wrestling stars to express his condolences on Twitter early Wednesday morning. [85] Warrior explained those comments on his website as meaning that the human race would die out if everyone were a homosexual.[86]. "Speak to me, Warriors!" James Hellwig died on April 8, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here's what the two had to say about one another The WWE said Warrior, who legally changed his name from James Hellwig to his wrestling moniker, died Tuesday. Warrior would return at WrestleMania VIII, but by November 1992, he had been released; it was later revealed that this was due to steroid use. Posited as the new face of the company, he would fall out with Vince McMahon over a pay dispute, and attempted to leave the WWF, which was rejected. [15] They left the CWA in January 1986. Warrior retired from professional wrestling and subsequently embarked on a public speaking career, but wrestled one final match in Spain in 2008. During his time in the WWF, he captured the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and won the WWF Intercontinental Championship on two occasions. Wrestling fans around the world grieves for his loss. WEB. [69], Warrior married Shari Lynn Tyree on October 2, 1982. See photos of Ultimate Warrior and more great wrestlers in our Legends of Wrestling photo gallery. He alleged that Dana called her mother-in-law1,015 times a day for the first two days after Warriors death, hounding her for what may have been the money she was to inherit from her late husband. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In 1987, he joined the World Wrestling Federation, and became a two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion within two years. Worse, the report also alleges that his wife, Dana, was on the verge of leaving him. Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. He beat Hulk Hogan in a memorable match at Wrestlemania in 1990. Warrior, whose birth name was Jim Hellwig before legally changing it in 1993, is one of the subjects for the third season of the wrestling docuseries that premieres May 6 (VICE, 9 p.m.) with a. [114] The 2015 film The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!, which stars The Flintstones and WWE Superstars and Divas, was dedicated to Warrior's memory. [26], As 1989 began, Warrior entered a feud with Rick Rude over the Intercontinental title. This week's episode of Dark Side of the Ring, Becoming Warrior, focused on The Ultimate Warrior.From the late 1980s to the early 90s, The Ultimate Warrior was one of the most popular stars in the World Wrestling Federation.While he enjoyed success as a two-time Intercontinental Champion and one-time WWF Champion, he was also one of the most controversial figures in wrestling. [16], Initially, Warrior was still a heel in the territory, managed by Gary Hart, although he was cheered during a heel versus heel feud with WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Rude after the two fell out during a tag match. Warrior debuted on October 25, 1987. [65], On April 5, 2014, The Ultimate Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014. [63], On February 20, 2013, Warrior confirmed on his official YouTube channel that he would appear at "WrestleCon" on April 7, 2013. ", "Interview with the Ultimate Warrior Part 2 of 4", "On This Day in Pro Wrestling History 20 Years Ago, the Ultimate Warrior missed Survivor Series 1992", "Ultimate Warrior: Legend of The Ultimate Warrior Special Summary", "DVD Review: Burgan reviews Shoot Interview with the Ultimate Warrior WWE, WCW, Von Erichs, Sting", "Matches Ultimate Warrior Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH the Internet Wrestling Database", "WWE WrestleMania Countdown 1996 PPV Report (WM 12): Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart Iron Man match, Ultimate Warrior vs. Mark Clark said Warrior collapsed while walking with his wife to their car at a hotel, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. During his time away from the WWF, Warrior opened the short-lived "Warrior University", a professional wrestling school based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Later, while he was attending Life University in Marietta, Georgia, he won the Junior Atlanta contest and placed 5th at the 1981 AAU Collegiate Mr. America. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol", 2023 Oscars: Watch scenes from the best picture nominees, How the creator of Dilbert went from star to "train wreck", Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant. [13] Hellwig and fellow trainee Steve Borden (who later had success as "Sting"), formed a tag team called The Freedom Fighters (Hellwig was known as Justice and Borden was called Flash). While speaking on the Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross discussed The Ultimate Warrior once again. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. He had just won the Intercontinental Title back from "Ravishing" Rick Rude the year before, and was out for blood. [31], Warrior was inserted into the feud between The Legion of Doom and Demolition, leading to victories for the Warrior and LOD in six-man tag team matches in house shows as well as the October 13, 1990 airing of Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII. In 1990 The Ultimate Warrior began a string of victories.