In what can only be described as a major shock, WWE.COM has just reported that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away at the age of 54. The cause of his death has not been announced, but as the man born as Jim Hellwig had a busy weekend with the WWE as he was officially inducted into their Hall of Fame on Saturday, and made an appearance on both Sunday’s Wrestlemania XXX and last night’s Monday Night Raw. The Warrior looked healthy, and there was no visible evidence that he was sick in any capacity.
The Ultimate Warrior first arrived in the World Wrestling Federation in 1987, and in an industry with larger than life characters, he did not just stand out, he was a superstar. He had huge muscles, unequalled intensity, and bizarre promos that may not always be comprehensible, but were always entertaining.
At Summer Slam 1988, the Warrior defeated the Honky Tonk Man in under a minute to win the Intercontinental Championship, cementing him as a star on the rise in the WWF. His ascension culminated at Wrestlemania VI in the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada, where he pinned Hulk Hogan cleanly to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in a match that was well received by the fans and critics alike.
The Warrior’s title reign was not the most successful one, as business did decline (though other factors were in play), and he lost the championship to Sgt. Slaughter at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Still, he would steal the show at Wrestlemania VII, pinning Randy “Macho King” Savage in a “Career VS Career” Match, though only months later he would hold the organization up at Summer Slam 91 (where he was in the main event) refusing to perform unless he received a lump sum payment.
Realistically, this would end the apex of his career. He would return twice more to the WWF though the duration would never reach a year; and each departure would lead to acrimonious feelings on both sides. Warrior would try his hand in World Championship Wrestling leading to a match against Hulk Hogan, though they were unable to replicate the magic they had in Toronto.
Years ago, the now named WWE would produce a DVD chronicling the career of the Ultimate Warrior, though unlike all of their other DVD sets celebrating a career, the titled “Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior” showcased commentary from past and present WWE employees mocking him openly and belittling his impact in the industry.
Still, this is a company where “Never Say Never” is a mantra, and a year ago, the Ultimate Warrior was slowly returning to the fold, where he was included in their latest video game. Rumblings had begun that he would enter the Hall of Fame and a DVD was released on his career, though this time with his input, and in January the WWE announced that he would be the headliner of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014. The hatchet on both sides was buried.
Wrestling fans watched the Warrior this past weekend and expected to see a lot more of him as he announced that he was signed to the WWE as an ambassador. As sad as we are that he passed away, we take solace in that he was able to enter the WWE Hall of Fame before he died and hopefully found closure with the company that defined him professionally.
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