A Warrior's Legacy

First off let me send my condolences to the family of The Ultimate Warrior.  The man formerly known as James Brian Hellwig was pronounced dead yesterday around 5:00 PST after reportedly collapsing outside his hotel in Arizona.   He had just been inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this past weekend, along with the likes of Mr. T, Lita, the late William “Paul Bearer” Moody, Carlos Colon, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts.  Introduced by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s wife, Linda McMahon, as the type that “would be willing to help and extend a hand, but hated excuses and laziness”, he was arm-in-arm with his two beautiful daughters and his speech was widely considered as “epic”.  He had a long-standing controversial relationship with the WWE, especially after the company released a video entitled, “The Self Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior”, where it highlights all of his bad business dealings and frequent attitude problems.  One incident of note was when he reportedly held up a Summerslam main event, that he was supposed to be a part of, for money that he supposedly wasn’t paid.  The video showed people subsequently making fun of him and mocking him.  His career, while off and on, was still of topic around the WWE community, as he would return every few years for short runs.  He, then, emerged after years in limbo in WCW in 1998, where he feuded with Hollywood Hulk Hogan.  He retired that year and was pretty much a recluse, besides doing a few blogs and occasional public speaking.  Some of his views, especially concerning organized religion, drugs, and homosexuality, were at times quite venomous.  

When it was announced that Warrior (he legally changed his name to Warrior) had agreed to a deal with WWE in 2013 to use his likeness and character for WWE 2K14, fans were surprised considering the love/hate relationship he had with the company.  Then months later, the WWE announced that Warrior would headline the class of 2014 at the Hall Of Fame on Wrestlemania weekend.  To fans that grew up to him in the 80s, this was thrilling news considering many had wanted him to be a hall of famer a long time ago.  

With oft-times tears in his eyes, he expressed how misunderstood he was as a man and as a businessman while working in WWE.  WHat was of note was that he seemingly made peace with everyone he had issues with, including Ted Dibiase, Vince McMahon, and Triple H, who had some pretty disparaging things to say about him in the past.  Interestingly enough, he made zero eye contact with another man he had a lot of personal and business issues with, Hulk hogan (who was sitting front row).  

The next evening was Wrestlemania, and as was customary, he, along with his other Hall Of Fame classmates, was saluted and recognized during the event and there was a rousing ovation from the 74,000 fans in attendance.  The next night, he was introduced to the RAW audience, and his signature theme song was played.  He didn’t do his usual shindig of running to the ring with high-adrenaline.  He just casually walked down the aisle and greeted the fans.  He did, however in classic Warrior fashion, shake the ring ropes once he got to ringside.  He was, in turn, alarmingly out of breath shortly after.  The speech that he gave now serves as almost an eerie epithet of what was to come.  Here’s an excerpt:

“No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized. By the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him and make the running the man did live forever. You, you, you, you, you, you are the legend makers of Ultimate Warrior. In the back I see many potential legends. Some of them with warrior spirits. And you will do the same for them. You will decide if they lived with the passion and intensity. So much so that you will tell your stories and you will make them legends, as well. I am Ultimate Warrior. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans. And the spirit of the Ultimate Warrior will run forever!”

This, without a doubt, is one of the more heartbreaking losses the WWE has suffered in quite some time.  Earlier this year, the WWE community suffered an equally saddening loss with the passing of WWE Hall Of Famer Mae Young.  No matter his controversies or his issues, Warrior was one of the most impactful wrestlers during the 80s and early 90s.  His matches with the likes of the late Ravishing Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage and especially his match with Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI were (and still are) highly talked about and considered some of the best matches of his career.  He was an original and there will never be anyone like him.  May the warrior’s spirit live on.