Hello and welcome to my Warrior site, this will be a site dedicated to Warrior and wrestling collectors all over the world! Scottsdale, Ariz., police spokesman Sgt. His last bodybuilding contest was 1985's Junior USAs, which was won by future IFBB Pro, Ron Love. He also notably spent a few months in 1998 for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was known as The Warrior. According to Joseph Laurinaitis (aka Road Warrior Animal), UWF owner Bill Watts created the Blade Runners and the intent was to make them a parody of The Road Warriors. 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. He was walking to his car with his wife outside a hotel in Phoenix when he put his hand over his heart and fell on the ground. [48], In January 1993 he wrestled as the Dingo Warrior, defeating Hercules Hernandez in Billerica, Massachusetts, for Killer Kowalski's International Wrestling Federation. The Ultimate Warrior, a late 1980s icon of professional wrestling who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, died Tuesday at 54. I'm on my own now. Hellwig finished 5th. [58], Warrior only participated in three matches in WCW. Shop unique Ultimate Warrior Funeral face masks designed and sold by independent artists. [46] However, in Warrior: The Ultimate Legend, McMahon claims that it was Warrior's experimenting with growth hormone which led to his departure; Warrior was suspended and, in return, skipped dates as he took offense to McMahon's actions. Warrior put on a mask that resembled his famous face paint and cut a promo about 24 hours before his death that seems eerie now. The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown! 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. They were quickly turned heel under "coach" Buddy Wayne[14] and soon afterwards manager Dutch Mantel. The title was held up in April 1987 after Warrior left the WCCW. On board of directors for Jim Murray Memorial Foundation. [27] Warrior then grabbed ahold of the chain and in the midst of a tug of war over it, the chain snapped. WWF officials worked feverishly to break the casket open, finally revealing Warrior's seemingly lifeless body, and the torn fabric inside of the coffin indicating Warrior's desperate struggle to get out. The feud culminated at Survivor Series where the two captained opposing teams. The 54-year-old wrestler's given name was James Brian Hellwig. The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Warrior accepted the invitation and abandoned his bodybuilding career as well as his plans to become a chiropractor.[10][11][12]. There is a dispute over who created the full Ultimate Warrior name. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. ____
The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, passed away, April 8, 2014 in Arizona. PACER.GOV. There were no signs of foul play, Clark said. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at age 54. He was 54. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others, it makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized." Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. Trigun ultimate anime poster Classic T-Shirt. Till then I remain home with one who cares". Best known by his ring name The Ultimate Warrior, he wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1987 to 1992, as well as a short stint in 1996. When The Ultimate Warrior died in 2014, it was probably the most eerie deaths in pro wrestling. INCLUDES: ULTIMATE WARRIOR vs. HULK HOGAN - Title vs. Superstars -- April 13, 1991. [25] As The Ultimate Warrior character, Hellwig became known for his impassioned babbling, incomprehensible commentary and high-energy ring entrances, which featured him racing into the arena full speed, bursting into the ring, and violently shaking the ring ropes up and down. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [citation needed] They remained together for the majority of Warrior's WWF career before divorcing on March 22, 1991, two days before WrestleMania VII. [93], Warrior died on April 8, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. [5] The family moved and he graduated from Veedersburg's Fountain Central High School and attended Indiana State University for a year. Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. Originally, Warrior was asked to help with the production of the DVD, but as he refused to work with WWE (citing he did not want to be associated with their promotion), there had been some resulting animosity between Warrior and WWE over the Warrior claiming bias on the part of WWE. In 1987, Warrior began competing for the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, losing to Bob Bradley in a tournament final on January 12. Document 185 P.January 10, 2006. A report from Wrestling News cited a comment on The Ultimate Warriors official Facebook page, with the man claiming to be the late WWE Hall of Famers brother, Jay Hellwig. Descend into Parts Unknown, load the spaceship with the rocket fuel and unleash this 3-Disc set, but beware. For the third consecutive year, Warrior was the sole survivor for his team. [103][104] In 2005, WWE released The Self-Destruction of The Ultimate Warrior DVD, which portrayed Warrior in a negative light. Scottsdale, Ariz., police spokesman Sgt. [56] Highlights of the storyline included Warrior kidnapping and "converting" The Disciple and frequent instances of "magic smoke" knocking out all of the nWo members except for Hollywood Hogan and covering Warrior's movement through a trapdoor in the ring. Warrior's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday ended an 18-year absence from the company, and he announced he had signed a multiyear deal with the company to serve as an official ambassador. PACER.GOV. [50], On July 22, 1995, he returned to the ring for the National Wrestling Conference (NWC) promotion in Las Vegas, defeating The Honky Tonk Man. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. News of his death spread the next day on sites such as Bing, Facebook, and Twitter. First competing on house shows under his Dingo Warrior moniker, he defeated the likes of Steve Lombardi, Barry Horowitz and Iron Mike Sharpe. [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. [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). Hogan was among the wrestling stars to express his condolences on Twitter early Wednesday morning. [69], Warrior married Shari Lynn Tyree on October 2, 1982. WWE paid tribute to Warrior on the April 14 episode of Raw with a ten bell salute and a video. In the days leading up to his passing, Warrior had made peace with the WWE and many of his former colleagues after years of estrangement, and had cut an unforgettable speech on Monday Night Raw. Ed Mazza. Document 1852 P.January 27, 2006. Warrior was again the sole survivor, pinning Arn Anderson and Bobby Heenan to win the match. Hellwig was "Blade Runner Rock" and Borden was "Blade Runner Sting". [45] Warrior left the company on November 21, 1992 with his last match being a victory over Kamala on November 8 in Orlando, Florida. [87] The series was co-written with Jim Callahan and illustrated by the Sharp Brothers. 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. The Ultimate Warrior speaks during the WWE Hall of Fame Induction at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, April 5, 2014. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Former columnist and writer after five years with Sports Illustrated, Markazi has also written for Slam, King, Vibe and Playboy. He collapsed April 8 while walking with his wife, Dana Hellwig, to their car at a Scottsdale hotel and was pronounced dead at a. He was 54. [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. Warrior eliminated Andr by knocking him out of the ring, where he was counted out. 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. Any attempt to distract from the mission of these initiatives and take the spotlight away from the honorees is unfortunately misguided."[127]. The Ultimate Warrior is one of the most enduring Superstars in WWE history, a former world champion and Hall of Famer who will be the subject of A&E's Biography Sunday night. He was reinstated as champion upon returning, but vacated it once more upon resigning from WCCW to join the World Wrestling Federation, where he adopted the ring name The Ultimate Warrior. [10] This stood in contrast with a claim made by Road Warrior Animal, who stated that the Dingo Warrior was a recreation of Warrior's Blade Runner gimmick and was an attempt to present himself as an offspring of The Road Warriors. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania XII, but lasted four months, as he began no-showing events. [1] The following night on Monday Night Raw, Warrior defeated Isaac Yankem, DDS. Mark Clark said he collapsed while walking with his wife to their car at a hotel . Ultimate Warrior Collection. [44], The initial plan for Warrior's 1992 return was to eventually give him another run with the WWF Championship. Why do you think he went back to WWE? Upon his return, he received a degree of creative control over his bookings. 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. [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. I've listened to your videos. [60], WCW claimed that attempts were made to save the storyline though Warrior has claimed in interviews and convention appearances that the only reason he was brought back was so Hogan could get a win over Warrior in return for Hogan's WrestleMania job. 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 cause of death is not known yet. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. [1] A rematch with Intercontinental Champion Goldust, on the May 27 episode of the show, ended in a double countout, thus eliminating both men from the tournament and eventually giving Vader a bye into the semi-finals. The team played babyfaces at first, but fans were actually slow to take to the hulking duo in a territory that had featured sympathetic "good guy tag teams" like the Rock 'n' Roll Express and The Fabulous Ones. Ultimate Warrior (nee Jim Hellwig) was 54 years of age when he died. [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. He was 54. On the preceding three nights in New Orleans, he had been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, appeared at WrestleMania XXX and made his final public appearance on Monday Night Raw, returning to the promotion after an acrimonious separation in 1996. At the time it was rumored to be Kerry Von Erich, who was then under contract to the WWF. From $20.66. We are all so sad that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. [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. WWE confirmed the news on its website: (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. He'd shake the ropes and grunt and howl while the crowd went wild for the popular good guy. Diamond Dallas Page won the match by pinning Stevie Ray. Like I said, Jim dying was the best thing ever happened to her. So his wife wouldnt leave him., RELATED: DANA WARRIOR RESPONDS TO DOLPH ZIGGLER MOCKING HER HUSBAND. [85] Warrior explained those comments on his website as meaning that the human race would die out if everyone were a homosexual.[86]. As did WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. James Hellwig or as popularly known in the wrestling world as the "Ultimate Warrior" dies at the age of 54. [112] The WWE Network aired a lineup dubbed "Warrior Week" in Warrior's memory. The WWF refused to accept the letter since Warrior was under contract until September 1992. Perfect and Ted DiBiase. Reynolds, R.D. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. This was a serious mistake on your part". [8] Hellwig started training with weights when he was 11 years old and described himself as "the small, insecure kid who wasn't into any sports". [51], Warrior returned to the WWF on March 31, 1996, defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley at WrestleMania XII. Best Known For: Ultimate Warrior was a professional wrestling champion and WWE Hall of Famer who thrilled fans with his immense strength and high-energy performances. [53], WCW signed Warrior "at great expense" in May 1998. [31], In January 1991, Warrior faced Sgt. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking news. The Ultimate Warrior, whose real name is James Brian Hellwig, passed away days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE has been criticized for using Warrior as the inspirational "emblem" of the campaign. [43], With Hulk Hogan about to leave WWF between mid-1992 and early-1993, McMahon contacted Warrior about returning. So Strap. I had no choice but to accede to your exorbitant demands. [80], On September 27, 2005, WWE released a DVD documentary focusing on Warrior's wrestling career, titled The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. Funeral Parlour with Ultimate Warrior (WWF, April 1991) 2,839,317 views Feb 12, 2008 7.4K Dislike Share Save picatostes67 9.24K subscribers Funeral Parlour segment (hosted by Paul Bearer), with. Warrior was admittedly a heavy user of steroids during his professional wrestling career. One storyline involved Papa Shango, a "witch doctor", casting a spell over Warrior, causing him to convulse and vomit in very odd colors, though Warrior says he hated that story and had no control over it. The first was the WarGames match at Fall Brawl, where he competed as a member of Team WCW, competing against 8 other wrestlers for a shot at Goldberg's WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Halloween Havoc. He collapsed April 8 while walking with his wife, Dana Hellwig, to their car at a Scottsdale hotel and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Warrior pinned Hogan after a Warrior Splash to become the only wrestler to hold both championships simultaneously. The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, passed away, April 8, 2014 in Arizona. Document 178 P.January 4, 2006. Actor: WrestleMania VI. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He won the title from Bradley on February 2 of that year. rest in peace old friend, your legend will all ways live on. Ultimate Warrior Wildness Standing out than the rest, Ultimate Warrior became one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWE (back then in the WWF). WEB. [48], On February 10, 1996, he defeated Jimmy Garvin in an independent show in Princeton, West Virginia. [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. [78], Warrior and the WWF engaged in a series of lawsuits and legal actions in 1996 and 1998,[79] where both parties sought a declaration that they owned the characters, Warrior and Ultimate Warrior, under both contract and copyright law. It will be interesting to hear Dana Warrior's side of the story, though she has yet to issue any comment as of this writing. Always weared the most colorful costumes. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted: "We are all so sad the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. Warrior defeated Hogan to win the world title at the SkyDome in Toronto that year. "[101] In 2011, WWE called him "one of the most recognizable" wrestlers in WWE history, praising his ability to draw power from "the WWE Universe", and further spoke of his impact as having "brought Hulkamania to its knees" at WrestleMania VI, "retired the Madness at WrestleMania VII and press slammed a slew of the greatest legends of his era". The Ultimate Warrior is seen in this undated file photo provided by the WWE. 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. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? [20] Warrior claimed after one of his first matches, McMahon had him do a pretaped promo. After switching managers to Percival Pringle III, Warrior turned babyface permanently after a falling out with fellow Pringle proteges Buzz Sawyer and Matt Borne after a six-man tag match. Most recently he was one of a number of figures in the WWE Superstars line of Mattel action figures in an assortment called "World Champions". And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper in something that's 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.". [45] However, his return coincided with the government's crackdown on steroids in wrestling. Warrior disputes McMahon's explanation, claiming that the real reason why he did not show up to those events was a breach of contract by McMahon, in which WWF sold Warrior's merchandise without giving him a percentage. He will be truly missed. Hellwig was one of pro wrestling's biggest stars in the late 1980s.