An SLTD Wrestling Tribute: The Ultimate Warrior

For those who are not aware, the wrestling world lost a legend and icon this week. The Ultimate Warrior, real name James Brian Hellwig, passed away suddenly while leaving an Arizona hotel Tuesday morning. It was an event that rocked the wrestling industry, fans and superstars alike, and one that will not soon be forgotten. The tragic event was made even more so by the fact that not 24 hours prior, Warrior gave an impassioned speech live on Monday Night Raw about how “every legend one day breaths their last breath.”.

Foreboding words from Warrior…

We here at SLTD Wrestling are all fans of wrestling in one shape or another, be it WWE, TNA or indy promotions, and regardless of age, or what era we grew up in, I think we are all a Warrior fan in some way. So we decided to put together this tribute piece featuring heartfelt testimonials from most of our writing staff.

George Cushnie

Another year, another wrestling legend goes up to that big squared circle in the sky. With each passing year, someone from my childhood dies and it’s sad, especially when it’s as tragic as Warrior’s death appears to be (from the outside looking in).I won’t sit here and con anyone. I wasn’t a massive fan of Warrior’s, so it’d be wrong for me to sit here and be a hypocrite (like so many others have been on Twitter *cough* Hulk Hogan *cough* Vince McMahon *cough* Triple Haitch-Ah *cough*) – all men who had NOTHING good to say about him when he was alive, yet when he passes, they suddenly think he was the greatest guy ever. Pricks…

I’ll say this for Warrior. He had complete and utter belief in his way of life, in the character he portrayed and in the way he conducted himself. He made an impact on the lives of MILLIONS of people, which wasn’t an easy thing to do back in the 80s/early 90s.

If I had to use one word to describe the way he handled himself, it’d be INTEGRITY. When so many other people openly mocked him for the things he said, for his accomplishments in the ring, he shrugged it off and did what he felt was right. He deserves a shitload of credit for that. For not conforming. For following his beliefs. For doing what he felt he needed to to move on with his life after wrestling.

His place in the HOF was deserved and it’s just a goddamn shame that he passed away.

Greg Burke

Although I always say I am an Attitude Era kid, I always knew who the Federation Era superstars were. And let me just say what a superstar The Ultimate Warrior was!

The Warrior came from a time when wrestling was all about the over the top characters of wrestling. Yes there was no doubt people could wrestle back then, but is was Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior who was selling out stadiums not Savage and Steamboat.

After the news of Warriors passing sunk in, it was kind of bitter sweet. I’m so happy for him that he got to have his moment in the sun. I love that he got to address his fans and get inducted into the Hall of Fame, there are so many wrestlers who deserve it and never get there moment.

The Warrior was truly a fan of pro-wrestling who got to live his dream, and his legend will live forever…

Alex Hazlewood

As this is my first foray into the world of writing for the online community I must say it’s an honour to make my short piece about a man who made my childhood a magical place.

The Ultimate Warrior would never be seen as the most technically sound wrestler in a time when we had the likes of randy savage, Brett the hit man Hart, Jake the snake Roberts, ravishing Rick rude and of course mr perfect Curt Hennig but there was no bigger or bolder character. As soon as that music hit and the warrior came running down that aisle you knew you were getting 100% passion and commitment and it was hard not to get swept up and carried away with him.

The warrior has gone and taken with him a small part if my childhood. But as he said on raw “he is the ultimate warrior. We are ultimate warrior fans and the spirit of the ultimate warrior will run forever”! RIP ULTIMATE WARRIOR

Brad Ledson

Well what can you say about the Ultimate Warrior, the most colourful, intense, charismatic superstar in WWE history. I remember being about 5 or 6 and seeing the Warrior on TV, and thinking he was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Fast forward a few years and seeing him at the Hall of Fame brought back loads of childhood memories. He looked really happy and proud and honestly like he had finally found some peace. I thought his HoF speak (came across) as really open and honest. He looked so proud of his daughters and his wife also. A lot of folks who have been treated the way he has by a company could be real bitter about it and I really don’t think he was, yeah he made some comments but isn’t he entitled too?

Seeing him made his Raw return is something I never thought would happen and listening to his promo was like he knew what was about to happen to him! Who knows all those years of talking about higher powers maybe some rubbed of on him. I was really looking forward to seeing what Warrior would do in his ambassador role for WWE and no matter how many times it’s been said, what happen is a real shame.

Everyone knew the Ultimate Warrior wrestling fan or not, every wrestling fan has loved him at one point or another, and know one could ever forget him.

“If what that man did in his life what makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalised.”

There was only ever one, and there will only ever be one Ultimate Warrior.

Adam Wilson

When I woke up on Wednesday morning the last thing I expected to be hearing about was the Ultimate Warrior sadly passing away. I think the biggest shock was that every fan in the wrestling world had only seen him a few days earlier getting rightly inducted into the hall of fame, and once again on Monday’s RAW. There is no doubt that this man was one of the most charasmatic characters in the world of wrestling who gave so many good memories to fans of the sport, and for that Warrior we thank and shall never forget you.

Wrote by a saddened @Lilpipdjano

Tommy Mitten

If the past 72 hours in the WWE have taught us anything, it is that we should cherish each and every memory we have of professional wrestling and more importantly, the wrestlers who put their bodies on the line to entertain us.

The untimely passing of the Ultimate Warrior has shocked us all, not least because we all got to welcome him back into our lives only a matter of days before his passing. Undoubtedly one of the most unique personalities to ever grace the squared circle, we should all be thankful that he got the chance to take his place amongst the elite in the Hall of Fame and make his peace with all those in the WWE this past Sunday at Wrestlemania 30.

A true superstar, who can rest assured in the knowledge that his legacy has been preserved, his legend immortalised, now and forever a true warrior! Rest in peace and thank you for the memories.

Adam O’Brien

The core of wrestling as a whole was shaken on Wednesday morning, as we heard the news that the legendary Ultimate Warrior had passed away. The shocking revelation has rightfully become worldwide press, considering the impact that Warrior made on the WWE throughout his career.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t even alive when the era of Warrior, Hogan, Savage and Andre was in full swing, so I didn’t get to grow up watching these legends in their heyday. But as with any wrestling fan, it didn’t take long for me to become aware of the legend of the Ultimate Warrior.

The Warrior was perhaps one of the most unique personalities (and athletes) to ever set foot in a wrestling ring. His signature war paint, eerily deep voice and chiselled physique gave him a distinct look and persona, one that has become recognisable to this day, all over the globe.

He has played pivotal roles in some of the biggest wrestling moments of all time, ending Honky Tonk Man’s legendary Intercontinental Championship reign at SummerSlam in 1988, becoming the first man to hold both the WWF and Intercontinental Championships at the same time at WrestleMania VI and retiring ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage at the following WrestleMania, to name just a few.

And while fans have always had mixed opinions on the man, there will never be any disputing the fact that Ultimate Warrior was one of the most energised, electrifying individuals to set foot in the WWE. He had the ability to get any crowd hyped and invested in whatever he was doing, and most importantly, had an astounding love for the industry he was a part of.

The Warrior loved professional wrestling, and this past Saturday night he took his rightful spot among the greatest names in the history of the business, when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Returning to the company for the first time in nearly two decades, and officially burying old hatchets, he became what every wrestler strives to become. He became immortal.

Just like he said on Raw, if a man’s actions in 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 immortalised”. And without a doubt, did Ultimate Warrior have the ability to make people believe.

The Warrior’s final words in front of the WWE audience were not only a telling story that he was grateful for the fans supporting him his entire life, but also gave way for what is overwhelmingly the flavour of the week in WWE, the future of the business. “In the back I see many potential legends, some of them with warrior spirits.

Stars such as Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Big E, Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Sami Zayn, Corey Graves, Adrien Neville, Bo Dallas and Mojo Rawley (whose ceaseless energy and ‘stay hyped’ approach in the ring reminds me a lot of the Ultimate Warrior himself) are just a handful of people that will either be made or broken by the WWE fans, just like the Warrior was.

And trust me, they have a big job on their hands following the legacy that has been created by the Ultimate Warrior all those years ago, and just hours before his tragic passing. So celebrate through them, through “Yes!” chants, through Fandango-ing, through placing hand on heart and proudly proclaiming “We the People!”, the legacy left behind by Ultimate Warrior to pave the way for the future of the industry we fell in love with.

The future is in good hands, Warrior.

@Jmosco32

The Ultimate Warrior was one of my childhood heroes. Everyday I would want to put on the warrior mask and run around the neighborhood like a superhero. My favorite memory of Ultimate Warrior was at Wrestlemania 6 when he beat Hulk Hogan and won both the Intercontinental and WWE title. When I saw Warrior at the Hall of Fame and RAW, he looked great. It’s shocking that he died a few days after. Long live The Ultimate Warrior. RIP.

Gary Behan

For me, Warrior was not part of my generation, but he was always known to me. I grew up in the Attitude era and came to wrestling a bit late, but I was hooked from day one. If you look at some of the people that have come through WWE with varying levels of success, a lot of them have been influenced by Warrior. He was a man who never compromised what he believed in. He conceived a character, became that character and if someone tried to get him to change, he never would.

He was brave, unflinching, unwavering, and a staunch believer in fighting for what you think is right.  Even outside of the wrestling business, we could all stand to learn a thing or two from him. Changing your Twitter profile picture is a good tribute, but I honestly think that a more fitting tribute would be to chase down that dream you’re afraid to chase, stand up for that cause or principle that you believe in, and live your life how you want to live, and not how other people THINK you should.

That was the Warrior way, and that is the way I will always remember him. Rest in peace Warrior, you will never be forgotten and forever admired. We’ll miss you.

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