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WWE says The Ultimate Warrior dead at 54

WWE says The Ultimate Warrior dead at 54

Posted: Apr 9th 2014 By: Josh Barnett

Days after his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame and a return to the company after an 18-year breakup, The Ultimate Warrior has died, according to a statement posted on the WWE website. He was 54.

The news, posted late Tuesday night, led to a flood of tributes from fans and WWE performers and officials.

In the statement, the company said, "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior. ?

"We are grateful just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans. WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior's family, friends and fans."

Warrior was known for his energetic style, sprinting down the aisle to the ring; violent shaking of the ropes to psych himself up; and unique interview style that left fans captivated or confused, and often both.

Warrior was born James Brian Hellwig, but legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993. He is survived by his wife Dana and daughters Indiana and Mattigan, who had accompanied him to the podium at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday night in New Orleans.

"We are all so sad that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away," WWE chairman Vince McMahon tweeted.

Tweeted Stephanie McMahon, WWE's chief brand officer, "Your strength of character is to be admired. There will never be anyone like you. Your spirit lives on in your family."

In his final public appearance Monday night, Warrior donned the long jacket with his image airbrushed on the back, similar to what he wore during his wrestling days, and put on a mask that looked like his trademark face paint. It was his first appearance on Raw since 1996.

"No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own," he told the crowd. "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 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.

"I am the Ultimate Warrior, you are the Ultimate Warrior fans and the spirit of the Ultimate Warrior will run forever."

The weekend events were a homecoming for Warrior with the WWE and a chance for fans to embrace him.

"So happy I embraced Warrior with a hug when we saw each other backstage Saturday night," Kevin Nash tweeted. "My heart goes out to his family. Always Believe."

Tweeted Dave Bautista, "After all these years I finally got 2 tell him that me shaking the ropes was an homage 2 him. Blessed to have had that moment."

During his Hall of Fame speech, he credited WWE executive vice president Paul Levesque, a k a Triple H, for helping repair a relationship that had gone sour between Warrior and the WWE. Stephanie McMahon had tweeted a photo of her father and Warrior in an embrace Monday with the caption, "Never say never."

Warrior also had announced a multi-year arrangement to become an ambassador for the company.

WWE released a DVD in 2005 called "The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior" that featured negative comments about the Warrior's work and persona from WWE officials and other performers. The Warrior was not part of the DVD and its release followed previous contract disputes and litigation between WWE and Warrior. During his Hall speech, Warrior made reference several times to the DVD and said it was "just wrong" and "I wasn't a bad guy." The DVD led to another lawsuit.

Among the points of contention between Warrior and the WWE was who owned the name and likeness associated with the character.

In a new DVD released last week, "The Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection," Warrior says why he thought the previous DVD was flawed and goes on to highlight his start in the wrestling business and provide commentary on some of his best matches.

Warrior began his wrestling career as part of a group of bodybuilders-turned-wrestlers in Southern California. His early career was marked by his work in a tag team known as the Blade Runners with Steve Borden, who would later become Sting. Warrior was known as Blade Runner Rock and Borden as Blade Runner Flash.

His use of the Warrior name came in the Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling where he worked as the Dingo Warrior and was billed as being from Queens, N.Y.

Warrior came to the then-WWF in 1987 and was re-branded as The Ultimate Warrior. He won his first Intercontinental title from the Honky Tonk Man in a match that lasted less than a minute at the first Summer Slam in 1988. He would lose the title to Ravishing Rick Rude and then regain it at Sumer Slam in 1989.

He was still the champion leading into the main event match at WrestleMania VI in Toronto in 1990, which might be the highlight of his career. The bout against Hulk Hogan -- billed as "The Ultimate Challenge" -- was for Hogan's WWF title and Warrior's Intercontinental title.

Warrior won the match and was embraced and presented with the WWF title belt by Hogan afterward, in a passing of the torch from the biggest star of the 1980s to one of the biggest stars of the 1990s.

"RIP WARRIOR. only love. HH," Hogan tweeted Tuesday night. Hogan had said over the weekend that he hoped to mend some fences with the Warrior and lauded the Warrior's Hall of Fame speech.

Warrior would leave the WWE twice and then return before an ill-fated and brief stint in World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s.

After retirement, he worked as a motivational speaker.

"Devastated to hear of the passing of @UltimateWarrior," former wrestler Chris Jericho tweeted. "He was a childhood hero of mine & he vs @HulkHogan WM6 is still one of the best ever."

 

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Supplemental Information

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-12
  • N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th Today!
  • Bob Kenaston Sep 12th Today!
  • Montego Seeka Sep 12th Today!
  • Bounty Hunter Sep 12th Today!
  • Bash Sep 12th Today!
  • Adrian Dell Sep 12th Today!
  • American Anarchy Sep 12th Today!
  • Danni Bee Sep 12th Today!
  • Animal Sep 12th Today!
  • Angelina Love Sep 13th
  • K. P. Moore Sep 13th
  • Bobby Starr Sep 13th
  • Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
  • Poder Oriental Sep 13th
  • Waddy Young Sep 14th
  • Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
  • Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
  • Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
  • Bernie D Sep 14th
  • Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
  • Daniel King Sep 15th
  • Korvin Sage Sep 15th
  • L. C. Green Sep 15th
  • Haru Sonada Sep 16th
  • Jake Swayze Sep 17th
  • Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
  • Rex Mori Sep 17th
  • Dick Brower Sep 17th
  • Bill Irwin Sep 17th
  • Jim Cornette Sep 17th
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th

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Card Results

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  • United States Champion: Bishop Simon
  • Light Heavyweight Champion: Marquez Warren
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