RIP Ultimate Warrior

[Jay 2K Winger]

In what has to be some of the most bizarre timing ever, former pro wrestler the Ultimate Warrior just passed away at the age of 54, just days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and making an appearance on Raw in New Orleans to thank the fans for making him a legend.

Warrior (which was his legal name, changed from his birth name James Hellwig) was somewhat notorious for his ultra-conservative views in his post-wrestling career. (He was once recorded as saying "Queering don't make the world work.") His refusal to work with WWE for years led to something of a smear-job being made with an official WWE DVD, "The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior," but recently they mended the fence with him, have produced a new DVD collection ("The Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection") with his blessing, and of course was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.

While I don't agree with Warrior's views, I was a fan of him as a child, so this was a bit of a blow.

[dendawg]

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice how winded he looked when he was doing that promo on Raw the other night? It's almost like he knew it was coming, and cut his promo that way.

[Bloodsoul]

I recall the Ultimate Warrior being one of my favorite WWF wrestlers growing up, to the point where I can vaguely remember having his poster in my room. Years pass and then along comes Spoony and Linkara's joint review of his comic book series, which lead me to pick up the first issue myself ("if you want to try and make more sense of this, be my guest!"). While I, too, have found some of his comments about the world questionable, I still would have been honored to meet him and get him to sign it.

I've even contemplated recreating him in SoulCalibur V because there's a make-up style in the game that's just about a dead ringer for his face paint.

R.I.P. Warrior. You were one crazy dude, but your fire and energy could scarcely be matched. You will be missed. SKRONK!!

[AnaKhouri]

Netflix has loads of documentaries and old matches up, and the husband has been watching a lot of them (and I am too, for the first time ever). My favorites are Ric Flair and Ultimate Warrior, one for being a smug asshole and the other for being absolutely insane.

It's very sad he died so young but unfortunately pro wrestling is not a career that guarantees a long life. I think tonight we'll queue up the Warrior vs. Hogan match in his honor.

[Jay 2K Winger]

"Every mans heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe its final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the bodies of others; If it makes them believe deeper in something larger than life; then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized."
--The Ultimate Warrior, WWE Monday Night Raw, April 7, 2014

[Lace Neil Singer]

Aw, what a shame! I used to watch wrestling back when I was a kid, tho the Ultimate Warrior was not my fave, he was my middle brother's fave. XD He was a total nutter and his matches were always very entertaining.

[Jay 2K Winger]

From what I've read, Warrior and his family seemed to realize that his time was running short, and so they reached out to WWE to bury the hatchet and make peace with people in the wrestling business. Hence, the Hall of Fame and his speech on Raw.

Dave Batista tweeted out, after his death, that he finally got to tell him that his own "shaking the ropes" spot is something he did as a tribute to Warrior, and he's glad he finally got the chance to tell him.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

It is really shocking... I thought that it was a heart attack or something along those lines? I hadn't heard anything about him being ill.

[Jay 2K Winger]

It is really shocking... I thought that it was a heart attack or something along those lines? I hadn't heard anything about him being ill.

It almost certainly was a heart attack. Warrior's heyday was when steroids and drugs (especially cocaine) were a Thing backstage, and that takes its toll on the body, even if someone later cleans up their act. (As happened to Eddie Guerrero. He'd had substance abuse problems for years, but even after several years sober, it contributed to his death.)

I think Warrior knew that his heart was getting ready to go, and thus... well, last weekend.