In 1983, he won the AAU Coastal USA, before taking the Mr. Georgia title the following year. Hogan even questioned Warrior's value, saying, "You gave the [WWF Championship] belt to The Ultimate Warrior and right away the revenue went down. The Ultimate Warrior Warrior Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight 280 lb (125 kg) Born June 16, 1959 Birth Place Crawfordsville, Indiana Died April 8, 2014 (aged 54) Death Place Scottsdale, Arizona Billed from Parts Unknown (as The Ultimate Warrior) Queens, New York (as The Dingo Warrior) Trainer Red Bastien Debut November 28, 1985 Retired "[124] As Of 2019, Sue Aitchison would be the first WWE employee to be given the warrior award. Hellwig began his professional wrestling career as Jim "Justice" Hellwig of Powerteam USA, the group of bodybuilders trained by Red Bastien and Rick Bassman. "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior," WWE said in a statement, adding: "We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame." He was replaced by Sycho Sid at in Your House 9. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. 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. Paul Bearer and the Undertaker have a special treat for the Ultimate. Since I last updated this site a lot has happened, I've gotten a few new items and the biggest news of all is that Warrior man himself has passed away..This was really . Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. [70] Warrior married for the second time to Dana Viale on January 31, 1999. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. [115], Warrior was awarded a posthumous Slammy Award for Return of the Year in December 2014. [96], An autopsy revealed Warrior died of a heart attack caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. At WrestleMania VI, Warrior won the WWF Championship in a title vs. title match over Hulk Hogan, making him the first wrestler to hold both titles concurrently. 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. The two musclebound speedo sporters . Warrior interacted in full wrestling costume with Westway's wacky character, "Mean Joe Greed. He made his comeback at WrestleMania VIII (to rescue Hulk Hogan from a beat down at the hands of Sid Justice and Papa Shango). ____ The . Hogan was among the wrestling stars to express his condolences on Twitter early Wednesday morning. He alleged that Dana called her mother-in-law1,015 times a day for the first two days after Warriors death, hounding her for what may have been the money she was to inherit from her late husband. At SummerSlam, he retained the title over Rick Rude in a steel cage match. So Strap. Weeks before the event, Warrior was released for disputed reasons and replaced by Mr. Document 178 P.January 3, 2006. Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE. Sign up for BINGE to watch. Perfect then won in a tournament), as WWF rules prohibited a wrestler from holding both titles. The 54-year-old wrestler's given name was James Brian Hellwig. "No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own," Warrior said. Warrior maintained a blog on his personal website titled "Warrior's Machete", where he discussed his personal life, his personal views on politics, sexuality, patriotism, and his legacy as a wrestler, amongst other topics. High quality Ultimate Warrior Funeral-inspired gifts and merchandise. So, how much is The Ultimate Warrior worth at the age of 55 years old? Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. PACER.GOV. [31] Warrior vacated the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (which Mr. Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday in New Orleans and spoke inside the ring during Monday's "WWE Raw. [92] He also used the blog to post replies to letters from fans. James Hellwig was just recently inducted in the WWE hall of fame. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. [44], The initial plan for Warrior's 1992 return was to eventually give him another run with the WWF Championship. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted: "We are all so sad the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. [48], On February 10, 1996, he defeated Jimmy Garvin in an independent show in Princeton, West Virginia. In the context of the Gulf War, this made Slaughter one of the most hated heels at the time. In 1993, he legally changed his name to the mononym "Warrior" and was credited as a co-writer for a comic book based on his name and likeness. Born James Brian Hellwig, Warrior legally changed his name in 1993. Warrior is survived by his wife, Dana, and his two daughters. [87] The series was co-written with Jim Callahan and illustrated by the Sharp Brothers. [17] Warrior went on to feud with Savage, and the rivalry culminated in a "Career-Ending" match at WrestleMania VII which Warrior won, forcing Savage to retire. The WWE said Warrior, who legally changed his name from James Hellwig to his wrestling moniker, died Tuesday. The Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels would share the ring at Survivor Series 1989 in the main event defeating the Heenan family. 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. This involved Roberts giving Warrior three "tests" shown on WWF television in consecutive weeks. Superstars -- April 13, 1991. [57] Warrior's debut promo also unexpectedly lasted over 27 minutes, which was more than 20 minutes over its allotted time and forced Eric Bischoff to do a massive rewrite of Nitro on the spot, including re-adding a commercial break that was supposed to take place during the promo. 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. At the time it was rumored to be Kerry Von Erich, who was then under contract to the WWF. Here is a guy who cast judement on others when he. His last bodybuilding contest was 1985's Junior USAs, which was won by future IFBB Pro, Ron Love. Ultimate Warrior dies 3 days after ceremony, UFC 285 live results and analysis: Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Morant to miss two games after video with gun, Las Vegas prepared to give A's 'better opportunity', Richardson sets QB mark for vertical, broad jump, Curry, Iguodala probable to return vs. Lakers, Sources: Suns hiring Pistons' Bartelstein as CEO, Mbappe breaks PSG's all-time scoring record, Bruins stroll past Kane, Rangers, win 10th in row, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick. First competing on house shows under his Dingo Warrior moniker, he defeated a series of jobbers, including Steve Lombardi,[22] Barry Horowitz[23] and Mike Sharpe. [112] The WWE Network aired a lineup dubbed "Warrior Week" in Warrior's memory. Maple Leaf Gardens -- June 2, 1991. The DVD featured clips of his more notable feuds and matches along with commentary from WWE stars past and present (most of which are unflattering), with Triple H (by this point one of WWE's top main eventers and the husband of Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon) adding that his WrestleMania debut loss against Warrior at WrestleMania XII left him with mixed emotions, saying that Warrior "ruined the experience" for him and was "one of the most unprofessional guys" he's ever performed with. Yet, fans never got to see the styles clash between the powerful Warrior and the athletic Michaels. Never Underestimate an Old Man That Rides a Motorcycle Premium T-Shirt. 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. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [31], Warrior was inserted into the feud between The Legion of Doom and Demolition, leading to victories for the Warrior and LOD in six-man tag team matches in house shows as well as the October 13, 1990 airing of Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII. Document 178 P. Jan 23, 2006. We are all so sad that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. [85] Warrior explained those comments on his website as meaning that the human race would die out if everyone were a homosexual.[86]. WEB. For the third consecutive year, Warrior was the sole survivor for his team. Actor: WrestleMania VI. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy Thursday, county spokeswoman Cari Gerchick said. Hellwig was "Blade Runner Rock" and Borden was "Blade Runner Sting". On November 17, 1986, Warrior and Von Erich defeated Master Gee (substituting for champion Buzz Sawyer) and Matt Borne to win the title. [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. I had no choice but to accede to your exorbitant demands. 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. Ultimate Warrior's Life Was A Mess Before Death, 15 INSANE REAL-LIFE STORIES OF THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR, DANA WARRIOR RESPONDS TO DOLPH ZIGGLER MOCKING HER HUSBAND, 10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About Dusty Rhodes' Life Outside Wrestling, 5 Wrestling Valets & Managers That Were Helpful (& 5 That Were Just Eye Candy), Lanny Poffo (& 9 Other Wrestlers WCW Released Without Doing Anything With). The couple had two daughters together. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. Warrior was again the sole survivor, pinning Arn Anderson and Bobby Heenan to win the match. [32], After WrestleMania, Warrior successfully defended the championship against Haku, Mr. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking news. Death Year: 2014 Death date:. [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. Commentary in the Fantasy Warfare package in, WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, Warrior's speech from his final public appearance on Monday Night RAW, The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. Document 185 P.January 10, 2006. She married Savage (real name Randy Poffo) on December 30, 1984 in Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1996, Warrior published a comic book titled Warrior, featuring himself as the main character. Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. (2003). [90][91] In 2012, he started selling "Weapons of Wisdom", inspirational 69 pieces of watercolor paper with drawings, quotes, and doodles on them by the Warrior himself. God Bless his family, February 25, 2020 | Houston, TX | Friend. The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, passed away, April 8, 2014 in Arizona. Talked working together. (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 beat Hulk Hogan in a memorable match at Wrestlemania in 1990. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Triple H", "THE MANY COMEBACKS OF THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR, PART 2: WARRIOR RETURNS TO THE WWF FOR THE FINAL TIME IN 1996, SQUASHES A MCMAHON AT WRESTLEMANIA, AND HAS A CIGAR PARTY WITH GOLDUST AND MARLENA", "Eric Bischoff Rips Ultimate Warrior's 20+ Minute WCW Promo, Reveals Warrior's Response After", "Oct. 25 in history: Hogan vs. Warrior on WCW PPV 15 years ago today, plus Goldberg vs. DDP main event", "The Ultimate Warrior dies at 54: Pro wrestling mourns loss of one of its greats", "WWE announces death of WWE Hall of Famer Ultimate Warrior", "Ultimate Warrior return ultimately brief in NWE title match", "Ultimate Warrior speaks on first WrestleMania weekend signing and WWE WrestleMania 29", "The Ultimate Warrior is back in "WWE 2K14"! It was there Vince said "we want you to do Warrior, but we don't want Dingo." Warrior, whose birth name was Jim Hellwig before legally changing it in 1993, is one of the subjects for the third season of the wrestling docuseries that premieres May 6 (VICE, 9 p.m.) with a. He made his debut with the promotion when it was known as the World Wrestling Federations in 1987 and wrestled on and off for the sports entertainment empire until 1996. PACER.GOV. Scottsdale, Ariz., police spokesman Sgt. The Ultimate Warrior is seen in this undated file photo provided by the WWE. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. How I would have Loved to be a part of Warrior University. We just had a great talk & buried a senseless hatchet. Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania XII, but lasted four months, as he began no-showing events. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters." PACER.GOV. Warrior formed a tag team with Lance Von Erich, and the duo began competing for the WCWA World Tag Team Championship. Scottsdale, Ariz., police spokesman Sgt. Document 185 P.January 2, 2006. The third was his loss to Hogan at Halloween Havoc, in what is considered by many to be one of the worst wrestling matches ever staged. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters. The face-painted Warrior was famous for running to the ring before matches, violently shaking the ropes and giving interviews that were as hurried as some of his matches. The Ultimate Warrior - A war of words! Mark Clark said Warrior collapsed while walking with his wife to their car at a hotel, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Ultimate Warrior, who has died aged 54, was one of the most recognisable stars of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) circuit of the late 1980s and early '90s, winning millions of fans. They led the WWE's transformation from a promotion running weekend arena shows and Saturday morning TV into one booking events at the largest stadiums around the world with millions watching every Monday night. Ed Mazza. The Ultimate Warrior Net Worth. His first contest took place in Florida, where he placed 5th. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. In what would be his last public appearance, Warrior put on his mask one last time in the center of the ring and addressed a sold-out crowd at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Monday. [20] Warrior claimed after one of his first matches, McMahon had him do a pretaped promo. At the UFC Fight Night 40 weigh-ins, fighter Lorenz Larkin wore an Ultimate Warrior mask, tassels and wristbands as a tribute. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. I remember when i was 13 and he left the WWF (1991) and i would walk to the drug store for 3 miles just to see if i can read WWF MAGAZINE and get any updates on where the warrior was. Roberts said that he was "Deeply saddened. The Canadian tragically died aged 34 in 1999 after an equipment malfunction caused him to suffer a fatal fall during his ring entrance at the Over the Edge pay-per-view event. George Napolitano/Retna Ltd./Corbis In this Aug. 5, 1992 file photo the Ultimate Warrior is seen in the ring. [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. Warrior died on April 8, 2014, at the age of 54 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He won the championship in front of 67,678 fans at Toronto's SkyDome in a match billed as "The Ultimate Challenge." The title was held up in April 1987 after Warrior left the WCCW. Fun fact: Enzo (no relation to Mr. Amore) was born right in between Jeff Hardy and Mickie James, and a full decade before Ember Moon. [49], In April 1993, he toured Europe for World Wrestlings Superstars in Germany and that same year he also played the role of "the swordsman" in the action movie Firepower. The Ultimate Warrior was a force to be reckoned with during his superstar run in the WWF and WCW. There were numerous instances where Warrior used his blog to address his viewpoint on members of his wrestling past (Vince McMahon, Road Warrior Animal, The British Bulldog, Owen Hart, Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger);[88] historical (Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington) or religious figures (Jesus). Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. "[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". He had just won the Intercontinental Title back from "Ravishing" Rick Rude the year before, and was out for blood. Any attempt to distract from the mission of these initiatives and take the spotlight away from the honorees is unfortunately misguided."[127]. [15] They left the CWA in January 1986. [6], Prior to his career in professional wrestling Hellwig was an amateur bodybuilder,[7] competing in a number of NPC contests and winning the 1984 NPC Mr. Georgia crown. From $20.66. The WWF refused to accept the letter since Warrior was under contract until September 1992. "[71][72], Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania VIII after nearly eight months on hiatus since SummerSlam 1991. Jim Hellwig. [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. 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "Wrestling's Strangest Hometowns: Parts Unknown", "Free Family Tree, Genealogy, Family History, and DNA Testing", "Breaking WWE news: Ultimate Warrior cause of death", "Ultimate Warrior, Pro Wrestling Legend, Indiana Native, Dies at 54", Doc's Sports Georgia Bodybuilding Contest Information and More, "NPC Junior USA Championships results 1985", "The Forgotten POWERTEAM USA: Justice and Flash! [73] WWE claims that the theory that a different man returned to play The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VIII remains "perhaps the longest standing urban legend in WWE history".