Rest In Peace Ultimate Warrior (1959 - 2014)

[Honga Ciganesta]

From WWE.com

A heartfelt message from Ultimate Warrior's wife, Dana Warrior

Dearest Warriors,

It is with an absolutely broken heart I reach out to you. Since the passing of my husband, I have been fortunate enough to insulate my sweet girls and myself from the outside world. In this bubble we have grieved and continue to do so. For a week, I did not allow any television or media to seep through our coc00n. I was told, though, of the outpouring of love for my beloved husband and support for, as he always called us, his Warrior Girls. I can only say thank you.

On Sunday night, I was told WWE would pay tribute to Warrior and so I set the DVR planning to watch it when we were ready. As the hour neared, I broke resolve and turned on every TV in the house to full blast and snuggled our daughters close to me on the couch, unsure what we would see. As the scene unfolded with that amazing roster of talent gathered donning Ultimate Warrior shirts and even his face paint, we cheered and sobbed simultaneously. To everyone who stood there, thank you. My girls will remember your bowed heads for the rest of their lives. You are not just Superstars; you are super people.

I cannot put words to what that video tribute meant. We watched it multiple times and, this morning, it was how I started my day; mornings are the hardest for me. I will treasure that song and those images more than anything I own. Vindication. ULTIMATE PERFECTION.

I was told it was reported WWE was "there" for us. "There" is the understatement of a lifetime. They were a warm blanket to us three and we were quickly absorbed into their family. Words are cheap; promises are forever. This family is one I'm honored to be a member of and will gladly be the warm blanket to any of them who need me next.

My husband's speech had so many highlights for me as I sat proudly in the audience looking on at his moment ... I most loved his request for the Hall of Fame to include the, as he called them, "true Superstars," those behind-the-scenes people who make the machine run. See, I'm the person who puts up the ring in our house. I'm the background person who makes things happen seamlessly. I am surrounded by performers in my husband and children, so I felt a kinship with all the people he wanted to shine a spotlight upon who make WWE work. He loved you all, and knew that each of you made his run there possible. Thank you!

To all the ULTIMATE WARRIOR fans: THANK YOU!! He told me when he shook the ropes it was him gathering strength from each of you. Warrior respected you and loved you as do the girls and I. I will reach out to the ropes for your strength to sustain me in the sad days that the girls and I face. UNWAVERING is what you've been. GRATEFUL is what we are.

The Undertaker and I have a lot more in common than you might think. You see, I had a bit of a streak of my own going for the last 20 years. Yes, Warrior and I would have matches of our own ... He would yell, I would cry, he would submit, I would win - always. My quivering chin and "pooched" lip was always more powerful than any clothesline or gorilla press slam. He'd laugh and shake his head and say,"you win, Pooch," but really we both did.

My streak was broken April 8, 2014 when he collapsed. I fought and screamed and cried for him not to leave me, but I wasn't to win this round. Heaven won and I lost, but I had the ULTIMATE love for 20 years and my children learned to be Warriors from THE ULTIMATE DAD. I wouldn't trade a moment of the life we shared, good or bad, for anything on God's green earth. He is the love of my life and gave me the gift of our beautiful, sweet, amazing girls. He was loyal and kind and strong and brave. He taught me to live by his creed,"Live Strong, Act Bold, Be Brave. Nothing's too hard to do, ALWAYS BELIEVE," and with that creed I will carry on and make him proud.

Streaks are broken but legends live forever.

Always Believe,

Dana A. Warrior

In lieu of donations to the family or flowers please make a donation to our wounded veterans and their families at www.operationfamilyfund.org.

Our brave servicemen and women are our true warriors.

 

[Rayzah]

From WWE.com

 

[Kang Deezy]

so this was at the end of 1997??

funny that was right at the cusp of the attitude era

i would have never thought vince was still looking to throw big money at late 80s/ early 90s guys at that time

perhaps warrior declining became the main spark towards pushing the steve austins and triple hs of the world

It's interesting because he had just pushed Bret to WCW because he couldn't afford his contract (which I believe was 20 years/20 million)

The offer to Warrior was because he had heard rumors of Warrior going to WCW and felt like that would have been the final nail in the coffin to WWF

 

[Slystallion]

warrior coming in 97 for a 5 year contract would have been incredible personally and would have changed the landscape of the attitude era...Just trying to figure how Warrior would have evolved in the attitude era and how it would have affected Austin and Rock coming up and I would have no doubt Shawn would have gone to WCW I could even see Shawn Hall and Nash turning their back on Hollywood and taking over the NWO and it could have been a great transition to Hulk's face turn in WCW instead of the random one we got with no explanation and he just started hulking up out of no where in a Ric Flair match

I can't see warrior losing to the Stunner or Rock Bottom but at some point Warrior would have had to pass the torch because its no doubt Vince would have definitely gave him a title run and damnit we could have had Warrior in all the cool video games back then as well

 

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

Why did he retire in the first place? I stopped fukking with wrestling after Brett Harte left.

 

[mson]

how about the legendary '90 survivor series squad?

theres only 1 member still alive. and only 2 members still alive from the opposing team.

im so immune to most of these deaths that im just now realizing this.

Texas Tornado, UW and LODI knew there were three demolition members

From WWE.com

 

[Buggsy Mogues]

so this was at the end of 1997??

funny that was right at the cusp of the attitude era

i would have never thought vince was still looking to throw big money at late 80s/ early 90s guys at that time

perhaps warrior declining became the main spark towards pushing the steve austins and triple hs of the world

Meltz said in his Warrior obituary that Vince offered him a big deal when he heard he was in talks with WCW, but Warrior turned it down. So that might be what that letter is about.

 

[OmegaK2099]

how about the legendary '90 survivor series squad?

theres only 1 member still alive. and only 2 members still alive from the opposing team.

im so immune to most of these deaths that im just now realizing this.

I need to watch this sh1t post fukkin haste

 

[R=G]

- Lacey Von Erich recently spoke about her decision to become a wrestler and more. Here are the highlights…

: "If you never want to have a family or a wife or time to yourself, and you like being verbally and mentally abused, then you should [get into wrestling]. I say go for it. [That abuse comes more from] the locker room. Definitely the locker room. TNA is very different than WWE. WWE was very political. I wasn't in there yet. They were like, "You're a Von Erich. You better be amazing at wrestling," and things like that. And I wasn't. I'm more of an actress than I am a wrestler. I'd rather play a character than get hurt on the mat. That's what I'm better at. I'm better at acting. That's what I wanted to do. Vince called me. He's the one that got me into this. He's the one asked me, "Do you want to be a wrestler? Try to be a diva?" He brought me out and I signed the contract that night and went into training. I wasn't expecting it to come as much. It really blew up and they expected so much of me. But then TNA called and they really embraced me as like a family member."

: "It's so hard to leave [wrestling]. It's really hard, once you leave, because no one ever understands what you went through ever. No one will know ... People screaming your name or having fans and having those experiences together. Going from hotel to hotel, being on the road together. No one knows those experiences but [other wrestlers]. It really shapes the kind of person you can be. As you can see, in the past, [with] wrestlers, it can either shape you to be a great person and you can learn from it and become a great wife and mother, which I hope I have. Or you can end up self-medicating because of all that. You either get stronger or you get weaker. And luckily I came out of it, unlike the rest of my family, a stronger, better person."

: "My mom was just telling me that my dad actually trained [Warrior] ... I was really young when my dad passed away. I was only 6 years old, but a lot of those memories have been grained in my mind because of the traumatic experience I went through. A lot of things when it comes to wrestling I don't remember, because when we went to wrestling matches it would be 10, 11 o'clock at night and we would just be asleep in the stands ... I remember more of Uncle Jimbo [Warrior] off of wrestling, not actually on the mat with everyone. I remember him at his house, and babysitting us, and things like that. It was like being babysat by my dad. Basically the same. A lot of roughhousing. A lot of fun."

 

[NaiSim]

Brehs I just found out about this. I don't know why but this death has really affected me. I used to be a huge Ultimate Warrior fan growing up. My favorite possession for a long time was a Ultimate Warrior sweater my mom bought me. I don't think I've ever felt like this about a celebrity passing. Just recently I was watching Ultimate Warrior documentaries reminiscing about that time. This is a really strange feeling, mourning the death of a person unrelated to me, who wasn't a friend of mine, a person I never even met. And still he was my childhood hero.

Rest in peace James Brian Hellwig, I'm glad you reconciled with the WWE and saw your induction into the Hall of Fame before you said goodbye. Damn.

 

[Wacky D]

What?, I never knew that, HBK would've threw a hell of a hissy fit if Vince was allowed to book that match. Michaels would've immediately defected to WCW if he was forced to put Warrior over, I don't Vince would risk that for a Warrior title run

nah.

the plan was for hbk to drop the title to vader. and then warrior was gonna beat vader a month later.

Yeah I remember Vince saying that in 1996-1997 about WCW being a retirement home, if vince could have fukking Honky Tonk Man would been WWF CHamp in 97'. I never knew about Warrior being champ in 96, where'd u get that chico!

fukkin shawn was a pat patterson guy

thats the word thats been out for years.

haha @ pat patterson.

 

[K-Apps]

nah.

the plan was for hbk to drop the title to vader. and then warrior was gonna beat vader a month later.





thats the word thats been out for years.

haha @ pat patterson.

Yea, I read another thread on another forum on that, but still HBK still would've tried to policked his way out of putting over Vader

 

[Wacky D]

Yea, I read another thread on another forum on that, but still HBK still would've tried to policked his way out of putting over Vader

maybe.

but that title was coming off and going to the warrior regardless.

 

[KevCo]

maybe.

but that title was coming off and going to the warrior regardless.

in the warriors new documentary I think he said his contract was to be a main eventer, and that he wasnt actually going to win the strap.....but then again, shyts changed since '96 and who knows his real agreement

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

how about the legendary '90 survivor series squad?

theres only 1 member still alive. and only 2 members still alive from the opposing team.

im so immune to most of these deaths that im just now realizing this.

Dope!!!
does anyone have the wf magazine with the survivor series '90 line up..it was like an advert piece ?