(2003). In November 1992, Warrior was scheduled to team with Savage (as The Ultimate Maniacs) to face Ric Flair and Razor Ramon at Survivor Series. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking news. The one thing they had in common: they both were very outspoken! In conclusion, Jay Hellwig acknowledged that The Ultimate Warrior was no saint and was, as he sees it, a controlling, self-centered narcissist. At the end of the day, however, they were still brothers. [70] Warrior married for the second time to Dana Viale on January 31, 1999. The news of his death was announced by WWE who stated: The fact that Jay Hellwig made those claims three years after Warrior's death also makes his words worth taking with a grain of salt. God Bless his family, February 25, 2020 | Houston, TX | Friend. [115], Warrior was awarded a posthumous Slammy Award for Return of the Year in December 2014. [80], On September 27, 2005, WWE released a DVD documentary focusing on Warrior's wrestling career, titled The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior. The lineup included a four-part special. He also made an appearance on "Raw" and shook the ropes one final time in front of another crowd that went wild for the Warrior. As Warrior, weakened from the effects of the cobra's strike, Roberts made a heel turn and was joined by the Undertaker and Paul Bearer, revealing the three were working together all along. Till today i search for matches where he gorilla pressed other wrestlers. He was 54. In 1987, he joined the World Wrestling Federation, and became a two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion within two years. [10] This stood in contrast with a claim made by Road Warrior Animal, who stated that the Dingo Warrior was a recreation of Warrior's Blade Runner gimmick and was an attempt to present himself as an offspring of The Road Warriors. 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. During his time away from the WWF, Warrior opened the short-lived "Warrior University", a professional wrestling school based in Scottsdale, Arizona. This led to a championship match at WrestleMania V, where Rude pinned Warrior to win the title with the help of his manager Bobby Heenan, who held down Warrior's foot from outside the ring as he was being pinned. WWF officials worked feverishly to break the casket open, finally revealing Warrior's seemingly lifeless body, and the torn fabric inside of the coffin indicating Warrior's desperate struggle to get out. Roberts then uttered, "Never trust a snake. Actor: WrestleMania VI. Among other things, McMahon said, "You threatened to stay at home thereby not even appearing at Titan's major summer pay-per-view event SummerSlam. After a career in bodybuilding, Warrior turned to professional wrestling. Career Moment: Gene Okerlund Interviews Ultimate Warrior and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. [37][38], The WWF responded on July 13, agreeing to $550,000 for WrestleMania VII, a higher royalty rate and promising no other WWF performer would be paid more than him on WWF pay per views. [85] Warrior explained those comments on his website as meaning that the human race would die out if everyone were a homosexual.[86]. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [65], On April 5, 2014, The Ultimate Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014. [36], On July 10, 1991, Warrior sent a letter to McMahon requesting inclusions in his new WWF contract. "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. 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. Less than a year after his WWF television debut, Warrior, a surprise substitute for the injured Brutus Beefcake, won the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, defeating The Honky Tonk Man in a 27-second squash match at the inaugural SummerSlam on August 29, 1988, and ending Honky Tonk's long reign at 454 days. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball, Alonso says Aston 'living a dream,' eyes podium, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live'. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most colorful stars in pro wrestling history, has died, the WWE said. 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 Slaughter, Undertaker, Mr. His last bodybuilding contest was 1985's Junior USAs, which was won by future IFBB Pro, Ron Love. Savage, who died in 2011, Hogan and Warrior were all enormous personalities with gaudy costumes and memorable catchphrases. By HandTs Shop. [45] However, his return coincided with the government's crackdown on steroids in wrestling. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. He'd shake the ropes and grunt and howl while the crowd went wild for the popular good guy. See photos of Ultimate Warrior and more great wrestlers in our Legends of Wrestling photo gallery. There were no signs of foul play, Clark said. ____ [44], The initial plan for Warrior's 1992 return was to eventually give him another run with the WWF Championship. 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. Warrior further appears as a playable character in WWE All Stars, WWE Legends of WrestleMania, WWE 2K14, WWE 2K15, WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, WWE 2K18, WWE 2K19, and WWE 2K20. Warrior was just inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Best known by his ring name The Ultimate Warrior, he wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1987 to 1992, as well as a short stint in 1996. In this ultimate collection, the power of the Warrior is alive like never before! [2] WWE described him as being "As devastating and intense as any Superstar who stepped through the ropes", further saying that "The Ultimate Warrior may be the most enigmatic man to ever hold the WWE Championship. He had just won the Intercontinental Title back from "Ravishing" Rick Rude the year before, and was out for blood. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters." Most recently he was one of a number of figures in the WWE Superstars line of Mattel action figures in an assortment called "World Champions". WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted: "We are all so sad the Ultimate Warrior has passed away. Talked working together. We just had a great talk & buried a senseless hatchet. [15] They left the CWA in January 1986. Diamond Dallas Page won the match by pinning Stevie Ray. [102], Warrior appeared in the Mattel Legends figures line in both Series 4 and Series 6. 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. Hellwig joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in June 1987. He was replaced by Sycho Sid at in Your House 9. [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. At the UFC Fight Night 40 weigh-ins, fighter Lorenz Larkin wore an Ultimate Warrior mask, tassels and wristbands as a tribute. The Ultimate Warrior is one of the most enduring Superstars in WWE history, a former world champion and Hall of Famer who will be the subject of A&E's Biography Sunday night. The Ultimate Warrior speaks during the WWE Hall of Fame Induction at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, April 5, 2014. 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). So, how much is The Ultimate Warrior worth at the age of 55 years old? The feud culminated at Survivor Series, where The Warriors (Ultimate Warrior, LOD and Kerry Von Erich) defeated The Perfect Team (Mr. Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. (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. In one instance, he mentioned that "queering doesn't make the world work" during a speech at the University of Connecticut. WEB. Warrior dressed in face paint, had tassels dangling from his super-sized biceps and sprinted to the ring when his theme song hit. Referring to his brother by his original nickname of Jim, Jay claimed that he had long been trying to talk about Warriors issues, only to see his comments deleted or blocked. The Warrior has not only made it a living by living in another reality he also has made it his life. Warrior defeated Hogan to win the world title at the SkyDome in Toronto that year. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others, it makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized." He was the oldest of five children and was raised by his mother (along with, later, his stepfather) after his father left his family when he was 12. Below are Jays further comments on Dana Warrior, edited for clarity, as he accuses her of being a hypocrite through her appearances as a WWE ambassador, and alleges that Warrior wanted to make peace with the WWE so that he could preserve his marriage. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. PACER.GOV. In the same clip he spoke positively about Vince McMahon for the first time on his channel. The WWE said Warrior, who legally changed his name from James Hellwig to his wrestling moniker, died Tuesday. He wanted $550,000 for performing at WrestleMania VII, a guaranteed number of working days, travel accommodations and a higher percentage of merchandise sales. He was 54. [25] As The Ultimate Warrior character, Hellwig became known for his impassioned babbling, incomprehensible commentary and high-energy ring entrances, which featured him racing into the arena full speed, bursting into the ring, and violently shaking the ring ropes up and down. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? WEB. How I would have Loved to be a part of Warrior University. Perfect, Haku, Triple H, Owen Hart, Earthquake, Greg Valentine, Rick Rude, Randy Savage, Goldust, Ric Flair, Nailz, Sid Justice and more. Document 1852 P.January 27, 2006. The Ultimate Warrior fought like a rabid beast. 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. ", "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior," read a statement from the company. He had been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, appeared at WrestleMania XXX on April 6, and made his first Raw appearance in almost 18 years on April 7, the day before his death. After rejecting an earlier request to grant a title shot to Savage, Sensational Sherri interjected herself in the Warrior's championship match to distract him. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. The match was billed as "The Ultimate Challenge", as both Hogan's WWF Championship and Warrior's Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship were on the line. In what can be referred to at some heavy-handed accusations against Dana Warrior, Jay Hellwig repeatedly referred to his brothers widow as fake, accusing her of being a gold-digger from the time he first met her when she was 22 and fresh out of college. [8] Hellwig started training with weights when he was 11 years old and described himself as "the small, insecure kid who wasn't into any sports". Ultimate Creations Inc. vs. WWE Inc. By LevinPeters. They had a different level of commitment for the business and approached life in very different ways. Sign up for Peacock to watch. Upon his return, he received a degree of creative control over his bookings. Professional wrestling veteran Bruno Sammartino, who attended the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony alongside "Warrior" -- an inductee -- last week, told CBS', He added, "He had two beautiful little daughters that he has, and they were on stage with him. Always weared the most colorful costumes. The Ultimate Warrior", "E3 2016: Sasha Banks to be part of WWE 2K17 roster", "Ultimate Warrior on WWE Hall of Fame: They need to tell the right story", "Ultimate Warrior's best tribute is new DVD set", "Hogan: I Want To Induct Macho Man Into Hall of Fame", "WWE Stars React to the Ultimate Warrior's Death", "WWE Wrestlers, Celebrities, and Wrestling Fans Are Heartbroken Over the News About The Ultimate Warrior's Death", "Ultimate Warrior dies: WWE and beyond react to loss of Hall of Famer", "WWE Officials Sent to Arizona to Help Ultimate Warrior's Widow", "See the WWE's touching tribute to the Ultimate Warrior", "WWE to pay tribute to Ultimate Warrior tonight on 'Monday Night Raw', "UFC Fighter Pays Tribute To Ultimate Warrior, SoCal Val Attends NXT Event, Birthdays", "WWE News: Official details on Ultimate Warrior book project scheduled release date, content, more", "Dana Warrior Had No Part Of 'Smut And Filth' Dark Side Of The Ring Episode On Ultimate Warrior", "2014 WWE Hall of Fame live coverage: Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts, Lita, Razor Ramon, Paul Bearer, and Carlos Colon", "WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony", "[Updated with WWE statement] former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts blogs on Connor induction to WWE Hall of Fame, WWE's usage of Conner", "Former ring announcer Justin Roberts questions sincerity of WWE's relationship with Connor the Crusher", "[Updated With WWE Statement] Former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts blogs on Connor Induction to WWE Hall Of Fame, WWE's usage of Conner", "Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand to receive WWE "Warrior Award", "WWE is Whitewashing The Ultimate Warrior's Bigoted Past", "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1992", "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years", "World Class Wrestling Association Tag Team Title", "The Ultimate Warrior's first Intercontinental Championship reign", "The Ultimate Warrior's second Intercontinental Championship reign", "The Ultimate Warrior's first WWF Championship reign", "Ultimate Warrior statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess", "Jan 27 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2013 Annual awards issue, best in the world in numerous categories, plus all the news in pro-wrestling and MMA over the past week and more", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ultimate_Warrior&oldid=1140584463, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from May 2016, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, NWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Ranked No. Document 178 P.January 3, 2006. [43], With Hulk Hogan about to leave WWF between mid-1992 and early-1993, McMahon contacted Warrior about returning. Funeral Parlour with Ultimate Warrior (WWF, April 1991) 2,839,317 views Feb 12, 2008 7.4K Dislike Share Save picatostes67 9.24K subscribers Funeral Parlour segment (hosted by Paul Bearer), with. After Warrior drew the support of the live crowd in their judging of the contest, Rude attacked Warrior and choked him with a steel bar. Weeks before the event, Warrior was released for disputed reasons and replaced by Mr. 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 was again the sole survivor, pinning Arn Anderson and Bobby Heenan to win the match. The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, passed away, April 8, 2014 in Arizona. December 29, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | Friend. The Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels would share the ring at Survivor Series 1989 in the main event defeating the Heenan family. On the October 12 edition of Monday Nitro, he teamed with Sting to defeat Hogan and Bret Hart by disqualification. Why do you think he went back to WWE? Born William Alvin Moody, he will most likely be remembered by his ring names 'Paul Bearer' and 'Percival Pringle III', as a professional wrestling manager for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWFlater WWE). After several months of defeating jobbers, he was pinned for the first time in the WWF by fellow WWF rookie/future rival Rick Rude on December 28, 1987. ", "Interview with the Ultimate Warrior Part 2 of 4", "On This Day in Pro Wrestling History 20 Years Ago, the Ultimate Warrior missed Survivor Series 1992", "Ultimate Warrior: Legend of The Ultimate Warrior Special Summary", "DVD Review: Burgan reviews Shoot Interview with the Ultimate Warrior WWE, WCW, Von Erichs, Sting", "Matches Ultimate Warrior Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH the Internet Wrestling Database", "WWE WrestleMania Countdown 1996 PPV Report (WM 12): Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart Iron Man match, Ultimate Warrior vs. [59] During the bout, Hogan attempted to "blind" The Warrior using flash paper, but was unable to light it properly, and as a result The Warrior was forced to briefly sell the move despite the flames clearly not touching him in any way. Slaughter at the Royal Rumble. Entertainer. [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. Waiting inside the chest was a spitting cobra which bit Warrior in the face. A family member of the Ultimate Warrior reveals shocking details about the late wrestler's life before he passed away in 2014. [6], Between 1987 and 1989, he appeared in several TV ads for Westway Ford, a car dealership in Irving, Texas. [1], Warrior was scheduled to team with Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson to face Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Vader at In Your House 9 later that month, but the WWF terminated Warrior's contract when he missed several house shows, taking time off allegedly to grieve the death of his father. Maricopa County spokeswoman Cari Gerchick says that's the finding from an autopsy conducted Thursday by the county Medical Examiner's Office. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. He has stated that he adopted the ring name "Dingo Warrior" after a member of the WCCW locker room remarked that he looked like "a warrior". [1] Warrior defeated Jerry Lawler at King of the Ring,[1] and defeated Owen Hart by disqualification on the July 8 episode of Monday Night Raw. Taking solace we made peace." The 54-year-old wrestler's given name was James Brian Hellwig. and was one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time. The . [82] In January 2006, Warrior filed another lawsuit against WWE in an Arizona court over the depiction of his wrestling career in The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD. [33], The next chapter of Warrior's career was an encounter with The Undertaker, after Undertaker and his manager, Paul Bearer, locked Warrior in a coffin on the set of Bearer's Funeral Parlor. One storyline involved Papa Shango, a "witch doctor", casting a spell over Warrior, causing him to convulse and vomit in very odd colors, though Warrior says he hated that story and had no control over it. [26] Warrior lost twice by pinfall shortly thereafter: cleanly to Andr the Giant in April in Italy,[28] and to Dino Bravo, who put his feet on the ropes for leverage, in Montreal in June. The ultimate warrior died of a massive heart attack. WEB. Warrior was admittedly a heavy user of steroids during his professional wrestling career. As did WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Ultimate Warrior Collection. "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. [21] Warrior made his final appearance with WCCW in June 1987. James Hellwig was just recently inducted in the WWE hall of fame. In the days leading up to his passing, Warrior had made peace with the WWE and many of his former colleagues after years of estrangement, and had cut an unforgettable speech on Monday Night Raw. Our heart is with his wife Dana and his two daughters." He was 54. [69], Warrior married Shari Lynn Tyree on October 2, 1982. Here's what the two had to say about one another Document 185 P.January 2, 2006. The WWF refused to accept the letter since Warrior was under contract until September 1992. The Ultimate Warrior visits the Funeral Parlor: Superstars, April 13, 1991 | WWE This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED Technical details : The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed 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.". [112] The WWE Network aired a lineup dubbed "Warrior Week" in Warrior's memory. The Ultimate Warrior, one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, died Tuesday at age 54, World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement. [17] The Warrior was booked for a WWF Championship match against then-champion, "Macho Man" Randy Savage at SummerSlam in August 1992. James Hellwig or as popularly known in the wrestling world as the "Ultimate Warrior" dies at the age of 54. Originally, Warrior was asked to help with the production of the DVD, but as he refused to work with WWE (citing he did not want to be associated with their promotion), there had been some resulting animosity between Warrior and WWE over the Warrior claiming bias on the part of WWE. Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Undertaker. 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 feud culminated at Survivor Series where the two captained opposing teams. He collapsed April 8 while walking with his wife, Dana Hellwig, to their car at a Scottsdale hotel and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Document 178 P.January 4, 2006. [84], Warrior formally retired from wrestling in 1999 and had a short-lived career as a conservative speaker and commentator, partnering with conservative spokesman Daniel Pinheiro, denouncing left-wing politics. The news comes just days after Warrior, who was born James Hellwig but legally changed his name in 1993, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Posited as the new face of the company, he would fall out with Vince McMahon over a pay dispute, and attempted to leave the WWF, which was rejected. The match came to an end when Horace Hogan hit Warrior in the back with a chair, allowing Hogan to score the pinfall. Case 2:06-cv-00535-ROS. Mr. Warrior. [105] WWE released Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection, a 3-DVD, 540 minute-compilation of matches and stories, which portrayed Warrior far more positively, on April 1, 2014. In response, WWE said that the Unleash Your Warrior campaign and the Warrior Award "recognize individuals that exhibit the strength and courage of WWE's legendary character The Ultimate Warrior. The Ultimate Warrior had a falling out with the WWE and did not appear on its TV shows after July 8, 1996, until last weekend. Hogan said, "RIP WARRIOR. Warrior is survived by his wife, Dana, and his two daughters. [53], WCW signed Warrior "at great expense" in May 1998. At the time it was rumored to be Kerry Von Erich, who was then under contract to the WWF. Some said Warrior died from liver failure due to years of steroid abuse or that his signature arm tassels cut off his blood circulation. [9], In 1985, after spending six weeks in California training for a bodybuilding contest, he was invited to join a group of bodybuilders Garland Donoho, Mark Miller, and Steve Borden to form a professional wrestling team. Get up to 20% off. Shop unique Ultimate Warrior Funeral face masks designed and sold by independent artists. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Ed Mazza. [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". [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. [29] In the summer of 1988, he wrestled Bobby Heenan in a series of weasel suit matches, in which Warrior won by sleeper hold. Warrior would be a star in the Golden Age of WWE and Michaels would be leader of the New Generation Era, yet their . Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. [Photo: June 25th, 1988] Bobby Heenan and Ultimate Warrior had a disdain for one another. He was also chosen as one of six legends to be included in the Defining Moments series of action figures. - Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) April 9, 2014. [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. The feud was sparked at the 1989 Royal Rumble, where the two met in a "super posedown". [13] Hellwig and fellow trainee Steve Borden (who later had success as "Sting"), formed a tag team called The Freedom Fighters (Hellwig was known as Justice and Borden was called Flash). He collapsed while he and his. Professional Wrestling/Entertainment Manager. The title was held up in April 1987 after Warrior left the WCCW. Worse, the report also alleges that his wife, Dana, was on the verge of leaving him. Warrior (born James Brian Hellwig; June 16, 1959 - April 8, 2014) was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. 7778. [108][109][110] Reportedly almost immediately after Warrior's death, WWE sent two senior officials to Arizona to assist his widow in handling personal things such as grocery shopping so that she could focus on being with her and Warrior's daughters.[111]. [87] The series was co-written with Jim Callahan and illustrated by the Sharp Brothers. First published on April 14, 2014 / 5:17 PM. In the days leading up to his passing, Warrior had made peace with the WWE and many of his former colleagues after years of estrangement, and had cut an unforgettable speech on Monday Night Raw. In the context of the Gulf War, this made Slaughter one of the most hated heels at the time. "No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own," he said. 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. "[71][72], Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania VIII after nearly eight months on hiatus since SummerSlam 1991. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa, and General Adnan. Title, WWE and Intercontinental Championship Match The trapdoor was responsible for nearly paralyzing Davey Boy Smith, when he awkwardly fell on it during a match at Fall Brawl 98.