The Goldmine: The Ultimate Warrior

Many moons ago now, the world of professional wrestling was hit with the most powerful lightning bolt in the history of mankind. That lightning bolt created a legend.

That legend’s name is The Ultimate Warrior:

https://youtu.be/MT8zWnHBb_Y

The Ultimate Warrior came running onto the scene in the WWF in the year 1987. It was a year when neon hadn’t yet been woven into the fabric of our world. Even though The Ultimate one didn’t have the colors, his intense, explosive and out of this world aura was enough to capture the hearts and minds of generations young and old.:

The moment he arrived, The Ultimate Warrior was christened “the guy” by wrestling fans. It wasn’t corporate shenanigans like, John Cena and Roman Reigns. Warrior’s was true and Ultimate talent.

One of the Warrior’s first featured feuds in WWF was against the late Hercules, which culminated with a chain match and a brief but poignant encounter at, WrestleMania IV.

Check out his greatness here:

From there, The Warrior faced The Honky Tonk Man at SummerSlam ’88. He became Intercontinental Champion in mere seconds. Warrior’s next program saw his chiseled body go up against the equally chiseled, late Ravishing Rick Rude. Their matches featured battles for the Intercontinental Title. But in the spring of 1990, The Ultimate Warrior’s star shone so brightly it eclipsed even that of ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI.

That was the night The Ultimate Warrior became WWF champion while also holding the Intercontinental Title:

1991 saw tremendous action for the Warrior. A historic career-ending match against Macho Man Randy Savage at WrestleMania VII and a series of matches with The Undertaker proved The Warrior was still relevant and loved by all. But and alas, The Warrior encountered difficulties with WWE executives. In the summer of 1991, after years of WWE executives continually exploiting the money-making capacity of The Ultimate Warrior character and giving The Ultimate one the short-end of the stick, he left WWF.

He would not be seen again until the following year’s, WrestleMania VIII:

https://youtu.be/LJOYTnfTRL4

The 1992 incarnation of The Ultimate Warrior was admittedly not as memorable as his formative years.

When he burst through the curtain at WrestleMania VIII during the main event to save Hulk Hogan from the dastardly duo of Sid Justice and Papa Shango, Warrior was significantly smaller and lighter in bodyweight. His wild and colorful hair had been cut short, all-brown and his new boots made him look more like Tatanka ‘The Native American’ than the neon-flair Warrior fans had grown accustomed to.

Fortunately, this “lesser” version of The Ultimate Warrior was quickly turned around. By the time SummerSlam ‘92 took place in Wembly Stadium, England, The Warrior was back to looking at his best – boots and all. Alas and again, Warrior and WWF found new differences to argue about which again caused them to part ways. Perhaps WWF wasn’t happy that Warrior worked out so intensely and presented his best physical self again.

At the time, they were more interested in promoting a smooth-bodied Shawn Michaels:

Nothing was heard of The Ultimate Warrior for four years after November 1992. Four years felt like an eternity to any true wrestling fan. During that time, WWF had no choice but to promote mid-card wrestlers (all they had left) to main event status to survive without the likes of big stars such as Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, Sid Justice and The Big Boss Man. Among those mid-carders were, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Crush, Razor Ramon, to name but a few. However, at the height of one of the worst business periods in WWF and at WrestleMania XII in 1996, The Ultimate Warrior returned once again and defeated HHH in mere minutes.

The Game, he certainly was not:

https://youtu.be/a1bSezxA0jA

It was the comeback of the 90’s. Fans were elated and looking forward to seeing Warrior become WWF champion once again and WWF recapturing its glory from days past. Three months after his return, Warrior was again no longer part of the company. Again it was WWF’s fault. This time, WWF executives tried to steal The Ultimate Warrior’s character, everything that he, the man The Ultimate Warrior, had created for years. Criminal…

Some of you may not be aware that The Ultimate Warrior invested his own money to have his elaborate ring attire designs produced his entire career. Today’s wrestlers do not and most possess little in the way of variety.

In 1998, Hulk Hogan pulled some strings and Warrior became part of WCW:

Unfortunately, Warrior arrived at a time when WCW was on a decline. The NWO was the hottest thing since sliced bread. Within months, the Warrior left WCW because he felt the company was being run inappropriately.

He was right. Vince Russo was entering the company. This is the man who single-handily destroyed WCW’s hard earned stature with lowbrow storylines and lackluster characters. Enough said.

WCW would be the last time Warrior ever competed in a major wrestling company.

Even though he was not in the wrestling business ever again, the Warrior kept busy. He married his wife, current WWE Ambassador, Dana Warrior. The pair had two children, the Warrior’s girls. Warrior created a video series on YouTube to motivate and inspire many of the unmotivated generation. He toured the world instilling wisdom and demonstrating the power of the mind.

BE ADVISED – ADULT LANGUAGE USED IN THESE VIDEOS. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED:

In response to this, Warrior received anger and hate, which is ironic, considering the majority of these “haters” claim to be do-gooders and civil rights activists. The backlash against The Ultimate Warrior was severe. It was undeserved.

WWE eventually had a change of heart about The Ultimate Warrior. In 2014, Warrior was inducted into WWE Hall Of Fame. It was arguably the best Hall Of Fame ceremony ever.

Three days later and after having been out of WWE for eighteen years, Warrior’s mortal and physical essence unexpectedly ended. Anyone who believes in anything spiritual is aware that Warrior’s return at that time was no coincidence. He had received apologies from many whom had been critical and envious of his success for years. The reconciliation made him happy. It gave him closure. The God above gave him a great ending to his mortal story.

We all only hope we receive the same:

https://youtu.be/AYL3yhF3fQU

The Warrior was a man who even at a young age was lightyears ahead of his time. He was one of if not the greatest storyteller in wrestling history. Talent is the most priceless commodity on earth. All the money in the world can not buy or create it.

Warrior’s promos, if you listen to them carefully, said more than ninety-nine percent of other wrestler’s promos ever have. They commented on life. They were philosophical and they were poignant.

Indeed, Warrior had “the mind of a scientist”:

For many years, Dana Warrior was inspired by the never-quit, never say die attitude and humbleness of her husband. He was truly one of the world’s most powerful heroes, The Ultimate Warrior. I encourage fans to support Dana Warrior in all her current and future endeavors.