Ultimate Warrior Jams Brian Hellwig: Gloriously Mad And Regrettably Gone
The Ultimate Warrior is escorted by his daughters to the stage during the WWE Hall of Fame Induction at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, April 5, 2014. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE). Date: 05/04/2014
THE Ultimate Warrior has died at the age of 54, WWE has sadly confirmed. Born James Brian Hellwig, Warrior electrified kids and adults alike during his time as a fearsome wrestler of the WWE (formerly WWF). His wild antics, shock of crazy hair and charged entrance made him a hit with those who are fans of professional wrestling.
For those who sniff ‘oooooh, it’s just all acting!’, The Ultimate Warrior took it wrestling to a high octane, monster truck level of theatre. He was bigger, bolder and weirder than his counterparts and everyone who watched him, immediately got excited when he appeared.
“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 entertainment organisation. “Warrior is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.”
The cause of his death has not yet been revealed and, strangely, Warrior had appeared at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw, just before his death.
Just days ago, Warrior took his place in the WWE Hall of Fame, which is only right.
Throughout his life, both privately and professionally, Warrior was a thrill-a-minute. Not always right, but always worth watching.
Even when he appeared at Raw earlier in the week, he spoke with a certain amount of finality. Even though Warrior was a bit mad, he always knew how to work a room.
This is something he’d clearly always been keen on. Go back to his pre-WWE days, he was plying his trade as the Dingo Warrior. A rubbish name coupled with a rubbish moustache. However, there’s a spark in him which can’t be denied.
Watch the video below and see how Warrior works the camera, gets into character, rants to the point of losing control, compared to his mate who flatly rambles on.
It’s a perfect juxtaposition.
Post wrestling, Warrior lost favour with the corporation and slowly got madder. He changed his name, legally, to Warrior, which resulted in legal battles with the WWE company. WWE, in 2005, released a documentary called ‘The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior’, which basically showed him mostly in an unflattering light.
This saw further grief between the two camps. However, that was nothing compared to the animosity Warrior had with Hulk Hogan. And we’re talking real-life here.
In 2011, Warrior was angered by Hogan’s trash talking of Randy Savage (again, real life beef rather than wrestling scripting) and made a video, addressed to Hogan, volleying out all manner of slander and slights.
Here’s the short version. Remarkably, the full version is one hour long. Contained are insults about drug abuse, hair weaves, swinging, spousal abuse and so much more. Warrior pulled no punches.
Of course, what Warrior will be truly remembered for is how thrilling he was when entertaining people in the wrestling ring. His entrance music, with his stage presence and crazy makeup, is what really gets pop-culture motors running.
Let’s leave him, with his entrance in mind.
Posted: 10th, April 2014 | In: Celebrities, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
