A Warrior’s Tale: Tribute to The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Words are powerful. They can sum up a person’s life in a few sentences, and can immortalize whatever he has accomplished in his lifetime. But sometimes, even words can become redundant, reduced to mere juxtaposition of incoherent thoughts; when words aren’t enough to sum up the feeling of loss, you know that person has achieved something that very few can even dare to dream of doing. In every walk of life, there are the dreamers, those who dare to leave a mark behind when everything is said and done. These are the few who are remembered long after they’re gone, with their words breathing life, spawning to a new generation of believers. These are the true heroes, inspirational figures – The true warriors.

“No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath and if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized.

You are the Ultimate Warrior fans and the spirit of Ultimate Warrior will run forever.” – The Ultimate Warrior

In a way, you can call this the perfect epilogue to one of the greatest stories. The Ultimate Warrior’s saga has been one of the most controversial and followed stories in the history of professional wrestling. It didn’t matter what people thought about the person, because once his music hit, you could feel the adrenaline rushing through your veins, and your heart beating faster. It didn’t matter what happened behind the curtains, because when Warrior came charging to the ring, it was all about the excitement, the entertainment factor that The Ultimate Warrior brought to the WWE. In the end, we should consider ourselves lucky to have seen and felt the presence of one of the greatest WWE superstars just a day before his untimely demise.

Sadly, deaths in professional wrestling aren’t new. No matter how much you try to shy away from the harsh realities of a demanding profession, in the end, Father Time always has the last say. They say that it doesn’t matter how you leave this world, but what you’ve left behind is all that anyone cares about. If the number of lives you’ve touched and the legacy you’ve left behind defines who you are, then The Ultimate Warrior hasn’t gone anywhere. From his legendary promos to his antics inside the wrestling ring, The Ultimate Warrior has created a legacy that will last for generations. Just like The Macho Man, The Ultimate Warrior didn’t have a great relationship to say the least with Vince McMahon, but he finally made peace with the chairman of the WWE and had the opportunity to step inside the ring one last time, the same ring where all of his memories are preserved. For that, as wrestling fans, we should all consider ourselves lucky.

I still remember being a kid, watching WCW and seeing this wild character charging to the ring. Although Warrior didn’t last long in WCW, it was the first time I had ever heard of him. Fast forward to 2005, and I had the opportunity to learn about Warrior’s history and legacy, watching some of his promos and matches. Although I did not have the opportunity to witness Warrior’s charge during his heyday in the WWE, his match with Hulk Hogan still sent a shiver down my spine, with thousands of warriors firmly behind him, as he cemented his legacy in the world of professional wrestling. Whether he was facing Andre The Giant or Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior always gave us memories to cherish, long after those moments passed. In the end, that is what one looks to accomplish during their life time.

This article wasn’t meant to recap Warrior’s career, nor was it meant to highlight his ups and downs. As human beings, we all go through rough patches; some last longer than the others. What matters is how we come out of it, and how we learn from our mistakes and become a better person. The Ultimate Warrior wasn’t one of the most popular people with his peers, but he was one of the most respected. People don’t have to like you; like a legendary figure once said, if everyone likes you, then you’re not doing it right. What defines us is what we leave behind – The legacy, memories and most importantly, our contributions and the lives it has impacted.

The Ultimate Warrior inspired a generation, and helped the current crop of professional wrestlers to dream about achieving the impossible. People like Batista and CM Punk looked up to Warrior when they started out in the business. Although it is still hard for me to sum up Warrior’s impact on the industry, I feel it isn’t needed, as everyone understands the huge void Warrior has left behind. In the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone says. Legends and legacies have a way of speaking for themselves, and in that light, The Ultimate Warrior will forever be remembered as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the history of the industry. Rather than mourning his passing, I choose to look at his wonderful career. Thank you, James “Warrior” Hellwig, for making my childhood an amazing one. You will be missed, but will never be forgotten.