Warrior Dead Days After WWE Hall of Fame Induction
The ‘Ultimate Warrior’ is dead. The Ultimate Warrior returned to the WWE after an 18 year absence and be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at New Orleans Arena, as a part of the WrestleMania® 30 festivities.
James Hellwig, who created the Ultimate Warrior and Warrior, has passed away, World Wrestling Entertainment made the announcement late Tuesday night.
Hellwig collapsed walking to his vehicle with his wife. It is suspected his heart may have failed.
“The Ultimate Warrior was the most intense, colorful, competitive and outspoken Superstar in sports entertainment history, and his contributions to WWE were extraordinary,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “We are thrilled to induct The Ultimate Warrior into the WWE Hall of Fame.”
The Ultimate Warrior was one of the most iconic and exciting Superstars in WWE history. When the distinctive ring entrance music of Warrior hit, he would burst out of the dressing room and sprint towards the ring, causing a frenzy of excitement amongst WWE fans. Inside the squared circle, Warrior was responsible for many of the most memorable moments in WWE history.
In 1988 at the inaugural SummerSlam®, he defeated the Honkytonk Man™ in record time to win his first of two Intercontinental Championships. In 1990, Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan™ to become WWE Champion at WrestleMania®
VI in one of the most exciting matches in WrestleMania history. Warrior would continue to captivate audiences around the world with epic encounters against WWE Legends such as Undertaker® and Randy Savage™.
After a storied career that also saw him compete in WCW®, Warrior stepped away from the ring in 1998. Last year, he was featured in the WWE 2K14 video game as a downloadable character, giving the next generation of
WWE fans a chance to “feel the power of the Ultimate Warrior.”
Hellwig is survived by his wife and two daughters.
