WWE Legends
Skysports.com looks back at the Ultimate Warrior's distinguished career in our series of superstar reviews
Last updated: 1st August 2008
Ultimate Warrior: Pure power
WWE CAREER - 1987-1998
TITLES -
WWF Championship (1 time)
WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times)
SPECIAL MOVE - The Gorilla Press Slam
QUOTES - "Always believe"
LEGEND RATING - 8/10
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When you talk of wrestling greats there is one superstar who immediately springs to mind with his extreme appearance and ox-like strength - the Ultimate Warrior.
The colourful competitor became a folk hero by the time his distinguished career drew to a close in 1998, and his legacy will live on for decades to come.
After a muted introduction to WWF life in 1987 - the Ultmiate Warrior powered to fame the following year as he overcame the Honky Tonk Man to claim the Intercontinental Title.
After gradually establishing a reputation amongst a fine era of competitors, the Arizona-born superstar quickly built up the first feud of his career as he took a particular disliking to "Ravishing" Rick Rude.
The mutual hatred began at the 1989 Royal Rumble after the pair became engaged in a "posedown" which Rude was being beaten at comprehensively.
Refusing to be outdone, Rude and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan turned on Warrior and a series of matches between "Ravishing" and his posedown nemesis ensued.
Breathtaking
The Warrior initially lost the Intercontinental Title belt to Rude before winning it back a few months later - on the exactly same day he had won it the previous year.
By this time the Warrior had grabbed the hearts of WWF lovers across the globe, and his next most significant bout was to go down as one of the greatest matches in history.
At WrestleMania VI the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan locked horns for the first time in a breathtaking match which saw both men's special moves unleashed.
However, in what was undoubtedly the Ultimate Warrior's finest hour he was to prevail victorious as Hogan missed his Leg Drop and he cashed in by delivering his Gorilla Press Slam and Splash to snatch the gold away from his old rival.
After vacating the Intercontinental belt, the Warrior defended the WWF World Title for more than nine months during feuds with Mr. Perfect, Haku and many more.
However, it was to be a rivalry with the "Macho King" Randy Savage that eventually cost him the World Title as Savage struck the Warrior with his sceptor during his match against Sergeant Slaughter, who pinned him for the belt.
Disappearance
After relinquishing the gold in cruel circumstances, the Ultimate Warrior was out to seek his revenge - and he did just that.
A retirement match between Savage and the Warrior at WrestleMania VII ended the Macho King's glittering career as the Ultimate Warrior withstood a flurry of Flying Elbows before winning.
In 1991, after further battles, this time with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and the Undertaker, the Ultimate Warrior briefly disappeared off the WWF scene after he was locked in a coffin, buried up to his neck, and bitten by a cobra by Roberts & the Undertaker
His reappearance came at WrestleMania VIII where he helped out old foe Hulk Hogan after he was attacked by Papa Shango and Sid Justice.
After a short feud with Shango, the Warrior had a short spell fighting in tandem with "Macho Man" Randy Savage.
The pair were teamed for a few matches as the Ultimate Maniacs. Then the Warrior again left the WWF, to open the "Warrior University", a wrestling school in Arizona.
Memorable
In 1996 his reappearing act was brought into fruition again at WrestleMania XII, the Ultimate Warrior returning this time to defeat Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Although he had a few memorable feuds against Goldust and Owen Hart, the Warrior failed to claim any further titles and was soon back out of the WWF.
In September 1998, the Warrior appeared at a Monday Nitro amid smoke and fire, declaring war against "Hollywood" Hogan and the nWo Hollywood faction.
Hogan famously looked on in disbelief and said: "I...I thought you were dead!". Ultimate Warrior went on to form the One Warrior Nation and begin mind games on Hogan.
He "kidnapped" one of Hogan's loyal servants - the Disciple, and turned him against Hogan. "Hollywood" and the Warrior clashed at Halloween Havoc '98, where Hogan ran out victor by having his nephew, Horace Hogan, interfere.
However, Hogan's "retirement" triggered the end for the Ultimate Warrior, and, with no further reason to carry on in the squared circle, his historic 11-year career came to an end after he was released by WCW.
Legends to come:
- Bret "The Hitman" Hart
- Hulk Hogan
- The Rock
Others available on request...
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When you talk of wrestling icons there is one colourful superstar who immediately springs to mind - the Ultimate Warrior.
Comments
Daniel James says...
Are the people saying the Warrior wasn't very good real?! I mean, come on! They need their heads read, for a start, Warrior derives from an age when wrestling was wrestling (unlike today¿s poor excuse for entertainment) and the wrestlers had charisma and a personality and to say he couldn¿t wrestle is utter rubbish, as what is wrestling but not to entertain the fans! Ultimate Warrior is and will always be one of the all time greats and one of the best characters that ever graced the ring! ohhhh yeah!!!!!!!! dig-it!
Posted 12:58 4th September 2008
Amin Saatchi says...
Travis Oconnor, you seem to be forgetting that WWF or WWE is not only about wrestling, it is entertainment, the warrior was 100% entertainment and that is why so many people loved him. He is a legend! Great review too!
Posted 02:41 4th September 2008
Travis Oconnor says...
First things first, anyone who thinks the Ultimate Warrior can wrestle needs to get their vision checked or needs to put the beer away. It has been noted in interviews, many times from the wrestlers who have worked with Warrior, that Warrior is a joke and does not know how to work. Warrior has two people to thank for having had the fortune he had. First is Vinny Mac for giving him the spotlight in the, at the time known as the WWF. Then second Warrior needs to give credit to Hulk Hogan for letting him have the win over him in the title versus title match at MANIA. Warrior does not respect anyone or care about anyone other then "WARRIOR". Search the net for interviews from him as well as other wrestlers. The guy is a loser and does not deserve to be called a legend. Flair, Dusty, Steamboat, Triple H, Stone Cold, Undertaker, Hart , HBK and Henning are men who can wrestle. Warrior should be placed in the "lucky to be me" awards. He and GOLDBERG can share the award because they both are lucky to have made the money they have. Please, anyone who likes WARRIOR do not watch WWE go and watch TNA or even better go watch the paint dry on the wall!
Posted 00:35 30th August 2008
Pete Anderson says...
Warrior was never really a wrestler and was awful on the mic - he was very much like how Batista is today, pure power but can't wrestle to save his life. I also wasn't a big fan as he was remoured to do drugs on many occations. Would like real legend like Flair, Macho Man and HHH be put up. Only held 3 titles in all his time not many really is it?!
Posted 14:40 25th August 2008
Billy Malik says...
What a guy he was!
Posted 11:27 24th August 2008
Rosemarie Penman says...
l loved to watch the ultimate warrior as he was great legend and the things he can do in the ring made him the greatist wrestler in the world.
Posted 22:13 22nd August 2008
Gavo Not telling you says...
Warrior will live in the memory forever as he was such a unique, exciting and intense wrestler. He had the look of a comic book character and sounded like a complete headcase when interwieved. There will never be another like him that's for sure. Warrior was king of the hill in wrestlings glory days. He also put in a fraction of the ring time that others did and still achieved legendary status,
Posted 14:26 13th August 2008
Tony Hendricks says...
The name says it all..."THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR" and that is truly what he was. Just when he's opponents thought they had the better of him, he'd go to the ropes and fight back. That was when THE WARRIOR became ULTIMATE and then you'd get knocked out!!!! Love the LEGENDS, they made wrestling!!!!! Keep them coming
Posted 12:09 9th August 2008
Ben Kingdon says...
Fantastic review brought back happy memories about the matches listed as remember watching them as a kid. The Warrior is the greatest ever and Rick Rude is the bets bad guy ever. I will always be a Warrior fanatic!
Posted 23:39 5th August 2008
Sam Gordon says...
Another great review. Reading this has bought back a fair few memories. Plenty of names popping up that i am sure would open a can of whoop ass on the wrestlers of today. Great detailing, it has certainly made me remember back to the days it happened. The Ultimate Warrior was a legend and only getting the title once doesnt do him justice yet a 9 month stint is impressive. Keep these reports coming. Would like a review on Macho Man Randy Savage. What a Character. Can't wait for the next one......
Posted 21:48 1st August 2008
Vin Vinny says...
ultimate of all ultimates, yip that is "the Warrior". What a great idea to do these Lengends. Not quite the flair these days is there? Keep up the fantastic work
Posted 19:25 1st August 2008
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