As we lead up to WrestleMania and the Hall of Fame 2014, I shall be doing a little article on each inductee. I shall be re-counting my memories of that inductee and also noting WWE career highlights.
I think we all have our own memories of wrestlers past and present and I just wanted to share mine.
This week we look at: The Ultimate Warrior
When in 2013 the Ultimate Warrior and the WWE/Vince McMahon had seemingly kind of patched things up and were on good terms again, I was hoping and praying that it may eventually lead to the Ultimate Warrior being inducted into the hall of fame. Regardless of what you thought of his wrestling ability, he is a wrestling icon. There isn't anyone who is involved/follows Wrestling that doesn't know of him. The Ultimate Warrior really was one of a kind and will long be remembered in Wrestling history, particularly the WWE.
When it was announced on Raw that he was the first inductee of the class of 2014 I could not have been more happier and excited by the news - See the WWE's Promo confirming his induction.
For me the Ultimate Warrior was my "original" favourite. I started watching WWE (WWF as it was then) at around the same time the Warrior joined. I remember being fascinated by him, his entrance, the fact he was different from everyone else on the roster. I was an awestruck 7 year old whose idol had become the Ultimate Warrior.
I eagerly tuned into Superstars of Wrestling Challenge each week, hoping the Warrior was scheduled for a match, which he often was. I remember his first feud was with Hercules and I remember him snapping his chains! His first PPV appearance was at WrestleMania IV where he squared off and beat Hercules.
However later that year, he got his first proper push and at Summerslam of 1988 the current Intercontinental Champion, The Honky Tonk Man was due to face Brutus Beefcake, however due to Beefcake's injury, the Honky Tonk Man was short of an opponent and he entered the match not knowing who he would face.... until the music hit! I remember that moment so well, the excitement! The Ultimate Warrior rushed to the ring and proceeded to beat the Honky Tonk Man in 27 seconds and win the Intercontinental title! The reaction of the crowd is something to be seen, a clear indication of how popular the Ultimate Warrior was. You can see his victory over the Honky Tonk Man by clicking this link.
The Warrior then embarked on a dominant reign of the Intercontinental title for the rest of 1988 and in early 1989 the Ultimate Warrior got involved with Ravishing Rick Rude, which led to them having a "Pose-Down at the Royal Rumble. Rude however, and his manager Booby Heenan, attacked the Warrior with an iron bar which led to a long and sustained feud between the two, eventually leading to a title match at WrestleMania V between the two. This match sticks long in the memory for me, I remember every spot vividly and I also remember being gutted, annoyed and so, so angry as Bobby Heenan helped Rick Rude to victory over the Warrior and took his Intercontinental title
However this was not the end of the feud between the two and this carried on over into Summerslam 1989 where we saw a rematch between the two for Rude's Intercontinental Title. A year after having won it first time, the Warrior was victorious again, gaining his revenge over Rude and regaining the Intercontinental title.
The Warrior however was not done with Bobby Heenan and while his feud continued briefly with Rude, Heenan soon had Andre the Giant battling it out with the Warrior as Heenan looked to get revenge. This led to the Warrior and his team of Jim Neidhart and the Rockers, taking on what was supposed to be The Heenan Family Team of Andre, The Brainbusters and Haku. However Tully Blanchard was in the process of leaving the WWE and did not appear, forcing Heenan himself to take part. Warrior eliminated Andre quickly by knocking him out of the ring, leading to his count-out, and the Warrior was the sole survivor of his team, also getting the pinfall over Heenan and Arn Anderson.
Towards the end of 1989 the feud with the Heenan Family petered out and the Warrior was beating all comers to his Intercontinental Title. In early 1990, the Warrior was one of 30 men taking part in the Royal Rumble. This was to be a defining moment of the Warrior's career. The Warrior entered the Rumble mid-way and when Hulk Hogan entered, between them they both cleaned house, leaving just the two of them. This moment was one of the most exciting thing I ever witnessed. It didn't happen in those days, the two biggest fan favourites facing up against each other, as the Warrior and Hogan built such tension and intensity in that short segment - seen here.
Eventually Hogan eliminated the Warrior and the coming weeks led to some tension between the two, which seemingly looked to be behind them when at a Saturday Nights Main Event at the end of January saw them team together to face Mr Perfect and The Genuis. However the "partnership" didn't last long as both men began arguing and from that moment one of the most enthral long rivalries was born. Eventually leading the WWE President Jack Tunney making a title v title match between WWE Champion Hulk Hogan v Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI.
This was almost unheard of in those days. The two biggest fan favourites in the sport, going head to head, with both titles on the line. Meaning we would make history as someone would leave WrestleMania holding both the WWE & Intercontinental Titles.
WrestleMania VI will go down in my memory for a long, long time. I could not wait for Hogan and Warrior to clash, weeks leading up to it seemed to drag, but I remember that night, April 1st 1990. The main event drew round and the build up and tension was all perfect. The main event itself didn't disappoint. Both Warrior and Hogan put on an awesome display and well you know the rest - The Warrior got the 3 count and won the WWE title - as seen here.
It was a historic moment in the history of the WWF/WWE and the excitement I remember feeling after the match shall live with me for a long, long time.
Afterwards, the Warrior was stripped of his Intercontinental Title as rules did not permit a wrestler holding both belts.
As the rest of 1990 progressed, the Warrior successfully defended his title and by Summerslam that year he successfully defended his title by beating Rick Rude in a steel cage match. At Survivor Series he captained what was almost a dream team of himself, Kerry Von Erich and The Leigon of Doom.
The Warrior remained top of the tree until The Royal Rumble of 1991 where he faced Sgt Slaughter for the title and it was Slaughter who walked out the new champion as the Warrior was beaten, after being attacked by Randy Savage.
This led to a feud between the two which culminated in a "retirement" match at WrestleMania VII, in which the loser would have to retire. The Warrior came out on top and put a temporary end to Savage's wrestling career. With Hogan regaining the WWE title, the Warrior began to side with Hogan in his feud with Sgt Slaughter, after brief feuds with Jake Roberts and the Undertaker.
The Warrior & Hogan teamed up to face Sgt Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa & General Adnan at Summerslam of that year, which Warrior and Hogan came out on top.
However behind the scenes the Warrior was involved in a pay dispute and the result being that he was suspended after Summerslam, leading to the Warrior resigning and leaving the WWE.
By 1992 The Ultimate Warrior was soon to make his return. At the main event of WrestleMania VIII Hulk Hogan defeated Sid Justice in the main event, but was then attacked by Sid Justice and Papa Shango after the match - at which the Warrior made his return! I remember the excitement of this! I had no idea he was coming back (before the days of the internet ruining surprises!) and when his music hit, I was ecstatic!
After a brief feud with Papa Shango, the Warrior then had another crack at the WWE title, as he faced off against the then Champion and old nemesis, Randy Savage at Summerslam 1992 (which I was happily there to witness).
The Warrior won the match, but only by count-out and so did not claim the title. After that, the former rivals became allies as the Warrior and Savage became a team as the Warrior aided Savage in his fued against Ric Flair and Razor Ramone and at Survivor Series of that year, the "Ultimate Maniacs" were due to face the team of Ric Flair and Razor Ramone, however again due to backstage issues, the Warrior was to leave the WWE again, as Mr Perfect replaced the Warrior in the match.
The Warrior then entered into a brief spell of semi-retirement after leaving the WWE and made sporadic appearances on the independent circuit. However after 3.5 years. He was to make his return to the WWE as it was announced that at WrestleMania XII he would face Triple H.
The Warrior never made an appearance before this match and many suggested he was not the same person as he once.
I didn't care though what he looked like - the Warrior was returning!! I waited for WrestleMania XII and the match itself with a huge deal if excitement! Until the match was next in the card! The Ultimate Warrior returned and defeated Triple H!
Since the Warrior had left we had seen the creation of Monday Night Raw, as it's flagship show and the next edition of Raw after WrestleMania, saw The Ultimate Warrior interviewed by Vince McMahon. That moment I remember well. The whole face of the WWE had changed since the Warrior had last been there, the addition if Raw etc. I remember thinking how strange it was seeing the Warrior on Raw! But in a good way! During the interview he was interupted by the current Intercontinental Champion Goldust. This led to a feud between the two and a title match at In Your House 7, which Warrior won by count-out. The Warrior then had mini-feuds with Jerry Lawler and Issac Yankem before he was scheduled to team with Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson at Survivor Series, however before that could happen, the Warrior was gone from the WWE again.
He eventually made his return to wrestling as he joined WCW in 1998, however being such the devoted WWE fan I am, I never saw much of that, but did tune in to witness his debut at least. His stint there wasn't too successful from what I've read and saw from YouTube, he only wrestled 4 matches before eventually leaving in November of 1998.
It was to be another 10 years before we would see the Warrior in the ring again! Sadly it wasn't with the WWE, but with Nu-Wrestling Evolution in Spain, where he came out of retirement for a one off match to challenge their Champion, Orlando Jordan, in which the Warrior won and claimed the title (and subsequently vacated)
And now we begin a new chapter of the Ultimate Warrior and his return to the WWE. I, for one am so excited for his return and I await with baited breathe, just like I did for his matches years gone by.
Major Titles Won
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF)
WWF World Heavyweight Champion
WWF Intercontinental Champion x 2
World Class Championship Wrestling
WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
WCCW Tag Team Champion (with Lance Von Erich)
Nu Wrestling Evolution
NWE Heavyweight Championship
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