| The Ultimate Warrior | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Warrior in 2014, the day before his death | |
| Birth name | James Brian Hellwig |
| Born | June 16, 1959 Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 8, 2014 (aged 54) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Blade Runner Rock[1] Dingo Warrior[1] Jim Hellwig[1] Jim Justice The Ultimate Warrior The Warrior[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 280 lb (127 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | "Parts unknown"[3] Queens, New York "One Warrior Nation" |
| Trained by | Bill Anderson Rick Bassman Red Bastien[1] |
| Debut | November 23, 1985 |
| Retired | June 25, 2008 |
Warrior (born James Brian Hellwig; June 16, 1959 – April 8, 2014) was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. Best known by his ring name The Ultimate Warrior, he wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1987 to 1992, as well as a short stint in 1996. He also notably spent a few months in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1998, in which he was known as The Warrior.
After a career in bodybuilding, Warrior turned to professional wrestling. From 1985 to 1986, he was paired with fellow former bodybuilder Steve Borden, later known as Sting, as the Blade Runners. The two split when Warrior left to pursue a singles career in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Under the ring name Dingo Warrior, he was a one-time WCWA Texas Heavyweight Champion.
In 1987, he joined the World Wrestling Federation, and became a two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion within two years. At WrestleMania VI, Warrior won the WWF Championship in a title vs. title match over Hulk Hogan, making him the first wrestler to hold both titles concurrently. Posited as the new face of the company, he had a falling out with chairman Vince McMahon over a pay dispute, and unsuccessfully attempted to leave the WWF, with which he was under contract. Warrior returned at WrestleMania VIII, but by November 1992, he had been released; it was later revealed that this was due to steroid use.
In 1993, he legally changed his name to the mononym "Warrior" and was credited as a co-writer for a comic book based on his name and likeness. Warrior returned to the WWF at WrestleMania XII, but lasted four months, as he began no-showing events. Two years later, he joined World Championship Wrestling (which had tried to hire him in 1995), being used in a much-maligned storyline with Hogan, which culminated at Halloween Havoc. Warrior retired from professional wrestling and subsequently embarked on a public speaking career, but wrestled one final match in Spain in 2008.
Warrior died on April 8, 2014, at the age of 54 in Scottsdale, Arizona. On the preceding three nights in New Orleans, he had been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, appeared at WrestleMania XXX, and made his final public appearance on Monday Night Raw, returning to the promotion after an acrimonious separation in 1996.