Intro:
The face painted muscleman who ran to the the ring and spoke to his hands and the heavens about things we mortals can't understand will never be forgotten by those who saw him. His power and intensity made him the most popular wrestler in the world at one time.
The Start:
Jim Hellwig (now legally known as Warrior) was born in 1957. He was one of a group of 4 bodybuilders known as Powerteam USA trained by Rick Bassman. Both Jim and Steve Borden caught the eyes of promoters in Tennessee, where they went as the Bladerunners Rock and Flash. Flash later became known as Sting.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, & Dallas:
As Bladerunner Rock, he fought in the Tennessee and Oklahoma territories. In 1986, he entered the Texas territory (televised on ESPN) and was renamed the Dingo Warrior. He was part of Gary Hart's stable and quickly found success by winning both the tag team titles and the Texas title. It was here where he painted his face in the pattern we are all used to.
The WWF Calls - From Newcomer to Intercontinental Champion:
In 1987, he entered the WWF and was renamed the Ultimate Warrior. Within a few months, he became the Intercontinental Champion by beating the Honky Tonk Man and he held the title for 8 months before losing it to Rick Rude. He regained the belt a few months later and went on to fight for the World Title.
The World Champ:
At WrestleMania VI, he beat Hulk Hogan to become WWF Champion. He held the belt for 9 months until losing to Sgt. Slaughter due to the interference of Randy Savage. He got his revenge against Savage by beating him in a match where the loser must retire. At this point, the story of the Warrior becomes very strange. He was locked in a coffin, buried up to his neck, and bitten by a cobra by Jake Roberts & the Undertaker. Then he was gone.
He's Back, He's Gone, He's Back Again, He's Gone Again:
At the end of WrestleMania VIII the Warrior returned to everyone's surprise. He then had a voodoo spell cast on him that forced him to vomit and have an ooze come down his face. After winning this feud, he was supposed to main event Survivor Series 92 but was gone again. He came back almost four years later, had a feud with Jerry Lawler and was gone again.
WCW:
During the Monday Night War, WCW tried to sign every former WWF superstar and was able to sign him and use the name Warrior after a legal battle with the WWF that gave Warrior the rights to his name. In his most memorable match in WCW, he and Hulk Hogan stunk up the arena in a match featuring Hogan not being able to light up a piece of flash paper.
Post Wrestling Career:
Warrior is a right wing conservative with a successful speaking career. He has appeared on C-Span spreading the conservative message and also does college speaking tours. In addition, he has created his own philosophy on life with words he created like destrucity and foke.
Notable matches of his career:
WrestleMania IV 3/27/1988 - Beat Hercules Hernandez
SummerSlam 1988 8/29/1988 - Won the I-C title from The Honky Tonk Man
SNME # 19 1/7/1989 - I-C Title: Pinned The Honky Tonk Man
SNME # 25 1/27/1989 - WWF Champ Hulk Hogan & I-C Champ The Ultimate Warrior beat Curt Hennig & Lanny Poffo
WrestleMania V 4/2/1989 - Lost I-C Title to Rick Rude
SummerSlam 1989 8/2/1989 - Pinned Rick Rude to regain the title
The Main Event 3 2/23/1990 - Beat Earthquake
WrestleMania VI 4/1/1990 - Beat Hulk Hogan to win the WWF championship
SNME # 26 4/28/1990 - Beat Haku
SNME # 27 7/28/1990 - Beat Rick Rude by DQ
SummerSlam 1990 8/27/1990 - Beat Rick Rude in a steel cage
SNME # 28 Oktoberfest 10/13/1990 - The Ultimate Warrior & Legion Of Doom beat Demolition
Royal Rumble 1991 1/19/1991 - Lost World Title to Sgt. Slaughter
WrestleMania VII 3/24/1991 - Beat Randy Savage in a retirement match
SNME # 29 4/27/1991 - Beat Sgt. Slaughter by DQ
SummerSlam 1991 8/26/1991 -WWF Champ Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior beat Sgt. Slaughter, The Iron Sheik, & Col. Mustafa - special ref Sid Justice
WrestleMania VIII 4/5/1992 - In his "possible retirement" match, Hulk Hogan beat Sid Justice by DQ. After the match, The Ultimate Warrior returned to save Hogan.
SummerSlam 1992 8/29/1992 - Beat World Champ Randy Savage by count out. Randy Savage retains the title.
SNME # 31 on Fox 11/14/1992 - Tag Title: Randy Savage & The Ultimate Warrior beat champs Money Inc. by count out. Money Inc. keep the titles
WrestleMania XII 3/31/1996 - Pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
IYH - Good Friends Better Enemies 4/28/1996 - Beat I-C Champ Goldust by count out. Goldust keeps the title.
King of The Ring 1996 6/23/1996 - Beat Jerry Lawler
WCW Halloween Havoc 10/25/1998 - Hollywood Hogan beat The Warrior due to the interference of Horace Hogan.
Sources include: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Almanac & Onlineworldofwrestling.com
