NO. Many speak of Ultimate Warrior’s place in the Hall of Fame as a tribute. Some even use it as a plea that I should make nice with WWE, let bygones be bygones. That being inducted into the Hall of Fame would be a tribute to all I accomplished with the character in sports-entertainment and a way to preserve its legacy, and an appreciative gesture to all of Ultimate Warrior’s fans. I disagree. The greater tribute, the one showing greater honor and reverence, for the character and the fans, is to stand by my principles and refuse to participate in the charade. Ultimate Warrior fans, even more than persona, are better than any honor today’s WWE could bestow. Frankly, I can’t think of an easier way to disrespect the character, the fans or myself. Ultimate Warrior is a Hall-of-Famer because HE IS. There is nothing else to add or do to make it so that he is one. He is, pure and simple. End of story. A phony ceremony isn’t what makes him one. My own legacy, as the creator and performer of Ultimate Warrior, is to the people who have stood by me and drawn strength and inspiration from the integrity of my word. That my word is my bond and there is value in my promises. Going back to the WWE for the sake of one emotional moment would have me lose much more than I could ever gain. What I am, where I’ve come and what I stand for is worth much more than a shiny WWE plaque on my wall. That’s how I see it, and that is my tribute to the career of the Ultimate Warrior and to all those people who loved and supported him, and who continue to do so. It is my testimony to the fans, and to stand in a WWE ring and wave to them would be nothing more than cheap and superficial. It would do nothing more than denigrate his memory. A memory that, it’s funny, yet so true, will outlast every other one that has ever stepped into a wrestling ring. And will, just as much because of what I stand for now, as what Ultimate Warrior stood for in the ring all those years some time ago.
If he doesn't want to "lower himself" to Vince McMahon's standards, then so be it. He's certainly entitled to that. Sure, WWE makes money off the HoF (through the tickets, television coverage and DVD sales), but I honestly think it was meant as a tribute to some of their bigger stars throughout the years. If the guy doesn't want to be a part of it, fine, I don't think the fans have exactly been screaming out for his inclusion.
They're still making money of Warrior today whether he likes it or not. There's the action figures, the 24/7 thing and now the DVD coming out. I think the only person losing sleep over Warrior's relationship with WWE is Warrior. So if he doesn't want to take place in the "phony ceremony" (which it is, don't get me wrong), then by all means just let it go.
Does anyone else wonder what Warrior would be doing right now if Vince had given him some other gimmick besides "The Ultimate Warrior" way back when?
What if he was given the "Repo Man" gimmick instead? Would he have changed his name legally to Repo Man and have a website where he discusses the universal cosmic importance of wearing a tire tread spandex suit, carrying a chain, and repossessing things that never belonged to him?
Originally posted by wafflekingI betcha Warrior was a theater major in college
Helliwig went to Chiropractor school. So, there's a lot of acting there. ("You need to come back about three times a week for the next ten weeks for an ajustment so that your back can be cured")
The sad part is that the Warrior *thinks* he is important. He is just a blip - a sad little blip of "what-might-have-beens" on the great radar screen of the past. Nothing more.
Originally posted by wafflekingWhat if he was given the "Repo Man" gimmick instead?
Catchphrase: "What's mine is mine, and what's yours, throughout the infinite wisdom of the eternal hellfire, shall not be denied to those who believe in themselves and their most integral principles. SNAAAARL!"
Oh, but if only today's Warrior fun stopped THERE.
[Observer.com]
--Quote of the day by the former Jim Hellwig, explaining his name change to Warrior: "I believe with everything that I am that every life is a destiny and I believe it was my destiny to become Warrior, as the man I am and to take the name and make it my family's. My wife took my name, and both my children have the surname of Warrior. Our family has a creed, a mission statement and a coat of arms. This is our ancestry. This is the beginning of our lineage, by severing the past and beginning a new family name."
Yikes.
I hope one or all of the kids graduate from med school so they can have the name Dr. Warrior.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 24.3.05 1619) "It's floating wicker propelled by fire!"
The Warrior Family sounds like a reality show just waiting to happen. You have a father almost as out of touch of reality than Michael Jackson only without the child molestation allegations. The fun could be endless.
People thought Ozzy was hard to understand, just wait until mainstream America gets a dose of... DESTRUCITY!!!
Back to the topic of the WWE Hall of Fame, I would like to see Vince induct the Ultimate Warrior then have some other guy dressed up like the Warrior to accept the honor just to piss him off. I don't think anyone would tell the difference anyway.
Originally posted by Matt TrackerHelp me remember. He was the guy with the tassles, right?
No No, thats Paul London.
Ive been saying for a while now if he just painted his face he would be the ultimate london!
More Ravishing than Rick Rude could have dreamed of, and I get the kind of women Rick would have loved, Marvelous Matt Mercerbr>LAter God bless Marvelous Matt Mercer www.MattMercer.tk
Originally posted by Parts UnknownThe sad part is that the Warrior *thinks* he is important. He is just a blip - a sad little blip of "what-might-have-beens" on the great radar screen of the past. Nothing more.
Now, is all of this Warrior hatred completely warranted? I think it isn't fair to say he was just a "blip" (anyone remember that magazine by the way?) on the screen. I am not saying in the annals of wrestling history, the Ultimate Warrior will go down like some others, but to totally disregard his accomplishments is a tad bit absurd. It makes me wonder if people are totally disregarding him because either...
--He really did suck that much (pro wrestling is a lot more than ring/workrate, mind you) and everyone has a sugar-coated memory of his adventures...or
--Everyone is neglecting his accomplishments because of what Warrior has said about wrestling, life, and politics since his retirement?
If it is the first, then ok...fair enough + everyone has their own opinion. But if it is the second, that, to me, is unfair.
I know when I ask people what they remember about wrestling, they sometimes bring up the Ultimate Warrior and his craziness. The guy was over...plain and simple. Over enough to let Hogan agree to take his first clean pin in 6 years from him, and over enough that some people still are interested in what he has to say and/or remember him today. Like any other over wrestler, the gimmick he had clicked with his look and personality. Of course anyone could argue "what if he was saddled with this or that gimmick, he'd be nothing." That could be said for a multitude of people.
I am not a Warrior fan (I certainly agree that the guy is waaaay gone -- just look at his comments after Paul Wellstone died), but I always enjoyed the Ultimate Warrior. He has a point when he talks about the energy he brought to the arena when he would sprint to the ring; you can see it on any footage of him -- the people would go nuts.
Anyway, that's just my attempt at an objective view. If he's in the Hall of Fame, fine. If not, fine. I just hope there are a lot of Warrior/Rude matches on his DVD. That might be my only attempt to own footage of my favorite wrestler growing up.
Originally posted by wafflekingI betcha Warrior was a theater major in college.
Does anyone else wonder what Warrior would be doing right now if Vince had given him some other gimmick besides "The Ultimate Warrior" way back when?
To be somewhat fair to him, he did have the Warrior part of the gimmick pre-Vince when he was the Dingo Warrior for Fritz Von Erich in World Class. On the hatred for Warrior: It boils down to a few key reasons. The obvious of course is that he is about 44 steps to the other side of delusional. Also, he had a habit of when things weren't going the way he wanted it, he would take his ball, go home and pout. And, the disaster that was Warrior/Hogan II in '98 was one of the signature moments in the utter implosion that became of WCW.
He definitely had an it factor to him, Whattaburger. No one denies that, but ultimately, he is just a blip. I know many people who fondly ask me about all the wrestlers they watched growing up, and what's happened to them. Warrior is always asked about, but not with any more interest than the others who rose prominence in his era. Dibiase, Steamboat, the Bushwhackers, Piper, and the Honky Tonk Man are all asked about too.
Yes, Hogan took the loss and tried to pass the torch. A simple review of the ring entrances clearly shows Hogan was far more popular, his ovation is without exaggeration almost twice as loud as Warrior's. Now, you can't blame them for trying; McMahon wanted to move on. It didn't work out, and they called Hogan back. They didn't do that for fun, there was obviously a business reason behind it. Later, he was fired for holding Summerslam ransom, and demanding money five minutes before a main event. His subsequent returns in 1992, 1996, and 1998 had little long-term impact on ratings or business, a fact which he ignores. Two of those tenures ended for disgraceful reasons: in 1992 he failed a drug test and in 1996 he blatantly no-showed events and did not offer any explanation. Way to treat the "little warriors". He gives no credit to anyone else who had a role in making him what he became, he has routinely attributed one hundred percent of his success to himself. I think even Vince McMahon will admit his success happened due to the effort of many. He frequently disparages people who are dead. He is a political extremist. Now, I don't personally think people who are extreme left are any less dangerous or less elitest than thoe who are extreme right, but all extremists are retards with dangerous levels of disillusionment. He is probably going to pass this sickening arrogance and diseased thinking down to his children.
So while many people downplay his significance, they don't do it by nearly the margin that he exaggerates it.
And such a deplorable human being does not really deserve better.
Hot Virgins-The World's Most Steadily Shrinking Commodity
Ah Dean, thanks once again for a fine recap. When I am in Vegas next week I will hoist a few microbrews in your honor among other things. Have a Happy Holidays.