RIP Ultimate Warrior

[MisterCreosote]

OK, I'll accept as a passing-of-the-torch sort of thing.

I just see it as this: the WWF became what it became because of Hulk. But the time the Ultimate Warrior came around its popularity was astronomical. So yeah, at some point SOMEone was going to replace Hulk as the It-guy. I was leaving the WWF and wrestling in general at the same time the Ultimate Warrior was becoming massive so I missed his peak.

I'll take your word that he was AS big as Hulk. But BIGGER than Hulk? Not sure that's possible. Hulk Hogan is the reason the WWF got so big, so massive, so popular, so fast before the game morphed in the '90s and 2000s and now 20-10s.

I'm talking about during a very specific time in their careers, the late '80s-early '90s. Overall, it's Hulk by a mile. But when Warrior blew up in the late '80s, everyone in the company knew he was the biggest star in the world.

By 1990, Hogan's shtick had started to get stale, and he was out of WWE within three years, during which he'd show up every now and then and disappear for large chunks of time. In fact, if Hogan hadn't turned heel in 1995, he would've faded into irrelevance in short order. It's a testament to him that he was able to revive himself like that.

Warrior should've been the top guy during that whole time, but he couldn't sustain it. The guys who really benefited from Hogan's fade in the long run were Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, and maybe Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

 

[Songbird]

I think I missed these screeds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF4ZTcuhixc#t=90

Edit: That is seriously some of the funniest shtick I've ever seen.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

As stunning as Warrior's death is, it's almost as stunning that he was the first (well, technically the second) member of the dysfunctional 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class to die. Five years ago, I doubt anyone would've thought Scott Hall and Jake Roberts would outlive Warrior.

DDP should not only be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he should get a 30 for 30 special.

 

[sgreenwell]

As stunning as Warrior's death is, it's almost as stunning that he was the first (well, technically the second) member of the dysfunctional 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class to die. Five years ago, I doubt anyone would've thought Scott Hall and Jake Roberts would outlive Warrior.

I dunno - They both seem to be of the Keith Richards mold, where if they were going to die from an overdose, it probably would have happened by now. It's weird, Warrior always had the steroid rumors and seemed unhinged mentally, but you didn't hear stories on shoots or read about him ingesting massive piles of cocaine. Living on the road like they did in the 80s and 90s couldn't have been good for anyone, but Warrior also had far less of an in-ring career than others of that era, between his absences and quick matches.

 

[sgreenwell]

As stunning as Warrior's death is, it's almost as stunning that he was the first (well, technically the second) member of the dysfunctional 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class to die. Five years ago, I doubt anyone would've thought Scott Hall and Jake Roberts would outlive Warrior.

DDP should not only be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he should get a 30 for 30 special.

He's definitely getting enshrined, between the in-ring career and how loved he is out of the ring. I'm not sure how much credit he should get for the yoga stuff. I think it's more that he's a personable son of a *****, and that with his background in the sport makes it an easier sell for recovery for those guys.

 

[MisterCreosote]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

As stunning as Warrior's death is, it's almost as stunning that he was the first (well, technically the second) member of the dysfunctional 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class to die. Five years ago, I doubt anyone would've thought Scott Hall and Jake Roberts would outlive Warrior.

DDP should not only be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he should get a 30 for 30 special.

He's an amazing story. He's probably the biggest reason Jake the Snake is still around.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

I know there's been much written about that family, but it seems to be begging for one more all-in longform extravaganza. Actually, the whole of World Class Championship Wrestling would make a fascinating documentary/book/Grantland-style feature, giving the tragedies that took place during and after their run. I know WWE did a DVD, but something with a little more oomph.

 

[Boom_70]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

I know there's been much written about that family, but it seems to be begging for one more all-in longform extravaganza. Actually, the whole of World Class Championship Wrestling would make a fascinating documentary/book/Grantland-style feature, giving the tragedies that took place during and after their run. I know WWE did a DVD, but something with a little more oomph.

The most recent tragedy being Torrie Wilson dating A rod

 

[Batman]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

Agreed. Every few months you'd hear stories about how bad of shape Hall was in, and it wasn't a recent development. It was a reputation he'd had at least since the mid-90s (WCW even did an angle where he often came to the ring "drunk," which was creepily believable). He and Roberts, it seems, have made great strides in the last couple of years.

 

[Morris816]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

I know there's been much written about that family, but it seems to be begging for one more all-in longform extravaganza. Actually, the whole of World Class Championship Wrestling would make a fascinating documentary/book/Grantland-style feature, giving the tragedies that took place during and after their run. I know WWE did a DVD, but something with a little more oomph.

Look for Heroes of World Class. It's one of the best wrestling documentaries produced. Low budget but does an excellent job telling the tale.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

I know there's been much written about that family, but it seems to be begging for one more all-in longform extravaganza. Actually, the whole of World Class Championship Wrestling would make a fascinating documentary/book/Grantland-style feature, giving the tragedies that took place during and after their run. I know WWE did a DVD, but something with a little more oomph.

Look for Heroes of World Class. It's one of the best wrestling documentaries produced. Low budget but does an excellent job telling the tale.

I was just about to recommend that. Really good documentary.

The beginning of it is awesome, with Kevin walking back through the abandoned Sportatorium right before it was going to get torn down and pointing things out.

 

[Flip Wilson]

I dunno. Watch that E:60 from a few years ago on Scott Hall. He was more than halfway through death's door.

The biggest tragedies to me were the Von Erichs. Especially Kerry.

I know there's been much written about that family, but it seems to be begging for one more all-in longform extravaganza. Actually, the whole of World Class Championship Wrestling would make a fascinating documentary/book/Grantland-style feature, giving the tragedies that took place during and after their run. I know WWE did a DVD, but something with a little more oomph.

Look for Heroes of World Class. It's one of the best wrestling documentaries produced. Low budget but does an excellent job telling the tale.

I was just about to recommend that. Really good documentary.

The beginning of it is awesome, with Kevin walking back through the abandoned Sportatorium right before it was going to get torn down and pointing things out.

Echoing others, that is indeed a great documentary. And -- on a sorta related note -- when Kevin Von Erich started following me on Twitter, it was one of the highlights of my online life.

 

[schiezainc]

As stunning as Warrior's death is, it's almost as stunning that he was the first (well, technically the second) member of the dysfunctional 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class to die. Five years ago, I doubt anyone would've thought Scott Hall and Jake Roberts would outlive Warrior.

DDP should not only be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he should get a 30 for 30 special.

He's definitely getting enshrined, between the in-ring career and how loved he is out of the ring. I'm not sure how much credit he should get for the yoga stuff. I think it's more that he's a personable son of a *****, and that with his background in the sport makes it an easier sell for recovery for those guys.

The guy is just an incredible personality. I had the pleasure of going to WrestleCon last year and a buddy of mine was interested in DDP Yoga. We went to his booth and he chatted us up for 20 minutes without even once mentioning that he wanted to sell us this item. He's just got that charm. Such a nice dude. Might be the nicest pro wrestler I've ever met.

 

[Double J]

I think I missed these screeds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF4ZTcuhixc#t=90

Edit: That is seriously some of the funniest shtick I've ever seen.

Yeah, he was pretty ****ed in the head.

Having said that....

Well, that's kind of pathetic.

Warrior was bat**** crazy. That explains a lot. He once starred in a self-published comic book in which he raped Santa Claus.

http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/warrior-xmas/

That's just twisted beyond belief. Seriously, what in the ****??

 

[spikechiquet]

I think I missed these screeds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF4ZTcuhixc#t=90

Edit: That is seriously some of the funniest shtick I've ever seen.

Yeah, he was pretty ****ed in the head.

Having said that....

Well, that's kind of pathetic.

Warrior was bat**** crazy. That explains a lot. He once starred in a self-published comic book in which he raped Santa Claus.

http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/warrior-xmas/

That's just twisted beyond belief. Seriously, what in the ****??

18 years away from "the game" made him go a little batty me thinks.

 

[YankeeFan]

 

[Sea Bass]

Who's the guy beside Paul Bearer?

 

[MisterCreosote]

Curt Hennig, aka Mr. Perfect.