It's the great collection, no the mega collection, no the ULTIMATE COLLECTION!
Ultimate Warrior was the reason I became a wrestling fan. He was my favorite wrestler growing up. I want to start off by saying I enjoy the format of this DVD. Interlocking the matches, promos, and the stories. The primary interview with Warrior is taped in the lead-up to WrestleMania XXX, the weekend where he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, appear on Raw, and then pass away.
Warrior starts off talking about studying to be a chiropractor then getting into body building before getting into wrestling and training with Red Bastien before going to Memphis and then Mid-South Wrestling.
NOPE Match
Blade Runners vs Perry Jackson & Shawn O'Riley, Mid-South Wrestling April 11, 1986
Blade Runners entrance music is very ominous. Blade Runners are brought to the ring by "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert. This match is one-fall with a 10-minute time limit. I don't think it's going to go 10 minutes. Blade Runners start clubbing their opponents. Warrior whips Jackson off the ropes then picks him up and drops him. He then picks him up again and does the same. Tags in Sting gets the tag and delivers a running splash and gets the pin. That's it. From the time the bell rang, once there was only one Blade Runner in the ring, the match goes 40 seconds.
Dingo Warrior vs Chris Adams, World Class Championship Wrestling, August 1986
Nothing really special about this match. The bell rings but before the match can begin, everyone's favorite pallbearer, Percival Pringle III grabs a microphone and calls out Adams, who is the World Class Heavyweight Champion having recently defeated Rick Rude for the title, saying he's not a real champion and challenges him to a rematch. This match is pretty dull. Warrior, even by his standards, is not very good in this match, and Adams, while better than Warrior, is not top quality himself. The match ends with Warrior picking Adams up and dropping him throat-first across the top rope followed by an elbow drop (which doesn't look like a finishing move but at least looks more devastating than Hulk Hogan's leg drop). There's a pinfall attempt which it kinda looks like Adams kicked out, but maybe not in time and there's some confusion by the commentator but the referee calls for the bell. It even looked like Warrior was positioning himself for a kickout by Adams. Warrior immediately gets up and attempts another elbow drop but Adams moves out of the way and out of the ring seemingly disgusted with the outcome, makes me wonder if that was the planned outcome.
NOPE Matches
Ultimate Warrior vs Barry Horowitz
Ultimate Warrior vs Steve Lombardi
I'm going to put these two together. The Horowitz match features Bobby Heenan claims that Warrior is a "poor-man's Rick Rude" and has had to spend all of his time working on his body and can't read or write. Both matches features picture-in-picture promos from Warrior talking about bringing the power of the Warriors to the WWF. Those were the only parts of these squash match worth mentioning.
Ultimate Warrior vs Harley Race, Prime Time Wrestling, March 21, 1988
Warrior finally has some competition in the form of a former NWA World Champion, though WWF didn't make it feel like a big deal. "The King" Harley Race uses the same music later used by King Haku and famously Jerry "The King" Lawler. There's nothing special about this match. The commentators are busy hyping WrestleMania IV all throughout this match. The two are mis-matched with Race being a classic 70's style hard hitter and Warrior being a wild, out of control style. The highlights are Race taking a Ric Flair-esqe 360 backwards tumble over the top rope and later the two men colliding head-to-head with Warrior going down and Race moments later going down head first into Warrior's nether regions. Warrior wins reversing suplex into a rollup.
Weasel Suit Match: Ultimate Warrior vs Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Los Angeles July 15, 1988
The Brain puts on the trunks for a match against Warrior. These two would put this match on several times at the major arenas in the summer of '88. They can be found fighting at Madison Square Garden on the Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's DVD. With as many wrestlers who went to Hollywood, it's a bit of a surprise that Bobby Heenan didn't. He could have been a top-list comedian and comedic actor and this match shows his comedic acting skills. The early moments of the match see Warrior, in the ring, grabbing both of Heenan's arms while Heenan is outside the ring and ramming him into the pole. Heenan then starts running away from Warrior, but at one point Warrior squats down and hides from Heenan only to jump out and catch him by surprise. In the ring, Warrior goes to town on The Brain. Heenan pulls a foreign object out of his tights and jabs it into Warrior's throat to take control of the match. Warrior starts to fight back. Warrior whips Heenan toward the corner and Heenan flips head over heels into the corner. Warrior puts a sleeper on Heenan and Bobby is out. Now, there's a reason Warrior did a sleeper instead of his normal finish that's so that Heenan would be out of it as he puts the weasel suit on. Gorilla Monsoon, Superstar Graham, and Sean Mooney on commentary start joking about what they would have put in the suit. Everything from fire ants to crazy glue. Once the weasel suit is fully on, Warrior slaps Heenan awake and exits the ring. Heenan slowly comes to. He puts is hand on his face only to realize he has a paw. Then he starts chasing his own tail falling over repeatedly while trying to get out as the crowd chants "weasel". Not a great match, but not it was fun.
I-C Championship, Honky Tonk Man (c) (w/Jimmy Hart) vs Ultimate Warrior, Summerslam '88
Another squash match, this time on PPV. This match is featured on Best of Madison Square Garden, 30 Years of Summerslam, and History of the I-C Championship DVDs. I suspect mostly because it's so short they can easily squeeze it into a DVD. This match goes: punch, punch, punch, bodyslam, running shoulder block, (weak) clothesline, then Honky positions himself properly on the mat for Warrior to deliver his splash to win the title. This match is shorter than the Blade Runners squash match, and Honky lasts less time against Warrior and gets less offense than Bobby Heenan did. Still it's kinda fun to watch, though I won't be watching it, or reviewing it on any other DVDs.
I-C Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart)
A rematch from Summerslam, Honky manages to last longer than he did at Summerslam at least. After starting fast, Warrior goes outside and grabs Jimmy Hart, picking him up and carrying him to the back. There are a lot of empty seats in the Spectrum. There are less than 6,000 fans in attendance for this show headlined by Randy Savage vs Haku and Jake Roberts vs Andre the Giant. Jimmy Hart returns and gives Warrior a shot with the megaphone. Honky starts choking Warrior with something as the cameras cut to the crowd so they don't show the choking. Later Warrior removes one of his tassels and begins choking Honky. Jimmy Hart gets in the ring and empties out a bag of powder into his hand, but Warrior knocks Jimmy's hand sending the powder into Hart's own face. Warrior then picks Hart up and throws him on top of Honky followed by a pin. While Jimmy Hart is no Bobby Heenan (but who is) he's still the highlight of this match. I am curious as to whether carrying Jimmy Hart to the back was planned or not.
Next Warrior talks about how he gets into his character and becomes his character. And now he's going to face someone else who became their character, the Macho Man Randy Savage.
NOPE Match
WWF Championship vs I-C Championship: Randy Savage vs Ultimate Warrior
A year before the epic title vs title showdown at WrestleMania VI, Warrior has a title vs title match with newly heel-turned WWF Champion Randy Savage. This was just one week after Savage turned on Hulk Hogan on The Main Event. After entering the ring, Savage gets a glimpse of two fans holding a heart-shaped sign that says "Hogan Loves Elizabeth". Warrior catches Savage off guard and Savage has to retreat to the outside where he stars jaw-jacking with some fans. Savage goes to the top rope for a cross-body splash, Warrior catches him but can't quite keep his feet as he falls carrying Savage. The fight goes to the outside as Savage delivers his double ax-handle from the top rope onto The Warrior who is outside the ring. Savage tosses Warrior back into the ring and then snaps Warrior's neck across the top rope while leaping to the outside. A while later, Rick Rude comes to ringside and begins posing in an attempt to distract Warrior. Savage makes a pinfall attempt but Warrior kicks out. Savage put a sleeper on Warrior. Warrior starts to get energized like he's going to break free but Savage pulls Warrior down by the hair. Savage breaks the sleeper just to deliver some blows to Warrior and reapply the sleeper. Warrior gets up and breaks the hold. The two men run the ropes and clothesline each other, but Savage comes out the better on that. Savage hits his patented double axhandle to Warrior and goes for a pin, but Warrior throws Savage off of him. Warrior reverses a suplex into a suplex of his own. Rick Rude then comes out and starts posing in an attempt to distract Warrior. It takes a several minutes before Warrior notices Rude. Meanwhile, Warrior goes for his splash but Savage gets his knees up. Rude gets right up in Warrior's face but still Warrior doesn't notice him. Once Warrior finally notices Rude he goes to the outside and begins chasing him as Rude backpedals. Warrior has his lifted choke on Rude on the outside as Savage hits his double axhandle to Warrior once again causing Warrior to get counted out. Rude gets in the ring and he and Savage shake hands. Warrior then gets back in the ring and takes both men out. Warrior clotheslines Rude followed by his press slam. Savage wins, but does not win the I-C title. Best match so far by a long shot. These two were simply on fire. These two would go on to have several more matches with each other in the coming months each time ending with Rick Rude coming out, distracting Warrior leading Warrior to get counted out.
I-C Championship, Rick Rude (c) (w/Bobby Heenan) vs Ultimate Warrior, Summerslam '89
These two had a pose down at Royal Rumble followed by a title match at WrestleMania in which Rude won the title after Heenan held Warrior's foot down. Rude deluvers several punches to Warrior with no effect. Warrior picks Rude uo and dumps him on the outside of the ring. Warrior follows him outside. Warrior throws Rude into the timekeeper's table. He then grabs the belt and hits Rude with it. On commentary, Jesse Ventura says that should be a DQ, while Tony Sciavone (during his short stint in the WWF) says that it's on the outside, to which Jesse replies with "are you telling me you can shoot somebody as long as it's outside the ring?" Warrior suplexes Rude on the outside, throws him back in the ring, and then tosses him back out. After a few moves in the ring, they're back in the ring and Warrior delivers an double axhandle from the top turnbuckle. Warrior goes for the pin but Rude kicks out. Warrior goes back to the top turnbuckle but Rude knocks him down crotching him. Rude does everything he can to keep Warrior down, but Warrior won't stay down. Rude applies a sleeper but Warrior drops down ramming his head into Rude's chin. After a criss-cross the two men collide knocking both men, and the referee, down. The referee is still down as Warrior delivers several clotheslines followed by a powerslam. He goes for a pin but the referee is still down. Warrior hits a piledriver. The referee slowly gets up the count but Rude gets his foot on the ropes. Rude picks Warrior up for something in between a piledriver and a powerbomb. Rude goes for a pin, Warrior kicks out, but with less force. Rowdy Roddy Piper comes to the ring as Piper and Rude have been feuding. Rude starts posing to taunt Piper, so Piper flashes his backside at Rude. Warrior delivers a belly-to-back suplex to Rude. Warrior hits his signature press slam and splash followed by the 1-2-3. This was certainly an exciting match especially near the end. Not as good as the Savage or Hogan matches but it still had a lot of good storytelling.
NOPE Matches
Ultimate Warrior vs Bob Bradley, Superstars 9/16/89
Ultimate Warrior vs Brian Costello, Superstars 12/23/89
These are significant because both times when Warrior pins his opponent he does so with one knee on his opponent. With Bradley he wrestles half the match with the belt on, before taking it off and dropping it on Bradley. Then after the match stuffing Bradley underneath the ring. With Costello he carries him halfway up the aisle after the match before depositing him on the floor.
Next up is a forgettable Brother Love show with Warrior, Andre the Giant, and Bobby Heenan
I-C Championship, Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the "Ultimate" Giant, Madison Square Garden October 28, 1989
Before Warrior even comes to the ring, Bobby Heenan is ejected from ringside. Warrior runs to the ring. The match goes clothes line, clothesline, Warrior runs around the ring, clothesline, Andre is down, splash, 1-2-3. Warrior's music never stops from the time he comes to the ring to the time he leaves. I looked it up and, from what I found, this was the only time after WrestleMania III that Andre was pinned in the WWF, and the only time he lost at Madison Square Garden.
I-C Championship, Ultimate Warrior vs Andre the "Ultimate" Giant, Saturday Night's Main Event November 25, 1989
Poor Mean Gene has the task of interviewing Warrior about the match when Warrior talks about fear. There's nothing really special to report on this match. While Andre is trapped in the ropes and the referee tries to free him, Heenan gets in the ring attacks Warrior with the belt. Warrior picks Heenan up and throws him onto Andre. Andre is DQ'ed for outside interference. Most Warrior matches it's his opponent making him look good. This time it's Warrior making his opponent look good. Warrior does a good job of selling Andre's moves. This is very forgettable.
This disc starts with the buildup to WrestleMania VI. We start with the "Crash the plane" promo. This promo is one (if not THE) most bizarre promos of Warrior's career (that's saying a lot). It's not available on Peacock (unless it's on a special program), so I decided to place a link to YouTube below. Check it out.
NOPE Match
I-C Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Mr. Perfect, Madison Square Garden March 19, 1990
Just two weeks before WrestleMania Warrior puts his title on the line against one of the greatest in-ring technicians of all time. Mr. Perfect is undefeated going into this match. Perfect's manager, The Genius is not at ringside for this match. The match starts off with a criss-cross ending with Warrior delivering a blow to the gut. After that, Perfect kinda backs off away from Warrior. At one point Warrior grabs Perfect by the hair and tosses him down on the mat and Perfect slides into home plate--er the ring post--crotch first. Warrior tries his splash only to have Perfect get his knees up. Perfect soon tosses Warrior between the ropes to the outside. Warrior comes back and does a sunset flip from the outside of the ropes in but does not get a pin. Moment's later, Perfect delivers a perfect standing drop kick. It really is a thing of beauty. Perfect has a reverse double chinlock (basically a Camel Cluth without the opponent's arms across the legs) on Warrior and it really looks weak. Warrior starts to get out by gathering energy and getting himself going. Perfect tries a few blows, but to no avail. Warrior gets a few clotheslines on Perfect followed by a flying shoulder block. Warrior then hits his gorilla press followed by a splash and pins Mr. (no longer) Perfect. WHY???? This booking makes no sense. The undefeated Mr. Perfect suffers his first loss at a Madison Square Garden show right before WrestleMania? I'm not sure why The Genius wasn't there but I think the best course of action would have been some sort of DQ/countout. Perfect would go on to lose again to Brutus Beefcake at WrestleMania. What did he do to piss of Vince? He would follow that up by winning the vacant I-C title, though the Perfect one would not win single PPV match in 1990 or 91. This is Warrior's second encounter with a technical savant, though this match isn't as good as the Randy Savage match. Perhaps because Perfect was seen as a mid-carder and Warrior was a main eventer whereas in the Savage match Savage was the main eventer and Warrior was a mid-carder on the rise the booking of the two matches saw Savage looking a lot better than Perfect did.
Next Warrior talks about WrestleMania VI. He talks about how there were carts to take the wrestlers to the ring but when Warrior was informed of this he told the assistants that he was running to the ring. To which, the assistants go and tell Vince, Vince angrily tracks down Warrior, Warrior tells him that he's running to the ring and Vince tells the assistants he's running to the ring.
Next we get both Hogan and Warrior's pre-match interviews. Okerlund interviews Hogan in the interview area and Hogan asks Warrior if he wants to live forever and says Warrior needs to breathe his last breath and that he and the Hulkamaniacs can save him and turn the darkness that he lives in into light and that they can save the little Warriors by telling them to take their vitamins and say their prayers and he hopes Warrior is a good loser. Next we go to Sean Mooney in the locker room with Warrior who shoves poor Sean Mooney away and does the interview all by himself. Warrior asks Hogan if Hogan wants to live forever and that the Hulkamaniacs can live forever through him. Warrior says the darkness is nothing to fear and is about accepting the challenges at the risk of losing everything. Warrior says he's not there to destroy Hulkamania but rather bring the Warriors and the Hulkamaniacs together as one and the colors of the Hulkamaniacs are coming through the pores of his skin. Honestly, for once Warrior's promo is no stranger than his opponent's.
We then move onto a video package of some of the events leading up to WrestleMania including Royal Rumble, SNME when they teamed together against Perfect & Genius and Warrior accidentally clotheslined Hogan, The Main Event when Warrior faced Earthquake and Hogan saved Warrior from Quake, and TV when Warrior saved Hogan from Earthquake (though that was a little to late since Quake had already splashed Hogan) and Warrior looks like he's going to clothesline Hogan but stops. That brings us to the match itself.
Title vs Title, Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior, WrestleMania VI
Now we're on to the biggest WrestleMania match since Hogan vs Andre. Normally I wouldn't post a review a match like this that has been shown and reviewed so many times, but it was Warrior's title win that made me a wrestling fan. No, I didn't watch it live. I never watched a wrestling PPV live until the WWE Network came along and even then it was a few years. But, I remember seeing Warrior on the cover of WWF Magazine holding the belts and I started watching wrestling on TV and became a fan of Warrior and the rest is history. I'll only talk about my favorite spots of this match. They lock up in a Greco-Roman knuckle lock. At first it's even until Warrior forces Hogan to the ground. The referee asks Hogan if he wanst to give up, but Hogan fights his way back up and Hogan starts to take control forcing Warrior to his knees. Warrior starts to come back. Hogan breaks the hold and takes Warrior down. Then we do a criss-cross ending with Hogan scooping and slamming Warrior. Then the go back at it again with the criss-cross this time Warrior slams Hogan. Warrior clotheslines Hogan to the floor and Hogan appears to have injured his knee and is limping. Warrior goes outside and targets Hogan's knee. Warrior tosses Hogan back in the ring. Later Hogan applies a front face lock to Warrior and Gorilla Monsoon says "What a punishing hold this is" to which Jesse Ventura responds with "Absolutely, ask Richard Belzer." Nothing much significant for a while until a double clothesline takes both men down. You can call this a few moments of rest for two guys who aren't used to going 20 minutes, but I call this fucking storytelling. As a kid I found it significant that Warrior lost all of his face paint and paint on his chest during this match. Warrior gets up first and takes control. Warrior puts a bear hug on Hogan wearing him down. Hogan's arm drops twice, but not a third time as he comes back. They do another crisscross this time ending with Earl Hebner taking the blow. Warrior goes for his flying shoulder tackle but Hogan side-steps him taking him down. Hogan goes for the pin counts 1-2-3 but there's no referee. Warrior picks Hogan up and delivers a suplex and counts 1-2-3 himself but still no referee. The referee comes to and soon Warrior does his finishing combination but Hogan kicks out! That's never happened before. Hogan hits the boot and goes for the leg drop but Warrior moves out of the way. Warrior hits the splash and NEWWWWWWWW World Champion, The Ultimate Warrior. Hogan goes outside the ring grabs the WWF title belt and personally hands the belt to Warrior raising his hand. The two men hug. Fireworks explode as Warrior stands in the ring and raises both belts. Sure this match wasn't a technical masterpiece. In fact, it was kinda slow at times. But the drama was off the charts. The crowd reaction was 10/10 for the whole match. If you're not aware, much like how Mick Foley was in the crowd for Superfly's leap, future WWE superstar Edge was in attendance for this match.
WWF Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Ted DiBiase, WWF/New Japan Wrestling Summit (April 13, 1990 at Tokyo Dome)
More than 53,000 fans are in attendance as WWF travels to Japan for this epic encounter that can be seen on the 1990 World Tour home video with Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura on commentary available on Peacock. DiBiase attacks Warrior from behind as Warrior is posing before the match. Virgil was not at ringside and it was suggested by Vince McMahon that he was barred from ringside from the wrestling commission. Warrior goes for a flying shoulder tackle but DiBiase side-steps him and drives him down to the mat. DiBiase maintains control with a suplex. Warrior comes back with a series of clotheslines followed by his big splash and a pin. Warrior wins after about 6 minutes. Not much to this match. Hardly an epic encounter. Not really deserving of a WWF title match on a huge card such as this. The card also featured Bret Hart vs Tiger Mask II, Mr. Perfect & Rick Martel vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Haku, Andre the Giant & Giant Baba vs Demolition (in Andre's last ever WWF match), and the main event of Hulk Hogan vs Stan Hansen (who as substituting for Terry Gordy).
WWF Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Rick Rude (with manager Bobby Heenan), Saturday Night's Main Event July 28, 1990
Prematch promo from Warrior talking about being at the top of the food chain and being the ultimate animal. Rude with a sneak attack on Warrior to start the match, but Warrior turns it around quickly ramming Rude's head into the turnbuckle repeatedly. Rude does a great job at selling Warrior's moves. After knocking Rude to the outside, Warrior grabs Rude's and Heenan's heads and rams them together. Warrior goes for his finishing splash, but Rude moves out of the way and Warrior hits the mat before rolling to the floor. Rude grabs the WWF Championship belt and nails Warrior with it while Heenan distracts the referee. Rude goes to the top rope, leaps for an unknown move, but Warrior nails him in the midsection. Warrior's control doesn't last long as Rude takes back control. Rude attempts a bodyslam but Warrior blocks it. Rude manages to get a sleeper on Warrior and Warrior starts walking around with Rude on his back. Warrior slowly starts to go down. Instead of lifting Warrior's arm to check his consciousness, the referee lifts Warrior's leg. It only drops twice before Warrior comes to and breaks the hold. Rude hits a Rude Awakening on Warrior and goes for a pin, but only gets two. Warrior comes back around with a series of clotheslines, shoulder tackle, splash, and one, two...no, wait, Bobby Heenan breaks up the count. Warrior chases after Heenan, Rude chases after Warrior, Warrior lifts Rude up and carries him towards the ring, but Heenan attacks. Warrior gets Heenan in the ring and makes The Brain pay. Warrior tosses Heenan over the top rope and out as the bell rings and Warrior's music hits. Warrior apparently wins by DQ. This was a decent match. I think it was worthy of headlining a Saturday Night's Main Event.
WWF Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Ted DiBiase (with Virgil), Saturday Night's...er THE Main Event, November 23, 1990
If you don't know the story of this event, this was supposed to be a 90 minutes Saturday Night's Main Event Show, but shortly after the show was taped in late October, NBC cancelled the show and replaced it with a 60 minute Main Event show. The match that was cut from the broadcast for time was Hart Foundation vs Rockers in which The Rockers won the Tag Team Championships in a Best 2 of 3 Falls Match, however the top rope broke during the first fall and had to be repaired between falls. For whatever reason, the WWF decided not to go along with the title change and returned the belts to The Hart Foundation. That match can be seen on the Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak and Triumph DVD. This was the feature match of the show. They start with a collar-and-elbow tie-up with Warrior shoving DiBiase away. A couple of minutes in DiBiase knocks Warrior to the outside. Upon getting back in the ring, DiBiase has control. DiBiase dropw Warrior with a suplex, goes for a pin, but only gets two. On the outside now, DiBiase rams Warrior into the steps before throwing him back in. DiBiase hits a few punches to the head of Warrior, but Warrior shrugs them off and reverses a suplex. The two men criss-cross and both knock each other down. They get up, Warrior starts hitting his finishing moves, but then Virgil gets in the ring and attacks Warrior causing a DQ. Warrior lifts Virgil in the air for a press-slam but Randy Savage gets in the ring and nails Warrior in the mid-section with his scepter. Savage continues his attack on Warrior and steals the belt. Sherri begins kicking Warrior while he's down. Savage goes off the top rope and hits Warrior with a double ax handle. Another decent match. If I were to grade these on a 5-star scale, I'd put both of these last two matches at two and a half stars.
WWF Championship, Ultimate Warrior (c) vs Sgt. Slaughter (with General Adnan), Huntsville, AL, January 7, 1991
From WWF SuperTape 4, is this big championship match. Just a few weeks before their showdown at Royal Rumble. This match follows much the same format as the previous two, but with a little more action outside the ring to the advantage of Warrior's opponent. Sarge rams Warrior's head into the timekeeper's table before they get back in the ring. Slaughter takes a few head-first rams into the turnbuckle during this match. Eight years earlier that would have resulted in bloodshed, but not in 1991. Later Slaughter gets the Camel Clutch on Warrior, but Warrior's feet are underneath the ropes. The referee calls for a break, and Slaughter thinks he's won the championship, but the referee says 'no'. Warrior comes back hits the clotheslines, shoulder tackle, splash, and Warrior wins. On it's surface it's another mid match but after the last two, this just feels dull and repetitive.
NOPE Match
Steel Cage Match, Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage, Madison Square Garden January 21, 1991
Savage had just cost Warrior the WWF Championship against Sgt. Slaughter at Royal Rumble. Savage attacks Warrior outside the ring as Warrior makes his entrance. The two men finally enter the cage for the official start to the match. Warrior continues to dominate the match inside the cage. Sensational Sherri keeps having a fit trying to get in the cage. A double clothesline takes both men down. Savage crawls to Warrior and goes for a pin. Now, while pinfalls are allowed in this match, the referee is on the outside and has to get in the ring to count the pin. Warrior kicks out after two. Savage rams Warrior's head into the cage. Savage goes to the top rope and hits his big elbow. Savage goes for the pin, but Warrior lifts Savage off of him. Savage continues his beatdown, but Warrior is powering up. Warrior hits the clotheslines followed by the big splash, but Savage gets his knees up. Savage attempts to escape of the top of the cage. He's down to the bottom rung when Warrior reaches through the bars and grabs his hair (one of the advantages to the steel bar cage). Sherri gets in the ring and goes after Warrior. Sherri starts choking Warrior with her blouse causing Warrior to let go of Savage allowing Savage to reach the floor to win the match. Now, it's Warrior and Sherri in the ring as WWF pushes the limits of it's PG rating with Warrior disrobing Sherri. Savage gets back in and attacks Warrior. Savage goes to the top of the cage for a double ax handle but Warrior catches him with a blow to the gut. Warrior continues to attack Savage as referees try to stop him. The Nasty Boys get in the ring and try to hold Warrior back but he fights them off. Sherri, now dressed again, enters hits Warrior with the scepter but Warrior grabs Sherri again. Warrior picks Sherri up and drops her with his press slam. Warrior then stand with one foot on Sherri posing. While not as good of a match as the last Savage-Warrior match and certainly not as good as their upcoming WrestleMania encounter, but adding the cage as an element made it enjoyable as well as adding Sherri's involvement.
NOPE Segment
Brother Love Show with guest The Ultimate Warrior, Superstars March 2, 1991
"I looooooove yooooou. My guest this week has been WWF Champion. Ny guest this week has been a great competitor. I guess you can say 'has been' describes my guest this week...You might even call him an Ultimate has been." Brother Love's going to regret everything he just said. Warrior talks about how he's going to end Savage's career. Warrior then says he's going to start ending careers right now and starts tearing apart the Brother Love Show set and podium. Warrior chases Brother Love to ringside, tossing him in the ring. Warrior delivers a right hand to Blubber Love (as Roddy Piper calls him). That's followed by some short-arm clotheslines, a flying shoulder tackle, and two splashes. And thus, Brother Love's career was over. That was fun to watch.
Career Ending Match, Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage, WrestleMania VII
Now, much like WrestleMania VI, this match has been covered numerous times already, but this match has personal value for me. WrestleMania VII was the first WrestleMania since I became a wrestling fan, and Warrior was my guy. Now, this event was originally supposed to be held at the Coliseum and it was even announced as such during WrestleMania VI, but according to WWE, they received threats due to the Sgt. Slaughter American turncoat angle, and had to move indoors. In reality, they couldn't sell enough tickets for the large outdoor venue. Before either man's entrance can begin, Bobby Heenan points out that Miss Elizabeth is in attendance for this match. Heenan says she's here to see Savage lose and rub it in. Warrior comes to the ring walking, and not running, and wearing a colorful coat with tassels on it. Bobby Heenan asks if that is THE Ultimate Warrior. It was around that time that there was a popular rumor going around every playground in the country that the Ultimate Warrior had died and that Kerry Von Erich was portraying the character, now. Warrior has airbrushed kneepads with his and Savage's faces on them and airbrushed trunks that on the back has a picture of the WWF Championship belt and the words "Means much more than this". This match is much more of a wrestling match than the Hogan match. Savage goes to the top for a double ax handle, but Warrior catches him. But instead of slamming Savage, him simply puts him down on his feet and slaps him across the face. Savage exits the ring to take a break and starts rearranging furniture. Savage tries to blindside Warrior in the ring but Warrior catches on to it. After Warrior whips Savage into the corner and runs after hi, Savage moves out of the way and Warrior tumbles to the outside. While on the outside, Sensational Sherri attacks Warrior. In the ring Savage wears down Warrior with a sleeper hold, but Warrior comes back. A double clothesline knocks both men down as Sherri tries to get her man back in the match. Warrior gets Savage in a small package, but Sherri has the referee distracted. Warrior begins arguing with the referee as Savage hits him from behind knocking Warrior into the referee. Sherri jumps up on the top rope with her shoe removed. Savage holds Warrior in place for Sherri to hit him with her shoe, but Warrior moves out of the way and she hits Savage. A short while later Warrior is down as Savage goes to the top rope and hits his patented elbow, not once, not twice, not even three times, but five times before going for a pin, but Warrior kicks out. Savage can't believe it. Warrior begins his big comeback hitting all of his signature moves but Savage kicks out of the pinfall attemt. Warrior begins looking up to the sky, then looking at his hands as if he's asking the gods what to do. Warrior begins to walk away and steps outside the ropes onto the ring apron. The referee tells him that if he's counted out he loses and encourages Warrior to get back in before Savage knocks him off the apron. Savage places Warrior's throat across the guard rail and goes to the top rope for a double ax handle, much like he did to Ricky Steamboat more than four years earlier. Warrior moves out of the way and Savage hits the guard rail himself. Back in the ring Warrior hits multiple flying shoulder tackles to Savage and each time Savage rolls to the outside. Finally after one of the shoulder tackles, Warrior pins Savage by standing over him and placing his boot on Savage's body to win the match. After the match Sherri gets in the ring and begins attacking Macho Man that drives Miss Elizabeth from her seat and after Sherri. Savage and Elizabeth are reunited in the center of the ring. Fans are crying as Randy hoists Elizabeth onto his shoulders. This match has far better wrestling than the Hogan match, as of course Randy Savage is a far better wrestler than Hogan. So the burning question is, which match do I prefer? That is a very difficult question. I think I'm going with the Hulk Hogan match because of all of the excitement over the match and the split crowd.
NOPE Segment
The Funeral Parlor with guest The Ultimate Warrior, Superstars April 13, 1991
Other than The Undertaker, Warrior was the very first guest on the Funeral Parlor. Paul Bearer has a special casket with the Warrior's logo graphics on it. Bearer claims Warrior is scared to face Undertaker. Warrior grabs Paul Bearer by the collar as The Undertaker comes out from a coffin on the set and attacks Warrior. Undertaker hits Warrior with the urn repeatedly. Undertaker then picks Warrior up and places him in the casket. As Undertaker attempts to close the lid, Warrior attempts to fight back, but Undertaker manages to close the lid and lock Warrior in. Tony Garea, Dave Hebner, Blackjack Lanza and other officials come out and attempt to open the casket, but to no avail. They use a crowbar, a chisel, and even a drill. It takes several minutes but the finally get the casket open and Warrior appears unconscious. The officials perform CPR on Warrior. Eventually Warrior comes back around. I don't remember watching this segment as a kid, but to see your hero like that. That's got to be scary for a kid. What a way to get The Undertaker over.
Ultimate Warrior vs Undertaker, Toronto, June 2, 1991
This match was taped for Rampage '91 home video. Usually it's the Warrior purposely no-selling his opponent's moves for effect, but this time it's Warrior's opponent who is unphased but Warrior's attacks. And that was a common part of The Undertaker's gimmick in his early years. Undertaker places his hand right over Warrior's nose and mouth smothering him as Paul Bearer encourages him. There's not a lot going on at this point in the match. Later Warrior is down as Undertaker goes for an elbow drop and misses. Though it has little to no effect on him. Warrior comes back and hits all of his big moves, but Undertaker counters. Undertaker then hits the Tombstone on Warrior. Undertaker goes for a pin, but Warrior kicks out. Undertaker grabs the urn and hits Warrior with it. Undertaker is DQ'ed. Undertaker continues to beat down Warrior then rolls him into a body bag. Warrior comes around and fights back. This match is dull. A lot of it follows typical Undertaker style for his early matches. What many people may not realize is that after WrestleMania VII Undertaker went into quite a losing streak. His only wins over the summer came against jobbers. That would end at a house show in September when the WWF ran the King of the Ring tournament and Undertaker beat Road Warrior Animal in the first round before fighting to a double DQ against Sid Justice in the second.
Next Warrior talks about how he took time off from WWF and got busy "doing other stuff" outside the wrestling business. He makes no mention of why he left. He says that his return was the "loudest pop" he's ever heard. This segment also has highlights from the post-WrestleMania press conference where Warrior, in a very un-Warrior-like way talks about how he "took some time off" after being on the road so much.
NOPE Segment
Gene Okerlund interviews Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage, Superstars July 25, 1992
Warrior says how he sees Savage as ONE of the best, but not THE best. Savage says he's better than the best. Warrior and Savage look like they're about to come to blows on the interview podium, when Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect get in the ring. Flair says he's been beating guys with pain on their faces his whole career. Flair says he could beat Savage right there. Mr. Perfect then calls Savage the Macho chicken. Savage runs to the ring and goes after Flair, but Perfect is there to attack Savage. The double team is on until Warrior comes to Savage's aid. Warrior then sees the WWF title belt on the ring mat and slowly picks it up and stares at it. Warrior goes to hand the belt to Savage but Savage snatches it away. The two are once again about the come to blows but officials keep them apart. This would lead to an angle where Flair and Perfect tried to get into the heads of both Warrior and Savage by telling each one that the other had made a deal with them. Then at Summerslam was the big "which one sold out, Savage or Warrior?" Neither man came out with Flair and Perfect, but Flair and Perfect would interfere in the match causing Savage to get counted out.
Warrior then talks about changing his diet to get his shit back together. Warrior talks about what Randy Savage taught him about changing up his look. He then talks about the lead up to Survivor Series and says how he "left again". That's followed by an Ultimate Maniacs promo in which Savage says they're "Riding on the edge of a lightning bolt."
WWF Tag Team Championships, Money Inc. (c) vs Ultimate Maniacs, Saturday Night's Main Event, November 14, 1992
The Ultimate Maniacs. An attempt by the WWF to put together a super team the likes of the Mega Powers. Here they are in their first, and only televised match. They hit the ring fast and the fight is on. The Maniacs work on DiBiase next. Warrior hits a suplex on DiBiase followed by a flying shoulder tackle attempt which DiBiase side-steps allowing the tag to IRS. IRS has a sleeper on Warrior and the broadcast goes to a split-screen with Ric Flair, Razor Ramon, and Mr. Perfect in the locker room watching the match. Soon DiBiase puts the Million $ Dream on Warrior until Savage comes to his partner's aid. After a brawl breaks out in the ring with the challengers in control the champs decide to take a walk. The big tag title match ends in a countout of course. WWF had no plans to put the belts on Warrior & Savage nor did they want them to take a loss. Maniacs chase Money Inc. to the entrance way where Flair & Razor attack. It's now a 4-on-2 attack. This match was nothing special other than the fact that it was Warrior's last televised match until 1996. It was also the last Saturday Night's Main Event until 2006. Also on this card saw Davey Boy Smith drop the I-C title to Shawn Michaels in Smith's last TV match until 1994.
Warrior then talks about setting other goals for himself including running his own gym. And then how Vince McMahon invited him back.
Ultimate Warrior vs Hunter Hearst-Helmsley, WrestleMania XII
This match was not only the return of The Ultimate Warrior but also the debut of Sable as Hunter's valet for the night. Lawler says that Warrior is now 400 pounds and has had his head shaved. The match itself goes a whole minute and a half and ends with Warrior pinning Helmsley by putting his knee on his chest.
Vince McMahon interviews Ultimate Warrior, Raw, April 8, 1996
Warrior talks about the voices of the Warriors spoke to him telling him to return. Warrior's opponent for In Your House, Goldust along with Marlena make their way to the ring. He says "You little Warrior can come in my house (long emphasis on 'come') but nobody will be there. But perhaps we can play some games. Like a superhero game. Maybe you can be Superman. I can climb on your back and we can take off and you can fly away with me in the sunset." Warrior responds with "Whatever you're into I don't give a shit." Warrior then attacks Goldust.
Ultimate Warrior vs Jerry Lawler, King of the Ring '96
Jerry Lawler heads to the ring first and cuts a promo about being king before insulting the Milwaukee Brewers and then the fans. Lawler's entrance takes 5 minutes. The match itself takes 4 minutes. Lawler dominates early using his scepter, using wrist tape, and another foreign object on Warrior. Lawler hits a piledriver on Warrior, which actually brings the Warrior back. Warrior then hits the clotheslines, flying shoulder tackle, splash and the match is over.
Nitro, August 17, 1998
Hollywood Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and The Disciple come to the ring and talk about the upcoming War Games. Hogan says that there's no one he can't beat the get his belt back. The lights flicker then go dark before Warrior appears and makes his way to the ring. Hogan looks shocked, and even afraid. Hogan offers Warrior an NWO shirt, but Warrior will have nothing of it. Warrior talks about how Hogan has never beaten him. Warrior says he defeated the un-defeatable in the form of Hogan. Warrior looks to Disciple and says "he must be your barber." He then threatens Bischoff if Bischoff gets involved in his business. Warrior says he's the one who has the power to destroy Hogan. He says he's not here to beat Hogan up because beating him means nothing because everyone's beaten him. Warrior then says he's going to start a revolution next week. Same Warrior time, same Warrior place, same Warrior channel. Warrior then disappears into a plume of smoke.
Warrior then talks about how Eric Bischoff used Turner's money to have him lose to Hogan.
Nitro, October 26, 1998
Warrior cuts a promo, only the microphone can only be heard in the arena and not on TV. Warrior says he beat the hell out of Hogan and the bullsh*t pinfall means nothing. Hogan comes out to confront Warrior. Horace hits the ring and is attacked by Warrior. The Giant comes in next and Warrior knocks him out of the ring. Hogan then comes from behind and attacks Warrior but Warrior fights him off.
So, before I wrap up this DVD I want to add some thoughts on Warrior's WCW run. The biggest problem, and I don't recall hearing a reason for this, is why did Warrior leave WCW after the Hogan match? His promo on Nitro seemed as though they were setting up for another match. A rubber match between the two, possibly at Starrcade. So why drop it? Why did Warrior leave right away? This really seems like another attempt by WCW to recreate a popular WWF feud and Hogan using his power to get his way. I've heard a lot of criticism about AEW being a lot of former WWE wrestlers. Well not only was WCW in the late 90's a lot of former WWF wrestlers, it was a lot of the same feuds. Now with the Randy Savage feud, Savage could still go. He was still on top of his game as an A+ performer. Plus, Savage didn't exclusively feud with Hogan, we was a regular in WCW for several years. With Roddy Piper there was at least the big difference of Piper now being the babyface and seeking revenge against the now heel Hogan for beating him a decade earlier. But, the Warrior return made no sense. Why would Warrior confront Hogan? Because Hogan was running his mouth? Warrior had nothing else to prove. If this feud had continued to a rubber match, then maybe it would be worthwhile. If Warrior had contributed to WCW in some other way feuding with someone else, then it could have made his run worthwhile. But just the couple of matches were pointless.
This concludes The Ultimate Warrior Ultimate Collection. Warrior telling his story on this DVD was about as sensical as many of his promos. He completely skipped over why he left WWF in 1991, again in 92, and again in 96. Now, we've heard the reports. He held Vince up for more money, he supposedly failed a drug test (there are conflicting reports on that), then no-showed several scheduled appearances. I would have liked to have heard things from Warrior himself as to what went on. Tell his side of the story. As far as removing matches/segments from this DVD, I would remove a couple of squash matches. I understand wanting to show off Warrior's dominance, but it just gets to be too much. I would also remove the Jerry Lawler match as well as the Money Inc. match. Matches that should be included in this collection, first and foremost is Summerslam '92 against Randy Savage. I know it would have been the fourth match between the two on this DVD, but it's a really good match. And this may be and odd choice but I would include the 1989 Survivor Series with Warrior teaming with Jim Neidhart and The Rockers against Andre, Haku, Arn Anderson, and Bobby Heenan. It's not a great match but it's enjoyable and I think could work. Warrior is one of those wrestlers whose reputation has soured with age. Some people still love him, some not. He was not a great wrestler, but he could tell a good story. His promos didn't make sense but they were part of his unique character. He was truly one of a kind and no one could ever copy him.
Warrior was pretty PG, at least on camera. Even Roddy Piper was TV-14 at his peak. But, now, why don't we push things a little further? Why not push things to the Extreme? How about a Stretcher Match, a Barbed Wire Match, a Weapons Match, an "I Quit" Match, multiple death matches of different varieties, and a whole lot of blood on this TV-MA rated DVD.
