WWE needs to leave the Ultimate Warrior alone

[We Are Legion]

The fact that WWE has even made overtures toward James Hellwig after putting in so much effort to bury the guy is just something that is quite unbelievable to me. Not just slandering him on television, but even going so far as to produce a documentary that completely smear jobs him and selling in via WWE Shop for several years. In fact, up until just last year, you could still buy the dvd on wweshop.com.

Even today, it's not hard to find. Just a quick glance at Amazon is all it takes.

^ Complete with the WWE logo right on the cover... as if Vince was really fucking proud of this little piece of merchandise.


And if you haven't had the opportunity to watch it, you can view it on Youtube.

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Even some of the people who talk on this dvd expose their own ignorance.

"Andre (the Giant) wasn't too keen on Warrior's in-ring skills, which were limited at best." - Bruce Prichard

Right, and Andre was the fucking 80's version of Daniel Bryan, amirite? Even JR and Heenan constantly speak on Andre's behalf, insisting he also hated Warrior.

"There was no intention to use "The Dingo Warrior". Nobody really was sure what a dingo was..." - Bruce Prichard

Even people like JR, someone with the intelligence to know what a huge and undeniable draw Warrior really was, runs his down repeatedly throughout the documentary. "I'm sure there were days when Rick Rude wanted to put his fist through a wall because of the lack of in-ring ability his opponent had."

"He just doesn't know how to do anything. He's dangerous." - Bobby Heenan

"When I got to the arena that day, I got to find out how much of dick wad the Ultimate Warrior really is. Probably one of the most unprofessional guys I've ever stepped in the ring with. He ruined the experience for me." - Triple H (a statement he flat-out denied saying not too long ago, yet here it is on video)

Just unbelievable. The dvd even features several WWE legends like Jerry Lawler, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Edge, Chris Jericho, Christian, Gene Oakerlund, Ted DiBaise, Brooklyn Brawler, and even Vince McMahon himself. Lawler even shits on him at one point in the documentary because he wore a baseball cap during a promo ONE TIME. Yes... god forbid he try to push his merchandise.



So basically, I just don't understand what WWE is thinking by their sudden change of heart and wanting to praise him in the HOF all of a sudden. I think it's a joke that WWE thinks for a minute that he would accept the offer. Discontinuing the dvd on WWE Shop just isn't enough of an apology either, and inducting him into the HOF is more of a favor to WWE than it is to Hellwig. Because now after all these years of turning his legacy into a complete joke, WWE finally acknowledges that he is a WWE legend and he is one of their biggest draws of all time.

Honestly, I think the guy is a little bent in the head as well, but I just think it's fucked up that WWE used so much effort to bury him, only to turn around and praise him later after zero contact/interaction during all those years in between.

 

[The Cork]

Yeah, the DVD was a total hatchet job.

Ted DiBiase came across as a very bitter, jealous guy on it and it turned me completely off him. Flair tried to write him off as a flash in the pan but Flair says a lot of stupid things so his opinion nowdays is moot.

I did like Edge and Jericho putting the guy over on it and I'm surprised they kept it in. I wouldn't blame Warrior for turning the HOF down again but as a huge mark for the guy I hope he takes it, just for the recognition that he WAS one of the biggest stars of all time and belongs in the elite like Savage, Hogan, Austin etc.

Never really got the hate for the guy, sure he didn't make any sense in his promos but he got people captivated on the mic because he has tons of charisma and intensity. In the ring he wasn't any worse than Hogan, Andre, Taker or anyone else of that time.

 

[Keith]

Yeah I agree and it is a little unlike WWE normally they tend to hold the grudge unless there is some sort of meeting with the wrestler to bury the hactett.

 

[Keith]

Yeah, the DVD was a total hatchet job.

Ted DiBiase came across as a very bitter, jealous guy on it and it turned me completely off him. Flair tried to write him off as a flash in the pan but Flair says a lot of stupid things so his opinion nowdays is moot. I did like Edge and Jericho putting the guy over on it and I'm surprised they kept it in. I wouldn't blame Warrior for turning the HOF down again but as a huge mark for the guy I hope he takes it, just for the recognition that he WAS one of the biggest stars of all time and belongs in the elite like Savage, Hogan, Austin etc.

Never really got the hate for the guy, sure he didn't make any sense in his promos but he got people captivated on the mic because he has tons of charisma and intensity. In the ring he wasn't any worse than Hogan, Andre, Taker or anyone else of that time.

Well he was a flash in the pan. Once they put the WWF Title on him he flopped and has not done anything since. To call him one of the biggest stars ever is a joke.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

Flash in the pan? If you call Warrior a flash in the pan, that means Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and possibly a few others was. Warrior had an 10 year career in WWE starting out in 84 to 91 then 96 to 98 eventually going into WCW. I'm not a mega Warrior fan but the fact is that he was a big deal and he had a mega fan base. This isn't about in ring talent or actual ability, the fact is that he was a huge star. He had the IC title as well and that's when the title was a big deal. I don't think he's one of the biggest stars ever but Hall Of Famer absolutely, its pretty ridiculous he's not a Hall Of Famer.

Also I give him more credit for not staying in the ring like Hogan, Flair, Nash in the past few years. He's learned that he can't do it anymore and he doesn't want to hurt business. Warrior is a cool guy overall and I side with him any day over Hogan. Warrior speaks the truth despite his limitations. Flash in the pan haha, no man with a year career with his prime being in 7 of those years is a flash in the pan.

 

[Keith]

Flash in the pan? If you call Warrior a flash in the pan, that means Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and possibly a few others was. Warrior had an 10 year career in WWE starting out in 84 to 91 then 96 to 98 eventually going into WCW. I'm not a mega Warrior fan but the fact is that he was a big deal and he had a mega fan base. This isn't about in ring talent or actual ability, the fact is that he was a huge star. He had the IC title as well and that's when the title was a big deal. I don't think he's one of the biggest stars ever but Hall Of Famer absolutely, its pretty ridiculous he's not a Hall Of Famer.

Also I give him more credit for not staying in the ring like Hogan, Flair, Nash in the past few years. He's learned that he can't do it anymore and he doesn't want to hurt business. Warrior is a cool guy overall and I side with him any day over Hogan. Warrior speaks the truth despite his limitations. Flash in the pan haha, no man with a year career with his prime being in 7 of those years is a flash in the pan.

But you can't count three different stints as a solid ten year spell, the reason he had three different stints is because he left or was let go at least twice before his final spell. His most sucessful period was 88-90 as Intercontintal champion he was very over but he has a lot to thank Rick Rude for for that. But like I said before once he got the big belt he flopped. He did nothing of note apart from his match with Macho at Summerslam 92 in his second spell and the same for his second return in and his WCW run (if it can be called that) was even more of a ebassement.

I agree with your last comment but then again part of the reason he stayed away is because there isn't the same demand anymore.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

I agree he was in and out, thats proven fact but at least he put in the time. Warrior has issues, there is not denying that but at least he knows his place. I hate how everyone gangs up on him when he's never really been a loudmouth. He keeps things to himself and likes living in peace. He's not trying to start buzz like Kevin Nash. Still don't think he's a flash in the pan, but biggest stars ever no way in hell. He's not Hogan, Rock, Austin, Taker, Macho Man, HBK, Hart, or Triple H.

 

[We Are Legion]

Clearly WWE didn't have a problem with his tripped-out promos back in the 80's or they wouldn't have kept handing him the microphone. WWE just doesn't want to admit they thought they struck gold with him and became embarrassed about it later. That's all that dvd really was, just a cop-out. But now people still talk about the guy and they want to take back everything they published on that dvd.

 

[PHX]

I mean I can get why they'd have some ill feeling toward him but they kinda went too far with trying to bury this guy was pretty fucked up. Wasn't the biggest fan of the guy but don't think he needed a whole dvd to bury his name even though it was kinda interesting.

 

[Cena's Jeans Shorts]

I'm not sure I'd put HBK on that list of all time greats. If you put HBK there, then you can put Ultimate Warrior on that list. HBK had longevity and he had a lot of great matches. But as far as being the most over guy on the roster, that was never really his strength. He was like a Sting or Taker. Huge, but there was almost always someone else that the promotions felt would be more marketable as the top guy.

 

[BDC]

I'm not sure I'd put HBK on that list of all time greats. If you put HBK there, then you can put Ultimate Warrior on that list. HBK had longevity and he had a lot of great matches. But as far as being the most over guy on the roster, that was never really his strength. He was like a Sting or Taker. Huge, but there was almost always someone else that the promotions felt would be more marketable as the top guy.

Vince has got more respect for the guy who works hard and stays the course and stays a company man like HBK than he does for overhyped flash-in-the-pans like Warrior.

Yeah, I got excited everytime I knew he was involved, but it always fell on it's face...please don't give him the mic! , ever!

 

[Cena's Jeans Shorts]

Vince has got more respect for the guy who works hard and stays the course and stays a company man like HBK than he does for overhyped flash-in-the-pans like Warrior.

That's wrestling promotion in a nut shell though. Everyone is overhyped. HBK's stature as being described as "the greatest superstar of all time" is largely marketing and hype. He was never the big attraction that made the business boom. He was part of the successes, but he was the top guy when the business was in terrible shape.

Hogan, Rock, Austin, and Cena are guys that were the top guys when business was booming for the WWE. It's easy to point at them as all time greats just based on what they did for business during their runs at the top.

Everything else is largely subjective. A guy like Undertaker stayed over for a very long time. But he was never really THE guy to be the top draw. HBK was very popular, especially in his comeback. Also one of the better performers they had, but he wasn't going to be THE guy. Crap work or not, the Warrior was one of the bigger names in the WWE during his prime. He didn't have longevity, but the guy definitely made his mark as one of the bigger, more memorable characters. I don't think the WWE would have bothered making the DVD about him unless the name still had any longevity. After all, where's the "Self Destruction of Tom Zenk DVD"?

The Warrior was big enough that the WWE kept throwing money at him to come back, as did WCW. In terms of popularity in his time, I think one could make the argument for him if you start including attractions that weren't long term headliners.

 

[Dale]

I hope Warrior tells them he accepts their HOF induction once they've putten out a new DVD on him that puts him over this time with a retraction and apology of the last DVD they made of him. See how much Vince really wants him in the HOF then.

 

[Deezy]

Who the fuck cares about the warrior? Hall of fame my ass, flash in the pan nobody. That DVD ressurected any relevance had for nearly a decade.

I don't care for that racist asshole.

 

[Keith]

That's wrestling promotion in a nut shell though. Everyone is overhyped. HBK's stature as being described as "the greatest superstar of all time" is largely marketing and hype. He was never the big attraction that made the business boom. He was part of the successes, but he was the top guy when the business was in terrible shape.

Hogan, Rock, Austin, and Cena are guys that were the top guys when business was booming for the WWE. It's easy to point at them as all time greats just based on what they did for business during their runs at the top.

Everything else is largely subjective. A guy like Undertaker stayed over for a very long time. But he was never really THE guy to be the top draw. HBK was very popular, especially in his comeback. Also one of the better performers they had, but he wasn't going to be THE guy. Crap work or not, the Warrior was one of the bigger names in the WWE during his prime. He didn't have longevity, but the guy definitely made his mark as one of the bigger, more memorable characters. I don't think the WWE would have bothered making the DVD about him unless the name still had any longevity. After all, where's the "Self Destruction of Tom Zenk DVD"?

The Warrior was big enough that the WWE kept throwing money at him to come back, as did WCW. In terms of popularity in his time, I think one could make the argument for him if you start including attractions that weren't long term headliners.

Don't really get your point on Cena his run hasn't been during a boom period for the business for the past decade there has been a decline in interest in wrestling and WWE's ratings and ppv buyrates have mostly been down during that period.

Another thing is surely you are judged as a legend and all time great by doing the business consistantly over a long spell. Warrior was like the Batista of his time he had very little talent and got over because of WWF's expert booking of him and because of the likes of Rick Rude making him look decent in the ring.

Also Tom Zenk was not a great wrestler and was never over so you might have used a better example there lol.