On this past week’s episode of Monday Night Raw 4/7/14, The Ultimate Warrior’s music hit and even though he didn’t run to the ring like he used to, there was still electricity in the building. And when Warrior spoke of the legend of The Ultimate Warrior living forever, all of the fans in attendance — and this fan watching at home — completely agreed:
Little did we know that this would be the last time The Ultimate Warrior would engage with his fans, that these would be his final words to his audience after 18 years of being away from the WWE and just three days removed from his triumphant return and induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
And those last words, wow, how prophetic.
The last time I remember feeling this way about a speech was when Jim Valvano spoke at the 1993 ESPY Awards on March 3, 1993.
The biggest difference is that the viewing public suspected that Jimmy V’s days were numbered, while wrestling fans probably didn’t think for one minute that Warrior was not even going to get through the week.
But maybe, just maybe, The Ultimate Warrior knew that something was going to happen to him sooner than later, and perhaps he viewed his segment on Raw as his way of saying thank you to the fans while completing the final reparations of his relationship with the WWE and pro wrestling in general.
At his Hall of Fame Induction speech, Warrior spoke about signing a multi-year deal with WWE to become an ambassador for the company. I can only hope that WWE will honor this agreement with Warrior’s wife and two daughters and pass along any relevant Ultimate Warrior-related revenues to them that they collect from DVD, video game and merchandise sales, etc.
Speaking of DVDs, I wanted to say one last thing:
At the very least, The Ultimate Warrior got one great weekend and the DVD collection that HE wanted and DESERVED, rather than the one that broke his heart.
His death certainly broke mine.
That’s all from me — CB.
