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In honor of Warrior, best known by his ring name “The Ultimate Warrior,” and his untimely passing last week, Last Word on Sports takes a look at the highlights of his career available on the WWE Network (listed below in chronological order).
SummerSlam ’88: vs. Honky Tonk Man
A little over a year into his WWF tenure, The Ultimate Warrior clashed with Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man. Honky Tonk Man was 454 days into his title run, which is still the longest in the history of the championship, but that mattered little to The Ultimate Warrior. The powerhouse from Parts Unknown made quick work of the champion, capturing his first singles title in about 30 seconds.
Highlight: The fact that Warrior never stops moving from the second his entrance music hits.
SummerSlam ’89 vs. Rick Rude
Rick Rude had won the Intercontinental Championship from The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania V; the result of a feud ignited by a jealous sneak attack after Rude lost a posedown at the 1989 Royal Rumble. Warrior was seeking to regain his title in the most hotly-anticipated match on the card. The two battled back and forth with both men getting outside help. 15 minutes, a press slam, and a Warrior Splash later and the Intercontinental Championship was back in the hands of its previous owner.
Highlight: Warrior pressing Rude from the ring to the floor.
WrestleMania VI: vs. Hogan
If you only watch one Ultimate Warrior match, make sure this is it. In front of nearly 70,000 fans packing the SkyDome in Toronto, Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior challenged reigning WWF Champion Hulk Hogan for the latter man’s title. The 1990 Pro Wrestling Illustrated “Match of the Year” was from a technical affair, but that’s not what the fans were looking for. Instead, they bared witness to the apex of the “superhero” era of wrestling. The match ended with The Ultimate Warrior’s hands raised in victory in as true a “passing of the torch” moment as professional wrestling has ever seen.
Highlight: The beginning test-of-strength that would be the standard going forward.
SummerSlam ’90 vs. Rick Rude
A year after battling over the Intercontinental Championship at the same event, the bitter rivals once again met, this time for the top prize in the game, the WWF Championship. Rude once again had Bobby Heenan in his corner, but this time his impact was mitigated by the steel cage surrounding the ring. While some believe the match didn’t live up to their previous affair, “The Ravishing One” still brought out the best in The Ultimate Warrior.
Highlight: The Ultimate Warrior’s taunting gyrations as he climbed down the cage to victory.
WrestleMania VII: vs.”Macho Man” Randy Savage
After being passed over by then-WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior for a title shot, Savage made his presence felt at the 1991 Royal Rumble by costing Warrior his championship. In the ensuing weeks the two men continued to feud, leading to Warrior throwing down the gauntlet for a retirement match at WrestleMania VI; a challenge the reigning “Macho King” readily accepted. The actual bout was an engaging affair that saw Warrior shake off five elbow drops en route to a pinfall victory.
Highlight: The post-match reunion between “Macho Man” and Miss Elizabeth, who had been at ringside.
WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony 2014
This one’s still a little too fresh to put into historical context, especially considering recent events, but it’s certainly one of the most noteworthy WWE Hall of Fame inductions. Warrior’s past issues with the WWE were well-documented, and it was heart-warming to know that amends had been made. Feelings about Warrior’s personal life aside, he was undoubtedly a professional wrestling icon and deserved to have his moment in the sun.
Highlight: “My two Warrior girls … the most awesome thing I will ever do is be your father.”
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