
During what would be his final ever public appearance, he made sure to thank his fans. He called them "Legend Makers," citing them as the real reason behind his success and longevity. He ended his promo by saying these, now incredibly chilling words:
"The spirit of the Ultimate Warrior will run forever."
Whether you were a fan of the Warrior or not, chances are he has ties to someone or something in wrestling that you are a fan of. People such as Daniel Bryan, Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho, (F4Wonline.com head writer) Bryan Alvarez and more have cited him as a childhood hero. Personally, I can state quite honestly that I consider his matches with Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage at Wrestlemania's 6 & 7 respectively, to be two of the best examples of in-ring storytelling I have ever seen.
The Ultimate Warrior was many things in his lifetime. A wrestler, a champion, a pop-culture icon, an outspoken political activist, a professional wrestling legend, a husband, but if I had to guess, I think he'd tell you that his most important accomplishment was being a father. It was incredibly touching to see him escorted out onto the stage by his two daughters Saturday night at the Hall of Fame ceremony. It was heartwarming that he and Vince McMahon were able to finally come together and "bury the hatchet" as the old saying goes.
If there's ever a more clear example of how fleeting life can be and why it's important to make peace and not hold grudges than this, I'm not sure what it could be. Rest in Peace, Warrior. And thanks for the memories...
Liam Renner is a contributor to The Wrestling Life, heard weekly on The Elite Podcast Network