Ultimate Warrior Death: Five Things You Don’t Know About the Wrestling Legend

The death of Ultimate Warrior came as a surprise to many wrestling fans. It came only a day after Ultimate Warrior, whose name in real life is James Brian Hellwig, was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and following his appearance at the Wrestlemania XXX after an 18-year break. WWE made an official announcement on its official Web site. However, the cause of Ultimate Warrior's death was not yet revealed.

As wrestling fans, fellow wrestlers, and family member continue to pay tribute to Ultimate Warrior, let us discover five things that most people don't know about one of the greatest entertainers in WWE.

1. First WWE Appearance

Ultimate Warrior made his WWE Debut in 1987 against Terry Gibbs. He won the fight. WWE was then called World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Ultimate Warrior's first fight footage has apparently been around since 2007. However, the quality of the video is poor. It was in October 2013 when WWE released a high-definition version of Ultimate Warrior's WWE debut.

2. Changing Last Name to "Warrior"

According to Wrestleview.com, Hellwig has indeed legally changed his last name to his WWE moniker. Hellwig's decision to change last name was his attempt to keep his Ultimate Warrior gimmick, the Web site further wrote. It was made official in 1991 when he stepped away from WWE.

Ultimate Warrior and WWE got caught up in a series of lawsuits claiming that both of them owned the rights to the name.

3. A Motivational Speaker

When Ultimate Warrior retired from WWE in 1999, he became a motivational speaker at one point. He had reportedly partnered with Daniel Pinheiro, a conservative spokesman, disapproving left-wing politics.

4. Warrior University

In 2012, Ultimate Warrior opened an online school he called "Warrior University." For a $20 subscription fee, a user will gain access to motivational videos as well as other inspirational videos to boost and build self-confidence.

5. A Blogger

Ultimate Warrior used to maintain a blog on his official Web site where he wrote about a variety of topics such as his wrestling career, politics, nationalism, and sexuality among many others. He called his blog "Warrior's Machete." He started blogging in 2007 and wrote until 2012.

For anyone who is either in their late 20s or early 40s, Ultimate Warrior was probably a big part of their growing up. The speech he made during Monday Night's Raw left his fans a very powerful message: "No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat, his lungs breathe their final breath and if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit will be immortalized."

"The spirit of Ultimate Warrior will run forever," were his final words.

Sadly, it turned out that it would be the last time that Ultimate Warrior would be able to address his fans. May his soul rest in peace.