The death of The Ultimate Warrior continues to be the biggest news story in the wrestling world. It was shocking for everybody to learn of his passing on Tuesday, one day after he appeared in the ring on Raw to deliver what would be his final message to the WWE Universe. This past weekend, The Ultimate Warrior was welcomed back into the WWE Family after a 18 year absence and just like that it's over. What is going through the minds of those in WWE right now? Triple H, the on screen COO of the company and Executive VP of Talent/Creative, spoke to ESPN about Warrior's passing.
"We're devastated. It was such a wonderful homecoming, such a great celebration of an iconic career with the Hall of Fame, and the appearance at WrestleMania, and the return of the Ultimate Warrior character in-ring on Monday Night Raw. The talent were so happy, Warrior was beside himself so excited, and then to have it just come to an end a day later is just shocking and tragic and devastating to all of us."
We can only assume what it must be like for Hunter, who noted that it took about 18 months of talking to Warrior to get him to come back to WWE.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for us. And we're grateful we had the chance. For me, it was an 18-month process with Warrior; an 18-month healing process. It doesn't happen overnight, but I think both sides have grown. He had grown as a man, we had grown as people and a company, and it was time. It was time to move on and just let the business things that had gone in the past be the past. He is so deserving of being immortalized in the Hall of Fame and to have his moment in front of his legions and legions of fans. I can tell you that that meant the world to us and, I know personally, it meant the world to him."
It wasn't easy to get him back to WWE. Hunter said it right there. It took nearly two years to get it done, but they were able to do it. Warrior mentioned in his Hall of Fame speech that he didn't like the DVD that WWE did where they ripped on him a few years back. Can you blame him? He should have been upset. It took a lot for him to forgive them and for them to earn his trust again.
"The whole thing is bittersweet because it was the greatest moment he probably could have had. I think if you asked him a career highlight, many people would say it's WrestleMania 6 at the Toronto Skydome when he beat Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title. I don't know. I think he would have disagreed with that now and said the greatest moment of his career was three days ago being inducted into the Hall of Fame with daughters Mattigan and Indiana walking him on-stage."
That image of Warrior with his daughters is one that will live forever. It's wonderful that it happened, but so heartbreaking that he will be unable to see his girls grow up. Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family of Warrior. As for WWE, they will try their best to move on. No doubt they will pay tribute to Warrior the best way they can on Monday's Raw, but no matter how much pain Vince McMahon, Triple H and all the rest feel, we know that the show must go on. It always does. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10757731