There aren't many worlds where The Ultimate Warrior's outfit, demeanor, and affectations would be considered "bad-ass," but of course, pro wrestling is unique... just like The Warrior himself. In a realm where only the strong survive and where excess is the rule, not the exception, The Ultimate Warrior still managed to stand out from a field of very colorful competitors. Coming along in the 1980s, during the height of the steroid craze in wrestling, former bodybuilder Jim Hellwig had a physique that caused promoters to take notice. Though he was unpolished in the ring, the character he adopted -- a screaming, foaming-at-the-mouth maniac adorned in face paint and tassels -- overshadowed the issues with his work. The Ultimate Warrior was a madman who came charging down to the ring like a freight train, then decimated his opponents in minutes. All of that may sound like a recipe for a monster heel, but Warrior was, of course, a beloved fan favorite. Maybe it was something about the bright colors or the energetic charisma, but his attitude captured the hearts and imaginations of WWE fans worldwide... all while maintaining that very specific bad-ass vibe. After all, nobody wanted to be the poor sap in the ring while The Warrior barreled his way down the ramp.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
