10 Wrestlers Who Didn't Turn Up For WrestleMania

8. The Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania 12

Paul Heyman Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

The Ultimate Warrior, to borrow a hackneyism from the beloved Jim Ross, did not get paid by the hour.

That might explain why he was booked to squash Hunter Hearst Helmsley in under two minutes at WrestleMania XII - but it does not explain the choice of victim. Helmsley in 1996 had relinquished his undefeated streak, and despite barely being over, was nonetheless considered one of the WWF's best future prospects. Such succession planning mattered little to the Warrior, who purportedly balked at the idea of wrestling him in a competitive, stature-enhancing match.

Instead, Warrior, seeking an easy payday, requested to squash the future 'Game'. He also, for kicks, no-sold his Pedigree in the process. Trips was demure when questioned about the Warrior match - at least when there was a chance he could use his clout to induct him into the Hall Of Fame and earn the pair a shared boat-load of cash. When that was a possibility, HHH claimed that stepping into the ring with Warrior, at his first 'Mania, was practically an honour.

But, conspicuously, when WWE was still intent on destroying Warrior's legacy, HHH remarked on the Self-Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior DVD that Warrior was the "most unprofessional" talent he'd ever worked with.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!