The Ultimate Warrior: Incredible Secrets & Facts About His Career

1. Vince McMahon Offered The Ultimate Warrior A Secret 5-Year December 1997 Contract

The Ultimate Warrior (Jim Hellwig aka Dingo Warrior) signed his first WWF contract on 23 September 1987 Using results from The History of WWE, it's clear that Warrior wrestled an average of 18 matches/month from 1988 to 1991. However, the relationship between McMahon and Warrior was especially rocky through that summer as Warrior missed events and demanded (via hand-written letter) more money and equal pay to Hulk Hogan.

At first, McMahon relented.

However, Vince McMahon suspended the Ultimate Warrior on 27 August 1991 immediately following SummerSlam 1991.

Vince McMahon also wrote him a four page letter explaining his decision noting that Warrior had "became a legend in [his] own mind". Warrior was upset and disappeared from WWF television until April 1992. However, eventually Warrior signed a new contract and returned at WrestleMania VIII to save Hulk Hogan from a Sid Justice/Papa Shango beatdown.

Warrior's second adventure with the WWF didn't even last a year. Warrior failed several steroid tests and Vince McMahon fired him.

And things went quiet from 1992 to 1996. Warrior teased opening his own wrestling school, he sued WWF, he ranted about the Renegade imitating his demeanor. Eventually, Warrior re-emerged for a third run in the WWF in 1996, making a big WrestleMania XII comeback after signing a new 18-month, million-dollar contract.

However, again, the relationship turned sour. Warrior missed several house shows, allegedly to grieve following the passing of his father, and was fired. Warrior did not return to the WWF after their dispute in summer of 1996. But that wasn't the end of the relationship. Reacting to the lawsuits, feeling the pressure from WCW and reeling in the wake of the Montreal Screwjob, Vince McMahon actually made a secret, final offer to the Ultimate Warrior in December 1997. Here it is:

In the end, Warrior and Vince McMahon did not work out a deal. Considering this was a month after McMahon had double-crossed Bret Hart, what an amazing alternative universe it could have been had Warrior returned from 1998 to 2002. Would he have lasted? Could The Rock, Steve Austin, Mankind, and Triple H have ascended to the top with Warrior still in the mix? So many questions.

Instead, after playing both sides off each other for maximum money, Warrior ended up signing up with WCW. Hogan was anxious to redeem himself from his earlier loss and they worked a short program. Warrior wrestled on Fall Brawl, Monday Nitro (a 10/12/98 reunion with Sting), and Halloween Havoc (the infamous debacle of a singles match with Hulk Hogan).

His first promo segment drew monster numbers for Monday Night Nitro. Afterwards, Warrior just became part of the show, and WCW quickly burned through his shelf-life. Warrior had made excellent money to come back, and continued to be paid for quite some time just to sit at home. It was the last time Warrior would be featured prominently on US television.