Tuesday night, April 8, the professional wrestling world was shaken to its core when Triple H took to Twitter to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Three days earlier, he was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2014. The following day, he stood on the WrestleMania stage for the first time since 1996 and soaked in the much-deserved adulation of 70,000-plus wrestling fans who appreciated all of his hard work and dedication to the business. Monday night, in a moment that weighs heavy on the hearts of fans, he addressed the WWE Universe one last time, promising that "the spirit of the Ultimate Warrior will run forever!" One of the most controversial Superstars to ever step foot in a WWE ring, it is no secret that Warrior's career is dotted with instances in which he did not necessarily endear himself to co-workers or WWE management. And since the bad is oftentimes spotlighted more than the good, the positive contributions that the Ultimate Warrior typically went unrecognized. Whether it was his emotional retirement match against Randy Savage at WrestleMania VII, his iconic clash with Hulk Hogan a year earlier, his Intercontinental Championship rivalry with Rick Rude or his hugely entertaining promos, Warrior left WWE fans a plethora of unforgettable moments and memories to cherish for generations to come. In celebration of the life and legacy of the Ultimate Warrior, here is a look back at the incidents to forget, the moments to celebrate and the icon that will live forever.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
