The Ultimate Warrior, born James Brian Hellwig, reportedly collapsed in Arizona on Tuesday and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The news about the 54-year-old wrestling icon comes just days after he appeared at Wrestlemania 30 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Ultimate Warrior addressed fans on “Monday Night Raw” this week, his first time on the program since 1996.
Watch the @UltimateWarrior's final address on @WWE programming this past week on #Raw. http://t.co/D1yiFU3UIt #RememberWarrior
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2014
An excerpt of his address via Deadspin:
No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others, and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized. By the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him and make the running the man did live forever. You, you, you, you, you, you are the legend-makers of Ultimate Warrior. In the back, I see many potential legends. Some of them with warrior spirits. And you will do the same for them. You will decide if they lived with the passion and intensity. So much so that you will tell your stories and you will make them legends, as well. Ultimate. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans. And the spirit of Ultimate Warrior will run forever!
As heartbroken fans, fellow wrestlers and reporters learned of his death, they described the Ultimate Warrior’s final appearance as “eerie,” “haunting,” and “chilling.”
How chilling & eerie is this from Warrior just last night on #RAW?
"Every man's heart one day beats its final beat." pic.twitter.com/HOdYWdRqCK— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) April 9, 2014
That last interview he did on raw makes you feel like he knew #UltimateWarrior
— Chris Masters (@ChrisAdonis) April 9, 2014
Eerie “@bubbaprog: Here's the full text of the Ultimate Warrior's now-haunting speech about death on RAW last night: pic.twitter.com/1DeOQmtyME
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) April 9, 2014
Had to go back and listen to Ultimate Warrior's last mic work on Raw on Monday. Wow … they say you know when you're about to go …
— Lang Greene (@LangGreene) April 9, 2014
The Ultimate Warrior's last words!!!! How crazy is this?!?!? He knew it was coming! http://t.co/Ob8s1ikiFD
— DJ Steph Floss (@djstephfloss) April 9, 2014
I watched that Ultimate Warrior speech he did on Raw. He knew he was going to die. So sad. RIP Ultimate Warrior #Legend
— Dready (@OfficialDready) April 9, 2014
Does not seem coincidental. RT @bubbaprog: Text of the Ultimate Warrior's now-haunting speech about death last night: pic.twitter.com/YzovSz5sZG
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) April 9, 2014
Re the Ultimate Warrior's final speech. http://t.co/67FRDB7Yic RT @HyenaWoods Him talking about final heart beats & final breaths is freaky
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) April 9, 2014
Re watching Warrior's speech from yesterday is eerie. "The spirit of Ultimate Warrior will run forever." RIP
— Jim Cordle (@JimCordle63) April 9, 2014
Man… R.I.P Ultimate Warrior. One of the best ever. Gave this speech the night before he died. Almost like he knew http://t.co/ZWqwA4RdfM
— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) April 9, 2014
I feel as if Ultimate Warrior's speech on Raw was a way of saying goodbye. As sad as it may seem. #RIPUltimateWarrior
— Terry (@TheHeymanLegacy) April 9, 2014
His speech Monday on Raw is very haunting now…RIP Ultimate Warrior!…That is all. Take Care. One. #WWE http://t.co/V6E54vwOGe via @wwe
— Cortez C. Dorris Official (@CDorrisOfficial) April 9, 2014
@The305MVP His promo last night feels real uncomfortable all of a sudden.
— JP (@moose81083) April 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/jlr1988/status/453839783497060352
Warrior's speech on Raw barely 24 hours ago. Poignant. Almost like he knew he was going. #RIPUltimateWarrior pic.twitter.com/sRw8Mw5R0Q
— Michael Graham (@Capt_Fishpaste) April 9, 2014
Dog… Literally said yesterday "the spirit of The Ultimate Warrior will run forever," now he's gone. That's sooo eerie. RIP.
— Joseph Gray ? (@MoneyGray) April 9, 2014
This is both sad and tragic. And haunting. A 54 year old man gives his own eulogy on live television. http://t.co/KutDHtbC8Z
— Ian Furness (@IanFurnessSea) April 9, 2014
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