Has the Ultimate Warrior self-destructed? That's what a new DVD released by the organization formerly known as the WWF contends. I haven't seen Warrior in about six months, but last time I saw him he was happily married with children, appeared as a physical specimen, and discussed various books that he had read. I didn't ask, but my suspicion is that he has money in his bank account as well. Sorry, but it appears Vince McMahon may have confused his hopes for reality with this vindictive release. Losing a prolonged legal battle will have this effect on you, particularly if you're a vengeful person.

The WWE apparently slammed Warrior on its Raw program Monday night--I don't watch anymore but received a phone call that relayed this info--and its web site includes a petty offer for Warrior to respond to the "uncensored, no-holds-barred thoughts about Warrior" contained in the "Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior" DVD. Ostensibly a fair-minded opportunity to rebut, the WWE's stunt is a rather juvenile and transparent attempt to sell more DVDs--using the hit-piece's target to promote it. Undoubtedly, some dolt in the WWE publicity department finds this incredibly clever. It's not.

Did the WWE miss the sad irony when titling this DVD? The organization has employed a disproportionately high number of people who have literally self-destructed. In the FlynnFiles interview I conducted with Warrior last year, he addressed the string of drug-related deaths of his former co-workers. "Typically, self-destruction happens in stages and each person is given ample opportunity to get their act together," Warrior told me. "S*!#, the autopsies came back and a lot of those guys died from street drugs. Hennig died from a coke overdose. Rick Rude died from [liquid] ecstasy. Davey Boy Smith was doing cocaine and ungodly amounts of growth hormone and all kinds of different steroids."

Davey Boy Smith, Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Miss Elizabeth, and Kerry von Erich--wildly entertaining wrestlers, and one jaw-dropping valet, that I grew up watching--are no longer with us in part, or in total, because of their substance abuse. Warrior, on the other hand, has led a sucessful life outside of wrestling. While wrestling wants him, Warrior doesn't seem to want wrestling. And I guess this jilted-lover syndrome explains a part of the animus toward Warrior from the wrestling community. Warrior did his thing, became one of the most popular wrestlers in history, and then he was gone. Had he overdosed on the road, or continued to appear on national television in underwear into his forties, Warrior would likely be lionized by those who currently villify him. But Warrior went on to new challenges, and that is his real crime in the eyes of many former friends and fans.

Didn't the Ultimate Warrior write a book recently? I can't seem to find it on Amazon.com.

Dan. Thank you very much for putting this up. You called it the same way I see it-McMahon's ego and the need to get the "last word."

So many look up to sports figures and celebrities for their stardom, yet gloss over their character flaws like drug use, etc. While I grew up as a fan of the UW character, I became much more a fan (and friend) of Warrior the man. In this day and age when so many sell out their core values for a few extra dollars, it is refreshing to see a man who stands firm, though the cost may be great.
UW was a superhero character, Warrior is a hero as a man.
While many negative things have happened in his life, he stands firm on what he believes, including being anti-PC-which some take to be bigotry.

I can tell all of you that read this blog that Warrior the man is NOT an insane nutcase. He stands tall now in the greatest job he has ever had, being a father. He is one of the few people in the world I know would stand behind me in times of trouble. He has since we became friends.

I stand by my friend and mentor.

Be well,

Sponge

Well, to be the man, you DO have to beat the man. But to be A Man, you have to do what's right and take the path you're called to take, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

WOOO!!!!

Dan - very well written post. I find it very ironic that the WWE named the DVD "The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior". I wonder what kind of title they will come up with for the Jake Roberts DVD.

Warrior is my friend. And I can assure everyone he has not "self-destructed".

Vince McMahon is a cowardly, unprincipled human being. He is driven by money, and when others don't agree with him, then it's revenge.

Warrior stood up to the McMahons and whipped them in court. He still owns his intellectual property rights, and more importantly, his integrity.

Vince and his ilk may make a few coins off this DVD, commentated by those who never worked with Warrior, but whatever they have to say will be a cheap imitation compared to hearing the REAL Ultimate Warrior and Warrior story from the man himself.

BTW: Those looking for a great buy, the Ultimate Warrior Shoot Interview Limited Edition DVD can be found here:
http://www.ringsidecollectibles.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=R&Product_Code=UW-DVD&Category_Code=TS

The DVD tells the real, exciting-as-hell story, behind how Warrior made it to the top of the business and how he never sold out, even when the heat was turned up.

I feel sorry for the McMahons. Pitiful.

And Dan: Get Warrior back out on the speaking tour! YAF needs a balls-to-the-wall REAL conservative truth teller to tell it like it is; and not the way people think they want to hear it.

Thanks....TIM TOLE

Warrior has a new post on his web site about the WWE DVD on him. All I can say is wow! He puts the in ring intensity into his writings.

http://www.ultimatewarrior.com/09.27.05DVDII.htm

I hope he gets back on the speaking tour!

Great post Dan, I too have gotten to know Warrior over the last couple of years and I am proud to call him my friend. To say that this DVD is a weak, jealous, and cowardly attempt at trying at getting revenge on Warrior is an understatement.

The greatest moment on this farce of a DVD occurs, after all the BS, after all the lies, after all the cheap talk, at the end of the DVD, the screen goes black and ”ULTIMATE WARRIOR trademark of Ultimate Creations Inc” appears on the screen. That speaks volumes more then anything negative said about Warrior during the course of the DVD. That told the whole story right there. WWE doesn’t own Warrior like they own all their other talent, past, and present. What a bitter pill swallow, it seems they can’t force it down no matter how hard they try.

After the litigation between Warrior and WWE, Warrior walked away with ownership of the intellectual property rights to The Ultimate Warrior. The character he created and took to new heights in the wrestling business before walking away from the spotlight that he dominated with an intensity that will never be seen again.

Shine on Warrior, we will always remember.

ultimate warrior is one of the greatest wrestler of all time, i got the video self destruction of ultimate warrior,and i don't care what every one of those people said about you ultimate warrior.i just want to see you on the video and to have memories of the greatest wrestler of all time,i still have the warrior in me.ultimate warrior will live forever

ultimate warrior your the best,i wish i can see you wrestle one last time,i know it will be very memorable if myself and all of your fans will see you on that ring again,you still the champion in our hearts...ladies and gentlemen the intercontinental champion and the wwe champion ULTIMATE WARRIOR.......