Update: Ultimate Warrior’s Final Days, ESPN Coverage

UPDATE x 12: The UK broadcast of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony aired Wednesday night and began with the following:

In Memory of James Brian Hellwig, The Ultimate Warrior 1959-2014.

UPDATE x 11: More details are coming in regarding the final days of the Ultimate Warrior.

WWE had a camera crew following Warrior and his family around during the entire weekend. The footage was shot for a future project looking at Warrior’s return to the WWE Universe.

Warrior and his family did not stay at the Roosevelt Hotel with the rest of the WWE talent. The company rented a house locally for Warrior and his family and had a car service shuttle them to and from the Hall of Fame ceremony, WrestleMania and RAW.

According to sources who were backstage at the Hall of Fame ceremony, Warrior was very friendly when approached, but also quiet and somewhat reserved. Several people commented on Warrior sweating a lot and appearing physically frail, despite his muscular stature.

TMZ.com reports that an eye witness saw Warrior clutching his chest moments before he collapsed at the Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Warrior suffered a “catastrophic medical event” and so far, there is no evidence of drugs or alcohol playing a factor in his death. An investigation is underway and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner will be conducting an autopsy on Thursday.

UPDATE x 10: WWE has announced that they will honor the career of Ultimate Warrior, posting the following:

WWE honors the legacy and legend of the late Ultimate Warrior tonight, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on WWE Network.

WWE fans will be able to watch highlights from Warrior’s historic induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, plus his emotional return to Monday Night Raw. Then, immediately after, the WWE Universe is invited to watch one of Ultimate Warrior’s greatest matches against Hulk Hogan when WWE Network airs WrestleMania VI in its entirety.

UPDATE x 9: The AP has a story with quotes from Triple H and Sean Waltman about Warrior’s death. Check out those quotes below:

Triple H on Vince McMahon and Ultimate Warrior’s interactions: “Vince said to him a couple of days ago, ‘I’ve always loved you. Sometimes, I didn’t like you, but I always loved you.'”

Waltman on Warrior’s state: “I got a sense he wasn’t well. It was sad to me. He was kind of hunched over. He used to have such great posture. You just had this sense that he wasn’t well. But he was in great spirits. He came up to (other wrestlers) and gave them hugs.”

UPDATE x 8: ESPN has coverage of The Ultimate Warrior’s passing, and discussing his legacy, which you can check out below…

UPDATE x 7: According to TMZ, eyewitnesses say that Warrior looked sweaty and stressed, like he was about to “burst at the seams” during WrestleMania weekend. People who saw him over the weekend state that Warrior looked like he was in constant pain, sweaty and uncomfortable; like he was choking on his tie.

During his RAW appearance, people noticed he appeared weak after he did rope shake. One witness had the following to say…

“We all felt like he looked like he was going to blow a gasket. It was pretty easy to see.”

UPDATE x 6: According to sources, Warrior and his family did not stay at the WWE hotel in New Orleans. The company rented a house locally for Warrior and his family and had a car service shuttle them to and from events. Those backstage at the Hall of Fame said that Warrior was friendly when approached at the Hall of Fame, but quiet and reserved most of the evening.

UPDATE x 5: According to TMZ, law enforcement officials that spoke to witnesses have stated that Warrior “clutched his chest” moments before he collapsed. Reports are that Warrior was walking down a hallway at the Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ and headed toward his car with his wife. At one point he clutched his chest and then fell to the floor, and never recovered.

No official cause of death has been revealed, with officials noting that Warrior had a “catastrophic medical event,” likely a heart attack. At this time, there is no sign that drugs or alcohol had anything to do with his death. The death is being investigated, and they are planning to do an autopsy and toxicology tests to confirm the cause of death.

UPDATED x 4: A fan tweeted this photo with the Ultimate Warrior on Tuesday at the New Orleans airport, just hours before Warrior’s death.

I met the ultimate warrior this morning at New Orleans airport pic.twitter.com/BlafbrEUyc

— James (@Jamesfspencer) April 9, 2014

UPDATED x 3: TMZ reports that Warrior collapsed outside his hotel in Arizona at 5:50PM PT on April 8th. He was walking to his car with his wife. He was then transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

We’ve posted the transcript and video of Warrior’s now-haunting final promo from Monday’s RAW below.

UPDATED x 2: Here is the video and transcript of the Ultimate Warrior’s now-haunting final RAW appearance on Monday.

“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 story tellers, 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 markers 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 the Ultimate Warrior will run forever!”

UPDATED: Triple H and Stephanie McMahon have both commented on the Ultimate Warrior’s death on Twitter.

Saddened to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 9, 2014

#RIPUltimateWarrior Your strength of character is to be admired. There will never be anyone like you. Your spirit lives on in your family.

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) April 9, 2014

ORIGINAL: In a shocking turn of events, WWE.com reports that the Ultimate Warrior has passed away at the age of 54. There are no details regarding the circumstances of his passing. Warrior was of course inducted into the Hall of Fame over the weekend and appeared on RAW Monday night.

WWE’s statement reads as follows:

WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior. Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history.

Warrior became WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI, defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans. WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends and fans. Warrior was 54 and is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.

On behalf of all of us here on the website, we send our condolences to the fans, family and friends of Warrior.

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