Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
And now, the one we have all been waiting for, The Warrior. They started by showing a video recap. Inducting him will be Linda McMahon.
She said that Warrior called her to induct him. She said that this is her favorite night of the year. Warrior is a motivation speaker and she thinks he will inspire the people tonight with his special way. She talked about how he changed his name to Warrior because he believes in living his life that way. She said she loved the way he went to the ring. She made a joke that he got so much speed running to the ring that he had to run around the ring because he couldn't stop his momentum. She talked about how he was a loner and wasn't always easy to work with. She said when he came back for his last run, he asked that Linda be his personal contact because she understood his way of looking at things. She said there were times when he would boil over he would call her. And when he is agitated, he tends to yell. She said she would put the phone on speaker and let him vent, and that is what he needed. After that, they would have great conversations. She said one time he called her Mom. She said he was acting like a child and if he was there, she would put him over her knee. And they both laughed. She said he has no tolerance for whiners or excuses, but he will always help and coach. He is a devoted husband, father and patriot. He thinks if your first thought of the day is you can't, you won't. Warrior was escorted by his daughters.
Warrior came out and took it all in. He then did a Warrior grunt into the mic. He got a pop and took it in. He talked about how this is the most anticipated speech in Sports Entertainment. He then told his wife she came in his life in 1996 when he got back into wrestling. Things fell apart but not with them. They have a great family. He told his mom he is glad she was there tonight. He talked about how his dad walked out on them and Mom didn't skip a beat. She worked hard for the five kids. He got his work ethic and self discipline from her. He told his daughters they weren't alive when he was Ultimate. He said he told them that Mr. McMahon and WWE do incredible stuff, just like he told them. He said the most awesome thing he will ever do will be their father.
He said he was glad Linda mentioned sweat because he sure does. He already is. He said sitting in the back before this, he was shocked when he realized that this was going to happen. He said a kid in the back said sir this is awesome you are getting into the Hall Of Fame. He said no, he is talking about DDP Yoga kid. I am finally getting into it. He said for second he thought he was watching a DDP informercial. Then he said he was kidding and it's inspiring to see him help people fix their self destructive ways, playing off of the DVD. He was joking. He put over Triple H, who he called Paul, for making this all happen. He talked about H's comments that he only spent five minutes with Warrior and knew he was a tool. Warrior told him that H learned a lot in those five minutes. Great line.
He said if you want to do something great in your life, practice his brand of Self Destruction. He said even after 18 years of exile, you can still come back and be the headliner at the landmark 30th WrestleMania. The fans chanted one more match. He said now you're being kind, and that's cool. He said that is not going to happen, but other things are. He wanted to thank some people.
He said even people who told him what he didn't want to hear taught him something. He mocked his little training from Red Bastien (that it was noticeable he wasn't a long term student, not a shot at Red). He mentioned learning with Sting, Steve Borden. He talked about going to work in Memphis and all the great people he met there. Then, on to Watts and UWF and all they learned there. He told Ted DiBiase he fashioned his clotheslined after him. He said that Ted wanted him and Sting to go home, and his clotheslines to his throat sent that message.
He talked about what he learned in WCCW, doing Dingo Warrior, and all the great people there. He talked about George Scott coming into WCCW to help him out. He said WWF and it was bleep. He said he wished they could put the F back in. The fans chanted YES. He said he couldn't believe Jerry McDevitt got his ass kicked by the wildlife people. He said that Scott and Bronco Lubich told NY about him. He said he was green but it got him into NY.
He talked about working with Jose Estrada making him press him 16 times to see if he was blown up. He said he was blown up way before that. He put over Steve Lombardi for taking his "green punishment". He said that the boys have a pretty good BS factor. He said that the DVD said he wasn't welcome and he was an a hole. He said when he saw the DVD it made him mad, but also broke his heart. He said that anyone who couldn't deal with the Bulldogs crapping in your highly secure bags, you didn't stay long. He said a legend said he was a good guy and he is a good guy. When those kinds of things were said about him......and fans clapped.
He then said he wanted to thank all the people who work behind the scenes. They are the superstars who make it happen. The ring guys, for all they do. He said they were great and he will never forget them. He said they are what make the company work, the thirtieth WrestleMania tomorrow. He said at the office you are already on to 31, and it will make it to 75. He said it would happen when Vince wasn't around, but he will live forever. He said that there should be a behind the scenes wing of the HOF. The first one should be Jimmy Miranda, who was a great merchandise guy back in the day.
He said he wouldn't be here tonight, and it sounds cliché, but he wouldn't be here without you Ultimate Warrior fans. He said he is Warrior but they are Ultimate Warrior fans and you are legendary. You waited all the years, fighting for this. You fought the lies and you didn't let them reprogram your memories. He is here tonight because of you. They chanted thank you Warrior. He said NO. They chanted YES! He said you taught me something, I have been out of the business way too long. He thanked them for all they did to allow him to just be me.
He said that he has always been respectful. Him and Sting got where they did because they already showed respect and appreciated the veterans who let them in the business and give it a try. It's good to know that what he put into it has now paid off. He would already respect the older guys. When people told him stop shaking the ropes, the one person who never told him to stop was Vince McMahon. Vince allowed him to be himself and be himself. He said that the boys used to say that they would tell Vince how they felt and they all walked out of meeting with Vince bobbling his head. He talked about Bad New Brown being upset. He was tough and thought he would take Vince down. Nope, he was Bad News Bobblehead.
Warrior talked about how he kept a journal and notes. He wasn't on TV. He said that he told Vince he had ideas for how he could make him money. Vince fought back laughter but he respected it too. He got a meeting with Vince whenever he wanted after that.
He talked about that in the business there are few legitimate tough guys. "The rest of us get to play that role". He talked about how great it was to be able to do that, and to play hero. He said it hit him the first time he did a Wish. He then put John Cena over for the awesome work that he does with Make a wish. He said he also know Cena is an Ultimate Warrior mark. Cena nodded. He said that making that wish come true was amazing to him. He talked about Ray Lewis and Rock being Ultimate Warrior fans. He said wrestlers don't put on other sports gear on, but the athletes do put wrestling gear on. That is how powerful it is and how great it is to be a role model in WWE.
He said if you get to be able to play a tough guy in WWE, you should be able handle life. He said it's great when you get to present that picture to people outside of the right. He said people say he doesn't respect the business. Not true. He thinks about it every day. The business gave him everything he needed to make his life work. He appreciates it. He said he also appreciates blowing up. Guys would mock him, and still do. He is blown up now. But his entrance blew him up, but he kept going. Being able to experience pushing his body that far is what he misses the most. You can do so much more than you think you can. He remembers blowing up so badly that he could only hear his heart beating. He would give up some of the few years he has left to experience it again.
He said people wondered what he would do and say tonight. A lot of people say he doesn't know where to draw the line between the work and his real life. He said everyone today with social media works their gimmick, but his gimmick was his. He said his gimmick is still popular today due to the message. He said if the gimmick inspires the people, what is wrong with using it to inspire yourself? People wondered what he would say. All he can say is that when he was in the business, no one ever said stuff to his face. He was respectful. The DVD was wrong, that's all. It made him angry and it was hurtful. The fans cheered.
He said he was honored to be with the other inductees. He is proud to be here this evening. He is also proud to be an ambassador for the company in a multi-year deal and he is looking forward to that too.
There are a lot of great characters in this business and it makes it work. Ultimate Warrior was one. And he is proud. He then said he forgot something. He pulled out a check from 1991 and talked about the letter Vince wrote him. He joked and asked if the check was gonna bounce. He said that Vince said that he thought he was a legend in his own mind. He said he wasn't, he was a young kid finding his way. But Vince, he is a legend now! He said is proud of everyone who fought for that.
After a one more match chant, he said no. He said that it isn't easy to walk away when you are an athlete, but he said that the business needs older guys to step up and help the next generation. RVD is in the audience by the way. He told the young guys your time will come and go. He said but make sure to go out in life and do what needs to be done. He thanked everyone for coming and said goodnight.
To say Warrior was awesome would be an understatement because he was so much more than that. He was amazing. Freakin' amazing.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
