April 12 – PC Tunney breaks down the Ultimate Warrior’s energetic legacy as a Legend of WrestleMania!

Growing up, Hulk Hogan wasn’t MY guy. Macho Man wasn’t MY guy. Ric Flair wasn’t MY guy. Dusty Rhodes wasn’t MY guy.

MY guy was the Ultimate Warrior.

Even as a child, I would hound my Dad to finish his after-church breakfast at our local diner fast enough so we could get home to watch WWF Superstars on Sunday mornings. It didn’t matter that his TV taped squash matches lasted just as long as his entrance. His style, tempo, and energy was infectious to a young PC Tunney. Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we revisit some of WrestleMania’s most energetic moments.

WrestleMania IV – Ultimate Warrior defeats Hercules w/ Bobby Heenan

The build to this match saw Warrior and Hercules compete in some feats of strength such as tug-o-war that famously culminated in Warrior snapping Hercules’ chain! This was Warrior’s first major PPV match and established him as a dominant powerhouse in the WWF.

WrestleMania V – Ultimate Warrior (c) loses via pinfall to Rick Rude w/ Bobby Heenan

One of Warrior’s best programs, in my opinion. The pairing of Rude and Heenan is one of the great manager/wrestler pairings of this era. Rude’s arrogance and overt sexuality teamed with the sly cunning of Heenan proved to be too much for the Ultimate Warrior. This would be Warriors only Mania loss as Rick Rude becomes your neeeeeew Intercontinental champion.

WrestleMania VI – Ultimate Warrior defeats Hulk Hogan (c)

This is the first PPV I finally convinced my Dad to purchase, and oh boy, does this Mania deliver! The crowd was intense and awesome in Toronto at the SkyDome that day. Champion versus Champion. Face versus Face. This was a unique matchup for WWF at this point in history. Hulkamania was still running wild, but the Ultimate Warrior was not just running to the ring. He was running straight into the hearts of wrestling fans with an energy and aura unmatched to this point in the genre of professional wrestling. If you have not seen this match, I highly recommend it. This is not only one of Warrior’s best matches, but one of Hogan’s as well. With a clean pinfall victory in the middle of the ring, the Ultimate Warrior had accomplished the Ultimate achievement… becoming WWF World Champion! Furthermore, to cement the passing of the torch, a weary and disbelieving Hogan does the classy thing, handing Warrior the title and raising his hand in victory.

WrestleMania VII – Ultimate Warrior defeats Macho Man Randy Savage w/ Queen Sherri

Most consider this Warrior’s greatest in-ring performance, and it’s hard to argue against that. It’s easy to see how well Randy was able to bring the best out of Warrior like he had done so many times before with other opponents. My “uncle” Jack Tunney made this a retirement match with both competitor’s careers on the line. After costing Warrior the title at the Rumble to Sgt. Slaughter, this feud was more than personal. In the end, Warrior’s power proved to be too much for the Macho Man. After the match, Sherri turns on Randy and attacks him until, wait… its Miss Elizabeth to the rescue! Despite the loss and apparent end to his career, the crowd is left with the heartfelt reunion of pro wrestling’s First Couple!

WrestleMania VIII – Surprise Appearance

The main event sees Hulk Hogan victorious via DQ against Sid Justice, managed by Harvey Wippleman. A post match onslaught by Sid and Papa Shango has Hogan in a very bad spot. At this point in time, Warrior had been absent from WWF storylines due to a contract dispute. On this evening we would see Warrior’s return, fending off Sid and Papa Shango and coming to the rescue of the Hulkster. The crowd absolutely ate this up even though Warrior’s return would be short lived.

WrestleMania XII – Ultimate Warrior defeats Hunter Hurst Helmsley

After a nearly four year absence, Hunter was fed to Warrior like a sacrificial lamb. This two minute squash was nothing much to behold. The rumor mill will have you believe there was much tension backstage because of this decision and I believe it. This would be Warrior’s last WrestleMania, while HHH would go on to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time.

“No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in 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… I am the Ultimate Warrior. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans. And the spirit of The Ultimate Warrior will run forever!”